Shade Measurements Aug 2010

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Solar Site Evaluation

Tips and Techniques

Peter Hoberg

VP Sales and Marketing

Solmetric Corporation



Shade Measurement Topics

• Site analysis considerations – Why measure shade?

– Terminology

– Shade measurement strategies

• Using the SunEye

– Live demo

– Common problems and solutions

– State rebate requirements• Resources, Questions and Answers



• Founded in 2005• 25 employees• Headquarters in Sebastopol, CA• Mission: to improve the effectiveness of solar systems

and those who install them by providing high quality,easy-to-use, accurate tools with embedded technicalknow-how.




Solmetric Solutions



Why measure shade?

• Choose optimum location for panels

• Identify issues early in the process

• Predict energy production accurately

• Ensure optimum financials – State rebate

– Feed in tariff

– Renewable Energy Credits

Note: Shading can have disproportionate

impact on energy production



Hemisphere view (Skyline)



Irradiance

Incident solar radiation (power) per unitarea in kW/m2

Approximately 1 kW/m2 at the earth’ssurface.





San Diego insolation



Azimuth and tilt



Roof Azimuth Tool



Solmetric Compound Angle Tool



Solar Resource Terms

• Insolation. Incident Solar Radiation, kWh/m2

• Solar Access. Insolation compared to no shading, in field of view of the panel.

• Tilt and Orientation Factor (TOF). TOF is the solar insolationat the actual tilt and orientation divided by the insolation atthe optimum tilt and orientation, expressed in percent.

• Total Solar Resource Fraction (TSRF). TSRF is the ratio of insolation available accounting for both shading and TOF,compared to the total insolation available at a given location

at the optimum tilt and orientation and with no shading.TSRF is also expressed in percent, according to the followingequation: TSRF = Solar Access * TOF.



Solar Resource Terms

Optimum AnnualInsolation

TOF

TSRF

Solar Access Loss due to sub-optimal tilt/azimuth

Loss due toshading



Solar Resource Example

Optimum AnnualInsolation

TOF

TSRF

SolarAccess

Loss due to sub-optimal tilt/azimuth

Loss due toshading

Good Solar Accessmeans little shade,but not necessarilythe best solarproduction.



Solar access and TOF/TSRF examples



Annual sun path example



Obstruction Geometry

• D/H as high as possible

• D/H > 2 is California Minimal Shading ~26 degrees

• D/H > 3+ is “shade free 9-3”

r = TAN-1( (H/D)

H/D = TAN ( r)



Obstruction Elevation example



Steps for measuring solar access

1. Point south*

* Point south in the northern hemisphere; point north

in the southern hemisphere.

2. Hold Level

3. Press the button

Electronic

Bubble Level ElectronicCompass



Shade measurement strategies

• Take multiple point readings – Spacing between readings

• Look for worst case

– Array corners – Points closest to obstructions

• Average solar access readings

• Obstruction elevation angles

Note: Be sure you meet the requirements of your state program and rebate calculators



Using the Solmetric SunEyeTM

Copyright SolmetricCorporation, 2008



Introducing the Solmetric SunEyeTM 210

• What’s New? – Easy one-handed operation

– Brighter, higher Res. Display (4x)

– Electronic compass & inclinometer

– Dynamic Site-survey mode

– Large capacity battery

– Integrated stylus holder

– Integrated GPS option

– Impact resistant molded case

– 2 year warranty



Comparing to the original SunEye

• What’s the same? – Easy to use and navigate user interface

– Powerful shade analysis software

– On-board editing tools for “What-if”

– Results viewable right on the SunEye

• Solar Acess, Solar Resource

• Sunpaths, Monthly Solar Access

• Obstruction Elevation Angles

– Desktop Companion Software included

( Proven after shipping thousands of Model 110 SunEyes )



SunEye Comparison



Navigation, Select

Power

Orientation (Compass,Inclinometer, GPS)

