Abstract

TULLY, N.. Sizing and management of domestic solar electric installations. R&D j. (Matieland, Online) [online]. 2000, vol.16, pp.46-50. ISSN 2309-8988.

The performance of a solar photovoltaic system for a domestic installation is predicted using an hourly solar radiation database. A standard procedure is used to estimate the annual average daily solar energy collected by a typical photovoltaic panel, and a system thus sized to to supply a defined average daily energy load with batteries to give between three and five days of energy backup. It is found that this approach gives a system which should provide full service on every day of the year. A matrix of alternative combinations of numbers of panels and storage batteries which can also maintain service is presented, together with indications of the loss of service due to under-designed systems. The possibility of employing a load management strategy to improve the serviceability of a scaled down system is. examined, and it is found that an acceptable performance might still be obtained with a 15% reduction in panel area.

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