# Performance task

<p class="callout info"><span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">This guide applies to [easy-pv.ie](https://beta.easy-pv.ie/) and [easy-pv.co.uk](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/easy-pv.co.uk/) versions of Easy PV. The information provided here may not be accurate for easy-pv.com.</span></p>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/books/videos-and-guides/page/financial-task) of the system. </span>

#### <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**Getting started with the Performance task**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">[![image.png](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/i7qNaeX5uw0NiDoh-image.png)](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/i7qNaeX5uw0NiDoh-image.png)</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">When you have finished configuring these inputs, click **Done.**</span>

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#### <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**Navigating the performance task** </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">The right hand sidebar contains options to switch between the **Sunpaths** and the **Performance results**:</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">[![Screenshot from 2025-02-11 14-10-49.png](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/9DT7PF1LoNmtzTcG-screenshot-from-2025-02-11-14-10-49.png)](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/9DT7PF1LoNmtzTcG-screenshot-from-2025-02-11-14-10-49.png)</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">As well as the following:</span>

<table border="1" id="bkmrk-update-the-financial" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 58.8095%; border-width: 1px; border-style: hidden; height: 141.672px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 14.7776%;"></col><col style="width: 85.2241%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 72px;"><td style="height: 72px;"><span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">[![Screenshot from 2025-02-11 14-14-03.png](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/BT5VoWYHwzDM8PoX-screenshot-from-2025-02-11-14-14-03.png)](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/BT5VoWYHwzDM8PoX-screenshot-from-2025-02-11-14-14-03.png)</span>

</td><td class="align-left" style="height: 72px;"><span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**Edit inputs**  
Update the location, pitch and orientation of the roofs and panel allocation</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 69.6719px;"><td style="height: 69.6719px;"><span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">[![Screenshot from 2024-11-18 11-58-50.png](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2024-11/scaled-1680-/7HjUtlBEe5TeveWY-screenshot-from-2024-11-18-11-58-50.png)](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2024-11/7HjUtlBEe5TeveWY-screenshot-from-2024-11-18-11-58-50.png)</span>  
</td><td style="height: 69.6719px;"><span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**View all options**   
Including editing performance preferences and opening the help page</span>  
</td></tr></tbody></table>

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#### <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**View and edit Sunpaths**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">[![image.png](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/IFvMmN50fbisRfwt-image.png)](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/IFvMmN50fbisRfwt-image.png)</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**Automating with 3D**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**Navigating between inverters and inputs**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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. </span>

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#### <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**View the Performance results  </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">These results will depend on which version of Easy PV you are using, below you can expand for information on each version:</span>

<details id="bkmrk-mcs-performance-and-"><summary>MCS performance and self-consumption results</summary>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">The performance estimate calculated here is based on the method detailed in Appendix B of [MIS 3002: The Solar PV Standard (Installation)](https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/MIS-3002_Solar-PV-Systems-V5.0-Final-for-publication.pdf). See the end of [this section](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/books/videos-and-guides/page/performance-task#bkmrk-editing-inputs%C2%A0) for more information on the methodology used for the self-consumption calculation. </span>

<p class="callout info"><span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">The MCS performance report can be accessed from the forms (and then reports) drop down menu. </span></p>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**A. Installation data** </span>  
<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**B. Calculations**</span>  
<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**C. Estimated PV self-consumption – PV only**</span>  
<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**D. Estimated PV self-consumption – with EESS**<span style="text-decoration: underline;">  
</span>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.<span style="text-decoration: underline;">  
</span></span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**E. Additional benefits from PV and EESS**<span style="text-decoration: underline;">  
</span>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. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">[![Screenshot_25-4-2025_14556_staging.easy-pv.co.uk.JPG](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/nDqbWsWbkLau17qA-screenshot-25-4-2025-14556-staging-easy-pv-co-uk.JPG)](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/nDqbWsWbkLau17qA-screenshot-25-4-2025-14556-staging-easy-pv-co-uk.JPG)</span>

</details><details id="bkmrk-nrel-performance-res"><summary>NREL performance results</summary>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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. </span>

</details>---

#### <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**Edit the Performance task inputs** </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">Certain inputs are required for the performance estimate to be calculated. Designing in 3D and [configuring your settings](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/books/videos-and-guides/page/performance-task-preferences "Performance task preferences") to automate panel allocation and sunpath diagram calculations will streamline much of this task. </span>

##### <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**Location**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">This section may show as ticked and completed already if this information can be pulled from the start of the project. </span>

##### <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**Roofs**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">This section may show as ticked and completed already if the pitch and orientation can be populated from earlier in the project. </span>

##### <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**Panel allocation** </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">This section will depend on how you have configured your settings.</span>

- <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">If you have selected for your panels to be **automatically allocated**, then panel allocation will show as completed</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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.</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">If you have **manual allocation** selected then you will need to allocate the panels here.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/books/videos-and-guides/page/manual-panel-allocation). </span>

##### <span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**Self-consumption calculation**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">A self-consumption model is available through the [Consumption Task](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/books/videos-and-guides/page/consumption-task "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. </span>

<details id="bkmrk-mcs-self-consumption"><summary>MCS self-consumption calculation</summary>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">This process follows MCS guidelines defined in [The Battery Standard MIS 3012 ISSUE 0.1](https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/MIS-3012_Battery-Storage-Systems-V0.1.pdf) 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. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Annual electricity consumption of the property</span>**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">The lookup tables for this calculation only permit values between 1500kWh and 6000kWh. Use the [consumption task](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/books/videos-and-guides/page/consumption-task "Consumption task") for more detailed consumption calculations or for values that fall outside this range.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Occupancy archetype</span>**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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.</span>

<span style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**Proportion of battery used for ancillary services such as backup power or arbitrage**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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%.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">The lookup tables for this calculation only permit that the usable capacity is less than 15.1kWh, in this case use the [consumption task](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/books/videos-and-guides/page/consumption-task "Consumption task") for more detailed consumption calculations. </span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">**<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Is additional self-consumption anticipated?</span>**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(52, 73, 94);">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.</span>

</details>