5 Factors Affecting Solar Power System Efficiency

The energy flow path of a grid-tie solar system usually contains solar panels, a combiner box, a DC power distribution cabinet, an on-grid inverter, an AC power distribution cabinet, and the connection cables.

Based on the energy flow of the PV system, it is necessary to fully consider the five important factors affecting the conversion efficiency in the design of the solar power system.

1. Climate conditions

The solar panel modules are exposed in the natural environment for a long time, and factors such as wind and lightning will affect the solar cell. Light, wind, temperature and so on will change the photoelectric conversion efficiency of solar panels (cells), and some factors may even damage the functions and structures of the solar panels. 

2. Angle of inclination of solar panel

The solar panels need to absorb sunlight at the best angle, so that they can really play the role of improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency. Under different seasons, geographical locations and sunshine conditions, the optimal angle of inclination of solar panel, latitude and longitude and sunshine hours. The fixed inclination angle should be chosen as the angle of inclination based on the maximum power generation in the whole year.

3. Cleanliness of solar panel surface

The cleanliness of solar panel surface also affects the photoelectric power conversion. It is required to know much about the actual situation of solar panel to be polluted in the environment, determine the contamination of the solar panel surface, especially the impact of strong wind, strong convection and sandstorm weather on the surface of solar panel, and then determine the cleaning frequency of the solar panels according to the local labor cost.

4. Solar panel spacing design (Shading)

Once the solar panel is sheltered, it will affect the power generation capacity of the solar system. Therefore, when designing the solar panel array spacing, it is necessary to consider the shading of the building to the solar panels and the self-shading between solar panels.

5. MPPT tracking accuracy

As the sunshine and temperature change, the output voltage of the solar panels changes accordingly, and the output power of the PV array will change as well. The goal of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for the solar inverter is to enable the PV array to achieve maximum power output in case of any sunlight and temperature change, so the accuracy of the MPPT greatly affects the system efficiency.