Preview/QuickLaunch(like Menu/Skyline/New)

HomeSession Properties



Built-in Inclinometer

• Measure Tilt and Azimuth

• Set SunEye on plane of solar array to measure tilt

• Point arrow toward arrayheading to read azimuth



Site-Survey Mode

• Survey site• Sunpaths adapt as you

move device

• See how obstructions and

sunpaths overlap

If metal on oof affects the compass



If metal on roof affects the compass: “Align to Target”

T i h di i th/ti i d l



To view shading in a month/time window only:

“Windowed Access”



SunEye’s Key Benefits

• Accuracy and repeatability – Calibrated fisheye lens

– Multiple users, different situations, same results

• Speed and convenience

– Full Sky Preview mode – One shot for the entire skyline

– Point and shoot capability

• Data transfer

– Solmetric PV Designer

– Other Programs



SunEye GPS Add-On

• GPS option integrated into 210

• Detects latitude/longitude forsession location and automaticsunpath generation

• Records location of each skylinedata set collected

• Reports include file for GoogleEarth™



SunEye GPS output to Google Earth™



Data transfer to computer via USB

• SunEye stores more than100 Skylines in memory

• Transfer data to PC forfurther analysis

• View and edit data in sameway as on hand-held

• Create reports and exportfiles to design tools



Solar Access and Shade Report

• All session data is combinedinto a single hypertext

document• Converts to MS-Word™

• View, Email, or print

Client

Information

Installer businessinformation/logo

A d t fil



Access raw data files

• Import data files into design software – Excel spread sheet, OnGrid,

PVOptimize, PV*SOL, T*SOL, PVSyst,QuickQuotes, CPF Tools

Month

Day Jan Feb Mar

1 54.17 54.99 67.64

2 54.17 54.99 67.643 54.17 54.99 67.64

4 54.17 54.99 67.64

5 56.63 54.66 67.77

6 56.63 54.66 67.77

7 56.63 54.66 67.77

8 56.63 54.66 67.77



Updated Software and Accessories

• New software updatesavailable from:www.solmetric.com

– Includes handheld and PCupdates

– Set for auto-update

http://www.solmetric.com/




Resources

• User’s Guide accessible via desktop software – Help>Solmetric SunEye User’s Guide…

• Knowledge base at:

– http://www.solmetric.com/knowledgebase.html

• Technical Support – 1-877-263-5026, opt 2

– [email protected]

Dec-Jan issue:“Solar Site Evaluation”

www.solarprofessional.comphoberg

http://www.solmetric.com/knowledgebase.html

mailto:[email protected]

http://twitter.com/phoberg

http://twitter.com/home

http://solarprofessional.com/cover/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.solmetric.com/knowledgebase.html



PV String Simulation Model

Irradiance, shade, temperature, wind speed

Module bypass diode configuration

Sun position, panel tilt/Azimuth

Module parameters

Inverter parameters

String wiring AC KWh

S l i PV D i



Solmetric PV Designer



SunEye Desktop and PV Designer

SunEye Desktop Software PV Designer SoftwareIncluded with SunEye $400 per year per user

www.solmetric.com/support.html www.solmetric.com/support.html

Transfer data from SunEye device PV layout and estimation of kWh

SunEye device features, views, editing, etc. Advanced hourly weather data, including TMY4

Solar Access, Solar Resource, Windowed Access,

Obstruction Elevation, etc.

Database of modules, including dimensions

Maintain session data on computer Database of inverters, including limits

Export reports and access shade images and

shade data files

String definition and sizing

Print shade reports and use images for proposals Limit checking for voltage, current, power

Compare up to four designs

Import SunEye Skylines as icons onto roof surfaceShade adjusted energy calculations

Data display of monthly and annual totals

Summary pdf report and hourly csv output files



Questions?


www.solmetric.com

1-877-263-5026



Documents

Shade Measurements Aug 2010