Curve Correction of the Energy Yield by Flexible Photovoltaics for VIPV and BIPV Applications Using a Simple Correction Factor

Curved photovoltaic, typically using flexible one receives different irradiation from the sunlight. The energy yield is often overestimated by ignoring local cosine loss and other losses related to the curvature of the PV surface. Although the formula to some extent varies by the type of the curved surface, it is modeled by the curve-correction factor from the flat-plate conditions. The curve correction factor is calculated either geometrical calculation or the numerical ray-tracing simulation. In these proceedings, the one by Monte Carlo method (Ray-tracing simulation) is discussed. First, the incident angle the sunlight affected by the orientation (random orientation if necessary), shading by surrounding structures (randomly distributed), climate pattern, and both direct and diffused sunlight from a regional database, was calculated. Second, the absorbed flux onto the curved module surface was calculated using random rays by the above distribution of the sunlight. Third, the regional influences onto the energy generation of the curved PV panel were discussed. The energy yield of the curved PV drops significantly by the increase of the curvature and incident angle distribution affected by latitude, climate pattern, and shading environment.