Impact of Wind on Cooling Efficiency of Rooftop Solar PV Systems
11 November 2024 by Nuwan Goonewardena
3 min read
Researchers from Bursa Uludağ University in Turkey have studied how wind affects the cooling of a rooftop solar PV system with 10,806 panels. They found that wind direction and speed significantly influence the cooling effect, with winds from behind being less effective due to the roof’s slope and the small gap between the panels and the roof. Winds from other directions, however, can cool the panels by up to 7°C.
The study was conducted at a 57-acre rooftop facility during the summer of 2023. The researchers noted that most previous studies focused on ground-mounted PV systems, but rooftop systems have different dynamics due to roof geometry. Panels on crowded rooftops are less exposed to cooling winds compared to ground-mounted systems.
Image: Amp Energy
The solar installation is located on a TOFAS car production facility in Bursa, which receives an average solar radiation intensity of 1,393 kWh/m² annually. During the study, winds mainly came from the northeast, with an average speed of 1 m/s, and the strongest winds from the east at 1.49 m/s.
The rooftop hosts 10,806 monocrystalline PERC half-cut PV panels, each with a capacity of 545 W, totaling approximately 5.9 MW. The panels are oriented 22° east of south, with a 17.8° tilt and a 15 cm gap between the panels and the roof.
The researchers measured temperature, irradiance, and wind data at one-minute intervals for wind and 15-minute intervals for other parameters. They compared 50 events with similar irradiance, temperature, and wind direction but different wind speeds. They found that wind speeds below 0.5 m/s provided a cooling effect of 1°C to 3°C, while speeds above 0.5 m/s increased the cooling effect to 3°C to 7°C.
The study also analyzed the impact of wind direction, finding that rear winds were less effective due to the roof slope and minimal gap, while side winds could flow over the panels but lost their cooling effect along the rows.
The researchers concluded that selecting locations with higher wind speeds is crucial for the design phase of solar plants. Proper configuration can enhance performance without significant costs, as modifying existing plants can be challenging and expensive.
Their findings were published in the journal
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