Investigating the Effect of Shade on Rooftops Solar PV Systems in Hot Arid Regions

Rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems offer distributed electricity generation options that effectively fulfill the energy requirements of a building. The primary difficulty associated with PV systems is their inherent variability, which is contingent upon ambient conditions. The photovoltaic characteristic varies in response to changes in temperature and irradiance conditions. For high-power applications, it is essential to use photovoltaic arrays instead of modules. Large photovoltaic (PV) systems may experience partial shading due to the presence of nearby buildings, trees, and the array itself. Partial shadowing refers to the situation where different modules within a photovoltaic (PV) array receive unequal levels of sun irradiation. This research specifically examines the modeling and analysis of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Bahrain, with a particular emphasis on the energy losses caused by shadowing in different climate conditions. The PV system simulation findings indicate that there is a decrease in energy production when the solar panels are exposed to shade.