Impact of Solar Incidence Angle on Output Power of PV Systems: A Field Study in Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

This article explores the relationship between the angle of incidence of solar radiation and the output power of solar panels. The object of the study is a 26.1 kW solar power plant installed on the territory of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University. The solar panels at this station are mounted at a tilt angle of 30° and oriented to the south. The main objective of the research is to determine the optimal installation angle of the panels by identifying the effect of the angle of incidence of solar radiation on the output power. During selected time intervals in the spring season, the angle of incidence (θᵢ) was calculated based on the sun’s altitude and azimuth. The obtained angular values were compared with actual output power data retrieved from the SOLARMAN monitoring system operating in real time, and the correlation between them was analyzed. The results of the study confirmed that the performance of the panels increases as the angle of incidence decreases. In other words, the efficiency of converting solar energy into electrical energy improves when sunlight hits the panel surface more perpendicularly. This research provides valuable practical insights for optimizing the tilt angle of solar panels during the design of solar power plants. Moreover, the results of this study have the potential to enhance the educational process in the field of solar energy and can be integrated into STEM-based learning environments.