Tag: Energy

  • Calculating the Solar Irradiance

    As I delved deeper into solar pv design, I felt the need to understand and reproduce how the solar pv power output given on websites such as the Global Solar Atlas and the NREL NSRDB is calculated. Solar pv panels converts solar irradiance to power. Thus the first step is to understand solar irradiance. Solar…

  • Designing a fit for purpose PV + BESS system

    Discussing various residential and commercial PV + BESS systems, I observed a common gap in understanding among users, and even designers of these systems. This gap pertains to the basics of PV energy production, the importance of defining a load profile, and the design process of a PV system tailored to meet this profile within…

  • Simulating a Solar Power Plant

    I’ve been designing and simulating power plants with spreadsheets. I found spreadsheets to be quite effective for steady-state or average performance modeling, but I struggle when it comes to modelling rapid, real-time variations, such as the sudden drop in solar irradiance due to cloud cover and changing the configuration of the power plant takes some…

  • Solar More Expensive Than Diesel …

    Electricity produced by solar PV is often touted as significantly cheaper than alternatives like diesel-generated power. However, this perspective can be misleading for those not well-versed in the topic. Solar power’s cost-effectiveness deserves a closer look, especially when we factor in certain constraints. When we compare solar power plants to diesel power plants, it’s crucial…