Performance of Reflector for a Vertical Solar Canal

A reflector stretched over a canal adjacent to a vertical PV array may both reduce evaporation from the canal and increase electricity generation from the vertical array. This paper documents the measured irradiance striking a vertical array with and without a reflector as well as some of the practicalities of the reflector’s installation. The results show trends consistent with previous modeling, verifying that a vertical PV array with an adjacent reflector can deliver roughly the same electricity as a south-facing, fixed-20°-tilted array. However, soiling decreased the reflector’s reflectance and challenges were encountered with the implementation.