On Wednesday, 11 September 2019 20:44:38 UTC+1, Steve Walker wrote:
On 11/09/2019 07:26, harry wrote:
On Tuesday, 10 September 2019 21:30:33 UTC+1, Steve Walker wrote:
On 10/09/2019 17:37, harry wrote:
On Tuesday, 10 September 2019 11:08:04 UTC+1, whisky-dave wrote:
On Monday, 9 September 2019 16:22:39 UTC+1, harry wrote:
On Monday, 9 September 2019 11:48:02 UTC+1, tony sayer wrote:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-49566130
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None of these stories says how big the array is so it's hard to comment.
The picture looks like around 2Kw,
When they are installed the owner is provided with an assessment of expected Kwh/year generated.

My first 4Kw array cost £14,000 and generates £2000/year so it's paid for itself recently.
My newer array was £6000 but only generates £500/year.

why such a difference ?
If £14K gives you £2k per year = £7k = £1k per year
then why does £6k = £500 per year

has the sun become less bright over the last few years or is it global warming ?

The price paid/Kwh reduced as time went on.


I have near perfect orientation. Someone who hasn't might get a lot less.

So if the arrays are differnt what is this difference ?

Perfect orientation is pointing South, 36deg inclination plus no shading. (To maximise power generated/year.)

Anything different reduces annual output.

Not necessarily.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ear...cientists.html


You didn't read that did you?
quote
Professor Michael Walls, of Loughborough University said: €œThere are half a million installations in the UK facing south. To maximise the amount of power produced by those panels, facing south is correct.

€œWhat we are saying that if you have the solar panels facing east-west then you can even out the power during the day. You may lose about 10 per cent of power if you go east-west but this addresses a problem that exists in Germany where because everything is facing south, you get this peak power at midday which is very difficult for the grid to cope with.

€œSo in Germany they are advising people to go east-west so they are smoothing out the supply of power from all these solar panels. We get similar spikes of power too, although it wouldnt make sense for people to change their solar panels if they have already been installed.
unquote

I'm maximising power/income.

Did you read the rest?

"In November, American research revealed that panels facing west may
actually get more energy from the sun, and at more convenient times."

"Scientists found that when homeowners faced their panels west they were
able to generate more electricity each day."

It is not clear whether the second paracgraph refers to the first or
whether it refers more generally to the days over the year.

SteveW

That bit is bollix.