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  • hamsuplo
    Junior Member
    • Apr 2012
    • 9

    #1

    solar panel max energy output per year

    so say im looking at a system that has 28kWp. i multiply 28000W by the number of seconds year in a year to get joules, then divide by 3600 to convert to kWh which is
    246144.022 kWh
    so that is my max theoretical output.

    now the actual yearly output of the system im looking at is 29,474.95 kWh, which is 0.12% of my theoretical, which means that yearly, on average i am only getting 2.88 hours of daylight that powers the solar panel (0.12*24 hours per day)

    does my math seem correct?
  • Sunking
    Solar Fanatic
    • Feb 2010
    • 23301

    #2
    Originally posted by hamsuplo
    so say im looking at a system that has 28kWp. i multiply 28000W by the number of seconds year in a year to get joules, then divide by 3600 to convert to kWh which is
    246144.022 kWh
    so that is my max theoretical output.

    now the actual yearly output of the system im looking at is 29,474.95 kWh, which is 0.12% of my theoretical, which means that yearly, on average i am only getting 2.88 hours of daylight that powers the solar panel (0.12*24 hours per day)

    does my math seem correct?
    Not even close to being right. For a grid tied system you fist have to find out what you daily average Insolation is for your area with the tilt and orientation it is to be installed in. USA average is 4.4 Hours. Next system efficiency is about 77%. So for 1 day production is 28 Kw x 4.4 Hours x .77 = 94.8 Kwh/day. Multiply by 365 to get a year.
    MSEE, PE

    Comment

    • hamsuplo
      Junior Member
      • Apr 2012
      • 9

      #3
      Originally posted by Sunking
      Not even close to being right. For a grid tied system you fist have to find out what you daily average Insolation is for your area with the tilt and orientation it is to be installed in. USA average is 4.4 Hours. Next system efficiency is about 77%. So for 1 day production is 28 Kw x 4.4 Hours x .77 = 94.8 Kwh/day. Multiply by 365 to get a year.
      thanks. can i get a source for the 77%? thanks again

      how can i find the daily average insolation? im in toronto, ontario, canada

      Comment

      • Naptown
        Solar Fanatic
        • Feb 2011
        • 6880

        #4
        Originally posted by hamsuplo
        thanks. can i get a source for the 77%? thanks again

        how can i find the daily average insolation? im in toronto, ontario, canada
        PV Watts there is a link on the home page.
        That rating is for the standard derate factors. You will have to tweak them if you are using modules with a + only power tolerance or microinverters etc etc. But is a good place to start from
        NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

        [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

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        • hamsuplo
          Junior Member
          • Apr 2012
          • 9

          #5
          Originally posted by Naptown
          PV Watts there is a link on the home page.
          That rating is for the standard derate factors. You will have to tweak them if you are using modules with a + only power tolerance or microinverters etc etc. But is a good place to start from
          yup, i got it. do you know how i can find the daily average insolation? i assume that the 4.4hours that sunking gave accounts only for the maximum sunlight per day because i found online that everywhere in the world has 12 hours of daylight per day on average. do you know how i can calculate the 4.4 hours that sunking calculated?

          thanks in advance

          Comment

          • Naptown
            Solar Fanatic
            • Feb 2011
            • 6880

            #6
            Originally posted by hamsuplo
            yup, i got it. do you know how i can find the daily average insolation? i assume that the 4.4hours that sunking gave accounts only for the maximum sunlight per day because i found online that everywhere in the world has 12 hours of daylight per day on average. do you know how i can calculate the 4.4 hours that sunking calculated?

            thanks in advance
            you use the 4.4 hours x array watts x derate x 365 = system output

            The 4.4 hours accounts for cloudy days rainy days etc. There is also not enough useable light early and late in the day.
            The 4.4 is the energy that strikes the array / 1000 W per square meter.
            NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

            [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

            [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

            [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

            Comment

            • hamsuplo
              Junior Member
              • Apr 2012
              • 9

              #7
              Originally posted by Naptown
              you use the 4.4 hours x array watts x derate x 365 = system output

              The 4.4 hours accounts for cloudy days rainy days etc. There is also not enough useable light early and late in the day.
              The 4.4 is the energy that strikes the array / 1000 W per square meter.
              yup, i understand that. but how can i find that value for my area? im in toronto ontario. is there a website for a list of values for different areas?

              thanks in advance

              Comment

              • Naptown
                Solar Fanatic
                • Feb 2011
                • 6880

