‘The times, they are a-changin’,’ said Mr. Dylan – and that certainly applies to the world of solar energy.
Recently we presented the case for big home solar and east/west systems. In this article, we’ll briefly look at why ‘supersizing’ a system – even a smaller array – can be beneficial.
With solar components having dramatically reduced in price and the equipment evolved in recent years; it has provided more flexibility in how a solar panel system can be installed, where it can be installed and what it is comprised of.
Up until now, inverter size has generally been matched to the total capacity of solar panels in an installation or higher to allow for adding extra panels. If you have 5kW of modules, then you would usually use a 5kW inverter.
However, boosting the number of panels without increasing inverter size can have a number of benefits.
Boosting Overall Output
A solar panel’s wattage rating is based on standard testing under specific conditions – a 25C cell temperature. In real world conditions, the cells are often much hotter and heat is the enemy of a solar panel; causing it to lose efficiency. The degree of efficiency lost can vary substantially between brands, but the bottom line is heat has a negative affect on all panels.
On a very hot summer’s day, a 5kW array of panels may only output 4kW – so the inverter has capacity to spare. By adding extra panels, the full capacity of the inverter can be utilized in a greater range of conditions.
Other factors that can influence solar array output to a degree are dust and grime, cable and connector related losses and losses within the inverter itself.
Additionally; at various times of the day such as early in the morning and towards evening, the panels won’t be optimally positioned to take full advantage of the solar radiation resources available.
Adding extra panels can combat the varying conditions that will negatively impact overall electricity production – and enough to make it a worthwhile investment.
A Limitation Workaround
Some power companies have set limits as to how large a system can be – and this limit is based on the capacity of the inverter. Supersizing through adding extra panels is a good workaround for this challenge.
Can Supersizing Blow Up Inverters?
No – not in the case of good quality inverters. Industry leader SMA says it is not possible to damage an inverter in this way. The inverter will convert to its capacity and not beyond that; so it creates little in the way of extra stress on the inverter as it is only dealing with what it was designed to cope with. Fans are also available with some inverter models to deal with any extra heat should this be a potential issue.
By How Much Can You Supersize A System?
This is where expert advice comes into play as it will vary depending on the installation situation and components used. Energy Matters can advise on how much solar power systems can be supersized to get the best bang for your solar buck. The Energy Matters team can be contacted via the company’s web site or by calling 1800-EMATTERS.
