Accurate energy yield simulation of a carport system using the ray-tracing method

Abstract

In this study, a carport system configured with monofacial and bifacial photovoltaic (PV) modules was installed in South Korea, and energy production was monitored for one year through measurements and simulations. The energy yields of the installed modules were evaluated using the ray-tracing method, which accurately traces the path of sunlight entering the modules, considering shadows and reflections from the ground and cars near the carport. Loss models were developed to reduce the discrepancy between measured and simulated results, utilizing both observed weather data and Meteonorm data to increase accuracy. The energy yield showed an average monthly difference of 3.25 % for the monofacial system and 3 % for the bifacial system, indicating the high accuracy of the developed simulation models. The simulation suggested that energy production could be further increased by 15 % by adjusting the direction and tilt angle of the modules on the carport. These results demonstrate the potential of the developed method for predicting the energy yield of various PV systems, and the findings of this study provide fundamental data for the efficient design and operation of PV power systems in South Korea.