The principal target of this work is to compute the optimal tilt angle (OTA) for Photovoltaic (PV) panels. To perform this task, comprehensive simulations are done starting from altering the tilt angle (TA) daily, to use one fixed TA for all the year. The mathematical models for extra-terrestrial radiation (ETR) of both horizontal and inclined surfaces are presented firstly. At a later stage, the optimization formulation for the maximizing the solar radiation (SR) is adapted, and then the daily, monthly, seasonally, half-yearly and optimal fixed TAs are obtained. Although, the daily OTA produces the maximum SR, it is costly and impractical. It is found that altering the TA twice a year at optimal values that are computed as 5° and 50° for Suez city, gives the best results that are very near to the daily altering of the OTA. The difference between the two methods is 1.56% which is very small. Also, the two OTAs has SR better than that of the fixed OTA which is 28° by 7.77%. Also, it is found that the yearly fixed OTA (28°) is nearly equal to the latitude angle of Suez city which is 30°. The two OTAs method of this paper is different from the commonly used method that suggests two TAs. The first TA is used for winter months which is obtained by adding 15° to the latitude angle while the second TA is obtained by subtracting 15° from the latitude angle for the summer months. This commonly used method produces lesser SR than the two OTAs method of this paper. The theoretical work has been proved by an experimental work on two PV systems constructed at 25° and 30° TAs. The results of the experimental work agree with the theoretical results.

This paper is focused on analyzing, investigating, and designing a hybrid energy system based on sustainable or renewable resources, namely solar and wind energy, in addition to using a diesel generator and battery storage to supply a small resort in Suez, Egypt. The resort is located in Sokhna, which is on the Suez gulf and is about 50 km from the Suez governorate and 100 km from Cairo, Egypt. The Sokhna coast has plenty of high solar radiation and wind energy all year. At the same time, the Egyptian government is building many wind and photovoltaic projects there. Thus, it is expected that it will be very economic to use solar and wind energy in that area to supply the resort. The optimal combinations of energy resources to meet the load demand under various scenarios are considered. The optimal mix of sources is investigated with and without the presence of the grid. The cropped outcomes show that the hybrid energy system, which is also in the presence of the grid, is a very economical solution that provides the resort with an acceptable energy cost. The cost of energies (CoEs) is equal to 0.0441 and 0.0443 $/kWh for cases 2 and 4 (with grid), respectively. However, the CoEs are equal to 0.141 and 0.134 $/kWh for cases 1 and 3 (without grid), respectively.

The principal target of this work is to compute the optimal tilt angle (OTA) for Photovoltaic (PV) panels. To perform this task, comprehensive simulations are done starting from altering the tilt angle (TA) daily, to use one fixed TA for all the year. The mathematical models for extra-terrestrial radiation (ETR) of both horizontal and inclined surfaces are presented firstly. At a later stage, the optimization formulation for the maximizing the solar radiation (SR) is adapted, and then the daily, monthly, seasonally, half-yearly and optimal fixed TAs are obtained. Although, the daily OTA produces the maximum SR, it is costly and impractical. It is found that altering the TA twice a year at optimal values that are computed as 5o and 50o for Suez city, gives the best results that are very near to the daily altering of the OTA. The difference between the two methods is 1.56% which is very small. Also, the two OTAs has SR better than that of the fixed OTA which is 28o by 7.77%. Also, it is found that the yearly fixed OTA (28o) is nearly equal to the latitude angle of Suez city which is 30o. The two OTAs method of this paper is different from the commonly used method that suggests two TAs. The first TA is used for winter months which is obtained by adding 15o to the latitude angle while the second TA is obtained by subtracting 15o from the latitude angle for the summer months. This commonly used method produces lesser SR than the two OTAs method of this paper. The theoretical work has been proved by an experimental work on two PV systems constructed at 25o and 30o TAs. The results of the experimental work agree with the theoretical results.