You can talk to us about installing multiple systems, solar panels, inverters and your battery storage requirements.
Solar panels (PV's) are available in various sizes and wattages - the higher, the more output. They convert sunlight into electrical energy. You need an inverter to convert direct current (DC) electricity which is what a solar panel generates, into alternating current (AC) electricity which the electrical grid uses. Optimum size panels for a Heliomotion system = around 1750 x 1050 mm. Contact us for panel and inverter pricing if required. They come with various different grids of cells, and some are pure black.
Solar panel efficiency is affected by temperatures over 25 degrees C about 77 degrees F. Monocrystalline panels lose/gain 0.3-0.5% efficiency per C degree of the solar cells, which is why colder days can give higher yield. Our Eurener 400 watt panels are rated at 1000W/square metre insolation (at 25C). If these 1200W panels are generating 1100 watt, then insolation is 916watt/m^2 (minus inverter+transmission losses). Wet air absorbs more insolation than dry air. Typical summertime insolation is 800-850w/m^2, but days with dry air you can get around 900w/m^2.
Panels are categorized into classes when produced depending on the purity of the cells. For instance 390w, 400w, 410w. So when you purchase 400w panels they will actually be between 400-409w rated power.
This is partly why from March to October the figures don't vary as much as might be expected. Now that global temperatures are getting higher, panel efficiency may be better in spring and autumn seasons.
Inverters come with different kW ratings, depending on the amount of DC power you need to convert into AC to use to power your various requirements including lighting, ovens, washing machines, computers etc at your property or at your business. You need to take into account whether your supply is single or three phase, and whether you are intending to install battery storage in the future. This requires a hybrid, rather than standard inverter.
There are three primary inverter setups: string inverters, and microinverters. String inverters are the oldest, original technology: they are a proven, durable and cost-effective option that have been installed for decades throughout the world. That said, microinverters are newer (but not new!) technologies and have been increasing in popularity over the last decade, especially in the residential market.
Micro-inverters can help improve performance for solar panels that experience marginal shading during the day.
Microinverters convert DC energy into AC energy right at the panel site. While power optimisers are also located behind a solar panel, they don’t convert the electricity on their own; instead, optimisers “condition” the DC energy and send it to a central inverter that finishes the conversion process. The conditioning process fixes the voltage of the DC energy so that the centralised inverter can more efficiently convert it to AC energy. We supply Enphase micro inverters (they have a 25 year market leading warranty), together with Enphase batteries, with their related Envoy monitoring system.
Solar inverters come in a range of different sizes. Like solar panels, inverters are rated in watts. Because your solar inverter converts DC electricity coming from the panels, your solar inverter needs to have the capacity to handle all the power your array produces. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to match your solar panel wattage. So if you have a 3000 watt solar panel system, you’ll need at least a 3000 watt inverter. Need help deciding how much solar power you’ll need to meet your energy needs?
Battery storage is an important element of the system if you are generating surplus power during the day that you could use during the evening or on a cloudy day. We are able to quote for batteries - at the moment supplied from Europe where possible. We can supply Enphase, GivEnergy and Huawei. There are many types/sizes of battery available, and you will need a hybrid inverter to enable storage in a solar battery or a battery with integrated inverter. Batteries can be used purely for storage to use when your solar is not generating (ie at night) or for back up in the event of a power cut.
If a primary factor of your solar energy system is to store energy for later use, you will need to invest in the appropriate number of batteries. They are usually modular, so you can start small, and add further kWh storage as necessary.
Solar panel efficiency is affected by temperatures over 25 degrees C about 77 degrees F. Monocrystalline panels lose/gain 0.3-0.5% efficiency per C degree of the solar cells, which is why colder days can give higher yield. Our Eurener 400 watt panels are rated at 1000W/square metre insolation (at 25C). If these 1200W panels are generating 1100 watt, then insolation is 916watt/m^2 (minus inverter+transmission losses). Wet air absorbs more insolation than dry air. Typical summertime insolation is 800-850w/m^2, but days with dry air you can get around 900w/m^2.
Panels are categorized into classes when produced depending on the purity of the cells. For instance 390w, 400w, 410w. So when you purchase 400w panels they will actually be between 400-409w rated power.
This is partly why from March to October the figures don't vary as much as might be expected. Now that global temperatures are getting higher, panel efficiency may be better in spring and autumn seasons.
Inverters come with different kW ratings, depending on the amount of DC power you need to convert into AC to use to power your various requirements including lighting, ovens, washing machines, computers etc at your property or at your business. You need to take into account whether your supply is single or three phase, and whether you are intending to install battery storage in the future. This requires a hybrid, rather than standard inverter.
There are three primary inverter setups: string inverters, and microinverters. String inverters are the oldest, original technology: they are a proven, durable and cost-effective option that have been installed for decades throughout the world. That said, microinverters are newer (but not new!) technologies and have been increasing in popularity over the last decade, especially in the residential market.
Micro-inverters can help improve performance for solar panels that experience marginal shading during the day.
- Microinverters monitor the performance of individual solar panels, meaning you can assess the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) one solar panel in your array produces versus another.
- Typically, solar companies install one on the back of each individual solar panel. So, if your system has 20 solar panels, that means 20 microinverters.
Microinverters convert DC energy into AC energy right at the panel site. While power optimisers are also located behind a solar panel, they don’t convert the electricity on their own; instead, optimisers “condition” the DC energy and send it to a central inverter that finishes the conversion process. The conditioning process fixes the voltage of the DC energy so that the centralised inverter can more efficiently convert it to AC energy. We supply Enphase micro inverters (they have a 25 year market leading warranty), together with Enphase batteries, with their related Envoy monitoring system.
Solar inverters come in a range of different sizes. Like solar panels, inverters are rated in watts. Because your solar inverter converts DC electricity coming from the panels, your solar inverter needs to have the capacity to handle all the power your array produces. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to match your solar panel wattage. So if you have a 3000 watt solar panel system, you’ll need at least a 3000 watt inverter. Need help deciding how much solar power you’ll need to meet your energy needs?
Battery storage is an important element of the system if you are generating surplus power during the day that you could use during the evening or on a cloudy day. We are able to quote for batteries - at the moment supplied from Europe where possible. We can supply Enphase, GivEnergy and Huawei. There are many types/sizes of battery available, and you will need a hybrid inverter to enable storage in a solar battery or a battery with integrated inverter. Batteries can be used purely for storage to use when your solar is not generating (ie at night) or for back up in the event of a power cut.
If a primary factor of your solar energy system is to store energy for later use, you will need to invest in the appropriate number of batteries. They are usually modular, so you can start small, and add further kWh storage as necessary.