What is it about?
The optimal size of inverter is not the same as the size of the PV. In low solar radiation conditions you need more PV. Optimal sizing could increase the output by 20%.
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Why is it important?
A new analytical approach is presented for finding the optimum ratio of photovoltaic array capacity to rated inverter input capacity in grid-connected photovoltaic systems. At optimum, the sizing ratio ranges from close to 1 for high insolation sites to well above 2 for low insolation conditions depending also on inverter characteristics and component costs. The sizing is more critical in low insolation conditions and the improvement of the economic performance thus obtained may be up to 20% compared to an inverter capacity equal to the PV-array. The optimum region is quite flat and up to ±20% deviations from the optimum point typically cause less than 2% losses. The analytical method coincides well with detailed numerical simulations for several locations (latitudes 33–60°N) and PV-array orientations used in the verification. Optimal sizing of solar array and inverter in grid-connected photovoltaic systems. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222362507_Optimal_sizing_of_solar_array_and_inverter_in_grid-connected_photovoltaic_systems [accessed Oct 12 2017].
Perspectives
This is a piece of classics in solar energy - the algorithm to size PV/inverter is elegant, and it has been tested in practice. This is still useful after more than 20 years.
Professor Peter D. Lund
Aalto University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Optimal sizing of solar array and inverter in grid-connected photovoltaic systems, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, January 1994, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/0927-0248(94)90259-3.
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