Effect of Altitude and Tilt Angle On Solar Radiation in Tropical Regions

Effect of Altitude and Tilt Angle on Solar Radiation in Tropical Regions
Effect of Altitude and Tilt Angle on Solar Radiation in

Tropical Regions
Abdul-Aziz Mohamed Saeed Aldobhani(1)
ABSTRACT
Solar radiation is the main factor that affects the PV system design.
Because of high shortage in solar radiation data in many regions, the
mathematical models are necessary to use in solar radiation data estimation. In
this study Hotel method is modeled and applied to extend the knowledge about
the solar radiation on horizontal surface, fixed tilt surface and optimal tilt angle
surface in tropical climate regions. In addition, the study inspects in the effect
of altitude on solar radiation, and analyzes the variation in solar radiation data
in areas that have high diversity in altitude regions. The data provides the PV
system designer the exact percentages increase in solar radiation in important
times in the year caused by rising in altitude and shifting the tilt angle from
horizontal to optimum fixed annually tilt angle and optimum daily tilt angle.
The study concludes to the main recommendations that can help the PV system
designers to improve the output of PV system. In addition, the study analyzes
the combination effect of solar radiation in different altitudes and tilt angles to
recommend the designers the procedures of improving the peak sun hours of
design month for PV systems.
Keywords: PV system, Solar radiation, Altitude, Tilt angle, Zenith angle.
1. INTRODUCTION
Solar radiation is the main factor that affects on PV system design. The amount
of solar energy collected by a solar panel is a function of local solar radiation.
There is a significant potential for utilizing the photovoltaic solar energy in
Yemen which receives more than 5.5 KW/m2/day on a horizontal surface for
the most regions around the year [1]. There is a shortage in solar radiation data
in most regions in Yemen. The amount of solar radiation incident on tilted
surface at any time is a complex function that depends on several parameters
like the global radiation on a horizontal surface, the ground reflectance, and the
day of the year [2]. The tilt angle of PV system, region altitude and climate
1- Deportment of Electronic engineering, Faculty of engineering, University of Science and
Technology, Sana'a, Yemen
Journal of Science & Technology
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
96
influences are the main factors that affect on amount of daily and average
monthly solar radiation that is received by the square meter of PV array. The
total yearly solar energy that is received by tilted PV panels could be better
than the incident energy on horizontal one. This amount will be increased for
optimum fixed tilt angle of PV solar system in different latitude. Thus, the
amount of solar radiation is increasing and the output of PV array is increasing.
The knowledge about the solar radiation on horizontal surface or fixed tilt
surface is not sufficient to optimize the design of PV system. In addition, the
solar radiation data in most regions is not covered the effect of altitude in solar
radiation. The effect of altitude on solar radiation as a result the PV system
design could be observed in areas that have high diversity in altitude. Many
regions in Yemen, as a case study have large variations in elevation in few
square kilometers. Hence the effect altitude on solar radiation has to be studied
carefully to find out the required factors in PV system design.
Many papers are published in different countries to study the effect of either the
altitude or tilt angle of PV panels on the solar radiation as a result on the output
energy of PV system. For example: Guglielmos. Aglietti and others in [3]
examined the possibility to harvest solar energy in the high atmosphere, as an
intermediate solution between round-based PV devices and satellite solar
power in UK.Stefano Redland and others in [4] harnesses the solar power at
high altitude and transmits it to the ground via the mooring cable. The model of
a tethered lighter than air spherical balloon is used to simulate the behavior of
the system in working conditions. TamerKhatib, A. Mohamed, K. Sopian in [5]
use Liu and Jordan model to optimize the monthly tilt angle for solar panels for
five main sites in Malaysia. Anu George, Robins Anto in [6] estimated
theoretically the values of optimal tilt angle over each month for a PV panel
installed in Kerala, India (9.55N, 76.81E) using geographic factor method,
clearness index method and declination angle method. DrissLahjouji,
HassaneDarhmaoui in [7] developed A mathematical model to calculate solar
radiation on an inclined surface as a function of the tilt angle. The study shows
that the monthly optimal tilt angle allows maximum solar radiation collection.
This study will investigate in the effect of altitude on solar radiation in tropical
region. Also the study will figure out and analyze the effect of tilt angle on
solar radiation in different altitude levels. The main purpose of this study is to
find out the required progressions that will improve the Peak sun hours for
design month the PV array in different altitude regions.
This paper is organized as follows: introduction and a literature reviews in this
field have been introduced in this section. Section two explains the effect of the
main influences on solar radiation in, Section three analyzes and investigates
the effect of altitude and tilt angle on solar radiation as well on PV panels
output. The last section gives the final conclusion and recommendations that
can improve the peak sun hours of different types of PV system.
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
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2. Factors that effect on solar radiation

