So now I have a solar PV system how do I make the most of it???

raider

sly_dog_jonah wrote: »

Posting a link to your system's pvoutput.org page might be quicker. This can 'do the maths' for you as well as encapsulate system specifications. It's very easy to create and update from whatever means you use to record your generation. I import the CSV output from our SoloPV monitor:

http://www.pvoutput.org/list.jsp?id=5499&sid=4374

I'm guessing your system didn't generate exactly 5.3kWh on eight consecutive days at the beginning of November?

Come and join the "United Kingdom" team if you want, so you can compare your system with others in the UK. Just click "Join Team" and thats it. http://www.pvoutput.org/ladder.jsp?tid=110

My System: http://www.pvoutput.org/list.jsp?id=2141

sly_dog_jonah

KevinG wrote: »

When people talk about "PVGIS" estimate, are they referring to "Classic PGVIS" or "Climate-SAF PVGIS", which is rather higher? (See http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/apps4/databasehelp_en.html)
I'm going to beat both for January so I'm not too bothered, but I did wonder.

I use the Classic PVGIS estimate, which for my system is 3060kWh annually, versus 3130kWh on the Climate-SAF PVGIS estimate, or 2.3% higher.

How much is Climate-SAF bigger than Classic for your location/system?

sly_dog_jonah

raider wrote: »

I'm guessing your system didn't generate exactly 5.3kWh on eight consecutive days at the beginning of November?

Come and join the "United Kingdom" team if you want, so you can compare your system with others in the UK. Just click "Join Team" and thats it. http://www.pvoutput.org/ladder.jsp?tid=110

My System: http://www.pvoutput.org/list.jsp?id=2141

Indeed Mr Holmes! I was in India with work that week and the missus had her hands full with our daughter and working 4 days a week, so I felt a bit bad insisting on her taking readings for me. We didn't get the SoloPV until December so couldn't log automatically.

I've joined up to the UK team, I guess we could also have an MSE team? and I've created an MSE Forumites team: http://www.pvoutput.org/listteam.jsp?tid=338

KevinG

sly_dog_jonah wrote: »

I use the Classic PVGIS estimate, which for my system is 3060kWh annually, versus 3130kWh on the Climate-SAF PVGIS estimate, or 2.3% higher.

How much is Climate-SAF bigger than Classic for your location/system?

1870kWh vs 1680 kWh (11.3% higher).

sly_dog_jonah

Guess this is a question for those that installed significantly prior to April 2011:

When the new RPI-adjusted FIT rates take effect each April 1st, how does your FIT supplier adjust your FIT payment if you don't have a quarterly reading due in that month?

Do they take use an estimated based on seasonal variation in generation, or just a pro-rata'd estimate based on the previous quarterly reading and the next reading after April? Can you submit a reading on 1st April even if one is not due that month?

Looks like it is the previous December RPI which is used to uprate the Generation and Export rates on the 1st April. Dec 2011's RPI was 4.8% (which was coincidentally the same as December 2010) so the domestic <4kW rate for existing PV installations should go up to 45.4p and the export rate 3.2p this April.

don0301

sly_dog_jonah wrote: »

Guess this is a question for those that installed significantly prior to April 2011:

When the new RPI-adjusted FIT rates take effect each April 1st, how does your FIT supplier adjust your FIT payment if you don't have a quarterly reading due in that month?

Do they take use an estimated based on seasonal variation in generation, or just a pro-rata'd estimate based on the previous quarterly reading and the next reading after April? Can you submit a reading on 1st April even if one is not due that month?

Looks like it is the previous December RPI which is used to uprate the Generation and Export rates on the 1st April. Dec 2011's RPI was 4.8% (which was coincidentally the same as December 2010) so the domestic <4kW rate for existing PV installations should go up to 45.4p and the export rate 3.2p this April.

this has been covered here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3741409=

and here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3738661

Martyn1981

sly_dog_jonah wrote: »

I use the Classic PVGIS estimate, which for my system is 3060kWh annually, versus 3130kWh on the Climate-SAF PVGIS estimate, or 2.3% higher.

How much is Climate-SAF bigger than Classic for your location/system?

I use climate, originally at 14% losses (default) 2,750kWh's

but then changed it to 10% losses, which is 2,872kWh's, and this seems to better match my generation so far.

In fact (and yes I know total coincidence), but 14% for Jan 70units, 10% Jan is 72, and the system has just hit 72 and is shutting down as we speak.

Edit: 72kWh's from 3.6kWp = 20kWh's/kWp

Mart.

Brian99_2

To Sly-dog, and others....

I do like your splendid coloured charts from digital outputs

However some of us don't actually get digital info from our inverters, and I spend far too much time anyway doing computerish things, LOL

So a simpler form of comparison may still be of interest...

My suggestion is.... JanuaryGeneration(kWh) divided by kWp

Should be interesting to compare different locations (and roof angles).

sly_dog_jonah

Brian99 wrote: »

To Sly-dog, and others....

I do like your splendid coloured charts from digital outputs

However some of us don't actually get digital info from our inverters, and I spend far too much time anyway doing computerish things, LOL

So a simpler form of comparison may still be of interest...

My suggestion is.... JanuaryGeneration(kWh) divided by kWp

Should be interesting to compare different locations (and roof angles).

I don't get digital info from my inverter either, I get it from a highly accurate SoloPV monitor/logger (reads the flashing LED output of the generation meter).

Now that the sun is setting over Cider Country, our total January generation is as follows:

131.3kwH generated, or 35.5kWh/kWp on a SSE system at 42deg inclination with slight shading as the sun rises on the bottom string. Location BS40 (8miles south of Bristol). 27% ahead of PVGIS-Classic estimate.

This is shown on the monthly view, which plots average daily efficiency (the curve) over recent months: http://www.pvoutput.org/aggregate.jsp?id=5499&sid=4374&v=0&sg=1&t=m (this is the same as total generated / size of array / days in the month)
:beer:

don0301

179.5 kWh