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Solar PV Maximum Active Export

I'm trying to learn the requirements for solar generation to G99 Engineering Recommendations.

Where does one find/calculate the maximum Active Power export / Import values in MW?

I have the below information for the generation.

The site energy consumption per month is around 2453 kWh per month.

If anyone can advise on which information to be used, or a place where I can find this information that would help me understand which values are required.

  • They're asking about power (i.e. instantaneous values) not energy (totals over time) - so you're looking for kW (or MW) values, not kWh or MWh.

    I think the maximum export will usually be the maximum AC power that can be generated on site - often just rating of the inverter - or less if your system take steps to limit the amount that can be exported. Usually the worst case is if self-consumption is NIL for some reason. So if you had a 20kW inverter and no other complexities, I'd say 0.02MW.

    Import will depend on your loads (probably after diversity).

    The form looks rather like 'big boys' stuff though - so there might be some subtleties that others could advise on,

       - Andy.

  • Thanks for your input.

    That does make sense, I wonder though if a power factor is used for the generation process as I assume there would be some loss there? I could be wrong. 

    As for the installation it's a fairly straight forward connection to the grid so i can't imagine there is anything that would influence the maximum value.

  • I wonder though if a power factor is used for the generation process

    P.F. would be considered in the REactive power values (VA rather than W).

       - Andy.

  • Ahh noted.

    Thanks! 

  • Also note that big inverters, and some small ones as well now can be programmed to create reactive power, for example by pushing more current out part way up the voltage waveform than at the top or the other way round. This can be used to correct the network power factor and undistort the grid waveforms.(energy may be not put into, and may even taken from the supply into the inverters DC reservoir capacitors at some parts of the cycle and then the saved or stored energy released at another part  of the cycle)

    To what extent any given installation does this will be determined by the inverter design and its internal control firmware.

    I suspect that all of the figures you need will come out of the back pages of the inverter installation and set-up handbook or a phone call to the inverter makers technical helpline.

    Mike.