Source: Solar Panels Plus

The Importance of Solar Radiation in PV Systems

Understanding TMY Data and Solar Radiation

When analyzing PV systems, Total Meteorological Year (TMY) data is commonly used. However, for basic system analysis, the average daily solar radiation in a specific location during a month can be sufficient. This data can be measured either horizontally or with the measuring surface perpendicular to solar radiation, which is relevant for PV systems that track the sun. To accurately determine the solar radiation available to a PV module, an additional angular dependence factor needs to be considered to account for the module’s tilt.

Peak Sun Hours Explained

Peak sun hours are a crucial concept in understanding solar insolation. Solar insolation is the average daily solar energy received per unit area (kWh/m2 per day). Peak sun hours represent the solar insolation a location would receive if the sun shone at maximum intensity for a specific number of hours. Since peak solar radiation is 1 kW/m2, the number of peak sun hours is equivalent to the average daily solar insolation. For instance, if a location receives 8 kWh/m2 per day, it can be interpreted as receiving sunlight for 8 hours at 1 kW/m2 intensity. Calculating peak sun hours is beneficial as PV modules are often rated at an input of 1 kW/m2.

Source: ResearchGate