Optimal Orientation of Solar Panels for Multi-Apartment Buildings

Abstract

In this paper, we present a mathematical algorithm for the optimal orientation of solar panels for multi-apartment buildings. Currently, photovoltaic power generation has increasingly become an effective method. It has the advantage of not causing environmental pollution; however, it has the disadvantage of relatively low power generation efficiency. To increase the power efficiency of the panel, one can consider a rotation. However, if there is a limitation to the rotation angle of the solar panel, especially in multi-apartment buildings, it is desirable to install the panel at the optimal angle under given constraints. Therefore, we present a simple and practical method to evaluate the optimal installation angle of the panel. Using the proposed method, it is easy to find an optimal installation angle to achieve the best power generation efficiency based on the latitude and azimuth angles. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, several numerical simulation results are provided.