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Solar PV System Design Tool

The aim of this spreadsheet/workbook is to provide a multipurpose tool that can be used to assist in
the design of solar PV systems. Many of the more complex calculations have been included and a
number of messages will be displayed on different tabs if configuration issues are detected. The
remainder of the calculations need to be completed in order for the sheet to be fully functional.

The spreadsheet is available in different initial configurations (grid, grid with battery and stand alone)
and can be easily adapted to cover each of these installation types.

The Module and Inverter tab is used to calculate the temperature effect on PV and the string
configurations possible for a grid connected inverter based on the weather at a selected location. Up
to 3 arrays (or strings on different orientations) can be configured. Array 3 may be configured
specifically for DC coupled use (such as stand alone applications). The tab is also used to calculate the
minimum ratings for each array isolator and values for the switchboard label. The data for this tab is
entered onto the three dark gray tabs (Module Data, Weather Data and Inverter Data).

The System Output tab provides the average daily system output and for grid connected systems can
be used to determine the expected savings over the entire year. If multiple arrays are configured, the
average shading factor for the entire site must be used. The spreadsheet will automatically calculate
the PV system output using data for Adelaide. The sheet can be modified for other locations around
Australia.

The remaining light grey coloured tabs are used, more specifically, for grid connected installations
(including with battery installs). These tabs can be used to determe the green house gas and STC
savings as well as volt drop/volt rise and minimum cable sizes.

The green coloured tabs (if present) are specifically for stand alone power system design and is based
on the AS/NZS 4509.2 standard.

Cells highlighted in this colour require a manual entry for each design project.

Cells highlighted in this colour need a formula to be entered (once off activity).

Cells highlighted in this colour have a calculation included - do not overwrite these entries.

Cells highlighted in this colour allow entries to be selected from a 'drop down' list.

Any red text message indicates that a setting or other entry is incorrect or may have issues that
impact on another part of the spreadsheet. Any such error must be corrected before continuing.

Licensed for use by Ayham Fawakherji

Filename: [Link] Module & Inverter Tab

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q
1 PV Module/Array and Inverter Configuration
2
3 Module Specifications CEC Approved Module List Low STC High
4 BLUESUN, BSM460M-72HB Calculated values TCELL (°C) 3 25°C 57.2
5 PMP 460 W Temp coeff PMP -0.36 %/°C or 0 W/°C -1.656 W/°C PMP (W) 496.4 460 406.7
6 VOC 50.8 V Temp coeff VOC -0.26 %/°C or 0 V/°C -0.132 V/°C VOC (V) 53.7 50.8 46.5
7 ISC 11.5 A Temp coeff ISC 0.043 %/°C or 0 A/°C 0.00495 A/°C ISC (A) 11.39 11.5 11.66
8 VMP 42.4 V Temp coeff VMP (calculated from PMP_TEMP_COEFF ÷ IMP) -0.152 V/°C VMP (V) 45.8 42.4 37.5
9 IMP 10.86 A
10 PV Tolerance 3 %
11 IMOD_MAX_OCPR 20 A
12
13 Climate Data BOM SA Weather Data
14 LOME Cell temperatures
15 Max Temp 32.2 °C Expected cell temperature rise for the site 25 °C highest 57.2 °C
16 Min Temp 3 °C lowest 3 °C
17
18 Inverter Specifications CEC Approved Inverters List
19 RIIO SUN II 8KVA INVERTER Modules per String
20 VDC_MAX 250 V VDC_MAX ÷ VOC(Lowest°C) 4.65 ↓ 4
21 VMPPT_HIGH 245 V VMPPT_HIGH ÷ VMP(Lowest°C) 5.35 ↓ 5
22 VMPPT_LOW 65 V VMPPT_LOW ÷ VMP(Highest°C) 1.73 ↑ 2
23 VTURN_ON 65 V VTURN_ON ÷ VMP(STC) 1.53 ↑ 2
24 IDC_MAX 72 A 2 to 4
25 Efficiency 98 %
26 PAC_OUT 8000 W Maximum allowed 23
27 IAC_MAX 100 A Number of Modules to suit Inverter output 17 or 18 Maximum Strings 6
28 Isolated? 0
29 No. MPPT's 2 Values for Switchboard Label
30 Open Circuit Voltage 537 V
31 Array Configuration Less than ideal number of modules for the inverter selected Short Circuit Current 11.50 A
32 Number of modules for Array 1 10
33 Array Size (PMP x No. Modules) 4.6 kW DC Isolator Minimum Ratings - Array 1
34 Number of Modules per string 10 Too many modules in one string - will void warranty Ue (PV Array Maximum Voltage) 537 V
35 Number of parallel strings 1 DC-PV2 Ithe (40 C/60 C)
o o
14.38 A
36
no additional requirements
37 Array 2 is not needed
38 Number of modules for Array 2
39 Array Size (PMP x No. Modules) kW DC Isolator Minimum Ratings - Array 2
40 Number of Modules per string Ue (PV Array Maximum Voltage) 0 V
41 Number of parallel strings DC-PV2 Ithe (40oC/60oC) 0.00 A
42 Which MPPT is to be used?
no additional requirements
43
44 Array 3 is not needed
45 Number of modules for Array 3 DC Isolator Minimum Ratings - Array 3
46 Array Size (PMP x No. Modules) kW Ue (PV Array Maximum Voltage) 0 V
47 Number of Modules per string DC-PV2 Ithe (40 C/60 C)
o o
0.00 A
48 Number of parallel strings
no additional requirements
49 Which MPPT is to be used?
50
51
Note! The DC Minimum Isolator ratings assume that each array is separately switched prior to connecting to the inverter. If the arrays are to be connected in parallel
52 (effectively making them strings), the current rating of the combined strings will need to be determined manually in order to select the correct isolator rating.

