Another reason why panels will be over-sized is for people installing a 10 kW array. The microFIT program limits you to 10 kW of either panels or inverter, whichever is the lowest rated output. Therefore, the system would install 10% or more watts of panels of the inverter capacity - to maximize the amount of energy generation in the mornings, afternoons, and cloudy days. You pay a little more for the panels, but in the long run you make more power under suboptimal radiation periods. And the project would still qualify as a =<10 kW project for the microFIT rules.
My situation was a little different. At first I was going to have 20 235 W panels, however, I eventually had 20 245 W panels installed, and I had a 4 kW inverter. Instead of my panel array being over-sized by 18% it was now 23%. I had no reliable way to assess if I would have a significant power generation loss over the year with an inverter that could now be notably undersized. Additionally, when I ran the Fronius configuration tool [online version] my panel voltages were now going to exceed the inverter optimal ranges under certain temperature regimes. My solar installing company graciously switched my inverter to a 5 kW Fronius IG 5100. My inverter is now a little over-sized for my 4.9 kW system, but I am pleased that I'll not be losing power generation during peak radiation periods.
So... during a relatively cloudy, cool November, how much energy do my panels produce? I downloaded the entire month, except today's data [a very dark rainy day] and calculated the per panel 15 minute average power generation in watts.
Some stats:
- there were 1103 15-minute measurement intervals from 1-29 Nov [will be higher in the summer when the sun is up longer]
- the cloudy mornings, afternoons, and other very dark periods meant that quite often the average panel output was less than 21.5 W [that's less than 10% of the panel capacity]
- maximum output was 215.5 W, there were only 7 15 minute periods where power was greater than 194 watts
- maximum total output was 4311 W, this is somewhat low as higher values have been recorded in August and September
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