As per prevous reports, households are identified by initials – number
of panels – tilt angle - orientation (e.g. SP-6-37-N = Simon Pockley - 6 panels
- 37o – North). [NB. To
print - use Landscape format]. Graph #1 shows system outputs beside the number of
generating hours for the last fortnight.
Graph #1. Comparison of system performance 13th
June – 30th June 2009 (ranked by tilt angle)
Graph #2 plots the
output per panel, for the last fortnight, against tilt angle. This fortnight
output was higher than the last fortnight (see graph 3).
Graph #2.
Tilt angle compared with KWh outputs for the last fortnight followed by
previous fortnight values
The following graph compares the output per panel for each system since
13th July 2008. .
Graph #3.
Comparison of systems shows Watts generated per panel.
The following graph
aligns all the readings with tilt angles (sequenced left to right). I’m looking
for a better way to display the changes through season.
Graph #4.
Comparison of all KWh readings for each system ranked left to right by time and
tilt angle.
Photovoltaic panels
are not the most efficient means of converting solar energy. The following
graph shows the seasonal rate of conversion of the available solar energy.
Available solar energy is taken from the Melbourne figures collected at the
airport. It looks as though the cooler seasons favour efficiency.
Graph #5.
Comparison of rates of conversion of the available solar energy
This project has been
tracking the influence of tilt angle on system output. The table below broadly
shows that tilt angles approaching latitude are more productive than flatter angles.
However, the major exceptions, MG, TD and DC raise further questions.
Graph #6. Comparison of the influence of tilt angle on output, normalised by kWhs per panel.