The main factor that can affect the PV system design is the amount of solar
radiation in different months within the year. The minimum solar radiation is
the mainly value that is used to design the standalone PV systems for different
loads. In addition, the maximum cloudy days per year is another important
factor in the design of standalone PV system for critical loads. A big diversity
in amount of solar radiation in different months dissipates a big available power
from PV array if the system is designed concerning the minimum monthly
radiation system design. As well the long cloudy days have the main effect on
the total storage capacity, as a result the cost of standalone PV system. The
solar radiation per square meter can be increased by the following two
methods:
By change the tilt angle of PV panels in different times per year
By increase the altitude of system location.
These two influences will be investigated in section 3.As well as to recognize
these two influences the air mass and main parameters that verify the optimal
tilt angle will be discussed.
2.1 Effect of Air mass on solar radiation

The atmosphere scatters and absorbs some of the Suns energy that
is incident on the Earths surface. The amount of energy reflected,
scattered and absorbed depends on the amount of atmosphere that
the incident radiation travels through as well as the levels of dust
particles and water vapor present in the atmosphere.
The distance travelled through the atmosphere by the Suns rays
incident on the Earth is accounted for by a quantity called air mass
(AM) which can be calculated from Equation (1) or equation (2)
[8][2].
(1)
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
98
(2)
Where: is the Zenith angle.
Air mass affects the amount of spectral content of solar radiation reaches to
earth's surface, and varies with sun position and altitude. Accordingly outside
the Earth's atmosphere AM = 0, when the sun is directly overhead and the
average extraterrestrial insolation at the edge of the atmosphere (solar constant)
is 1367 w/m2 [8][9].
Higher altitudes complicate things somewhat because the higher you go above
sea level, the fewer atmospheres there is and the more the composition of that
atmosphere differs from the atmosphere at sea level. The effect of air mass is
most felt when the sun is lower in the sky and so it has a bigger impact on the
insolation of high latitude places.
2.2 Effect of array tilt on solar radiation [9]

The power of solar radiation that incident on a PV module depends not only on
the power contained in the sunlight, but also on the angle between the module
and the sun. The tilt angle has a major impact on the solar radiation incident on
a surface. When the absorbing surface and the sunlight are perpendicular to
each other, the power density will always be at its maximum when the surface
is perpendicular to the sun. Typically the amount of solar radiation incident on
a tilted module surface is the component of the incident solar radiation which is
perpendicular to the module surface. However, as the angle between the sun
and a fixed surface is continually changing, the power density on a fixed PV
module is less than the available incident sunlight [10].
For a fixed tilt angle, the maximum power over the course of a year is obtained
when the tilt angle is equal to the latitude of the location [2]. However, steeper
tilt angles are optimized for large winter loads, while lower tilt angles use a
greater fraction of light in the summer. The simulation below calculates the
maximum number of solar insolation as a function of latitude and module
angle. The optimal tilt angle is the angle that can eliminate the effect of
declination angle () during different time per year on different latitude
locations. The declination of the sun is the angle between the equator and a line
drawn from the center of the Earth to the center of the sun. The declination is a
function of number of day per year[2].
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
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The declination angle varies seasonally due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis of
rotation and the rotation of the Earth around the sun. If the Earth were not tilted
on its axis of rotation, the declination would always be 0. However, the Earth
is tilted by 23.45 and the declination angle varies between 23.25 in summer
solstice and -23.25 in winter solstice. Only at the spring and fall equinoxes is
the declination angle equal to 0 [10].The optimal tilt angle for a given moment
is the one that keeps the sunlight perpendicular to the tilted surface at that
moment and is equal to 90[2][10].
3. Improving the solar radiation.

