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

John_Pierpoint

Up in Scotland they have been having something akin to SE England's "hurricane" of 1987. There have been reports of damage to wind turbines.
Any reports of damage to PV Panels?

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/edinburgh-east-fife/60_000_left_powerless_as_gales_wreak_havoc_1_1999935

The_Green_Hornet

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Up in Scotland they have been having something akin to SE England's "hurricane" of 1987. There have been reports of damage to wind turbines.
Any reports of damage to PV Panels?

No reports of damage to PV Panels as yet. Looks like all the doom and gloom merchants will be very disappointed.

jackieblack

Happy 2012 everyone

December generation - 169% of prediction, thanks to a bright first half of the month :j
bringing total 2011 generation to 2431kWh, a little over 125% of predicted figures :T

Prior to installation our annual electricity usage was around 2700 kWh pa, so feeling quite pleased that we are generating around 90% of that

themaverick1953

jackieblack wrote: »

Happy 2012 everyone

December generation - 169% of prediction, thanks to a bright first half of the month :j
bringing total 2011 generation to 2431kWh, a little over 125% of predicted figures :T

Prior to installation our annual electricity usage was around 2700 kWh pa, so feeling quite pleased that we are generating around 90% of that

Where are you getting 'predicted figures' from? e.g 4kWp system east Yorkshire installed 28/4/2011 - what would be my predicted?

raider

themaverick1953 wrote: »

Where are you getting 'predicted figures' from? e.g 4kWp system east Yorkshire installed 28/4/2011 - what would be my predicted?

If you've had a system installed, you should have recieved yearly estimated figures from your installer.

If not, input your details here for some estimated figures: http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/

Click on "Europe" under "Interactive access to solar resource and photovoltaic potential:"

Cardew

themaverick1953 wrote: »

Where are you getting 'predicted figures' from? e.g 4kWp system east Yorkshire installed 28/4/2011 - what would be my predicted?

A Shade Greener who have installed thousands in Yorkshire expect to get about 850kWh pa per kWp in ideal conditions. So about 3,400kWh pa would be a ballpark figure(for ideal situation)

themaverick1953

2377 kWp 28/4/11 to 1/1/12 looks a little below par.

orrery

raider wrote: »

If not, input your details here for some estimated figures: http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/

Hats off to these guys. I used their predications to spreadsheet my output to the end of the year after the panels were lit up late on 9th November. Their estimate gives 170 kWh to the year end, and it was almost exact - I got the 170 at breakfast on 31st December!

themaverick1953

themaverick1953 wrote: »

2377 kWp 28/4/11 to 1/1/12 looks a little below par.

Just spotted I wasn't inputing azimuth and now I have reached the prediction for the year - 2430 in the period May to December.

Martyn1981

raider wrote: »

If you've had a system installed, you should have recieved yearly estimated figures from your installer.

If not, input your details here for some estimated figures: http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/

Click on "Europe" under "Interactive access to solar resource and photovoltaic potential:"

That's an excellent site, and makes comparisons of installs very easy.

You may find the figures a little low now, as the default system losses of 14% may be a tad high. Comparing month on month generation, and allowing for good or poor weather, should let you tailor the losses nearer to your system, possibly nearer 10-12%.

Mart.