Astronergy panels?

Re: Astronergy panels?

The components you have selected should be fine. An 11.28 kW fixed mount solar array in Mobile AL (assuming similar weather to your location) using PV Watts and 0.52 end to end efficiency for an off grid system:

"Station Identification"
"City:","Mobile"
"State:","Alabama"
"Lat (deg N):", 30.68
"Long (deg W):", 88.25
"Elev (m): ", 67
"PV System Specifications"
"DC Rating:"," 11.3 kW"
"DC to AC Derate Factor:"," 0.520"
"AC Rating:"," 5.9 kW"
"Array Type: Fixed Tilt"
"Array Tilt:"," 30.7"
"Array Azimuth:","180.0"

"Energy Specifications"
"Cost of Electricity:"," 7.6 cents/kWh"

"Results"
"Month", "Solar Radiation (kWh/m^2/day)", "AC Energy (kWh)", "Energy Value ($)"
1, 3.79, 643, 48.87
2, 4.56, 710, 53.96
3, 5.06, 823, 62.55
4, 5.48, 869, 66.04
5, 5.41, 852, 64.75
6, 5.31, 793, 60.27
7, 5.11, 779, 59.20
8, 5.15, 792, 60.19
9, 4.96, 747, 56.77
10, 5.31, 870, 66.12
11, 4.04, 648, 49.25
12, 4.05, 685, 52.06
"Year", 4.85, 9210, 699.96

Assuming a ~700 kWH per month minimum load:

• 700 kWH / 30 days = 23.3 kWH per day

A 48 volt battery bank, sized for 2 days of "no sun" and 50% maximum discharge (for long life) plus an 85% efficient inverter:

• 23,300 WH per day * 1/0.85 inverter eff * 1/48 volt battery bank * 2 days * 1/0.50 max discharge = 2,284 AH @ 48 Volt battery bank

Assuming a 10 Hour per Day peak average load usage:

• 23,300 WH per day / 10 hours per day = 2,330 Watts average load

If are using mini-split A/C systems (virtually no starting surge), a computer, and perhaps a well pump (surge current questions), that is a pretty good load for a 4,400 watt inverter.

We always suggest that anyone (solar or not) spend as much time and money as possible on conservation measures first (insulation, high efficiency appliances, more insulation, smaller appliances like laptop vs desktop computers, turning off stuff when not used, off grid friendly devices like mini-split A/C and soft start well pumps, etc.) before going solar.

Also, is there a reason you are 100% off grid vs a Grid Tied (no battery) system + backup genset or a Hybrid Inverter system (both GT and Off Grid capable).

Very roughly, you are probably paying around $0.10 per kWH, a GT system may cost around $0.15 to $0.30 per kWH, a Hybrid system will cost you around $0.45 to $0.75 per kWH and full off grid system will probably cost you around $1-$2+ per kWH...

Plus, the reason solar power costs so much for power is the cost of system maintenance too... Inverters/controllers and such last ~10 years before you need new ones and batteries need to be replaced every ~5-15 years. And cycling batteries tends to cost more in power (battery losses, charger/inverter losses) and they do not last as long when cycled daily.

I assume you are also looking at emergency power--And it is possible you have outages in the 1-4+ weeks during bad hurricane seasons... But you also need to be concerned about damage from blowing debris too (solar panels are a big target).

And you will probably need a backup genset anyway for emergency power and poor weather (albeit not near as much fuel with a large solar array).

Anyways some guesses about your configuration and some suggestions.

-Bill