HOMER Pro 3.15

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Navigation: Library > Components Library

Photovoltaic (PV) Library

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You can select a default Photovoltaic (PV) type from the drop-down menu on the Photovoltaic Library page under the Components Library. Click Photovoltaic to see the list of PV types. You can view and specify the properties of a specific PV type in the list. You can create a new PV type by copying an existing PV entry. After you copy a PV entry, change the properties as required and give the new PV system a unique name to distinguish it from the others. HOMER adds this new PV system to your library when you click OK. The new PV system then appears in the list of available PV types on the Photovoltaic page under Design. See the Library section of the help for instructions.

General

Variable	Description
Name	A unique name used to identify this type of PV.
Abbreviation	A short, distinctive name to identify this PV system in the schematic and results. There is no specific limit on the abbreviation length, but long abbreviated names do not fit well on the schematic or results.
Manufacturer	An optional field used to specify the manufacturer of the PV panels.
Website	An optional field to provide text for a web link for the PV system.
Url	The actual web address of the link defined in the Website input.
Notes	An optional field used to specify additional specifications, manufacturer contact information, or anything noteworthy.
Electrical bus	The type of PV output current (alternating current or direct current).
Concentrating PV	Check the box if this component is a concentrating PV system.
DNI rating condition	The irradiance at which concentrating PV panel produces its rated output. This input applies to concentrating PV only. A typical value is 850 W/m2 (0.85 kW/m2).
Lifetime (yr)	The period of time, in years, before the PV panel must be replaced, and the replacement cost is incurred.
Derating factor	A scaling factor applied to the PV array power output to account for reduced output in real-world operating conditions compared to operating conditions at which the array was rated. A derating factor of 80% means that the panel produces 20% less power than the nominal specification.

Converter

The Converter tab contains inputs to specify the dedicated inverter (for AC panels) or maximum power point tracker (for DC panels). The inputs are similar to those for the Inverter/MPPT for the Photovoltaic page under Design, and are described in that help section.

Temperature

You can input or download a Temperature Resource and HOMER calculates the PV cell temperature. You can specify parameters under the Temperature tab of the PV system so HOMER can account for temperature effects on PV efficiency when calculating the PV array output. You can define the default values for a PV module temperature effects here and change them once the panel is added to a HOMER model. See the temperature effects inputs for Photovoltaic under the Design section of the help.

Defaults

The Defaults tab contains several inputs specific to the PV installation. You can set the default values here and modify them when you add the PV to a model. For an explanation of these inputs, refer to the Advanced Inputs section of the Photovoltaic under the Design section of the help.

Note: To the right of each numerical input is a sensitivity button () that allows you to do a sensitivity analysis on that variable. For more information, see Why Would I Do a Sensitivity Analysis?