Performance Calculation for Grid-connected Photovoltaic Systems


Home
Index
Service
Statistics
Articles
Software
Photos
Downloads
Publications
Contact
Deutsch

Performance Calculation for Grid-connected Photovoltaic Systems

Please enter here your data or choose parameters of the following lists.

list of locations:
location name
horizontal irradiance H_hor	kWh/(m² a)

roof surface A_roof	m²
usable ratio f_use	%
occupancy f_occ	% (e.g. 35 % at flat roofs)

orientation:	0° (horizontal)
	10° South
	30° South
	60° South
	90° South
	90° SE/SW
	90° East/West
	90° NE/NW
	90° North
	other
	gain/loss of slope f_slope	%

module list:
module efficiency eta	%

system quality:	optimal system, unshaded	(PR=0.8)
	good system, unshaded	(PR=0.75)
	good system, some shading	(PR=0.7)
	average system, more often shaded	(PR=0.6)
	bad system, often shaded	(PR=0.5)
	own definitions
	Performance Ratio PR

specific costs k_rel	US$/kWp
lifetime n	years
interest rate p	%

Annotations for the performance calculations:

The radiation values are taken from the European Solar Radiation Atlas, Springer Verlag 1996.
The module values are given in the German specialists book Understanding Renewable Energy Systems.

The installable electrical power is calculated as follows:
P = A_roof f_use * f_occ * eta
The electrical ouput is given by:
E_PV = H_hor * A_roof f_use * f_occ * (100 % + f_slope) * eta * PR
The specific annual output is calculated:
Y_F = E_PV / P
The total costs are:
k_tot = P * k_rel * 1/kW
The levelized electricity cost without maintenance costs are calculated as follows:
k_E = k_tot * p / (1 - (1 + p)^-n) / E_PV

Attention: This performance analysis is only a rough estimation that can not replace a detailed planning and analysis. No responsibility is accepted for the correctness of this information.

Disclaimer

Solaranlagen, Photovoltaik, Solarthermie