To improve the output power of PV panels the factors that affect solar radiation
should be studied carefully before PV system is installed. The incidence solar
radiation per square meter can be improved by change the elevation of installed
PV system in regions that have a variety of altitudes.
As mentioned previously the altitude is one of the main factors that are effect
on air mass as a result the total solar radiation per meter square. In addition, the
tilt angle of PV array has a complicated effect on total solar radiation in
different times per year and in different altitude locations.
To track a significant solar radiation, the effect of altitude and tilt angle has to
be studied indifferent times per year. Hotel method in tropical climate regions
is modeled in this paper to study the effect of these two influences on different
times per year and different altitude levels and different tilt angles of meter
square of surfaces.
3.1 Estimation of clear sky radiation

Hotel has presented a method for estimating the beam radiation transmitted
through clear atmosphere in four climate types [2]. The method takes into
account zenith angle on horizontal surface (Z)and altitude (A).The atmosphere
transmission of the beam radiation could be calculated by:
b a0 a1 exp(k / cos Z )
(3)
Where constants a0 , a1 and k are for the slandered atmosphere with 23km
visibility and are founded from a0 *, a1 * and k*, which are given for altitude
less than 2.5 km by:
a 0* 0.4237 0.00821( 6 A ) 2
(4)
a1* 0.5055 0.00595(6.5 A) 2

k * 0.2711 0.01858 ( 2.5 A) 2
(5)
(6)
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
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Where: A is the altitude of the observer in kilometers.

Hence, a0 , a1 and k are calculated as following:
a0 a0* r0
(7)
a1 a1* r1
(8)
k k * rk
(9)
The changes in the Hotel correction factor r0, r1 and rk depend on

climate types and given in Table (1).
Also, the variation in zenith angle on horizontal surface (Z) in equation (3)is a
function of latitude () , declination () and hour angle () and is given by :
cos Z cos cos cos sin sin
(10)
The declination is a function of the day in year n (n=1 on 1 January and can be
calculated by using equation (11)
23 .45 sin( 360
284 n
)
365
(11)
Hence the total beam radiation (Ib) on horizontal surface can be calculated by
using Equation (12)
(12)
I b G0 b
Where GO is the solar radiation incident on horizontal plane outside
the atmosphere and given by:
GO GSC [1 0.033 cos(
360n
)] cos Z
365
(13)
Where the maximum solar radiation outside atmosphere GSC 1367 Wh/m2,
n is the day in the year (n=1 on January,1)
The relationship between the transmission coefficient for beam radiation (b)
and diffuse radiation (d) for a clear day is given by equation (14):
Id
0 . 271 0 .294 b
GO
(14)
Where: Id is the incident diffuse radiation on horizontal plane.

The total solar radiation on the tilted surface in south north direction and
oriented in vertical axis (IT) can be calculated by:
IT Ib Rb I d (
1 cos
1 cos
) I g (
)
2
2
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
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101
Where is the tilt angle of surface, g is the reflectance of the ground, I is the
total incident solar radiation on horizontal surface and Rb is ratio between beam
radiation on the tilted surface to that on horizontal and can be calculated by:
(16)
The zenith angle () is given by:
cos sin sin cos sin cos sin cos

cos cos cos cos cos sin sin cos cos
cos sin sin sin
(17)
Where: is the surface azimuth angle. Table (1) shows the correction factors
to be used with four climate types.
Table (1 ):Correction Factors for Climate Types
Climate Type
Tropical
Middle attitude summer
Subarctic summer
Middle attitude winter
r0
r1
rk
0.95
0.97
0.99
1.03
0.98
0.99
0.99
1.01
1.02
1.02
1.01
1.00
3.2 data description

