Timber Structure for Photo-voltaic Array in Southern Philippines

Photo-voltaic (PV) panels have reduced in cost in recent years, and the reduction is expected to continue. In1976 the installed cost was about 100 USD/watt, but by 2017 had dropped to about 0.41 USD/watt.i This makesPV panels attractive as a source of electricity in third-world communities blessed with high sunshine hours butlow financial ability to import fuels and rotating machinery needed to generate electricity in the traditionalmanner of moving wires through a magnetic field.This paper describes a 24 X 24 metre timber structure, capable of supporting 288 PV panels that can generate90 kilowatts of electricity. Each structure is in the form of a six-legged table with a sloping top, some thirtytables being needed for the first site. We have designed the structure to survive cyclones and earthquakes inaccordance with the National Structural Code of the Philippines.