[RE-wrenches] orientation data

[Bill Brooks]

Folks,

 

The new SAM (Solar Advisor Model) product from NREL is your answer. I’m just learning about it, but it looks like it can do everything you need related to analysis, and it is free.  It uses TMY2 data sets that are hourly. You can argue with the validity of the TMY2 data sets for your given area, but they are used in all the best analysis software. 

 

The only drawback to SAM is that it cannot do complex system designs like PVSYST can. You can use the output of PVSYST as an input to the SAM model. It is a very involved program, but it has to be to accurately model things like TOU rates.

 

Bill.

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Darryl Thayer
Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 3:04 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] orientation data

 


It used to be that Maui Solar could do it, my Maui is way out of date,  what is needed is a simulation solar calculator and a TOU data set to drive with it
Darryl

--- On Tue, 10/6/09, Mendocino Solar Service <msolar at mcn.org> wrote:


From: Mendocino Solar Service <msolar at mcn.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] orientation data
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 4:58 PM

I think what's needed is a way to analyze the financial output related to orientation, not just kwh. Unlike with off-grid systems, grid-tied is all about financial results. For a customer on TOU and net metering, the time value of the kwh produced is quite important. A west facing array will have peak performance in the afternoon when the system can sell at the peak rate; even though it may produce fewer kwh overall, the value of them is much higher. The CSI's EPBB calculator, flawed as it may be, seems to take this into account when calculating the design factor on which the rebate is based. Anyone using a program that can take time and pricing into account too?

 

Bruce Erickson

Mendocino Solar Service

707-937-1701

707-937-1741 fax

PO Box 1252

Mendocino, CA 95460

 



"Serving the Solar System"

 

 

 

 

On Oct 6, 2009, at 10:53 AM, Ryan Mayfield wrote:





Nik,

 

Check out this tool on Solmetric’s website: http://www.solmetric.com/annualinsolation-us.html

 

You can input your tilt and azimuth and it calculates the percentage loss from the site’s ideal orientation.


Ryan

 

 

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Nicholas Ponzio, Building Energy
Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:38 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] orientation data

 

Hey Folks,


Anybody have real data to compare productions for south-facing vs, west-facing PV array? PVWatts is only showing about a 7% derating for facing west. 

 

Thanks,

Nik

 

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.238 / Virus Database: 270.14.3/2410 - Release Date: 10/02/09 18:24:00

_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Home Power magazine

List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org

Options & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

Check out participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org

 


-----Inline Attachment Follows-----

_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Home Power magazine

List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org

Options & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

Check out participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20091006/e92af04b/attachment-0003.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 5686 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20091006/e92af04b/attachment-0003.jpg>