Matching Photovoltaic Orientation to Energy Loads

Rather than orienting rooftop installation of photovoltaics (PV) to maximize power for the individual customer-generator, we analyze design and performance of integrated PV for two alternate objectives: 1.) maximizing the volume of grid sellbacks, and 2.) maximizing customer-generator revenue through net metering. These alternative orientation strategies attempt to maximize power output during times of peak demand on the grid, or when market prices are highest. Power output and PV system configurations were simulated using weather/radiation data for Pennsylvania. Given a system with no centralized storage capacity, we use relevant hourly system loads and Locational Marginal Prices (LMP) from the PJM Interconnection to determine the specific orientations required to integrate intervals of energy gains from the PV system with periods of high demand for electricity in a building. We also determined optimal orientation of PV systems for a time-of-use purchasing scenario, matching orientations and electrical gains with periods in the day when it is economically beneficial to sell to the grid. Given a net-metered PV system with no storage capacity, altering the PV panel orientations allows one to design peak solar energy production times to match any set of energy demands.