Optimum fixed orientations and benefits of tracking for capturing solar radiation in the continental United States

Optimum tilt and azimuth angles for solar panels were calculated for a grid of 0.1° by 0.1° National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB-SUNY) cells covering the continental United States. Optimum tilt and azimuth angles varied by up to 10° from the rule of thumb of latitude tilt and due south azimuth, especially in coastal areas, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. The yearly global irradiation incident on a panel at this optimum orientation was compared to the solar radiation received by a flat horizontal panel and a 2-axis tracking panel. Compared to global horizontal irradiation, irradiation at optimum fixed tilt increased with increasing latitude and by 10%–25% per year. Irradiation incident on a 2-axis tracking panel in one year was 25%–45% higher than irradiation received by a panel at optimum fixed orientation. The highest increases in tracking irradiation were seen in the southwestern states, where irradiation was already large, leading to annual irradiation of over 3.4 MWh m−2.