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System Performance Factor |
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System Performance Factor |
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Solar Advisor calculates the system performance factor only for photovoltaic systems when the option in the Technology and Market window is Photovoltaics - SAM Performance Models. The system performance factor is a measure of the system's annual electric generation output in AC kWh compared to its nameplate rated capacity in DC kW, taking into account the solar resource at the system's location:
Where,
FSystemPerformance |
The system performance factor. |
EOutputYear1 (AC kWh/year) |
The total annual electric generation in the first year of operation reported on the Metrics table, and in the year one column of the project cash flow. |
PSystemCapacity (DC kW) |
The system's rated capacity expressed in kilowatts (see table below). |
NPeakSunHours (hours) |
The equivalent number of hours in a year that the array receives 1,000 W/m2 of incident global solar radiation for flat-plate systems, and direct normal radiation for concentrating photovoltaic systems. |
The system capacity depends on technology being modeled. Note that Solar Advisor converts the capacity value to kW before using it in the calculation.
Table 36. Rated system capacity values for each technology.
Technology |
System Capacity |
Input Page |
PV SAM Performance Models |
Total Array Power (Wdc) |
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PV PVWatts |
DC Rating (kW) |
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CSP Parabolic Trough |
Rated Turbine Net Capacity (MWe) |
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CSP Power Tower |
Nameplate Capacity (MWe) |
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CSP Dish Stirling |
Total Capacity (kW) |
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Generic Fossil |
Nameplate Capacity (kWe) |