2012 First International Conference on Renewable Energies and Vehicular Technology

Determination of the exploitable solar energy for electricity

generation using the photovoltaic systems
Wissem Zghal, Gueorgui Kantchev and Hdi Kchaou
Laboratory of Electromechanical Systems, National Engineering School of Sfax, Tunisia
e-mail: zghal_wissem@yahoo.fr, Gueorgui.kantchev@enis.rnu.tn, hedi.kchaou@ipeis.rnu.tn.

ABSTRACT
Solar energy technologies offer a clean and renewable energy source, and are essential components of a
sustainable energy future. In the design and evaluation of solar energy, information on solar radiation at a given
location is needed.
The principal objective of this study is the determination of solar energy characteristics anywhere and anytime.
Mathematical models are exploited to analyze the solar energy characteristics in Sfax, Tunisia. These models
present an estimation of the Sun position according to the considered site, a determination of the recovered solar
energy and an evaluation of the electric energy produced by a photovoltaic surface. A comparison between
theoretical and measured values has been presented to validate the mathematical expressions.
An analysis of the influence of the incline angle on the recovered solar energy quantity is achieved. We affirmed
that the general optimal angle, for all year round, will be equal to the latitude angle of the considered site. For a
better optimization, the optimal angle for every month has been determined.
In addition, to present the conversion phenomenon of the solar energy in electricity, a study of the produced
photovoltaic energy by four different types of panels is elaborated.
Index Terms Solar energy characteristics, mathematical models, recovered solar energy, optimal angle, produced
photovoltaic energy
Jayanta et al. [1] use a statistical method to determine
1. INTRODUCTION
the solar radiation. So, they studied the effect of 12 different
combinations of diffuse-global correlations and tilted surface
radiation models on the accuracy of PV output simulation of
The demand and the excessive consumption of the
a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system.
energy through the world, the concern about the
Through the study of Rizwan et al. [2], hourly solar
environment and the rapid depletion of fossil fuel
energy is estimated at four important Indian stations namely
resources on a worldwide basis have necessitated an
New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Jaipur keeping in mind their
urgent search for alternative energy sources to meet to the
different climatic conditions. For this study, REST2
present day demands. Many alternative energy resources
(Reference Evaluation of Solar Transmittance, 2 bands), a
are clean, inexhaustible and environment-friendly, such as
high performance parametric model for the estimation of
solar and wind energies. Therefore, more attention has
solar energy is used.
been dedicated to studies this renewable energy sources.
Orhan et al. [3, 4] paper aims to show the use of the
Among the most widely used sources, we can mention the
response surface methodology (RSM) in size optimization of
solar energy.
an autonomous PV/wind integrated hybrid energy system
Solar utilization for electricity production has dated
with battery storage. RSM is a collection of statistical and
back to the last two decades and has proved to be a
mathematical methods which relies on optimization of
mature, reliable and efficient technology. Photovoltaic
response surface with design parameters. Moreover,
systems utilize solar energy to generate electrical energy
measured hourly total solar radiation on horizontal surface is
to meet consumer demands. Optimal sizing of these
used.
systems includes the characterization of solar radiation.
For Yang et al. [5], an optimal sizing of stand-alone
For this reason, several empirical correlations have
hybrid solar-wind system needs an estimate of the total solar
been developed in order to estimate the solar radiation
radiation incident on the PV module surface. Therefore, the
around the world. For a better determination of the solar
total solar radiation on a tilted surface is calculated by adding
radiation, different methods have been adopted by
the beam, diffuse and reflected solar radiation components on
researchers in the literature.
the tilted surface.
In these studies, the determination of the solar radiation
is done by the statistical methods or the direct measures that
are generally specific to a particular site.
In this paper, we present a procedure for the
978-1-4673-1170-0/12/$31.00 2012 IEEE

43

determination of the total solar radiation at any place and

at any moment. This procedure is essentially based on
relations between the position of the Sun in the sky and
the chosen geographical site. In addition, this method can
be exploited for the optimal sizing of the photovoltaic
system.
2.

THEORETICAL STUDY

The insolation available to a photovoltaic system

depends on the local climate and geographical location.
To analyze the technical conversion of solar energy, it
must be possible at any time and at any place to know the
position of the Sun in the sky. Because, meteorological
stations provide only global irradiance data, a correlation
developed between the azimuthally coordinates of the Sun
and solar radiation data is used to calculate the global
solar radiation.
The modeling of solar radiation depends on the
azimuthally coordinates of Sun and equatorial coordinates
of the Earth. Fig. 1 shows a simplified representation of
the Sun position in the sky.

