SAM's PV models currently model fixed arrays with a constant tilt angle, and tracking arrays with surface angles calculated by the model in each time step based on the tilt and azimuth inputs and sun position.
For some modeling applications, it would be useful to be able to provide time series surface angles as input, for example to model advanced "smart" trackers, or misaligned trackers. The latter would make it possible to compare a system with misaligned trackers to one with "ideal" trackers, which would be useful for PV O&M teams to evaluate the impact of tracker problems on project economics.
Another approach would be to make the angle of incidence an input as suggested here: https://sam.nrel.gov/forum/forum-general/3702
See this feature request from June 2022: https://sam.nrel.gov/forum/forum-general/3914
SAM's PV models currently model fixed arrays with a constant tilt angle, and tracking arrays with surface angles calculated by the model in each time step based on the tilt and azimuth inputs and sun position.
For some modeling applications, it would be useful to be able to provide time series surface angles as input, for example to model advanced "smart" trackers, or misaligned trackers. The latter would make it possible to compare a system with misaligned trackers to one with "ideal" trackers, which would be useful for PV O&M teams to evaluate the impact of tracker problems on project economics.
Another approach would be to make the angle of incidence an input as suggested here: https://sam.nrel.gov/forum/forum-general/3702
See this feature request from June 2022: https://sam.nrel.gov/forum/forum-general/3914