The mathematical model in this study is applied using the tropical correction
factors. The data shown in Table(2),Table(3)and Table(4) are obtained every 15
minutes for 6 selected days per years and with 100 m change in altitude
between see level(0 meter) and 2500 meter. The data is obtained at latitude
15.5 N as a case study of tropical region. The data in Table (2),Table (3) and
Table (4) are illustrated in Figure (1) , Figure (2) and Figure (3) receptively.
Figure (1) shows the variation in solar radiation in meter square per day for 0o
tilt angle surface. Figure (2) shows the variation in solar radiation per meter
square per day for 15.5 south tilt angle surface which is the optimal fixed angle
per year of this latitude. Figure (3) shows the variation in solar radiation per
meter square per day for optimum daily tilt angle surface which is obtained by
subtracting the latitude angle from declination angle [10][11] .
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
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The six days data in the three figures that are selected according to three
criterions as follow:
21 June and 21 December: represent the summer solstice and winter
solstice. In these two dates the beam radiation has maximum deviation
in zenith for optimum fixed tilt angle surface per year.
21 March and 21 September: where the sun is directly overhead at solar
noon at all points on the equator. In these two dates the beam radiation
has approximately zero deviation in zenith angle for optimum fixed tilt
angle surface per year at mid-daytime.
3 May and 10 August: In these two dates the beam radiation has
approximately zero deviation in zenith angle for 0o tilt angle surface per
year at mid-daytime in 15.5 latitude regions.
3.3Data investigation
As mentioned in section 2 the altitude and tilt angle are the two influences that
can improve the incident solar radiation per meter square as demonstrated in
Figure (1) , Figure (2) and Figure (3).
The tilt angle of PV system changes the value of zenith angle of beam
radiation. As the zenith angle approaches to zero at midday (Beam radiation is
perpendicular to PV panels) the total solar radiation per day on the surface has
its maximum intensity [11]. This can be made by change the tilt angle of PV
array by angle equal the result of subtraction of the latitude angle from
declination angle as mentioned previously.
When the surface is tilted toward the equator with constant angle which is
equal the latitude of system location, the incident solar radiation will improve
at vernal equinox in March autumnal equinox in September. This can be
observed from Figure (2) relating to the data in the horizontal surface in Figure
(1). Furthermore, the best annually average solar radiation can be obtained
when the surface is tilted with this fixed angle (neglecting the climate effect).
To improve the Peak sun hours for design monthly the PV array has to be
oriented to tilt angle at value near optimum angle in winter and summer
solstice.
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
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Table(2):Total solar radiation in different altitude and 0 tilt angle surface

