Production Review
It has been a weird winter of 2013-2014. Some people claim that it is the coldest since 1942. Normally cold means clear but not so this month.
I knew that the 27th was going to be a good day when I saw Venus shining extremely brightly in the SE before sunrise.
We produced 54.54 kW or around $21.59 for the day. Here is the production curve.
I knew that the 27th was going to be a good day when I saw Venus shining extremely brightly in the SE before sunrise.
We produced 54.54 kW or around $21.59 for the day. Here is the production curve.
This is almost a perfect bell curve or histogram. With a system maximum output of 8.3 kW (max possible 10 kW with microfit). The day was sunny, with clear blue skies and -23 C. Solar noon is at 12:30 here.
We had had a peak earlier in the month that was around 9.2 kW. That was closer to perihelia of 3 January when the earth's orbit is closest to the sun and we get 7% more solar energy. In December we were peaking at 7 kW so we are slowly improving as we once again move towards summer solstice. Remember, our roof is a 5/12 pitch or 22.6 degree and the optimum solar angle is much closer to 60 degrees at this time of year. That is a 18.6% improvement in just over one month. The amount of sunlight per day has also gotten longer from about 8 hours to about 8 hours 50 minutes.
What is the expected January Solar Harvesting Amount?
Records are scarce. One location reported 0.775 MW for 2013 but they have a 40 degree roof. I expect that we will harvest around 0.6 MW having missed about 0.1 MW when our panels were under snow and the sun was shinning brightly.
I also have optimized this procedure making for safe, easy access to the panels. Some people just can't do this. I blogged earlier about our 18 ft extension pole with a broom head for doing this and ladder safety. It has not been normal for us to do this here in Lakeshore, Ontario, so some people haven't been doing snow removal. As a result, we have 50-100% more production then they did. Once removed, you normally don't have to do any more removal until the next storm.
Snow removal does not take a lot of time. Most days, you might just find that the wind has done most of the work for you. You must try to completely clear the panel. As soon as you have removed some snow from a panel it will immediately reward you by producing energy. You can write off the ladder's cost as a production expense. Always buy a class 1A ladder with a wide base. See my earlier post.
I have had one panel with about 10% fouling and the snow is still there after two bright solar days. This small amount of fouling REDUCED the output by up to 80% of its rating. Here is the output at 12:00 noon. Click the image to make enlarge.
Since that time I have learnt that if you want production, then you must remove the snow that does not blow off from the panels.
I also have optimized this procedure making for safe, easy access to the panels. Some people just can't do this. I blogged earlier about our 18 ft extension pole with a broom head for doing this and ladder safety. It has not been normal for us to do this here in Lakeshore, Ontario, so some people haven't been doing snow removal. As a result, we have 50-100% more production then they did. Once removed, you normally don't have to do any more removal until the next storm.
When it is this cold (-15C), I have learnt that the snow/ice normally does not melt much.
Snow removal does not take a lot of time. Most days, you might just find that the wind has done most of the work for you. You must try to completely clear the panel. As soon as you have removed some snow from a panel it will immediately reward you by producing energy. You can write off the ladder's cost as a production expense. Always buy a class 1A ladder with a wide base. See my earlier post.
I have had one panel with about 10% fouling and the snow is still there after two bright solar days. This small amount of fouling REDUCED the output by up to 80% of its rating. Here is the output at 12:00 noon. Click the image to make enlarge.
NORTH is at the Top and South at the bottom Panel 1.0.12 is fouled with snow. Panel 1.0.19 has a problem and will be replaced in March when I can get on the roof to replace it. It will reduce the total annual income by $50 per year but not too much money at this time of year.
Why you must avoid systems with Straight String Inverters
Anyone promoting string inverters alone should be ashamed of them selves.
Our system employs SolarEdge Inverters with Optimizers installed by Flexible Solar southern Ontario's best solar panel installers.
Look at the wild range of power being collected from each panel. Now pick the LOWEST one on each string and that is what each panel would produce. UGG. Who would sell someone a system like that?
This is why optimizers are the best and IMHO the ONLY system to employ.
The panel monitoring system with SolarEdge also showed me that panel 1.0.19 should be replaced (I bought two spares). Panel 2.010 also produces typically 10% less but due to its location and difficulty to replace, will remain there.
Without optimizers, I would have LOST 30% or $1800 per year or $36000 over the life of the contract. But wait a moment. That is what we paid for everything.
This is why optimizers are the best and IMHO the ONLY system to employ.
The panel monitoring system with SolarEdge also showed me that panel 1.0.19 should be replaced (I bought two spares). Panel 2.010 also produces typically 10% less but due to its location and difficulty to replace, will remain there.
Without optimizers, I would have LOST 30% or $1800 per year or $36000 over the life of the contract. But wait a moment. That is what we paid for everything.
People who sell straight string inverter systems simply don't have any respect for the customer.
Which panel orientation is Best?
We can see that by noon time, West Facing panels looking east via our dynamic positioning system have harvested the same amount of energy as South Facing Panels. At this time of year, West and East do not produce well around noon and South Facing Panels peak at this time. South Facing Panels are still out producing the array but the difference has been cut in half.
The array is harvesting 75% more energy than statically positioned East or West panels.
South Facing Panels are the best orientation for solar panels.
The system is not optimized for winter. It is optimized for the period between March to September when the days are longest and you produce 70% of your total yearly harvesting. It is fun for me to watch the dynamic array slowly catch up in production to South Facing Panels. I can track the panels output in Watts on 15 minutes intervals throughout the day.
Stop Paying for your Electrical Energy Bill:
We expect to earn $6500-7500 per year depending on the weather for 20 years. That should work out to us having an extra $100,000.00 income for our retirement over and above your system costs. At that point we grid tie and earn the going rate of power which just might be very close to what we are currently being paid.
We expect to earn around an extra $500 per month on average for one year or $100,000.00 for the 20 year contract (over and above system costs). If that interest you, then call Steve and tell him that Kirk sent you.
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