North Pole
M
Ecuador

West

= 15 (TSV 12)

The angle is the angle formed by the meridian plane

through the centre of the sun and the vertical plane of the
place sets the true solar time. The true solar time, TSV, is
given by the following expression [8]:

TSV = TL n

(4)

To deduct the true solar time of the legal time TL it is

necessary to take account of:
The correction of equation of the time . This
correction is owed to the variation of the orbital speed of
the Earth during the year. Therefore, this speed is different
of the one of a rotating clock to a uniform speed.
The correction of longitude : it is equal to 4
minutes by degrees of longitude. This correction is affected
of the sign (+) for longitudes to the Greenwich East of and
the sign (-) for longitudes to the Greenwich West.
The gap n between the middle solar time and the
legal time.
According to the described above procedure, it is
possible to find out the different coordinates of
Sun. Therefore, to determine the total solar radiation
rigorously, we must determine the direct and diffuse solar
radiation.
First, the direct solar radiation (Id) on a horizontal
surface can be written as follows [9 and 10]:

1
I d = 1230 exp

3.8 sin(h + 1.6)

(5)

Second, the instantaneous diffuse solar radiation (Dh)

can be approximated using this formula [9 and 10]:

Dh = 125 (sin h)0.4

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the Sun position.

The Sun height, denoted h, is the angle between the
Sun direction and the horizontal plan. This angle is the
most important specification of the Sun position. It is
presented by this equation [6]:

sin h = sin sin + cos cos cos

(1)

with:
: latitude of the location in degrees,
: declination angle of the sun in degrees is given by this
approximate formula [6, 7, 8]:

284 + j

365

= 23.45 sin 2

+
15

East

South Pole

(3)

j: calendar day of a year

The hour angle, , can be calculated as follows:

(2)

(6)

Consequently, the global horizontal radiation, noted Gh,

is calculated as follows [9 and 10]:

Gh = Dh + I d sin h

(7)

Then the total radiation received by the inclined plane,

noted Gi, can be determined following this expression [11
and 12]:
cos s
Gi = Gh ke
(8)

cos

k is a correction factor of the solar radiation (often equal to

0.9) and s is the angle of slant of panel supports.
Furthermore, the recovered solar energy, Es r, is
determined using this equation:

44

Es r =

G h hi

(9)

hi: the maximum duration of sunshine (hours) given by

[8]:

hi =

2
ar cos( tan tan )
15

(10)

Also, the actually energy received by an inclined

plane, Es ri, can be expressed as follows:

We note that there is a resemblance in the variation of

the two curves. The real duration of sunshine undergone very
important fluctuations of one day to the other, it is essentially
owed to the meteorological conditions of the site (cloudy
cover, wind). Besides, the theoretical values are more
raised. In the measured values case, the duration of sunshine
varies between 0.5 and 13.5 hours, but in the theoretical case,
values can attain 14.3 hours and the minimal value is equal to
9.6 hours. This simple difference is the result of some
simplification in the theoretical case and measure conditions
in the real case.
hi r

hi t

15

Gi hi

(11)

Duration of sunshine [hour]

Es ri =

By following this procedure, we can easily

determine the total usable solar energy for anywhere and
at any moment.
After determining the practical quantity of the solar
energy, we can exploit this result to estimate the electric
energy produced by a photovoltaic surface, Epv. This
energy is calculated through this formula:

12

0
0

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

240

270

300

330

360

Day of the year

(12)

with:
t is the total efficiency of a photovoltaic panel,
Spv is the used photovoltaic surface.
3.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In this part, we intend to validate expressions

presented in the previous paragraph. To do this validation,
we have elaborated a simulation code that is based on the
already expressed formulas. Then, a comparison between
theoretical values (extracted through formulas) and
measured values will be presented.

Figure 2. Theoretical and measured of sunshine in Sfax,

Tunisia.
As we presented in the theoretical analysis part, the
daily recovered solar energy is proportionally bound to the
duration of sunshine and the global horizontal radiation
(Equation (9)). Figure 3 presents the variation of the
theoretical and measured values of the daily recovered solar
energy for all year round in the Sfax region.

3.1. Solar energy specification

Determination of solar energy characteristics
anywhere and anytime is the principal objective of this
study. In this context, and as a case of study, we will
present the different specification of the solar energy in
Sfax, Tunisia.
Sfax is a city on the Tunisian coast open on the
Mediterranean Sea and it has the following geographical
descriptions: latitude = 34.7N; longitude = 10.7E.
Therefore, the mentioned above comparison is based
on the theoretical data calculated for Sfax and the
meteorological data measured by the National Institute of
the Meteorology of Tunisia in Sfax.
Figure 2 shows the variation of theoretical and
measured duration of sunshine in Sfax hit and hir
respectively.

