“panels”

Use “panels” to describe each type of panel you use. Here’s an example of a solar pv “panel” description:

"panel": {
   "panel": "AIKO 455W",
   "width_m": 1.134,
   "height_m": 1.722,
   "cost": {
     "per_panel_gbp": 0.0,
     "maintenance_per_panel_pa_gbp": 5.00
   },
   "efficiency": {
     "spec": 
     "percent": 23.1,
     "loss_percent_pa": 0.3,
     "loss_percent_per_celsius": 0.29,
     "temperature_reference_celsius": 25
    },
    "power_max_w": 455.0,
    "lifetime_years": 25,                 "thermal_inertia_m2_second_per_w_celsius": 1000
},

If more than one panel type is used, describe each type within a “panels” array using the format example below:

    "panels": [
      {
        "panel": "AIKO 455W",
        "#": "AIK-A-MAH54-445-AB Gen 2 All Black",
        "cost": {
          "gbp" : 100.0,
          "gbp_per_year" : 1.0
        },
        "width_m": 1.134,
        "height_m": 1.722,
        "power_max_w": 455.0,
        "lifetime_years": 25,
        "thermal_inertia_m2_second_per_w_celsius": 1000,
        "efficiency": {
          "percent": 23.1,
          "loss_percent_per_year": 0.3,
          "loss_percent_per_celsius": 0.29,
          "temperature_reference_celsius": 25
        }
      },
      {
        "panel": "AIKO 470W",
        "#": "Aiko Neostar 3S+ 470W N-Type ABC, Gen 3, 54 Cell, All Black",
        "cost": {
          "gbp" : 110.0,
          "gbp_per_year" : 1.0
        },
        "width_m": 1.134,
        "height_m": 1.722,
        "power_max_w": 470.0,
        "lifetime_years": 25,
        "thermal_inertia_m2_second_per_w_celsius": 1000,
        "efficiency": {
          "percent": 24.3,
          "loss_percent_per_year": 0.3,
          "loss_percent_per_celsius": 0.29,
          "temperature_reference_celsius": 25
        }
      }
    ],

Within each collector, reference the relevant type using “panel” and the number of panels “panels_number” inside each collector description in “collectors”, for example:

"collectors": {
   "collector A": {
      . . . 
      "panel": "AIKO 455W",
      "panels_number": 16,
      . . . 
   },
   "collector B": {
      . . . 
      "panel": "AIKO 470W",
      "panels_number": 12,
      . . . 
   },
   "collector C": {
      . . . 
      "panel": "AIKO 470W",
      "panels_number": 8,
      . . . 
   }
},

“gbp” and “gbp_per_year” specifies initial and ongoing per unit costs. These are multiplied by “panels_number” and summed.

A collector can specify only a single type of panel. Create another collector if you want to include an additional panel type.