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What are the differences between the MCS and Easy PV self-consumption calculations?

This guide applies to easy-pv.co.uk. For easy-pv.ie only the Easy PV method is available.

There are a few differences between the Easy PV and MCS self-consumption calculations: 

  1. level.
  2. consumptionprofileis entirely accurate to the customer's usage. 
    • MCS:
    uses PVGIS data to modeltheyear,looking at how much is being generated, how much is being consumed and how charged the battery is and diverting the energy accordingly.
    4. model.EasyPV

      		 ​easy-pv.co.uk MCSEasy PV
      Easy PV task

      Completed at the end of Performance task, select MCS in Financial task to use

      Completed in Consumption task, select Easy PV in Financial task to use

      System size
      • MCS: can be used for projects with consumption between 1500-6000kWh, generation below 6000kWh and usable batter capacity below 15.1kWh. 
      • Easy PV: can be used for any system size and consumption

      Strict limits: 

      • Consumption: 1500-6000kWh
      • Generation: <6000kWh
      • Usable battery capacity: <15.1kWh

      No limits on system size or consumption. Any consumption, generation or battery capacity

      Consumption profileDomestic profiles
      • MCS: choice between domestic consumption profiles:only: home all day, home half the day and out all day.day
    • Easy

      Domestic PV:or additional choices between commercial consumption profiles.profiles. You also havePlus the option to upload half-hourly meter data tofrom ensurecustomer

      the
      		•
      Method Determines self-consumption is determined based on lookuplook-up tables specified in MGD 003.003,
    • Easyusing PV: uses the same totalannual generation figureand butconsumption thentotals
      		•  Models how thisgeneration is distributed acrossusing thePVGIS year. Easy PVdata, then calculates stepsusage minute-by-minute by minute overacross the courseentire ofyear.
      Additional options Limited
    • Sincesince Easyit PVonly calculatescompares howannual thefigures generatedand electricitycannot isfactor usedin minute-real-time changes.
      		• Minute-by-minute rather than annually, itcalculation means export limits, inverter clipping, variable tariffs and forced charging/discharging of batteries can beare factored into thecalculations
      also

       factors in inverter clipping.

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