PV Tracker Simulation

Hi
I have an hourly load I'd like the system to meet but it varies throughout the day and year. Is there a way to control the tracker in the pv module? I want to input the load and simulate the tracker to move such that it can output that load. Can SAM do this?
Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Afroz Khan,

For SAM's photovoltaic models, the tracker moves throughout each day of the year to follow the sun either along a single axis or two axes, depending on the option you choose. The seasonal tilt option allows you to enter a fixed tilt angle by month to represent an array that is adjusted by hand throughout the year.

The tracker does not respond to the electric load.

Best regards,
Paul.

Hi Paul

I have an hourly load which I'd like to mitigate using the PV system with no power exported to the grid. The issue is that towards the end of the year I have very low loads which is causing an issue since I don't want to export power. Since I can't simulate tracker, how else would I be able to control the output of the system in SAM? Is there a way to control the output of the system or limit the output on an hourly basis?

Best regards
Afroz

Hi Afroz,

You could use the "System Availability" losses on the Losses page for that -- you can apply losses on a time-step basis to either the DC output of the array or AC output of the inverter. See the Help topic for that page for more details.

Best regards,
Paul.