Procedure

It is fundamentally important for the economic viability and operational reliability of an off-grid system that it is designed based on demand. Aligning an off-grid system to the availability of PV energy as determined by geographic conditions as well as to the the energy behavior of the system user are both important components of the design.

As much information regarding an off-grid system is to be gathered as possible in order to facilitate an optimum design. It is imperative that information be gathered regarding the following:

  • Intended purpose of the planned system

  • Loads and utilization times

  • Geographic characteristics of the planned installation site

  • Possible energy generators

  • Solar fraction (SF): Amount of PV energy as a proportion of the total energy supply in an off-grid system

  • Battery bridging time

An initial design can be drawn up using the data gathered here which can provide information on the magnitude, the suitable energy suppliers and components.

The following sections describe the procedure for designing an off-grid system and build in part on one another. Following the sequence of the individual sections is recommended (for an example of designing an off-grid system, see ( > Example of a Design of an Off-Grid System without Software)).

You can use the planning tools provided by SMA Solar Technology AG as a support aid:

    Designing an Off-Grid System
    Estimating the Electrical Loads