Clive Nicolai © 2018

Important Note! - list from row 3 must be in alphabetical order
Module Brand and Model PMP VOC VMP ISC
LR4-72HPH-450M, Longi Solar 450 49.3 41.5 11.6
Trina Solar Energy, TSM-400DE09.08 (Vertex S) 400 41.2 34.2 12.28
BLUESUN, BSM460M-72HBD 460 50.8 42.4 11.5
 Temperature Coefficients (either %/oC or Unit/ oC - NOT both)
IMP PMP %/oC VOC %/oC ISC %/oC PMP W/oC VOC V/oC ISC A/oC Manuf Tol (%) IMOD_MAX_OCPR
10.85 -0.35 -0.27 0.048 5 20
11.7 -0.34 -0.25 0.04 5 20
10.86 -0.36 -0.26 0.043 3 20
Width Length
 Important Note! The list from row 3 must be alphabetical. Add new entries below the others. Ensure column A is
Location/Site MaxoC MinoC Mean Max for ----> Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Brisbane 40 10 35 31.9 32.5 31.2 28.8 27
LOME 32.2 25.5 32.2 27.7 32.2 28.85 28.55 28.05
e others. Ensure column A is displayed, select the entire sheet, then Data menu, then A-Z. 9am Wind Data --->
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual max Humidity Altitude
23.3 23.5 25.5 27.6 28.8 30.6 32.1
26.9 26.05 25.5 26.3 27.45 28.3 28
9am Wind Data --->
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
3pm Wind Data --->
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Annual
 Important Note! The list from row 3 must be alphabetical. Add new entries below the others, select the entire
Make & Model of Inverter VDC_MAX VMPPT_HIGH VMPPT_LOW VTURN_ON IDC_MAX PAC_OUT IAC_MAX
Fronious Primo 3 1000 800 80 80 18 3000 11.1
RIIO SUN II 8KVA INVERTER 250 245 65 65 72 8000 100
e others, select the entire sheet, then Data menu, then A-Z.
Efficiency Isolated ? # MPPT Comments
97.1 2
98 2
Filename: [Link] System Output Tab

