TY - GEN
T1 - Analysis of 80 rooftop PV systems in the Tucson, AZ area
AU - Lonij, Vincent P.
AU - Brooks, Adria E.
AU - Koch, Kevin
AU - Cronin, Alexander D.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - We present field performance measurements of 80 rooftop systems in the Tucson, AZ region. We describe a framework that enables identification the causes of system performance variations. We can distinguish between shading, module orientation, outages, and weather conditions from the performance data alone, i.e., without physical inspection of the system. The modules used in the systems that we study are predominantly from 2 manufacturers: Sunpower and Schott, with two types of modules from each manufacturer. We show that the variation in system performance due to these four module types is smaller than the variations due to other system-level effects. We discuss the distribution of de-ratings due to shading, and de-ratings due to clouds, as well as the significance and duration of outages. We also examine the effect of system age on annual final yields.
AB - We present field performance measurements of 80 rooftop systems in the Tucson, AZ region. We describe a framework that enables identification the causes of system performance variations. We can distinguish between shading, module orientation, outages, and weather conditions from the performance data alone, i.e., without physical inspection of the system. The modules used in the systems that we study are predominantly from 2 manufacturers: Sunpower and Schott, with two types of modules from each manufacturer. We show that the variation in system performance due to these four module types is smaller than the variations due to other system-level effects. We discuss the distribution of de-ratings due to shading, and de-ratings due to clouds, as well as the significance and duration of outages. We also examine the effect of system age on annual final yields.
KW - Performance analysis
KW - Photovoltaic systems
KW - Solar energy
KW - Solar power generation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84869462345&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84869462345&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/PVSC.2012.6317674
DO - 10.1109/PVSC.2012.6317674
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84869462345
SN - 9781467300643
T3 - Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
SP - 549
EP - 553
BT - Program - 38th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2012
T2 - 38th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2012
Y2 - 3 June 2012 through 8 June 2012
ER -