                #8
                Originally posted by Naptown
                PV Watts there is a link on the home page.
                That rating is for the standard derate factors. You will have to tweak them if you are using modules with a + only power tolerance or microinverters etc etc. But is a good place to start from
                Originally posted by hamsuplo
                yup, i understand that. but how can i find that value for my area? im in toronto ontario. is there a website for a list of values for different areas?

                thanks in advance
                Uh where I told you in a previous post
                In red above
                NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

                [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

                [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

                [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

                Comment

                • hamsuplo
                  Junior Member
                  • Apr 2012
                  • 9

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Naptown
                  Uh where I told you in a previous post
                  In red above
                  i found the derate factor from it; can u perhaps guide me to where i can find the number of hours thing? thanks

                  Comment

                  • Naptown
                    Solar Fanatic
                    • Feb 2011
                    • 6880

                    #10
                    Variable I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
                    [SIZE=4][COLOR="#FF0000"]Insolation, kWh/m
                    NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

                    [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

                    [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

                    [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

                    Comment

                    • hamsuplo
                      Junior Member
                      • Apr 2012
                      • 9

                      #11
                      [QUOTE=Naptown;44039]Variable I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
                      [SIZE=4][COLOR="#FF0000"]Insolation, kWh/m

                      Comment

                      • Naptown
                        Solar Fanatic
                        • Feb 2011
                        • 6880

                        #12
                        Originally posted by hamsuplo
                        i saw that, but that data has units of kWh/m^2/day. i was looking for the average daily sunlight in units of hours
                        Those are the numbers to calculate solar output from a PV array.
                        I have no idea why you want to find the average sunlight time in hours. I guess it would be 12. Most of which are useless for solar production. Only the hours listed above will work to calculate output and are an average on the watts available per day on average for the month.
                        NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

                        [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

                        [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

                        [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

                        Comment

                        • hamsuplo
                          Junior Member
                          • Apr 2012
                          • 9

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Naptown
                          Those are the numbers to calculate solar output from a PV array.
                          I have no idea why you want to find the average sunlight time in hours. I guess it would be 12. Most of which are useless for solar production. Only the hours listed above will work to calculate output and are an average on the watts available per day on average for the month.
                          to calculate the derate factor from sunkings quote

                          "Not even close to being right. For a grid tied system you fist have to find out what you daily average Insolation is for your area with the tilt and orientation it is to be installed in. USA average is 4.4 Hours. Next system efficiency is about 77%. So for 1 day production is 28 Kw x 4.4 Hours x .77 = 94.8 Kwh/day. Multiply by 365 to get a year."

                          i need the Wp of the arrays (28kW) * 0.77 (system efficiency.)* 4.4 hours (number of hours at which daylight is maximum, to account for shady days etc) which will give me units of power (kWh). i dont know how i can use the solar insolation (units of kWh/m^2/day) to help find the maximum potential solar energy generated in a year

                          Comment

                          • Naptown
                            Solar Fanatic
                            • Feb 2011
                            • 6880

                            #14
                            Originally posted by hamsuplo
                            to calculate the derate factor from sunkings quote

                            "Not even close to being right. For a grid tied system you fist have to find out what you daily average Insolation is for your area with the tilt and orientation it is to be installed in. USA average is 4.4 Hours. Next system efficiency is about 77%. So for 1 day production is 28 Kw x 4.4 Hours x .77 = 94.8 Kwh/day. Multiply by 365 to get a year."

                            i need the Wp of the arrays (28kW) * 0.77 (system efficiency.)* 4.4 hours (number of hours at which daylight is maximum, to account for shady days etc) which will give me units of power (kWh). i dont know how i can use the solar insolation (units of kWh/m^2/day) to help find the maximum potential solar energy generated in a year
                            Last time here is the formula
                            STC wattage of all panels X derate factor (use .77) x Average insolation in KWH per Sq meter per day from the chart I gave
                            X 365 days = annual output of array.

                            Example
                            10 KW of panels x .77 x 4.4 (or whatever the average is you need to do this yourself) X 365
                            so based on an insolation of 4.4 hours per day average
                            10000 x .77=7700 x4.4 =33880 x 365=1233770 Watt hours per year or 1233 KWH per year
                            NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

                            [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

                            [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

                            [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

                            Comment

                            • russ
                              Solar Fanatic
                              • Jul 2009
                              • 10360

                              #15
                              Average sunlight hours in this manner is just the average insolation in watts divided by 1000 or an annual average insolation of 5.07 kW/m2/day would mean 5.07 sunlight hours.

                              A term some consider useful and I consider to just be confusing.
                              [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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