Esr t

10

Recovered solar energy [kWh/day/m2]

E pv = Es ri t S pv

Esr r

0
0

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

240

270

300

330

360

Day of the year

Figure 3. Theoretical and measured quantity of the daily

recovered solar energy in Sfax, Tunisia.
According to Figure 3, we note that values related to the
summer months (June, July, August) are more important than
those of the winter months (December, January, February):
values pass 8 kWh/day/m in summer and they are just about
2 kWh/day/m in winter. This result is evident for a
45

Esr i moy [Wh/day/m]

Esr i moy

After the determination of the available solar energy

for a horizontal plan in our site of analysis, we studied the
influence of the incline angle on the recoverable solar
energy quantity.
In this setting, Fig. 4 shows a presentation of the
solar energy for three angles (20, 35 and 50).
Esr i moy (20)

Esr i moy (35)

64

7000

56

6000

48

5000

40

4000

32

3000

24

2000

16

1000

0
1

10

11

12

Month

Figure 6. Variation of the average daily value of the

recovered solar energy and the optimal angle.
We note that the determination of the optimal angle for
every month has a direct effect on the amount of recoverable
energy: we could have increased the quantity of the solar
energy recovered for every month.
For a better presentation of these results, we
accumulated them in Table1 that present the optimal angle
and the average daily value of the recovered solar energy for
every month.

Esr i moy (50)

8000
7000
Esri [Wh/day/m]

Optimal a ngle

8000

Optimal angle []

Mediterranean region where summer months are the

sunniest and hottest.
Note: we used the measured values of the daily recovered
solar energy for the rest of our study.
3.2. Influence of the incline angle

6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1

7
Month

10

11

12

Table 1. Optimal angle and the average daily value of the

recovered solar energy

Figure 4. Monthly variation of the recovered solar

energy for three angles of incline.
We notice that the variation of the recovered solar
energy depends extensively on the angle of incline: the
increase of the angle is preferred for months of winter
whereas to the month of summer the reduction of the
angle is encouraged.
In the previous research works, authors express that
the optimal angle of incline is equal to the site latitude.
Besides, in our case, the recovered solar energy values for
an angle equal to 35 (nearly equal to Sfax latitude) are
more moderate. Therefore, we can affirm that the general
optimal angle, for all year round, will be equal to the
angle of the latitude.
For more precision, we tried to determine the
optimal angle for every month. In this context, a detailed
analysis has been elaborated. Figure 5 presents the
monthly variation of incline angles values and the average
daily recovered energy.

Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Optimal angle
55
48
37
25
16
11
13
21
32
44
53
57

Esr i moy [Wh/day]

2777,701
3705,295
4386,045
4339,194
5817,302
6563,404
7422,185
5980,561
4452,362
3828,841
3568,308
3040,458

We could increase the value of the recoverable amount

of solar energy per year from 1626 kWh/an (for a fixed angle
equal to 35 ) to 1703 kWh/an. This result will present some
important and constructive influences in the case of solar
energy conversion systems for the production of electricity.
3.3. Photovoltaic energy
After the determination of the different characteristics
of the solar energy for the considered site, we studied the
concept of the exploitation of this energy for the production
of electricity according to the photovoltaic panel utilization.
In what follows, we will present the comparison of the
energizing production of four different types of photovoltaic
panels whose characteristics are presented in Table 2.

46

Table 2. Characteristics of photovoltaic panels used in

analyses

E pv a [kWh/year]

procedure is essentially based on mathematical models.

