When using a solar radiation instrument for an area and getting the results in WH/m2, the focus is primarily on the incident solar energy at that location. On the other hand, capacity factor is a measure of how efficiently a solar power system converts available sunlight into electricity over time. And frequently asked questions 'How Far Can Solar Inverter Be From Main Panel?'
To calculate the capacity factor for a specific area, you will usually need additional information such as the actual energy output from the solar energy system at that location during a specific period of time. The formula for calculating capacity factor is:
Capacity factor
=
(
Actual energy production
Maximum potential energy output
)
×
100
%
Capacity Factor =(
Maximum potential energy output
Actual energy production
I
) × 100%
The results of the solar radiation instrument, expressed in WH/m2, provide insight into the solar potential of the area. However, to determine the capacity factor, you will need to correlate this solar resource data with the actual energy production data from the solar installation at that location.
If you have access to or can estimate historical energy production data for the area in question, you can use the above formula to calculate the capacity factor. This additional step will give you a more comprehensive understanding of the efficiency of solar energy use in a specific area.
If you have any further questions or need help getting specific data for your calculations, feel free to ask."
