PV-SOL: over optimistic yields?

[Martin Dawes]

I've been fiddling with this software for a few weeks now and have nearly got to grips with it.

However, does anyone else that uses this software find that their results for yield are slightly high? I'm trying to work out if I'd doing something wrong.

 

[Markc]

It depend on what you are compeering it to. I have found some of the supplier figures a little on the lean side to be fair. But time will tell.
What figures are you getting? If you PM me your design figures etc I can run it through mine to compare just in case there's something a miss.

 

[Martin Dawes]

Compared to this: SAP 2005

MCS demand that we give this the most weight in our quotes, yet this seems restrictive because PV SOL takes more factors into account. Location for one.

 

[tlsambo]

We carry out an annual visit and we're seeing an average annual generation of 10% above the PV sol predictions. One set up was even 20% above prediction. From the contact I've had with PV Sol I get the impression it's typical German conservative estimates.

So you can go ahead and be confident that if you design it right your figures are good to give to your customers.

 

[SolarCity]

All our jobs are exceeding PV Sol predictions - but the PV Sol figures are based on average climate data..... above average years will bring above average yields.

 

[tlsambo]

does anyone know what variation we should expect between a good and a bad year?

 

[immerse]

The Met Office website gives actual monthly sunshine data since 1929 averaged over each of the 4 nations of the UK. The administrator will not allow me to post the URL for some reason, but it is pretty easy to find. Unfortunately you will not be able to get the data specific to Cornwall or some even smaller area, but it should give a good idea of what is going on.