Created by R.G., ZHAW, on 30.09.2024
Since 2017, EKZ and ZHAW Wädenswil have been operating an alpine photovoltaic pilot plant in the Davos-Parsenn area at 2,500 meters above sea level, in which individual modules are mounted at different tilt angles. The system was later expanded with a flexible miniaturized system.
Alpine Pilot Plant
The pilot system set up at Davos Totalp in 2017 comprises six free-standing module segments with different inclination angles (30°, 40°, 60° and 90°). These angles can be flexibly adjusted for a wide range of investigations. The aim of this system is to:
- Influence of albedo and bifaciality on yields
- How to reliably estimate the yield
- How does the snow behave on the modules, how long until it slides off
- Which tilt angles are the most optimal
- What influence do climatic conditions have on the service life of the modules
The yields from this plant were used to validate the parametric study carried out as part of the ALIENCE project. Further details can be found in the article «Parametric study on a swiss location for alpine PV systems«, and the simulation data can be viewed in the article «Interactive Tool for Yield Assessment«.
Miniaturized Experimental Plant
In addition to the large test plant, another 1:12 scale plant was installed in Davos Totalp in 2023. With this miniature system, up to 80 different configurations can be approached and analysed. As part of the first report, various system configurations were therefore run and measured.
- Module tilt: 50°, 70°, 80° and 90°
- Ground slope: 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°
- Shading angle: 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°
The yields of the systems were then simulated with the PVsyst tool, using an equivalent system (based on the shading angle) in the horizontal plane for the systems on the inclined slope. Through the comparison, the authors of the report concluded that:
- the comparison with the free-standing system shows the same behaviour
- Miniature system is therefore reliable
- the albedo values from Meteonorm underestimate the yield by up to 16%.
- Simulations of systems on inclined slopes with equivalent systems lead to systematic errors, which can lead to over- and underestimation.
