Project Description
In this project several photovoltaic positioning systems were researched for a feasibility study focused on powering the UC Davis engineering building, Bainer Hall, via solar energy. The study entailed the use of existing software from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the development of a computational model to predict solar energy capture for fixed, single axis, and dual axis positioning systems. Additional aspects of the study included the physical layout of the positioning systems to show the effects of land use factors on energy capture and system economics.
Various computational model results for fixed and tracking photovoltaic systems.
UC Davis main engineering building, Bainer Hall, conceptual drawing of single axis tracking system layout.