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Local PV energy consumption vs total generated kWh CONCLUSIONS

The term “local PV energy consumption” refers to PV The table below shows the final results of the financial
consumption from the own PV system. Generated PV and technical KPI’s calculated.
energy is in a first instance directed to the own household
loads. If PV energy is remaining, it is fed into the grid.
Key Performance Indicator Result
Local PV energy consumption looks something like the Payback period (years) 7-8
graphs below. The blue areas represent household The average solar kWh price USD0.29
electricity consumption, while the red areas represent Specific yield kWh/kW (average) 1,480
solar system energy production. The red areas above the Peak sun hours (per day) 4.1
blue lines represent solar exported to the grid, while the
blue on its own is energy being purchased/imported form Performance ratio 78% - 85%
the grid. The overlapping red/blue area is where the solar Capacity factor 15% - 20%
energy meets your home’s energy demand. Local PV energy consumption vs
total generated kWh (local use/grid) 35% / 65%

Table 11 - KPI results

Conclusion
Residential solar energy penetration will continue to grow
and the evaluation results show that residential systems
are performing as expected.

APPENDIX

Survey
Figure 16 - Local PV energy consumption template

In practice 35% of the energy generated by the PV array is
used for local use, the remaining 65% is fed into the grid.

Figure 17 - Local PV energy consumption percentage Table 12 - Survey template

References
1 Source: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/64120.pdf
2 Source: https://www.sunnyportal.com/Templates/Start.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f
3 www.btnp.org
4 Picture credit: www.pveducation.org
5 Source: NREL
6 Source: https://www.solarchoice.net.au/blog/solar-self-consumption-overview

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ronald Lieuw-Sjong is the managing director of Next Step Consulting LLC based in Curaçao.
With an engineering management background he delivers consultancy services in business
intelligence and analytics, economic analysis, process management and electrical
engineering in the Caribbean. He graduated from the University of Miami with a MS degree
in Engineering management. He can be reached by email via [email protected]

Ronald Lieuw-Sjong
76 CE INDUSTRY Journal