Performance of differently orientated PV modules - results of a long time measuring program

For 10 years an irradiation measuring field has been operated at FZR near Dresden. It consisted of 12 modules with different tilt and azimuth angles. The yearly mean values of the generated DC-energy are presented and directly compared with the predictions of the PEREZ model. The main result of the measurements is the providing of typical module DC power distributions. This distributions can be used to determine the optimal module/inverter power ratio of grid connected PV plants. For nearly optimal orientated generators this ratio should be one. Further a revision of the widely used “European Efficiency” of inverters is suggested, which is based on new weighting factors derived from the measurements. For PV plants a maximum performance ratio of 84% could be estimated. Finally the matching of the daily electricity load with PV plants in Germany is discussed. The load peak in Germany can be covered by an installed PV capacity of 45 GW.