According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in the U.S. alone, a single-family home uses around 900 kW of electricity per month. To this, you can add additional kWs in the winter when the temperatures are low, and of course due to the increasing demand for energy the prices are going up with each year. With all this said, it is no wonder that more and more people are looking for cheaper alternatives and ways to cut down the basic costs of living. One cost-efficient solution is solar panels, as they can save up to a third of the electricity spent monthly, as they are known to produce around 300 kW of electricity.
The costs are further reduced if the heating is attached to the solar panels, and if you happen to live in a warmer area, the energy they generate is far more than the estimated. However, a solar panel setup is as efficient as the software controlling it, as it gives you crucial information on consumption and costs. Therefore, we summed up seven effective ways to get more out of solar design software than you thought was possible.ÂÂ
Know how much you need
One way to optimize the software design is to simply calculate the overall power you need and how much you are hoping to generate from the setup. This information input can help the software work on exactly achieving that goal as it can control the setup to be more efficient and generate the desired energy output. Therefore, calculating the amount of energy you need is the first step to making the best out of your software design.ÂÂ
Battery storage
The next efficient step in the optimization of the software is calculating how much battery energy you’ll need. The calculation is essentially simple, you take the average power produced by the setup and then divide it by the voltage of the batteries. With such simple information at hand, the input can help the software maximize the consumption and make the best out of the energy you got. Essentially, what you need to know is that PV simulation software works to optimize all the features and configurations the solar setup has to offer, by giving you estimates of the consumption and also layouts of the design. As a result, greater data entry is critical since it provides more data for the program to work with, allowing it to be more effective in not just decreasing expenses but also getting the most out of the entire setup and generating as much energy as possible. The program also takes care of storage, which is why you’ll hear about battery storage and how to figure out how many batteries you’ll need.
Think of the layoutÂÂ
As the software allows layout design, you should consider certain factors and let the software do the rest. For example, estimating the number of solar panels you need for your specific geographical location can help you generate more energy efficiency per square meter. According to your requirements, the software will provide a design plan that maximizes the available surface, tilts the panels if necessary for optimum energy output, and utilizes every square inch of space. The end result will be a plan that is both efficient and capable of generating the required energy and meets your needs.
Solar energy productionÂÂ
The software can make use of an estimated production rate and therefore calculating the energy production can help you set goals for better extraction of energy. This may be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, you might consider shadow regions and how well the solar panels are exposed, or you can adjust the tilt of the panels to make them more exposed and generate more energy.
Data analysisÂÂ
You can use the available data accumulated to make sure the panels are more than efficient. In other words, we recommend using the data to your advantage by looking at potential errors, shading challenges, and complications. The data available is part of every software and at your disposal to make use of it.ÂÂ
Customize your software according to your needsÂÂ
The topographical study of the terrain is an option that essentially tells users how sustainable and efficient the desired locations are, as well as if they meet the parameters required.
Make use of the equipment calculationÂÂ
The software can take into account the placement of all the electrical equipment, boxes, cables, etc., and make a layout most suitable for your needs and desired goals.ÂÂ
The software is used by companies to efficiently make use of the facilities and the area where the panels are placed. With small adjustments, you can use the software more effectively and generate far more energy at a far lower cost.
