Efficiency of Photovoltaic Systems in Mountainous Areas

TL;DR

This study investigates how high-altitude cold climates affect photovoltaic system efficiency, revealing a 42% efficiency increase at higher elevations through comparative measurements and MPPT techniques.

Contribution

It provides empirical data on PV performance at different altitudes, highlighting the significant efficiency gains in mountainous cold climates.

Findings

PV efficiency increases by 42% at higher altitude

Maximum power point tracking effectively measures PV output

Higher altitude and cold climate positively impact PV performance

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) systems have received much attention in recent years due to their ability of efficiently converting solar power into electricity, which offers important benefits to the environment. PV systems in regions with high solar irradiation can produce a higher output but the temperature affects their performance. This paper presents a study on the effect of cold climate at high altitude on the PV system output. We report a comparative case study, which presents measurement results at two distinct sites, one at a height of 612 meters and another one at a mountain site at a height of 1764 meters. This case study applies the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique in order to determine maximum power from the PV panel at different azimuth and altitude angles. We used an Arduino system to measure and display the attributes of the PV system. The measurement results indicate an increased efficiency of 42% for PV systems at higher altitude.