Reduction of required storage capacities for a 100% renewable energy supply in Germany, if new PV systems are installed with east-west tracking systems at increased elevation angles

Due to the strong reduction of PV prices, storage plays a dominating role in overall system costs. A steeper elevation angle would result in a more balanced seasonal PV yield, at the cost of PV yield reductions during summer, but allowing reduced storage capacities. Additionally, the effect of a single-axis tracking system has been investigated, generating more electricity during the morning and evening hours, thus reducing daily storage requirements. The necessary PV size and storage capacities required for the German energy supply (1,500 TWh after electrification of all sectors) via 100% renewable energies and a 50% solar share have been calculated via the HOMER Pro software, considering the bridging of periods of "dark lulls“ in winter, using costs of 2030 (Table 1). Results: The increase of module elevation angles above the typical 30° leads to a reduction of investment and supply costs. The optimum is reached at a cost reduction of -1.5% for an elevation angle at the latitude of the installation site. An explanation is that high elevation angles are favorable for clear winter days, but not at all for the critical days with diffuse irradiance only, so the battery capacity must be increased. For the same reason, tracking systems do not offer any cost advantage (at least for the ones without an option for horizontal positioning during diffuse days).