Open-Source Design and Economics of Manual Variable-Tilt Angle DIY Wood-Based Solar Photovoltaic Racking System

▼Western University's Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology (FAST) Research Group

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Fixed-tilt mechanical racking, consisting of proprietary aluminum extrusions, can dominate the capital costs of small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Recent design research has shown that wood-racking can decrease the capital costs of small systems by more than 75% in North America. To determine if wood racking provides enough savings to enable labor to be exchanged profitably for higher solar electric output, this article develops a novel variable tilt angle open-source wood-based do-it-yourself (DIY) PV rack that can be built and adjusted at exceptionally low costs. A detailed levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) production analysis is performed after the optimal monthly tilt angles are determined for a range of latitudes. The results show the racking systems with an optimal variable seasonal tilt angle have the best lifetime energy production, with 5.2% more energy generated compared to the fixed-tilt system (or 4.8% more energy, if limited to a maximum tilt angle of 60°). Both fixed and variable wooden racking systems show similar LCOE, which is only 29% of the LCOE of commercial metal racking. The results of this study indicate that the novel variable tilt rack, whether used as a small-scale DIY project or scaled up to fulfill larger energy demands, provides both the lowest cost option even when modest labor costs are included and also may provide specific advantages for applications such as agrivoltaics. This design has been certified by OSHWA with CERN-OHL-S-2.0 licenses.

• For designs, drawings, and calculations: https://osf.io/yx8mq/
• For OSHWA Open Source Certification: https://certification.oshwa.org/ca000013.html

▼Pearce publications

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Agrivoltaics · Energy Conservation · Energy Policy · Floatovoltaivs · Industrial Symbiosis · Life Cycle Analysis · Materials Science · Medical · Open Source · Photovoltaic Systems · Resilient Food · Solar Cells · Sustainable Development · Sustainability Education · Water

Sustainable development; Open-source; Photovoltaic; racking; solar energy; biomaterials; wood; photovoltaic; mechanical design; balance of systems; renewable energy; open source; do-it-yourself

• To Catch the Sun
• 3-D printable photovoltaic module spacer
• Open source DIY solar photovoltaic racking
• ---
• Circular PV panel

• Ground-mounted
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  3-D Printing Solar Photovoltaic Racking in Developing World
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  Open-Source Vertical Swinging Wood-Based Solar Photovoltaic Racking Systems
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  Vertical Free-Swinging Photovoltaic Racking Energy Modelling: A Novel Approach to Agrivoltaics
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  Impacts of Location on Designs and Economics of DIY Low-Cost Fixed-Tilt Open Source Wood Solar Photovoltaic Racking
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  Open-Source Design and Economics of Manual Variable-Tilt Angle DIY Wood-Based Solar Photovoltaic Racking System
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  Low-cost pole and wire photovoltaic racking
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  Parametric Open Source Cold-Frame Agrivoltaic Systems
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  Geographic potential of shotcrete photovoltaic racking: Direct and low-concentration cases
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  Open-source Photovoltaic - Electrical Vehicle Carport Designs
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  Geographical Dependence of Open Hardware Optimization: Case Study of Solar Photovoltaic Racking
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  Solar photovoltaic wood racking mechanical design for trellis-based agrivoltaics
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  Wood and Cable-Based Variable Tilt Stilt-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Racking System
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  Ballast-Supported Foundation Designs for DIY Low-Cost Open-Source Solar Photovoltaic Racking Systems
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  Distributed Manufacturing for Distributed Generation: 3-D Printed Solar Photovoltaic Module Mounting Mechanisms for Wood Racking
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  Mechanical and economic analysis of conventional aluminum photovoltaic module frames, frames with side holes, and open-source downward-fastened frames for non-traditional racking
• 
  Technical, Economic and Environmental Potential of Recycled Polycarbonate Solar Photovoltaic Frames

• Roof-mounted
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  Total U.S. cost evaluation of low-weight tension-based photovoltaic flat-roof mounted racking
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  Design of Post-Consumer Modification of Standard Solar Modules to Form Large-Area Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Roof Slates
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  Distributed manufacturing with 3-D printing: a case study of recreational vehicle solar photovoltaic mounting systems

• FPV
• 
  Distributed manufacturing of after market flexible floating photovoltaic modules
• 
  Experimental integration of a foam-based floating photovoltaic (floatovoltaic) system with an anion exchange membrane electrolyzer for 5 kW-Scale green hydrogen production
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  The Greenest Solar Power? Life Cycle Assessment of Foam-Based Flexible Floatovoltaics
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  Foam-based floatovoltaics: A potential solution to disappearing terminal natural lakes
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  Design and Performance Analysis of Foam-Based Floating Photovoltaic Systems in Winter Climates: Case Study of an Experimental 7kW Floatovoltaics in Canada

• Circular PV
• 
  Open-source distributed production of polycarbonate solar photovoltaic modules designed for disassembly