shade measurements webinar

8/8/2019 Shade Measurements Webinar

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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,- -

Solmetric Corporation

,know-how.


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Solmetric Solutions


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Why measure shade?

Choose optimum location for panels Identify issues early in the process Ensure optimum financials

State rebate Feed in tariff Renewable Energy Credits

Note: Shading can have disproportionate

impact on energy production


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Sun Trajectories (Sunpaths)

Noon

Sunrise Sunset


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Annual sun path example


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Hemisphere view (Skyline)


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Important Terms

Irradiance

Insolation Solar Access TOF (Tilt Orientation Factor)

o a o ar esource rac on Obstruction Elevation


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Irradiance

Incident solar radiation (power) per unitarea in kW/m 2

Approximately 1 kW/m 2 at the earthssurface.


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Insolation Solar Energy over Time per unit

Area in kWh/m2

1 kW/m 2 of irradiance for 6 hours= 1 kW/m 2 x 6 hr = 6 kWh/m 2 of insolation .

6 kWh/m 2 of insolation on a 2 sq-m surface= 6 kWh/m 2 * 2 m 2 = 12 kWh of energy received bythe surface.


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San Diego insolation


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Roof Azimuth Tool


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Solar Resource Terms

Optimum Annual

InsolationTOF

TSRF

o ar ccess Loss due to sub-optimal tilt/azimuthLoss due to

shading


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Solar Resource Example

Optimum Annual

InsolationTOF

TSRF

o arAccessLoss due to sub-optimal tilt/azimuth

Loss due toshading

Good Solar Accessmeans little shade,but not necessarilythe best solar

production.


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Solar access and TOF/TSRF examples


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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)


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Obstruction Elevation example


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Steps for measuring solar access

1. Point south*

2. Hold Level

ElectronicBubble Level ElectronicCompass

* Point south in the northern hemisphere; point northin the southern hemisphere.

3. Press the button


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Shade measurement strategies

Take multiple point readings Maximum 5 meters between

readings Measure at height of modules Look for worst case

Points closest to obstructions

Take Average or worst casereadings Solar access Obstruction elevation angles

Map-out shade free zones

Note: Be sure you meet the

requirements of your stateprogram and rebatecalculators


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Solmetric SunEye Models

100 Series Introduced in 2006

Thousands in use byinstallers worldwide

Model 210 Introduced in Feb 2010

Popular features very wellaccepted


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Introducing the Solmetric SunEye TM 210

Whats New? Easy one-handed operation

Brighter, higher Res. Display (4x) Electronic compass & inclinometer Dynamic Site-survey mode

Integrated stylus holder Integrated GPS option Impact resistant molded case

2 year warranty


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Comparing to the original SunEye

Whats 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

, Sunpaths, Monthly Solar Access Obstruction Elevation Angles

Desktop Companion Software included


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Navigation, SelectPower Home

Session Properties

Orientation (Compass,Inclinometer, GPS)

Preview/QuickLaunch(like Menu/Skyline/New)


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Built-in Inclinometer

Measure Tilt and Azimuth

Set SunEye on plane of solar array to measure tilt

Point arrow toward arrayea ng o rea az mu


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Site-Survey Mode

Survey site Sunpaths adapt as you

move device See how obstructions and

sunpaths overlap


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To view shading in a month/time window only:

Windowed Access Preview mode

To mark shade free zone move away from obstructionuntil it is outside the window

and mark roof with chalk.

AnnualSunpaths

View


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Sky type

Reduces skyline detection errors Adjusts color balance Three settings

Clouds and Blue Sky: Good for verybright days with hazy sky conditions

Normal: default and generally ok formost situations

Shaded: Optimum for detecting treeedges


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Sky type examplesNormal Clouds and Blue Sky

Normal Shaded


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Alignment issues

If not aligned properly, warning message appears Retry to repeat measurement Continue accepts it as 180/level


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If metal on roof affects the compass:

Align to Target Set target to arbitrary known value Compass is ignored during measurement Measurement is referenced to user-entered target Top of screen is target heading, included in report


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Align to Target

Skyline may look distorted in report due to autoscalefunction and rotation

Heading is shown on report and in Skyline Properties


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SunEye Extension Kit

SunEye Extension Kit Make measurements from

the ground up to 18 feet Mounting plate secures

SunEye without obstructingcamera

o a on o po e arms anthen snaps picture

Automatic azimuth and levelcorrections


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SunEye GPS Add-On

GPS option integrated into 210

Detects latitude/longitude forsession location and automaticsunpath generation

data set collected Reports include file for Google

Earth


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SunEye GPS output to Google Earth


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Data transfer to computer via USB

SunEye stores more than100 Skylines in memory

Transfer data to PC forfurther analysis

View and edit data in same

way as on hand-held Create reports and export

files to design tools


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Solar Access and Shade Report

All session data is combinedinto a single hypertextdocument

ClientInformation

Converts to MS-Word View, Email, or print

Installer businessinformation/logo


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Access raw data files

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

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

MonthDay Jan Feb Mar

1 54.17 54.99 67.642 54.17 54.99 67.643 54.17 54.99 67.644 54.17 54.99 67.645 56.63 54.66 67.776 56.63 54.66 67.777 56.63 54.66 67.778 56.63 54.66 67.77


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Updated Software and Accessories

New software updatesavailable from:

www.solmetric.com Includes handheld and PC

updates -


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SunEyes 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


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PV String Simulation Model

Irradiance, shade, temperature, wind speedSun position, panel tilt/Azimuth

Module bypass diode configurationModule parameters

Inverter parametersString wiring AC KWh


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Solmetric PV Designer


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SunEye Desktop and PV Designer

SunEye Desktop Software PV Designer SoftwareIncluded with SunEye $400 per year per userwww.solmetric.com/support.html www.solmetric.com/support.html

Transfer data from SunEye device PV layout and estimation of kWhSunEye device features, views, editing, etc. Advanced hourly weather data, including TMY4Solar Access, Solar Resource, Windowed Access,Obstruction Elevation, etc.

Database of modules, including dimensions

a n a n sess on a a on compu er a a ase o nver ers, nc u ng m s

Export reports and access shade images andshade data files

String definition and sizing

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

Compare up to four designsImport SunEye Skylines as icons onto roof surface

Shade adjusted energy calculationsData display of monthly and annual totalsSummary pdf report and hourly csv output files


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Questions?

Solmetric Corporationwww.solmetric.com

1-877-263-5026

shade measurements webinar

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