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Last year we installed a system that consists of 348 Solyndra SL-150-191 panels and 154 Solar World SW-245 panels. The firm that designed the system and managed its installation provided us with detailed estimates of its energy production for each month over many years. With almost a year's data under our belt, several trends have become apparent:
1) The amount of sunlight striking the panels (insolation) is lower than forecast. In no month has insolation exceeded the forecast value and, after 10 months, we're averaging 84.1% of the estimate. Is anyone else in NJ seeing the same?
2) Assuming the output of the solar panels to be proportional to insolation, the Solyndra panels have never performed up to expectation. To date, the Solyndra output is 79.3% of the estimated value, or 4.8% behind insolation.
3) The Solar World panels routinely exceed expectation. Their output, to date, is 101.7% of the estimate. This is 17.6% greater than insolation. In some months, the Solar World output has exceeded 120% of the estimate!
What are other users experiencing with Solyndra panels? Do they usually perform up to spec? It seems to me that either the estimate of the Solyndra panels was flawed or that something is wrong with the system. The engineers tell me that nothing is wrong, but haven't offered any comment on their estimates. Any thoughts?
1) The amount of sunlight striking the panels (insolation) is lower than forecast. In no month has insolation exceeded the forecast value and, after 10 months, we're averaging 84.1% of the estimate. Is anyone else in NJ seeing the same?
2) Assuming the output of the solar panels to be proportional to insolation, the Solyndra panels have never performed up to expectation. To date, the Solyndra output is 79.3% of the estimated value, or 4.8% behind insolation.
3) The Solar World panels routinely exceed expectation. Their output, to date, is 101.7% of the estimate. This is 17.6% greater than insolation. In some months, the Solar World output has exceeded 120% of the estimate!
What are other users experiencing with Solyndra panels? Do they usually perform up to spec? It seems to me that either the estimate of the Solyndra panels was flawed or that something is wrong with the system. The engineers tell me that nothing is wrong, but haven't offered any comment on their estimates. Any thoughts?
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