Maximizing Power Generation of a Solar PV System for a Potential Application at Musselwhite Gold Mine Site in Northwestern Ontario, Canada

Abstract

 Increasing global concern for greenhouse gas emission, air pollution, fossil fuel prices, and electricity demand has generated a significant increase in research of promising renewable energy technologies for green electrical power generation. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are known for their capabilities to directly convert renewable solar energy into electrical energy for locations with abundant solar energy where there is a desperate need and demand for electrical power. This includes mining industries in remote locations. Solar PV systems generate more power if they are installed and operated efficiently. The inclination angle at which a PV panel is tilted from the horizontal plane is one of the most influential system parameters that affect the amount of electrical power output from the PV system and the system’s overall efficiency. Typically, the variation in the PV tilt angle determines the amount of incident solar radiation received on a PV panel to be utilized by a connected electrical load for use at a given site. In this paper, a mathematical model with numerical simulations are used to determine the total solar radiation incident on a tilted PV surface and to predict the optimum tilt angle for maximizing power generation from a solar PV system for potential application in Musselwhite Mine located in the remote northwestern region of Ontario, Canada. The total solar energy received on the optimally tilted PV surface is computed for all months in a year at the Musselwhite mine site. The results show that the monthly average optimum tilt angle of the PV system varied from a minimum value of 4o in the month of June to a maximum value of 74o in the months of January and December. It was also found that the highest maximum incident radiation of approximately 22.89 MJ/m2 for the whole year occurred in the month of April, whereas approximately 43.9% of this value (the lowest in the year) occurred in the month of December. The numerical simulation results suggest that PV systems are best be installed directly facing south at a fixed optimum tilt angle of 43o throughout the year at the Musselwhitemine site. This will improve the overall efficiency and save operating cost of the proposed PV system which in turn improves the commercial feasibility for the mining industry as an example of application.