Top five design optimizations to cut solar system costs by 25%
18
#SolarWebinar Top Five Optimizations to Reduce Cost by 25%
-
Upload
solar-power-world -
Category
Engineering
-
view
219 -
download
3
Transcript of Top five design optimizations to cut solar system costs by 25%
#SolarWebinar
Top Five Optimizations to Reduce Cost by 25%
#SolarWebinar
q This webinar will be available afterwards at solarpowerworldonline.com & email
q Q&A at the end of the presentation q Hashtag for this webinar: #SolarWebinar
Before We Start
#SolarWebinar
Steven Bushong Solar Power World
Moderator
Paul Grana Co-founder
Folsom Labs
The Five Optimizations to Reduce Costs by 25%
Meet your presenter…
#SolarWebinar
• The Optimization Opportunity • Where Design Software Fits In • Top five Optimizations
o Shade tolerance o Module spacing o Inverter topology o Wiring o Racking design
Outline / Agenda
#SolarWebinar
The Optimization Opportunity: Why Optimization Matters
Many industry rules of thumb are outdated / wrong: • Developed 5-15 years ago • Period of high component prices • In the absence of many new
technologies: o High-efficiency modules o Dual-MPPT string inverters o Microinverters o Advanced design software
#SolarWebinar
Why HelioScope Perfect for Design Optimization
Automatic Bill of Materials
Bankable Energy Yield
CAD Layout
Design Render Image
Automatic Engineering Calculations
#SolarWebinar
Overview: the Five Key Optimizations
Shade Tolerance
Row Spacing
Inverter Topology
Wiring Design
Racking Design
#SolarWebinar
Demo
#SolarWebinar
86
88
90
92
94
96
98
100
8' 7' 6' 5' 4'
Prod
uctiv
ity a
fter S
hadi
ng (%
)
Row Spacing
Landscape
Portrait
Racking Optimization
Image Credit: Gamechange Racking
#SolarWebinar
Inverter Topology Optimization
Architecture Central Inverter String Inverter Microinverter
#10 AWG 47,000 48,000
4/0 Al (DC) 16,000
750 MCM (DC) 150
2/0 Al (AC) 32,000 52,000
500 MCM (AC) 3,000
Combiner/panels 18 6 6
#SolarWebinar
Wiring Optimization
Modules per string
Combiner box size
Source circuit
conductor
Combiner box layout
Wiring direction
Home run
1.7
2.4
0.4
1.0
0.5
0.8
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Modules per string
Source circuit
conductor
Wire direction
Combiner size
Home run conductor
Combiner layout
Impa
ct o
n sy
stem
cos
t (¢/
Wp)
#SolarWebinar
Profit Impact of Optimization (Spruce Hill example)
Base designShade
optimization Spacing PortraitSize (MW DC) 0.954 1.12 1.29 1.45Energy (MWh AC) 1,410 1,625 1,828 2,033
kWh/kWp 1,478 1,451 1,417 1,402
Modules $0.71 677,340$ 795,200$ 915,900$ 1,029,500$ Inverters $0.12 114,480$ 134,400$ 154,800$ 174,000$ BOS $0.41 391,140$ 459,200$ 528,900$ 594,500$ Labor $0.24 228,960$ 268,800$ 309,600$ 348,000$ Margin/overhead $0.17 162,180$ 162,180$ 162,180$ 162,180$ Permitting/environmental $0.05 47,700$ 47,700$ 47,700$ 47,700$ Grid interconnection $0.03 28,620$ 28,620$ 28,620$ 28,620$ Land cost $0.09 85,860$ 85,860$ 85,860$ 85,860$ Tax $0.08 76,320$ 89,600$ 103,200$ 116,000$ Installed total $1.90
O&M $15 171,720$ 201,600$ 232,200$ 261,000$
Financials
Cost 1,389,024$ 1,591,212$ 1,798,272$ 1,993,152$ Energy NPV 2,538,000$ 2,925,000$ 3,290,400$ 3,659,400$ Project NPV 1,148,976$ 1,333,788$ 1,492,128$ 1,666,248$
Improvement versus base 16% 30% 45%
Size & energy production greatly increased
Yield falls slightly
Fixed costs amortized over larger system
Much better project NPV
#SolarWebinar
Five Key Optimization Opportunities – Summary Table
Application Tradeoff A Tradeoff B Key Engineering Variables
Key Cost items
Shade tolerance
System size Energy yield • Shading environment • Electrical topology
• Module cost • Electricity value
Row spacing
System size Energy yield • System location • Module tilt • Module spacing
• Module cost • Electricity value
Racking design
Racking cost Shading losses
• Module orientation • Module spacing
• Racking cost • Electricity value
Inverter topology
Electrical cost (inverter, wiring)
Energy yield • Inverter layout • Shading environment • Conductors and
distances
• Inverter cost • Wiring cost • Electricity value
Wiring Wire costs Wire losses • System size • Conductors and
distances
• Wiring cost • Electricity value
#SolarWebinar
Further Resources for Optimization
http://www.folsomlabs.com/resources
Voltage Drop Analysis
Shading Optimization
Binning Cost/Benefit String Inverter Energy Yield
Analysis Wiring Optimization
Case Study
#SolarWebinar
Create free HelioScope trial account: https://helioscope.folsomlabs.com/pricing/signup Click on Share Links to get shared access to Projects: • Ground-mount (Spruce Hill):
http://helioscope.folsomlabs.com/projects/share/X2wn2JMri6pssweW7tjYvtQArFx4raMA
• Commercial rooftop (Asheville Pike): http://helioscope.folsomlabs.com/projects/share/Rv4PUR3DeZKAaGx7imgJFQS3uCqEe0De
• Racking analysis: http://helioscope.folsomlabs.com/projects/share/HezOUbvUQKPyCKqmb9vqzc7uQQEgDFCC
Check the Projects Out Yourself!
#SolarWebinar
HelioScope Customers Range from Large to Small
#SolarWebinar
Steven Bushong Moderator Solar Power World [email protected]
Title of webinar here
Paul Grana Co-Founder Folsom Labs [email protected]
Questions?
#SolarWebinar
Thank You q This webinar will be available at
solarpowerworldonline.com & email
q Tweet with hashtag #SolarWebinar
q Connect with Solar Power World
q Discuss this on EngineeringExchange.com
