Path-Q Solar
How should solar be sized when electricity use is unusually high for only one season?
Answer
Size the system using a full-year load profile and decide separately whether the seasonal peak is recurring, flexible, or temporary; do not automatically size for a short-lived peak.
Key points
- Compare monthly usage and identify which loads create the seasonal increase.
- Recurring seasonal loads may justify additional capacity, but production timing and bill-credit rules affect its value.
- Efficiency, load shifting, or another technology may address a seasonal peak more economically than oversizing solar.
What it depends on
- Annual and monthly electricity use
- Cause and duration of the seasonal load
- Solar production by season
- Export compensation, limits, and other bill rules
Risks and trade-offs
- Sizing for a temporary peak can leave excess capacity during the rest of the year.
- Sizing only to average use may under-serve a recurring seasonal need.
Information you may need
- At least monthly usage history if available
- Seasonal load details and expected persistence
- Planned efficiency or load-shifting measures
- Applicable bill and export structure
Your next step
What to do next
Compare conservative, average-use, and peak-season sizing scenarios using annual production and seasonal bill impacts rather than annual consumption alone.
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SQ02170