Investigation of Optimal Tilt Angle for Solar PV Panels in Lhasa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/yrchgv03Keywords:
Solar irradiance, tilt angle, photovoltaic panels, Lhasa, Tibet, high altitude, winter performanceAbstract
Solar energy is a rapidly growing renewable energy resource in the Tibetan Plateau, where high altitude and clear skies provide exceptional solar irradiance. The tilt angle of photovoltaic (PV) panels significantly affects the amount of solar radiation received and consequently the energy output of PV systems. This study investigates the optimal tilt angle for solar PV panels in Lhasa, Tibet (29.65°N, 91.13°E, 3,656 m elevation) during winter. Solar irradiance measurements were collected at ten different tilt angles ranging from 36° to 45° at hourly intervals from 9:00 to 17:00 over three consecutive clear-sky days in January 2025. Statistical analysis revealed that the 44° tilt angle yielded the highest average irradiance of 815.2 W/m² and the maximum daily total irradiation of 7.07 kWh/m²/day. The performance difference across the 36°–45° range was relatively modest (3.3%), with angles between 41° and 45° all exceeding 800 W/m² average irradiance. Afternoon irradiance was consistently higher than morning irradiance across all tilt angles, with peak values occurring between 13:00 and 14:00. These findings provide practical guidance for the design and installation of solar PV systems in the Lhasa region and contribute to the optimization of solar energy utilization in high-altitude plateau environments.
Downloads
References
[1] China Meteorological Administration. (2008). China solar energy resources assessment report. China Meteorological Press.
[2] Duffie, J. A., & Beckman, W. A. (2013). Solar engineering of thermal processes (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
[3] Rojanapasakul, N., Sripiboon, K., & Srisurang, S. (2013). Optimal tilt angle of solar photovoltaic panel for maximum energy yield in tropical region. Energy Procedia, 34, 639 647.
[4] Wang, J., Liu, H., & Zhou, Y. (2018). Solar radiation characteristics at high altitude areas of Tibetan Plateau. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 39(5), 1287 1294.
[5] Liang, J., Gao, Q., & Wang, T. (2020). Effect of snow albedo on optimal tilt angle of photovoltaic modules in plateau regions. Renewable Energy, 161, 1243 1253.
[6] Tibet Autonomous Region Meteorological Bureau. (2025). Tibet climate bulletin 2024. Tibet Meteorological Press.
[7] Jacobson, M. D., & Delucchi, M. A. (2011). Providing all global energy with wind, water, and solar power, Part I: Technologies, energy resources, quantities and areas of infrastructure, and materials. Energy Policy, 39(3), 1154 1169.
[8] Kaddoura, T., Ramli, M. A., & Al Turki, Y. A. (2016). Optimal tilt angle for uniform and variable solar PV technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 60, 130 137.
[9] Molina, M. G., Paijens, W., & Prahl, F. (2019). High altitude solar radiation: Measurement and analysis at Andean locations. Solar Energy, 182, 347 358.
[10] Li, X., Zhang, Y., & Chen, L. (2021). Optimal tilt angle analysis of photovoltaic panels in Lhasa area based on PVsyst simulation. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 42(3), 234 240.
[11] Zhao, H., Wu, J., & Guo, S. (2019). Study on optimal installation angle of photovoltaic modules in Qinghai Tibet Plateau. Power System Technology, 43(8), 2831 2838.
[12] Tibet Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission. (2021). Tibet solar energy development plan (2021 2030). Tibet People's Publishing House.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Advanced Engineering and Technology Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
