Optimal Tilt Angle Determination of Solar PV Systems Using Field Measurements and Global Solar Atlas Data

This study presents an experimental and simulation-based analysis of solar panel tilt angle optimization for maximizing solar irradiance and energy generation in Amravati, Maharashtra, India (20.96°N, 77.75°E). Field measurements were conducted using an HTC LX-107 solar power meter and a clinometer to compare irradiance between a tilted (14°) and flat (0°) panel configuration. The experimental results demonstrate that tilted panels consistently receive higher solar irradiance than flat panels, with peak values reaching up to approximately 1100 W/m². To validate and extend the findings, Global Solar Atlas (GSA) simulation data was analyzed for different tilt angles, showing that a tilt angle close to the local latitude (20°–24°) provides maximum annual energy output. For a 3 kWp system, the simulated annual energy yield is 4.558 MWh/year at 20° tilt compared to 4.515 MWh/year at 14°, indicating a marginal but important improvement. The study confirms that south-facing orientation and tilt angles near the site latitude maximize solar energy generation. This work provides practical guidelines for residential and small-scale solar installations in semi-arid regions and demonstrates the effectiveness of combining field measurements with satellite-based data for solar PV optimization.本研究针对印度马哈拉施特拉邦阿姆拉瓦蒂市（20.96°N，77.75°E）的太阳能板倾角优化问题，开展实验与仿真结合的分析，以最大化太阳辐照度与发电量。研究采用HTC LX-107型太阳能功率计（HTC LX-107 solar power meter）与倾角仪（clinometer）开展现场测量，对比了倾角14°与水平0°两种面板配置的辐照度水平。 实验结果表明，倾角安装的太阳能板始终较水平安装面板获得更高的太阳辐照度，峰值可达约1100 W/m²。为验证并拓展研究结论，本研究分析了全球太阳能地图集（Global Solar Atlas, GSA）的不同倾角仿真数据，结果显示，接近当地纬度（20°~24°）的倾角可实现最大的年发电量。 以3 kWp系统为例，倾角20°时的模拟年发电量为4.558 MWh/年，而倾角14°时为4.515 MWh/年，虽增幅有限但具有重要实用价值。本研究证实，朝南朝向与接近场址纬度的倾角配置可最大化太阳能发电量。 本研究为半干旱地区的户用及小型太阳能装机项目提供了实用指导，并验证了将现场测量与卫星数据结合用于太阳能光伏（solar PV）优化的有效性。