These mathematical models represent: first, an
approximate study of the sun position according to the
Dimension
Cell type ()
considered site, second, a determination of the recovered
Power
Price
Type
hwt
MonoPolysolar energy and third an evaluation of the electric energy
[W]
[]
crystalline crystalline
[mm]
produced by a photovoltaic surface. Besides, we exploited
1
these models to analyze the solar energy characteristics in
147068035
100
(13)
373
DKP-100
Sfax, Tunisia.
2
151772336
130
(15)
399 A comparison between theoretical and measured values
DZ-8000
has been presented: a resemblance in the values variation for
3
103752746 (21,5)
95
478
the two cases has been noticed. In Sfax, a region of the
JW-S95
Mediterranean, we verified that values related to the summer
4
148068035
130
(19)
580
months are more important than those of the winter months:
Victron
values pass 8kWh/day/m2 in summer and they are just about
2kWh/day/m2 in winter.
As it is already presented in Equation (12), the
To express the influence of the incline angle on the
energy produced by the photovoltaic panels is a function
recovered
solar energy quantity, we have calculated this
of the recovered solar energy, the surface of the used
quantity
for
three different angles. We could have affirmed
panels and the total efficiency of a photovoltaic panel.
that the general optimal angle, for all year round, will be
equal to the latitude angle of the considered site. For a better
Type 1
Type 2
Type 3
Type 4
5000
optimization, we have determined the optimal angle and the
recovered energy for every month.
4500
Then, we studied the conversion phenomenon of the
4000
solar energy in electricity while comparing the photovoltaic
3500
production of four different types of panels. We distinguished
3000
that photovoltaic panel characteristics have a direct influence
2500
on the produced solar energy quantity. Therefore, it requires
2000
a detailed analysis at the panel stage according to the
1500
different data bound to this component working.
1000
Finally, we could have elaborated a method for the
500
determination
of the total solar energy that can be used for
0
any
site
and
in
any instant. This method can be exploited in
0
0,4
0,8
1,2
1,6
2
the case of the photovoltaic systems sizing because the
Power [kW]
determination of the recoverable solar energy is an
Figure 8. Variation of the produced photovoltaic energy.
indispensable phase in this case.
Figure 8 presents the variation of the produced
5. REFERENCES
energy according to the photovoltaic panel power. We
note that the variation of the yearly photovoltaic energy
[1] M. Rizwan, Majid Jamil, D. P. Kothari, Solar energy
produced follows an ascending linear pace. This result is
estimation using REST2 model, International journal
obvious since the energy produced by the photovoltaic
of energy and environment, Vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 367-374,
panels is a function of the recoverable solar energy, the
2010.
surface of panels used and the total efficiency of the
photovoltaic panel.
[2] Jayanta Deb Mondola, Yigzaw G. Yohanisa, Brian
In addition, we note that the produced electric
Nortonb, Solar radiation modeling for the simulation
energy varies for a photovoltaic panel type to another.
of photovoltaic systems, Renewable Energy, vol. 33,
Indeed, panels of the type 4 present the most important
pp. 1109-1120, 2008.
values: the produced energy can reach 4600 kWh/year for
[3] Orhan Ekren, Banu Yetkin Ekren, Size optimization of
an installed power equal to 2 kW.
a PV/wind hybrid energy conversion system with
It is clear that photovoltaic panel characteristics have
battery storage using response surface methodology,
a direct influence on the produced solar energy output.
Applied Energy, vol. 85, pp. 1086-1101, 2008.
This idea will be studied in our next research works.
[4] Orhan Ekren, Banu Yetkin Ekren, Size optimization of
4. CONCLUSION
a PV/wind hybrid energy conversion system with
battery storage using simulated annealing, Applied
Solar radiation data are essential in the design and
Energy, vol. 87, pp. 592-598, 2010.
study of solar energy conservation strategy. In this setting,
[5] Hongxing Yang, Wei Zhou, Lin Lu, Zhaohong Fang,
this paper presents a method for the determination of the
Optimal sizing method for stand-alone hybrid solar
total solar radiation at any place and at any moment. This
47

wind system with LPSP technology by using genetic

algorithm, Solar Energy, vol. 82, pp. 354-367,
2008.
[6] Djavad Fauladgar, Contribution to the analysis and
the temporal modeling of the direct solar radiance,
thesis of doctorate, University Paul Sabatier of
Toulouse, 1980.
[7] M. Kolhe, K. Agbossou, J. Hamelin, T.K. Bose,
Analytical model for predicting the performance of
photovoltaic array coupled with a wind turbine in a
stand-alone renewable energy system based on
hydrogen, Renewable Energy, vol. 28, pp. 727-742,
2003.
[8] M. Jamil Ahmad, G.N. Tiwari, Solar radiation
models-review, International journal of energy and
environment, Vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 513-532, 2010.
[9] Romdhane BEN SLAMA, Incidental solar
radiation on the various vertical walls of a building
following time variations, Sminaire International
sur le Gnie Climatique et lEnergtique, SIGCLE
2010.
[10] F. Ayangma, G. E. Nkeng, D. B. Bonoma,
J.Nganhou, Assessment of the potential in solar
energy to Cameroon: case of the north Cameroon,
African Journal of Science and Technology (AJST)
Science and Engineering Series, Vol. 9, no. 2, pp.
32-40, December 2008.
[11] Zentrum fr rationelle Energieanwendung und
Umwelt GmbH et IBC Solartechnik Germany,
CRES Greece, AME Tunisia, Photovoltaic system
Installation in Tunisia.
[12] Habib Cherif, Jamel Belhad, Large-scale time
evaluation for energy estimation of stand-alone
hybrid Photovoltaic-wind system feeding a reverse
osmosis desalination unit, Energy, vol. 36, pp.
6058-6067, 2011.

48