What AC output should be expected for a 4KW PV system in southern California?

What AC output should be expected for a 4KW PV system in southern California?

I live in the San Fernando Valley. Mostly clear, sunny days. In full sun in summer, what should I expect the AC output to be? How much per day, in the summer?
Thanks.

Comments

  • solar_dave
    solar_dave Solar Expert Posts: 2,397 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: What AC output should be expected for a 4KW PV system in southern California?

    http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/calculators/PVWATTS/version1/

    Go there and put your location and other data in.
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Re: What AC output should be expected for a 4KW PV system in southern California?

    Welcome to the Forum Jeff.

    You can use various programs to estimate the output of solar power systems. A very simple one that I like to use is called PV Watts. It has data for ~20 years of solar irradiance for various locations around the US and World.

    Plug in a few assumptions, and away it goes. A 4kW solar array, fixed mount, tilted to latitude in Los Angeles CA, with 0.77 derating (solar panels lose power when hot, and a bit of losses in wiring+GT inverter gives you):
    "Station Identification"
    "City:","Los_Angeles"
    "State:","California"
    "Lat (deg N):", 33.93
    "Long (deg W):", 118.40
    "Elev (m): ", 32
    "PV System Specifications"
    "DC Rating:"," 4.0 kW"
    "DC to AC Derate Factor:"," 0.770"
    "AC Rating:"," 3.1 kW"
    "Array Type: Fixed Tilt"
    "Array Tilt:"," 33.9"
    "Array Azimuth:","180.0"

    "Energy Specifications"
    "Cost of Electricity:","12.5 cents/kWh"

    "Results"
    "Month", "Solar Radiation (kWh/m^2/day)", "AC Energy (kWh)", "Energy Value ($)"
    1, 4.44, 401, 50.12
    2, 5.35, 441, 55.12
    3, 5.62, 506, 63.25
    4, 6.06, 522, 65.25
    5, 6.19, 548, 68.50
    6, 6.17, 526, 65.75
    7, 6.48, 567, 70.88
    8, 6.68, 582, 72.75
    9, 5.78, 487, 60.88
    10, 5.43, 480, 60.00
    11, 4.84, 420, 52.50
    12, 4.46, 398, 49.75
    "Year", 5.63, 5879, $734.88

    So, on average (+/- 10% is very common from year to year) you would get around 398 to 582 kWH per month.

    Or, 5,879 kWH per year for 365 days per year:
    • 5,879 kWH per year/365 Days per year = 16.1 kWH per day

    There is also a Output Hourly Performance button (each 24 hour period is a "representative" average day) and put it into a spread sheet.

    It is interesting to change tilt, try 1 and 2 axis trackers, etc...

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Re: What AC output should be expected for a 4KW PV system in southern California?

    Hi Jeff,

    I moved your thread to the Grid Tied section of our forum.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset