Comparison of the effect of temperature parameter on the functionality of tracking and fixed photovoltaic systems: A case study in Tehran, Iran

The production of energy by renewable energy, including photovoltaic systems, is always dependent on the environmental and geographical parameters at which the system is installed. Temperature is one of the most important environmental parameters affecting the performance of photovoltaic systems. The effect of this parameter on the fixed and tracking photovoltaic system is not the same. The tracking photovoltaic system, because it is exposed to the sun from sunrise to sunset, has a higher temperature at the surface of the panels than the fixed photovoltaic systems. The result obtained from the experiments in this study shows that the temperature-induced efficiency drop in the fixed and tracking photovoltaic systems is more than 7.98% and 10.02%, respectively. According to calculations, the temperature-induced efficiency drop in tracking photovoltaic systems is about 25.55% higher than that of fixed photovoltaic systems. Observations show that this temperature difference is most extent at sunrise and sunset, and as we approach noon this difference is reduced and minimized.