Each homeowner’s site is unique in many ways. Solar PV systems provide a mini-power plant that will produce electricity for years to come and require good planning and execution.
While doing customer site analysis it is very important to consider many aspects such as,
- Roof Orientation and its impact on power output
- Roof and Sections Area estimate
- System sizing based on output and consumption
- General access and shading factors
- and more ...
A customer’s postcode or equivalent provides solar consultants with a starting point to cite typical sunshine hours at a given location due to latitude and climate.
Higher efficiency at lower cost
Your solar consultants need to advise your customers thoroughly.
A common calculation made by solar consultants and customers determines system size of a solar PV array. This calculation of system size must consider varying output levels due to:
Geographical location or Solar REC Zone
The sunshine hours of the geographical location are an important factor in determining the efficiency of the solar system. For example Australia’s Solar Zone 4 is expected to have 3.7 hours of sunshine per day. A standard 1KW rated PV array in Zone 4 may produce 3.7 KWhrs of power subject to panel and inverter assumptions.
Azimuth Angle to True north and pitch of the roof
CEC Handbook lists the output efficiencies for standard PV systems at various Azimuth Angle and Roof Pitch. For example Panels mounted on roofs at 30 degrees pitch and facing True North will produce at 100% output efficiency due to highest irradiation at that orientation. A standard 1KW system at such orientation will produce 3.7 KWHrs in Solar Zone 4.
Panel and Inverter losses (combined average loss used is 10%)
Panels and inverters have specific conversion efficiencies. Panels produce less power at temperatures higher than STC (Standard Test Conditions) temperature. Inverters operate at varying conversion efficiencies (from DC to AC) and at various voltages from PV array.
Solar eCRM has tools integrated from Google Maps for Sales Reps to look at roof area and sketch out the possible panel positioning in different sections.
Roof image is essential at many stages in the Sales to Install Cycle
- Quoting Stage
- Order Processing Stage
- Install Pages
- Documentation Stages
Solar Panels Output critically depends on how much of Sun light and Irradiation are available
Solar eCRM uses the data provided by Clean Energy Council of Australia to estimate the power output at varying Azimuth Angle and Roof Pitch.
Postcode to Solar Zone Conversion
Solar eCRM uses the postcode of the customer’s solar site to automatically select the appropriate Solar Zones (defined by Australia’s Clean Energy Council).
This eliminates potential errors in rebate calculations, in pricing and also errors in savings and payback period estimates.
Selection of Solar PV System
Solar PV System Selection starts with:
- Solar Zone that determines solar output
- Roof Orientation that determines gains/losses
- Power Consumption at the site
- Customer's knowledge on brands of panels and inverters
- Customer's Budget and Price Target
- Your company's promotional offers
- and several such factors.
Solar eCRM function allows selection from range of products set-up by the Administrator.
It also protects Sales Reps and the company from potential issues arising out of customers expectations on power output and savings and makes the process of quoting a breeze.
System Sizing for Informed Decision
- Allows Sales Reps to explain the theory of power output in relation to their site, roof and many relevant factors
- Assists Sales Reps and the Company to meet Compliance Requirements in educating and aiding customers to make informed decisions
- Uses CEC data extensively for efficiency, solar zones data, savings data and more
- Allows Sales Reps and Customers to vary assumptions and explore multiple scenarios
- Documents the savings and system sizing rationale