Optimal Orientation and Layout for PV System of Electric Vehicle Charging Station at Assiut University

The PV panels’ orientation significantly affects their ability to produce electricity. The PV panels are typically oriented in Egypt with an azimuth angle of zero degrees, directly facing south, and a tilt angle corresponding to the latitude of the installation location. In this research, the optimal orientation and placement of PV panels, which are used for electric vehicle (EV) charging station at Assiut university is studied. A mathematical model is used to obtain the best tilt and azimuth angles for the PV panels. Moreover, the optimal spacing between the PV panels rows which is achieving minimal effect of shading is determined based on the maximum harvested energy and number of panels. The outcomes reveal that the optimal value for the tilt and the azimuth angles are 22° and 27°, respectively. At these optimal tilt and azimuth angles, the annual harvested energy increases by 2.5% when compared with the typical orientation of PV panels in Egypt. Furthermore, the total output energy is enhanced by 24.9% at the optimal horizontal spacing between the panels.