Shading
Shading plays a major role in the functioning of solar power plant. Temporary shading, for example by leaves, snow or dust, is usually removed by the self-cleaning function of the modules using runoff rain water. The more steeply the system is inclined, the better the self-cleaning works. Far more problematic than these temporary effects caused by simple accretion of dirt is the shading caused by the location itself. This relates mainly to shadow thrown onto roofs by, for example, trees, masts, antennae, smokestacks, or existing buildings or planned future buildings in the vicinity.
Even small areas of shadow can cause considerable performance losses, since the weakest solar cell determines the output of an entire module. As a result, the overall performance of the system falls drastically. Even the shadow of an antenna can reduce the output capability of a solar power plant by 10% to 50%. It is possible to avoid such losses by optimizing the layout of the modules and interconnecting them appropriately. The site and layout of a photovoltaic system should therefore be checked for shading as early as during the plant planning stage. In the case of elevated systems it should also be ensured that the modules have sufficient spacing between them so as not to cast shade over one another.
Even small areas of shadow can cause considerable performance losses, since the weakest solar cell determines the output of an entire module. As a result, the overall performance of the system falls drastically. Even the shadow of an antenna can reduce the output capability of a solar power plant by 10% to 50%. It is possible to avoid such losses by optimizing the layout of the modules and interconnecting them appropriately. The site and layout of a photovoltaic system should therefore be checked for shading as early as during the plant planning stage. In the case of elevated systems it should also be ensured that the modules have sufficient spacing between them so as not to cast shade over one another.