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z AA AB AC
1 Expected Daily Average PV System Output 4.6 System output will be less than shown - inverter PV input is too high for the highlighted months
2
3 Array 1 Array 2 Array 3 Modules: BLUESUN, BSM460M-72HBD Inverter: RIIO SUN II 8KVA INVERTER Weather Station: LOME
4 Azimuth 10
5 Tilt Angle 5 Total Array Other Losses
6 # Modules 10 0 0 10 Modules Module Temp Coeff of PMP PV Tol Dirt Inv eff Cable Energy Price ($/kWh) Solar radiation data can be acquired from:
7 Size (kW) 4.6 0 0 4.6 kW -0.34 %/°C 5 98 3.77 FIT Buy
8 Factor Factor Factor Factor $0.10 $0.40 • NASA POWER Access Data Viewer
9 System Output (No losses) Effect of Shading at Site Temperature (Mean Max) 1.00 0.95 0.98 0.96 30% <--exported [Link]
Period
10 MJ/m2 MJ/m2 MJ/m2 kWh Shade Factor kWh °C Factor kWh kWh kWh kWh kWh days Credit Savings
11 January 28.25 0.00 0.00 36.10 0.0% 1.000 36.10 27.7 0.906 32.70 32.70 31.06 30.44 29.29 31 $27.24 $254.28### 0 • The HelioClim-1 and HelioClim-3
12 February 25.65 0.00 0.00 32.78 0.5% 0.995 32.61 32.2 0.891 29.04 29.04 27.59 27.04 26.02 28 $21.86 $203.99### 0 databases from SoDa
13 March 20.40 0.00 0.00 26.07 2.5% 0.975 25.42 28.85 0.902 22.92 22.92 21.78 21.34 20.54 31 $19.10 $178.26### 0 [Link]
14 April 15.00 0.00 0.00 19.17 16.5% 0.835 16.00 28.55 0.903 14.45 14.45 13.73 13.45 12.95 30 $11.65 $108.75### 0
15 May 10.35 0.00 0.00 13.22 25.0% 0.750 9.92 28.05 0.905 8.97 8.97 8.52 8.35 8.04 31 $7.48 $69.78 ### 0 • World Radiation Data Centre
16 June 8.40 0.00 0.00 10.73 29.8% 0.703 7.54 26.9 0.909 6.85 6.85 6.51 6.38 6.14 30 $5.52 $51.56 ### 0 [Link]
17 July 9.20 0.00 0.00 11.76 27.3% 0.728 8.55 26.05 0.911 7.79 7.79 7.40 7.26 6.98 31 $6.49 $60.62 ### 0
18 August 12.30 0.00 0.00 15.72 21.8% 0.783 12.30 25.5 0.913 11.23 11.23 10.67 10.46 10.06 31 $9.36 $87.35 ### 0 • PVGIS EU Joint Research Centre (for Europe and Africa)
19 September 16.85 0.00 0.00 21.53 6.0% 0.940 20.24 26.3 0.911 18.43 18.43 17.51 17.16 16.51 30 $14.86 $138.69### 0 [Link]
20 October 21.60 0.00 0.00 27.60 0.5% 0.995 27.46 27.45 0.907 24.90 24.90 23.65 23.18 22.31 31 $20.75 $193.63### 0 • OpenSolarDB Database
21 November 25.40 0.00 0.00 32.46 0.3% 0.998 32.37 28.3 0.904 29.26 29.26 27.80 27.24 26.21 30 $23.59 $220.20### 0 [Link]
22 December 26.65 0.00 0.00 34.05 0.0% 1.000 34.05 28 0.905 30.81 30.81 29.27 28.68 27.60 31 $25.67 $239.61### 0 extractcopypaste
23 Average 18.35 0.00 0.00 23.45 10.8% 0.892 20.91 0.0 1.000 20.91 20.91 19.86 19.46 18.73 365 $205.11 $1,914.35### 0 • The meteorological department of many countries.
24 Annual Savings $2,119.46
25 System Performance Ratio 0.80
26 Effective PSH after losses 4.07
27 Daily irradiation can be measured
28 in:
System Output (Daily averages in kWh)
29 • PSH
35
30 Monthly average Yearly average • MJ/m2 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ, Therefore, to convert MJ to kWh, divide by 3.6
31 30 • Wh/m2 or kWh/m2
32
33 25

