Performance task
This guide applies to easy-pv.ie and easy-pv.co.uk versions of Easy PV. The information provided here may not be accurate for easy-pv.com.
The performance task uses the system data, location and shading information to estimate the annual output of the system. This is then used in self-consumption calculations to estimate how much of what is generated will be used directly, used to charge a battery or exported to the grid, which is needed to estimate the financial benefits of the system.
Getting started with the Performance task
You can access the Performance task via the 'Tasks' drop-down menu or from the task list to the left on the project overview page.
When the Performance task first opens, you'll be shown a popup that lets you configure the settings you want to use. You can use the left hand navigation to choose the settings you want to edit. More information on each of the settings is available below.
When you have finished configuring these inputs, click Done.
Navigating the performance task
The right hand sidebar contains options to switch between the Sunpaths and the Performance results:
As well as the following:
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Edit inputs Update the location, pitch and orientation of the roofs and panel allocation |
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View all options Including editing performance preferences and opening the help page |
View and edit Sunpaths
The sunpath diagrams maps the path of the sun across the sky at different hours in the day for different months of the year. For each point on the sunpath diagram, Easy PV calculates the amount of solar radiation reaching the panels from direct and diffuse radiation. For shaded regions, where direct radiation is radiation is fully blocked, the system calculates how much diffuse radiation still reaches the panels. The shading factor is the proportion of solar radiation that reaches the panels after accounting for these shading losses.
Automating with 3D
If designing in 3D or magic design mode, the shading can be calculated automatically, provided any trees or obstructions have been modeled. Otherwise, you will need to manually draw on the sunpath diagram what shade is on the panels at different points in the year. Click between the inputs to expand the sunpath diagrams for each inverter.
Navigating between inverters and inputs
On the right you will see each of your inverters, when selecting between them you will see each input or shading group for that inverter on the left. Once each sunpath diagram has been calculated, a green tick will show on the inverter.
View the Performance results
These results will depend on which version of Easy PV you are using, below you can expand for information on each version:
MCS performance and self-consumption results
The performance estimate calculated here is based on the method detailed in Appendix B of MIS 3002: The Solar PV Standard (Installation). See the end of this section for more information on the methodology used for the self-consumption calculation.
The MCS performance report can be accessed from the forms (and then reports) drop down menu.
A. Installation data
This section details the installed capacity, orientation of the system, inclination of the system and the location. These inputs can be adjusted by clicking the pen icon in the top right or by adjusting the panels on the system.
B. Calculations
Using the installation data and the shading factor, an estimated annual output is calculated. To adjust the shading factor, navigate to the sunpaths diagrams tab.
C. Estimated PV self-consumption – PV only
The estimated self-consumption for the system with PV only is taken from the MCS lookup tables, depending on the values above and those input in the task. Click the pen icon to adjust these inputs.
D. Estimated PV self-consumption – with EESS
The estimated self-consumption for the system with PV and battery storage is taken from the MCS lookup tables. This section will not show if there is no battery storage, navigate to the inverter task to include battery storage.
E. Additional benefits from PV and EESS
If additional consumption is anticipated or some of the battery capacity is reserved for ancillary services, that will be detailed here. This section will not show if that is not the case, to edit those inputs click the pen icon in the top right and navigate to the self-consumption tab.
NREL performance results
Section A details the installed capacity, orientation of the system, inclination of the system and the location. These inputs can be adjusted by clicking the pen icon in the top right.
In section B, the data in section A is used to estimate the output per kWp for the unshaded array using the NREL's PVWatts calculator. The percentage of output lost from shade is then subtracted from this value. This is then multiplied by the kWp of the input to calculate the estimated generation per input. To adjust the percentage lost, navigate to the sunpaths tab.
Edit the Performance task inputs
Certain inputs are required for the performance estimate to be calculated. Designing in 3D and configuring your settings to automate panel allocation and sunpath diagram calculations will streamline much of this task.
Location
If not already input when creating the project, you will need to set the location. This is necessary for performance calculations since where in the world the system is located determines how much sunlight it will get. If there is no postcode for the location of your system, choose the most local one you can find.
This section may show as ticked and completed already if this information can be pulled from the start of the project.
Roofs
If you are creating a flat roof system or using quick roof mode, you will also need to input pitch and orientation. Both this and the location data are used to determine the output of the system.
This section may show as ticked and completed already if the pitch and orientation can be populated from earlier in the project.
Panel allocation
This section will depend on how you have configured your settings.
- If you have selected for your panels to be automatically allocated, then panel allocation will show as completed
- If you have selected suggest allocation then here you can choose to edit the allocation or select Done to accept the allocation and close the window.
- If you have manual allocation selected then you will need to allocate the panels here.
There are some cases where auto-stringing will not work and manual allocation will be required. Further information about manual panel allocation can be found here.
Self-consumption calculation
A self-consumption model is available through the Consumption Task. For UK users, this can be provided to customers in addition to the MCS calculation, which is completed here in the performance task.
MCS self-consumption calculation
This process follows MCS guidelines defined in The Battery Standard MIS 3012 ISSUE 0.1 to predict self-consumption of the generated PV electricity. UK companies installing under MCS will need to provide this calculation when it can be used.
Annual electricity consumption of the property
The lookup tables for this calculation only permit values between 1500kWh and 6000kWh. Use the consumption task for more detailed consumption calculations or for values that fall outside this range.
For the most accurate results use a value from past electricity bills. Where possible, consumption data should be taken before the installation of electric heating / hot water or electric vehicle charging.
Occupancy archetype
Properties that are occupied during the day will typically consume more PV-generated electricity directly. Properties that are empty during the day may benefit more from battery storage that can store PV-generated electricity for later use.
Proportion of battery used for ancillary services such as backup power or arbitrage
If there is a battery on the project, this question will appear. If the entire battery capacity to be used to increase self-consumption, this value will be 0%.
The lookup tables for this calculation only permit that the usable capacity is less than 15.1kWh, in this case use the consumption task for more detailed consumption calculations.
Is additional self-consumption anticipated?
The MCS calculation does not account for consumption arising from "non-typical domestic loads" such as electric space heating, swimming pools, heat pumps, electricity power diverters, electric water heating and electric vehicles.
You can enter any figure here, but the calculation assumes that a maximum of 95% of the generated electricity is available for self-consumption so the value in the results table will be capped to the remaining available generation capacity.