Solar Energy Generation Calculator Model (SEGCM)

Photo by Andreas Gücklhorn on Unsplash

Introducing myself

I’m a young engineer, working in the renewables energy sector, mostly enfocated in solar photovoltaic energy projects. My job is to do the financial analysis of every project in which we are committed for. Also I’m a big fan of disruptive technologies more specifically in the usage of tech in order to acquire a high level of decentralization in systems.

Introducing the model

The model arises after the necessity to estimate the solar generation of many different places, where known calculators weren’t giving good estimations and wasn’t worth the money it would cost. Furthermore, it was worth getting the know-how of this models, adding to all this the context where we have more time than usual, the model was created and a continuous improvement process started.

Show me the model

To start with, one of the main objectives of this models was to make it easy to use, I mean, it will take 5 minutes to get the solar generation of any area you imagine (on planet earth).

The step 1 of the model is to get the necessary information for its operation.

The input data of the model is the following:

1. Latitude and longitude
2. Average daily global monthly radiation on horizontal surface
3. Average monthly maximum ambient temperature
4. Average monthly minimum ambient temperature

And to get this information is as simple as, for 1 visit google maps or any geolocator online. For 2 to 4, it’s a bit tricky but this data is fully available at “NASA POWER Data Access Viewer”.

Input data example

Next step, step 2, is about the arrangement of solar panels, here are two references:

• 0 = monthly degrees, this is useful for installations with tracker devices or where there is the intention of change the inclination degree every month.
• 1 = one yearly degree, name is self explanatory.

Will talk more about this references later.

Monthly degrees

One yearly degree

Step 3, this is the step where customization takes place, from power to install up to solar panel surface or shadow losses, everything is customizable to make the calculations more accurate for each particular situation we need to examine. System losses data numbers were collected from different studies, and are the advisable to use, however are liable to be changed if the situation warrants it.

Customization

Take in consideration, that the values in red color are the ones that should be loaded, other colors are calculated by the model (eg. “Number of Panels”)

Step 4, getting results and maximize them, this final step is the one which would give the results, the valuable value, electricity generation. Sometime images say more than words, so here is the chart.

Results

Remember Step 2, here comes the maximization part, with the usage of optimization tools (eg. Solver) we can set which would be the best yearly degree to get the maximum amount of electricity through the year, or which could be the best angle to get the most uniform generation through all the months, scenarios here are very variable depending on the final purpose of the installation.

What’s next

Actually, we are working on making a module where you can load any building or tree that surrounds the place where you plan to place the panels, in order to have accurate information on when they will be generating and when they will not. Plans are to add up to 5 possible obstacles.

How obstacles model will look

The precision is for 10 minutes lapses.

Also, plans are to make the model useful for third parties, we are managing different possibilities from making a monetized website or a Patreon/Fiverr type profile to give everyone who is interested a detailed analysis for the location they provide.

Why I am posting?

I’m posting in order to be able to give the model a structure and not having it stored just in the nebula. Also I think that sharing is the best way to have some comments and opinions in order to improve the model or to find out new stuff.

Also, to share with anyone who is interested in access this data for a specific place of interest, I will do it without any problem and charging only for the time it takes me to run the model. If interested feel free to ask, DMs are open.

Final comments

I hope the post was entertaining to read, and some final comments I have to give in order to clarify any doubt:

• What I am showing is the input/output of the model, all calculations and trigonometric expressions are part of the document and take 5 sheets, those won’t be shown or shared, but if anyone has any doubt regarding calculation feel free to ask and we can debate it.
• The model file won’t be shared or sold by any circumstance.
• The model results were compared to known calculators and the relative error was approximately
  5% depending the calculator.
• Some values are not shown in order to avoid any leak or a specific discussion about a certain value which is not the aim of the post.
• Calculations were done for southern hemisphere but it works the same way for north hemisphere.

Disclaimers

• This post was previously posted by me on reddit. As in the last few months I became a medium user I decided to crosspost it here.
• This post was made in collaboration with Engr. Gerardo Manhard.
• This model was made for DREICON S.A., which is a energy consultancy company based in Argentina.

For any inquiry you can contact me via LinkedIn.