= 0o
Solar radiation (Wh/m2)
Day
Altitude
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
2100
2200
2300
2400
2500
21-Mar
3-May
21-June
10-Aug
21-Sep
21-Dec
6620.299
6693.413
6764.127
6832.434
6898.331
6961.816
7022.889
7081.55
7137.805
7191.658
7243.118
7292.193
7338.897
7383.241
7425.242
7464.918
7502.287
7537.37
7570.191
7600.774
7629.145
7655.331
7679.363
7701.27
7721.086
7738.842
7065.979
7142.21
7215.924
7287.114
7355.779
7421.918
7485.532
7546.625
7605.203
7661.272
7714.842
7765.924
7814.532
7860.68
7904.386
7945.669
7984.55
8021.051
8055.196
8087.013
8116.528
8143.77
8168.772
8191.563
8212.179
8230.654
7026.046
7102.371
7176.179
7247.465
7316.227
7382.462
7446.172
7507.359
7566.029
7622.187
7675.844
7727.01
7775.698
7821.922
7865.701
7907.051
7945.994
7982.553
8016.751
8048.615
8078.172
8105.452
8130.485
8153.303
8173.941
8192.431
7003.779
7079.34
7152.404
7222.968
7291.028
7356.585
7419.639
7480.194
7538.256
7593.832
7646.93
7697.562
7745.742
7791.484
7834.806
7875.725
7914.263
7950.443
7984.288
8015.824
8045.079
8072.082
8096.863
8119.455
8139.889
8158.201
6544.005
6616.28
6686.182
6753.706
6818.847
6881.603
6941.975
6999.963
7055.572
7108.807
7159.677
7208.189
7254.357
7298.193
7339.712
7378.933
7415.873
7450.554
7482.998
7513.23
7541.275
7567.162
7590.918
7612.574
7632.162
7649.715
4837.315
4898.595
4957.958
5015.389
5070.876
5124.408
5175.976
5225.572
5273.192
5318.832
5362.491
5404.172
5443.875
5481.608
5517.378
5551.193
5583.065
5613.009
5641.038
5667.172
5691.429
5713.83
5734.399
5753.16
5770.14
5785.366
= 0o
8500
8000
Energy Wh/m 2
7500
21-Mar
3-May
21-June
10-Aug
21-Sep
21-Dec
7000
6500
6000
5500
5000
4500
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Altitude
Figure (1): Variation of solar radiation in different altitude and 0 tilt angle surface
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
104
Table (3):Total solar radiation in different altitude and 15.5 tilt angle surface
= 15.5o
Day
Altitude
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
2100
2200
2300
2400
2500
21-Mar
3-May
21-June
10-Aug
21-Sep
21-Dec
6810.109
6887.749
6962.841
7035.377
7105.355
7172.771
7237.625
7299.92
7359.658
7416.847
7471.494
7523.609
7573.206
7620.298
7664.901
7707.035
7746.719
7783.977
7818.831
7851.309
7881.438
7909.248
7934.77
7958.036
7979.08
7997.937
6678.131
6746.017
6811.616
6874.928
6935.953
6994.694
7051.153
7105.338
7157.255
7206.914
7254.327
7299.505
7342.463
7383.218
7421.787
7458.189
7492.446
7524.578
7554.611
7582.568
7608.477
7632.363
7654.257
7674.186
7692.182
7708.276
6346.67
6408.305
6467.847
6525.297
6580.655
6633.924
6685.111
6734.22
6781.261
6826.242
6869.175
6910.073
6948.951
6985.823
7020.707
7053.621
7084.585
7113.621
7140.751
7165.996
7189.384
7210.937
7230.683
7248.649
7264.862
7279.351
6619.76
6687.057
6752.087
6814.85
6875.346
6933.578
6989.548
7043.263
7094.73
7143.959
7190.96
7235.747
7278.333
7318.735
7356.97
7393.056
7427.016
7458.87
7488.643
7516.358
7542.042
7565.722
7587.425
7607.182
7625.023
7640.977
6732.175
6808.937
6883.179
6954.895
7024.081
7090.734
7154.855
7216.445
7275.508
7332.05
7386.079
7437.605
7486.641
7533.2
7577.3
7618.957
7658.193
7695.029
7729.49
7761.601
7791.39
7818.886
7844.119
7867.122
7887.928
7906.573
5701.298
5786.186
5868.487
5948.18
6025.242
6099.657
6171.408
6240.481
6306.867
6370.558
6431.549
6489.837
6545.424
6598.313
6648.512
6696.029
6740.878
6783.074
6822.637
6859.588
6893.951
6925.753
6955.026
6981.801
7006.114
7028.002
= 15.5o
8000
Energy Wh/m 2
7500
7000
6500
21-Mar
3-May
21-June
10-Aug
21-Sep
21-Dec
6000
5500
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Altitude
Figure (2): Solar radiation in different altitude and 15.5 tilt angle surface
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
105
Table (4): solar radiation in different altitude and optimum daily tilt angle surface
= Optimumo
Day
Altitude
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
