Choosing a Grid-Connect PV System.

This information is intended to help you to gain an understanding of how much power you are currently using; how much power you will obtain from different grid-connect systems, and how much of a percentage of your needs they will supply.

Step 1: The best starting point is to work out how much electricity you are already using. Go back and dig out your electricity bills for the last year. We want the full 12 month period so we can get a true daily average. Total up the number of kilowatt-hours you have used over the course of the year, and divide that number by 365. Now you've got your average usage in kilowatt-hours per day.

The solar panel power simulator at the ANU.

Step 2: The next step is to start looking at the grid-connect systems that are available, your location, and calculate how much electricity they can produce.

To do this we'll use an excellent calculator provided by the Australian National University (see image at left).

Step 3. Set the pitch of your roof by cliccking on the 'Photovoltaic Array Design' button; entering the pitch angle, and hitting the 'Done' button.

Step 4. Click on the 'Simulation Type and Date, select Year, and hit the 'Done' button.

Step 5. Near the bottom of the calculator you should see the calculated annual power output, for a 1 kW system. If you plan a 2 kW system, then double this figure. If a 3 kW system, treble it, etc.

Step 6. Divide the annual figure by 365, and you have the average daily power your system will produce.

In Canberra, for example, 1 kW PV system will produce about 4.8 kW/hours per day

Perhaps your household is using an average of 20 kilowatt/hours per day, calculated from you electricity bills. That means that a 2 kW system producing an average of just under 10 kilowatt/hours per day would provide almost half your electricity needs.

Now you should be able to relate the different systems to the amount of power they will give you; and the percentage of your power that they can contribute. Please remember two important things...

- the figures above presume an optimum installation. Variations from true north and from the optimum tilt angle will reduce the power output, as will shading, and

- buying a grid-connect pV system only makes economic sense if you have already taken steps to save power in your home!

Now you should be ready to return to the main grid-connect page to check out just how little a PV system will cost! Just hit your Back button, or click here to return to the Solar Power main page.

Call Enviro-Friendly today on (02) 6282 6266, and find out how a PV system can help you
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How To Choose a Grid-Connect PV System