Designing a Solar Photovoltaic System

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How to design a PV System

There are seven basic steps required in designing the best solar electric system.

  1. Determine the scope of the solar system project.
  2. Determine the available amount of solar electricity.
  3. Determine the site for installation.
  4. Determine the total energy required.
  5. Determine the size of the required solar electric system.
  6. Determine the selection and cost of the components needed.
  7. Determine the design of the system in detail.

The solar electric system’s design process complexity, or simplicity, is dependent on the solar system size. It takes about 20 minutes to determine the design for a simple shed light application, whereas a system that is being designed to power a site during a blackout in a business environment will require a much longer design time.

It is strongly recommended that you adhere to this fundamental design process for your desired solar electric system, whether it is large or small, and whether you are using an off-the-shelf kit or a customized design. Only then will you have the greatest chance of the solar system functioning as it should.