2100
2200
2300
2400
2500
21-Mar
3-May
21-June
10-Aug
21-Sep
21-Dec
6809.921
6887.567
6962.664
7035.206
7105.188
7172.609
7237.468
7299.767
7359.51
7416.702
7471.353
7523.472
7573.072
7620.168
7664.774
7706.911
7746.598
7783.858
7818.715
7851.196
7881.327
7909.139
7934.662
7957.93
7978.975
7997.834
7065.5
7141.715
7215.413
7286.588
7355.238
7421.362
7484.963
7546.042
7604.607
7660.663
7714.221
7765.291
7813.887
7860.025
7903.721
7944.994
7983.865
8020.357
8054.494
8086.302
8115.81
8143.045
8168.04
8190.826
8211.436
8229.905
7195.721
7277.121
7355.869
7431.959
7505.384
7576.142
7644.231
7709.653
7772.409
7832.506
7889.95
7944.751
7996.921
8046.474
8093.426
8137.795
8179.601
8218.867
8255.617
8289.878
8321.678
8351.047
8378.018
8402.623
8424.899
8444.882
7003.192
7078.733
7151.778
7222.323
7290.365
7355.904
7418.941
7479.48
7537.525
7593.085
7646.168
7696.786
7744.952
7790.681
7833.99
7874.897
7913.424
7949.592
7983.427
8014.953
8044.199
8071.193
8095.966
8118.55
8138.977
8157.283
6731.954
6808.722
6882.971
6954.693
7023.885
7090.544
7154.67
7216.265
7275.333
7331.88
7385.914
7437.445
7486.485
7533.048
7577.151
7618.812
7658.052
7694.891
7729.355
7761.469
7791.26
7818.758
7843.994
7866.999
7887.807
7906.573
6275.105
6381.788
6485.296
6585.598
6682.665
6776.47
6866.989
6954.203
7038.095
7118.65
7195.86
7269.717
7340.218
7407.365
7471.163
7531.619
7588.747
7642.563
7693.088
7740.346
7784.365
7825.177
7862.819
7897.329
7928.751
7957.13
= Optimumo
8500
Energy Wh/m 2
8000
7500
7000
21-Mar
3-May
21-June
10-Aug
21-Sep
21-Dec
6500
6000
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Altitude
Figure (3): Variation of Solar radiation in different altitude and optimum daily tilt angle
surface
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
106
The data that is shown with optimum angle in Figure (3) verifies the
improvement in solar radiation at this angle with respect to fixed tilt angle. This
improvement varies in different times per year. The largest upgrading in solar
radiation is around summer solstice in June which is between 13.4% at sea
level and 16% above 2200 m. This upgrading is lower in winter solstice which
is between 8.5% at sea level and 11.7% above 2200 m.
The large increase in solar radiation in high altitude regions in summer owing
to adjust the tilt angle to optimal tilt is very important to substitute the decline
in solar radiation caused by cloud effect in mountain areas in Yemen.
The PV system can receive more solar radiation in high altitude regions better
than in low altitude regions. However, this improvement in solar radiation has
more significant value in winter solstice in December and January when the
system is tilted at optimum tilt angle as shown in Figure (3). This increase is
about 1680 Wh/m2/day when the altitude increases from 0 m to 2500 m which
is 26.8% in solar radiation. Besides this improvement in the solar radiation is
about 500 Wh/m2/day when the altitude increases from sea level to 500 for
optimum tilt system in this time. This increase is about 8% for this small
change in altitude. Within winter solstice the total improvement in solar
radiation is about 17% according to the change in tilt angle from fixed angle to
optimum and increasing the altitude from sea level to 500 m.
As observed from Figure (2) the minimum value of solar radiation for fixed tilt
angle surface is observed at zero altitude. In addition, in the regions near the
sea the high humidity decreases the total solar radiation which could be decline
the total solar energy per day to value under 5kWh/m2 within winter solstice for
the fixed tilt angle system. Hence the 17% upgrading in solar radiation caused
by changing the tilt angle from fixed angle to optimum and altitude increase
from sea level to 500 m. this upgrading in solar radiation can compensate the
decline in solar radiation caused by humidity.
4. Conclusions and recommendations

