OPTIMIZING SOLAR PV SYSTEM TILT ANGLE FOR MAXIMUM ENERGY PRODUCTION

This project presents a comparative analysis of fixed-tilt solar mounting systems to determine the optima configuration for maximizing energy generation in the specific climatic conditions of Iterigbi, Nigeria (Latitude 5.57°N). The primary objective was to evaluate the performance of a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system at different tilt angles and recommend the most suitable mounting setup.The methodology employed a controlled simulation-based approach using the industry- standard PVsyst software. A standardized 9.00 kWp PV system model was created,with the module tilt angle as the sole independent variable. Three distinct configurations were simulated and analyzed: 20 ° ,40 ° , and 60 ° tilt angles. All other parameters, including geographical location,system components, and orientation, were held constant to ensure a fair comparison. Key performance indicators such as Annual Energy Production,Specific Production,and Performance Ratio (PR) were used for the evaluation. The 20° tilt angle yielded the highest annual energy output of 13,025 kWh and the highest specific yield of 1,447 kWh/kWp. In contrast, the 40° and 60°configurations produced 5.8% and 22.9% less energy, respectively. This study concludes that for the primary goal of maximizing annual energy yield in the near-equatorial location of Iterigbi,a fixed-tilt mounting system set at 20° is unequivocally the most effective configuration, where higher energy output is desired.