Path-Q Solar
What information is needed to create a reliable solar production estimate?
Answer
A reliable estimate needs accurate site geometry, shading, equipment specifications, weather or solar-resource data, system losses, and the intended operating configuration. A proposal based only on roof area and an annual average is less dependable.
Key points
- Provide roof orientation, tilt, usable area, obstructions, and nearby or seasonal shading.
- Specify panel, inverter, optimizer, battery, and mounting characteristics.
- Account for wiring, inverter, mismatch, temperature, snow, soiling, and availability losses.
- Use a location-appropriate solar-resource dataset and model production by month or time interval.
- State assumptions about degradation, outages, curtailment, and future shading.
What it depends on
- Accuracy of the roof survey and shading assessment
- Equipment ratings and layout
- Local weather and solar-resource data
- System operating limits and losses
- Whether storage or export limits apply
Risks and trade-offs
- Optimistic assumptions about shade, losses, or equipment availability can inflate expected production.
- A single annual number can conceal seasonal shortfalls and mismatch with household demand.
- Actual production will vary with weather and maintenance even when the model is sound.
Information you may need
- Site address or location
- Roof plan, orientation, tilt, and shading data
- Proposed equipment and layout
- Historical weather or solar-resource basis
- Expected loss, degradation, and availability assumptions
Your next step
What to do next
Ask for a monthly production model showing the layout, shading analysis, loss assumptions, data source, and expected uncertainty range.
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SQ00137