Based on the investigation given in section 3.3 the main conclusions and
recommendations from this study can be extracted as follow:
The minimum average daily solar radiation is in winter. For large
stations of grid tie PV system, the good selection of system location in
high altitude areas will increase the output of PV system due to the
upgrading in solar radiation. This upgrading in solar radiation due to
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
107
2500m increase in altitude from sea level is about23.2% for fixed tilt
system and 27.8% for optimum tilted system. Hence, if the grid tie PV
system is installed in high mountain regions the above percentages
increase in solar radiation will reflect equivalently in the output of PV
panel.
The additional 1076 W/m2/day in solar radiation in winter that is made
by select a good position of PV system by little change in altitude and
tilt angle is very useful for medium PV standalone station in coastal
cities which has small mountain like Aden Mokala and in rural regions
in Tehama near the mountain. This upgrade in solar radiation increases
the Peak sun hours of design month for PV system which is usually in
winter in these regions. The reduction in required PV owing the 1076
W/m2/day increase in solar radiation for similar electrical load is about 15%.
In several regions in Yemen the altitude could be increase about 1500 m

if the location of installed is changed from valley to the top of the
mountain. This large difference in altitude is very useful for the optimal
tilted system with design month peak sun around summer solstice or
winter solstice. This deduction can be observed from a large slope in
solar radiation between altitudes 0 m and 1500 m of fixed and optimal
tilt angle curves.
The horizontal slope of PV system has to be defeated to avoid the low
system ventilation as a result decline in PV efficiency regarding to high
cell temperature operation.
It could be observed around mid-tropical region there is a large effect of
altitude and tilt angle in winter due to the large deviation of zenith angle
on horizontal surface. As latitude increase in tropical climate and out of
tropical climate regions (above 23.5)the incident angle of beam
radiation on fixed angle system will increase. The zenith angle in winter
becomes greater than 47 at mid-day, therefore, it is expected the effect
of altitude and tilt angle will be increased at this regions. Hence, more
studies are required to identify the effect of altitude in the edge and
outside the tropical regions.
Vol. (19) No. (1) 2014
108
5. References
[1] The NASA Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy web site .http://eosweb.larc.nasa.
[2] John A. Duffie and William A. Beckman, Solar engineering thermal
processes, second edition, A Wiley- international publication, USA, 1991.
[3] Guglielmo S. Aglietti, Stefano Redi, Adrian R. Tatnall, and Thomas
Markvart "Harnessing High-Altitude Solar Powerexamined the possibility to
harvest solar energy in the high atmosphere" ,IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON
ENERGY CONVERSION, VOL. 24, NO. 2, JUNE 2009.
[4] Stefano Redi, Guglielmo S. Aglietti, Adrian R. Tatnall, and Thomas
Markvart, "Configuration Study of High Altitude SolarCollectors", IEEE
Electrical Power & Energy Conference, 2009.
[5] Tamer Khatib, A. Mohamed, K. Sopian, "The monthly optimum tilt angle
of solar panel forfive sites in Malaysia", IEEE International Power
Engineering and Optimization Conference (PEOCO2012), Melaka,
Malaysia: 6-7 June 2012.
[6] Anu George, Robins Anto,"Analytical and Experimental Analysis of
Optimal Tilt angle of Solar Photovoltaic Systems", International Conference
on Green Technologies (ICGT), 2012.
[7] DrissLahjouji, HassaneDarhmaouiin, "Tilt Angle Optimization for
Maximum Solar Energy Collection - Case Study for Ifrane, Morocco",
International Renewable and Sustainable Energy Conference (IRSEC), 2013.
[8] Tariq Muneer, C. Gueymard, and H. Kambezidis,"Solar Radiation and
Daylight"secondedition. ElsevierLtd, 2004.
[9] Air Mass and Insolation: http://pv education.org
[10] Tilt Angle: load tilts, optimal&not optimal, http://pv education.org
[11] William Brooks, James Dunlop, "Photovoltaic installer resource guide",
North American Board NABCEP, March 2012.
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