Impact of Partial Shading on Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Urban Dhaka: A Case Study and Experimental Analysis

Bangladesh is in a region with plenty of sunshine, perfect for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The government has made it mandatory for every homeowner to install 1 kW of solar PV for every 10 kW of electrical load on the rooftop to satisfy the city of Dhaka's fast-rising energy demand. By utilizing renewable energy sources, this program seeks to lessen the impact of the energy problem in densely populated metropolitan areas. However, partial shading compromises the anticipated energy generation even with the required installation. Impediments like trees and uneven building heights on rooftop photovoltaic systems cause shade and energy losses. This study conducted an extensive case study on partial shade on photovoltaic systems in eight locations near Dhaka. Energy losses for each area were computed to thoroughly examine the effect of shade on PV system performance. An experimental examination was also conducted to determine the power loss in the panel due to shading. It was discovered during the testing that the panel's power might drop by up to 81.035% when 20% of it was shaded and by 90.41% when 80% of it was. The investigation also discovered that the low-power panel's output power is more shaded than the high-power panel's. The results provide insightful information for building owners, politicians, and urban planners.