Optimization of tilt angle for solar panel: Case study for Madinah, Saudi Arabia

This article analyzes the optimal choice of the tilt angle for the solar panel in order to collect the maximum solar irradiation. In this paper, the collector surface is assumed to be facing toward equator. The study is based upon the measured values of daily global and diffuse solar radiation on a horizontal surface. It is shown that the optimal angle of tilt (βopt) for each month, allows us to collected the maximum solar energy for Madinah site. Annual optimum tilt angle is found to be approximately equal to latitude of the location. It is found that the loss in the amount of collected energy when using the yearly average fixed angle is around 8% compared with the monthly optimum tilt βopt. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.