Solar PV panels are very sensitive to solar shadings. Total or partial shading conditions have a significant impact rate on the capability of delivering energy and may result in lower output and power losses. Cells in a solar panel are usually connected in series to get a higher voltage and therefore an appropriate production of electricity. But when shading occurs, this structure presents some limitations.

1. THE EFFECTS
OF SOLAR SHADINGS

2. INDEX
1. What is shading in solar panels?
2. How can you calculate solar shading
3. Different types of solar shadings
4. archelios™ and archelios™ Pro
The Effects Of Solar Shadings

3. 1. What is shading in solar panels?
The Effects Of Solar Shadings

4. Solar PV panels are very
sensitive to solar shadings.
Total or partial shading
conditions have a significant
impact rate on the capability
of delivering energy and may
result in lower output and
power losses.
The Effects Of Solar Shadings

5. Cells in a solar panel are
usually connected in series
to get a higher voltage and
therefore an appropriate
production of electricity.
But when shading occurs,
this structure presents
some limitations.
The Effects Of Solar Shadings

6. In fact, when a single solar
cell is shaded, the current of
all the units in the string is
determined by the unit that
produces the least current.
The Effects Of Solar Shadings
Illustration by “Potential and Challenges for Building Integrated
Photovoltaics in the Agder Region”

7. When a cell is shaded, the
whole series is virtually shaded
too. To prevent the loss of
energy, the installation usually
includes bypass diodes.
The Effects Of Solar Shadings
Illustration by “Potential and Challenges for Building Integrated
Photovoltaics in the Agder Region”

8. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
Bypass diodes are wired in parallel to the solar
cells. When a solar cell is shaded, the bypass
diode provides a current path which allows the
string of connected solar cells generating energy at
a reduced voltage.
Bypass diodes
Illustration by “Alternative Energy Tutorials” site

9. 2. How can you calculate solar shading?
The Effects Of Solar Shadings

10. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
Shading analysis is one of the most
essential steps in the phase of solar
energy system design or analysis.
Shading is a matter of fact in many
locations.

11. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
This is why it is important to perform a shading analysis during the site survey, in
order to evaluate eventual and potential obstacles such as trees or buildings
which could block the sunlight.

12. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
T H E R E E X I S T
some equations able to calculate the solar
shading and provide the client with a realistic
expectation of the energy that can be
delivered by the PV system.

13. The Effects Of Solar Shadings

14. The Effects Of Solar Shadings

15. The Effects Of Solar Shadings

16. 3. Different types of solar shading
The Effects Of Solar Shadings

17. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
There are different types of solar shadings,
depending on the objects that create the shade:

18. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
Temporary shading Shading resulting
from the building
Shading from the
location
Self-shading Direct shading

19. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
Temporary shading
The result of clouds, bird droppings, dust or fallen leaves.

20. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
Shading resulting from the
building
Shadings resulting from the building is critical as it involves
direct shadows. Examples of this type of shading are
chimneys, lighting conductors, satellite dishes, antennae,
roof and façade protrusions, offset building structure, roof
superstructure just to name a few.

21. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
Shading from the location
The shading from the location comes from the building’s
surrounding. There could be trees or bushes, cables running
over the buildings, neighboring building or distant buildings
which could equally cause horizon darkening.

22. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
Self-shading
With rack-mounting systems, self-shading of the modules
may be caused by the row of the modules. In these cases, it
is necessary to optimize the tilt and the separation between
the module rows.

23. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
Direct shading
Direct shading can cause high losses of energy as the
proximity to the shadow-casting object to hinder the PV
solar panel to catch the light.

24. 4. archelios™ and archelios™ Pro
The Effects Of Solar Shadings

25. BIM objects

26. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
and take into
account the shadows in their calculations in
the 3D model.

27. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
It also has the option to incorporate backtracking and / or
string optimizers.
is a powerful, innovative and easy-to-use
software for the 3D design, yield calculation and
bankability analysis of any photovoltaic project up to
50kWp.
PV projects are directly accessible online and available
for consultation, export or sharing.

28. The Effects Of Solar Shadings
brings professionals more production
capacities and advanced options. The software includes
an export function toward in order to
work in the electrical sizing of cables and protections ang
generate the needed documents for the installation’s
compliance. As well, exporting your project to AutoCAD
(.DXF) and MS Excel (.CSV) is now possible.

29. Both software belong to the ,
The Effects Of Solar Shadings
the comprehensive solution to manage the
entirety of a photovoltaic project (feasibility
study, 3D simulation, electrical sizing and PV
monitoring).

30. Since 1987, Trace Software International has been committed to the
development of software solutions and services dedicated to the industrial
engineering, with a unique expertise in the design of electrical installations.
www.trace-software.com

31. Trace Software France
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commercial@trace-software.com
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