Optimizing to meet consumption needs and maxing rooftop solar output

Hi Michael,

SAM does not have a detailed model of the array layout, so you will have to account for that outside of SAM. 

The cost categories on the Installation Costs and Operating Costs input pages provide some detail of component costs.

Yes, optimizing the design of a PV system is an iterative process. Often system designers decrease the size of the inverter relative to the array (or module in the case of micro inverters) to decrease cost. You can use SAM to determine the minimum inverter size given your design constraints: As the inverter gets smaller, the inverter power limiting losses increase. You can use SAM to achieve the right balance between the higher losses and lower costs.

Best regards,
Paul.

Hi Michael,

SAM's Detailed PV model reports two types of inverter "clipping" losses:

AC inverter power clipping loss happens when the array DC output exceeds the inverter's DC input power rating. When this happens, SAM limits the inverter output to its nameplate AC rated power from the Inverter page.

DC inverter MPPT clipping loss happens when the array DC operating voltage exceeds the inverter's rated maximum MPPT input voltage rating on the Inverter page. In this case, SAM sets the inverter input voltage to the maximum MPPT voltage rating.

You can find these values on the Results page. For example, on the Data Tables tab, search for "clipping" for a list of single values (total loss over the year for Year 1), and time series values over the analysis period:

 

You can also see them on the diagram on the Losses page. "Inverter MPPT clipping" is under "Nominal DC electricity" and "Inverter power clipping" is under "Net DC electricity".

The time series outputs are also available on the Time Series, Profiles, Statistics, Heat Map and PDF / CDF tabs of the Results page.

As for optimization, you can use SAM for that kind of optimization, but you have do the optimization manually by running several simulations. If you are familiar with coding, you could automate the optimization process using an LK script .

Best regards,
Paul.