“solar_pv”

Photovoltaic (pv) panels convert solar energy to electrical energy for consumption, export or storage.

Here’s a sample description of a pv installation:

"solar_pv": {
  "include": true,
  "cost": {
     "install_gbp": {
        "install": 19000.0,
        "plant_room": 2000.0
        },
        "maintenance_pa_gbp": 200.0
        },
   "area": {
      "shading_factor": 0.85,
      "border_m": 0.2
    },
    "panels": [{
       "panel": "AIKO 455W",
       "width_m": 1.134,
       "height_m": 1.722,
       "cost": {
          "per_panel_gbp": 0.0,
          "maintenance_per_panel_pa_gbp": 5.0
       },
       "efficiency": {
          "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
       }],
       "inverter": {
          "cost_install_gbp": 0,
          "power_threshold_kw": 11.5,
          "power_efficiency": 0.96
       },
        "collectors": {
           "south": {
                "include": true,
                "area": {
                    "dimensions_footprint_axis": {
                        "tilt_m": 11.5,
                        "other_m": 3.6
                    },
                    "orientation": {
                        "type": "tilted",
                        "tilt_degrees": 35,
                        "azimuth_degrees": 185
                    }
                },
                "panel": "AIKO 455W",
                "panels_number": 16,
                "cost": {
                    "install_gbp": 0.0,
                    "maintenance_pa_gbp": 0.0
                }
            },
            "west": {
                "include": true,
                "area": {
                    "dimensions_footprint_axis": {
                        "tilt_m": 5.9,
                        "other_m": 3.9
                    },
                    "orientation": {
                        "type": "tilted",
                        "tilt_degrees": 10,
                        "azimuth_degrees": 184
                    }
                },
                "panel": "AIKO 455W",
                "panels_number": 10,
                "cost": {
                    "install_gbp": 0.0,
                    "maintenance_pa_gbp": 0.0
                }
            }
        }
    },

To describe your pv panels:

• use the “include” flag to include a collector;

• insert your install and annual maintainance costs, “install_gbp” and “maintenance_pa_gbp” respectively, in “costs”. These will be summed with any costs you declare in “collectors”;
• describe each of your pv collector areas using “collectors”;
• include a “panel” or “panels” description. In either case, for each panel, give:
  • “width_m” and “height_m”: panel dimensions;
  • “cost”:
    • “per_panel_gbp”: cost per panel to be summed by number of panels;
    • “maintenance_per_panel_pa_gbp”: maintenance per panel per annum to be summed;
  • “efficiency”:
    • “percent”: power efficiency when panel is new at the reference temperature (see below);
    • “temperature_reference_celsius”: nominal reference temperature in celsius;
    • loss_percent_pa”: loss of power efficiency in percent per annum;
    • “loss_percent_per_celsius”: loss of power efficiency in percent per degree celsius above the reference temperature (see above);
  • “power_max_w”: maximum output power in watts;
  • “lifetime_years”: maximum operating lifetime in calendar years;
  • “thermal_inertia_m2_second_per_w_celsius”: panel thermal inertial, or how long it takes to heat up when illuminated.
• “inverter”: the collectors are all assumed to feed their generated power through an inverter, so you must include its properties:
  • “cost_install_gbp”: total installation cost;
  • “power_threshold_kw”: maximum power in kilowatts;
  • “power_efficiency”: overall power efficiency.