Mostafa mehrtash - Industrial research chair in energy and energy efficiency, École de technologie supérieure
Guillermo quesada
Yvan dutil
Daniel rousse

This study is performed to investigate the performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems with different types of solar trackers in Northern climates. To this end, four PV systems were simulated; horizontally fixed, inclined fixed, azimuth tracking, and a dual-axis tracking. The simulations have been carried out by use of PVSOL Pro for daily, monthly, and annual periods. The analyses have been done for climate conditions prevailing in Montreal, Canada. Annual analyses show an increase of solar irradiation upon a tilted system, azimuth tracker system, and dual axis tracker system as compared to the horizontal system. This yearly increase is 16.8%, 50.1%, and 55.7% respectively. The results from daily analyses show, as expected, that in clear days the dual axis tracker PV system provides the highest performance, but in overcast conditions all systemsperform almost similarly and the optimum position is horizontal. The results indicated that a dual-axis tracking array is the optimum system if it goes to the horizontal position in overcast condition

solar energy, photovoltaic (PV), solar tracking, performance