34
20
35
36 15
37
38 10

39
5
40
41 0
January February March April May June July August September October November December
42

Clive Nicolai (c) 2018

Filename: [Link] Cable Tab

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1 Cable Selection From Volt Drop Calculations in AS/NZS 3000 Appendix (Need to check current carrying capacity for installation conditions)
2
3 Array Cable Main & Sub Main Cable Inverter Cable Cable Loss
4 Minimum Cable Size (3%Vd) MD for all AC Cables Volt Rise available for Inverter DC VD + AC VR
5 Array 1 Cable IINV_AC_MAX 11.1 A 2% - VR_MAINS% 1.54 % Total 3.77 %
6 1.25 ISC_ARRAY 15.35 A
7 Length 40 m Consumers Mains Minimum Cable Size (1.54% VR) 1Ø Cable Lookup
8 Axm 614 Am Length 10 m Length 15 m mm2 Am/%VD
9 Am ÷ 3% 205 Am/%VD IINV_AC_MAX x m 111 Am IINV_AC_MAX x m 166.5 Am 1 45
10 Cable Lookup 4 mm2 Cable Size 16 mm2 Am ÷ VR_AVAIL% 108 Am/%VD 1.5 70
11 Volt Drop for DC Cable to Use Volt Rise 0.14 % Cable Lookup 2.5 mm2 2.5 128
12 Cable Size 6 mm2 4 205
13 Volt drop 2.01 % Sub Main (if applicable) Volt rise for selected cable 6 306
14 Within AS/NZS 5033 limits Length 15 m Cable Size 2.5 mm2 10 515
15 IINV_AC_MAX x m 166.5 Am Volt Rise 1.30 % 16 818
16 Array 2 Cable Cable Size 10 mm2 25 1289
17 1.25 ISC_ARRAY A Volt Rise 0.32 % 3 Phase Inverter System? No 35 1773
18 Length m 50 2377
19 Axm Am Volt Rise on Mains Cable(s) AC Volt Rise POS to Inverter 70 3342
20 Am ÷ 3% Am/%VD Total 0.46 % Total 1.76 % 95 4445
21 Cable Lookup 1 mm2 Within AS/NZS 4777 limits
22 Volt Drop for DC Cable to Use
23 Cable Size 4 mm2 Note! If the array cables represent string cables, and they are connected in parallel, the correct
24 Volt drop 0.00 % DC cable size and voltage drop will need to be determined manually.
25 Within AS/NZS 5033 limits
26
27 Array 3 Cable
28 1.25 ISC_ARRAY A
29 Length m
30 Axm Am
31 Am ÷ 3% Am/%VD
32 Cable Lookup 1 mm2
33 Volt Drop for DC Cable to Use
34 Cable Size 4 mm2
35 Volt drop 0.00 %
36 Within AS/NZS 5033 limits

Clive Nicolai © 2018

Filename: [Link] GHG & STC Savings Tab

GHG & STC Savings Lookup Tables

Marginal Intensity
Greenhouse Gas Reduction ACT/NSW
Yearly System Output MWh NT Darwin
Number of Years NT Kath
State SA QLD Cent
Marginal Intensity (average) 0 QLD Nth
Savings tonnes QLD Sth
SA
TAS
Small Technology Certificates VIC
System Size (PV) kW WA GFlds
Postcode Zone 3 WA SW
Zone Rating 0
Claim year Zone Rating
Number of years 1
STC's (rounded down) 2
Price per STC 3
Savings 4

Useful Link
STC Online Calculator

Clive Nicolai © 2018