Work

Investigation of the cooling effect of wind on rooftop PV power plants

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The world's energy consumption is increasing day by day. This demand is boosting investments in renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy. Many industrial facilities are turning to rooftop PV system installations to reduce electricity costs. Investors desire accurate predictions of the system's electricity production and high efficiency. It is well-known that operating at high temperatures significantly reduces the efficiency of panels. This study examines the cooling of PV panels under wind conditions in a 5 MW plant installed on the roof of a factory in Bursa, Turkey. Meteorological measurements were taken at the plant during the summer period, and it was observed that the wind reduces the PV panel temperature. When wind speed differences are below 0.5 m/s, panel cooling remains between 2-3 °C, while at wind speed differences approaching 1 m/s, the cooling effect can reach up to 7 °C. At low wind speeds, winds blowing from behind the panel provide better cooling, whereas with increasing wind speeds, side winds show better cooling performance. The results indicate that during the design phase of a PV plant, locations with high wind speeds should be preferred, and appropriate plant configurations should be created to ensure the wind reaches all PV arrays.

Source: Case Studies in Thermal Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.csite.2024.105295

Authors: Ahmet Ataman, Nurullah Arslanoğlu

Institution: Bursa Uludağ Üni̇versi̇tesi̇

Language: English

Topic: Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,210