Research into Residential Grid Tied Solar in Southern Alberta

I. Is Grid Tied Solar a viable option for Southern Alberta?

1. My reasons for wanting solar?
a. Reduce electricity bill.
b. Cost/Watt is reasonable with low solar panel prices. <$1/Watt
c. Business opportunity: Grid Tied Solar Install and Energy Audit Service
2. Solar Map for Alberta/Canada.
a. Alberta

*Alberta has the highest amount of annual sunshine in Canada.

b. Alberta vs Germany Potential

*Alberta has a greater solar resource than Germany, often cited for their successful large scale
deployment of solar PV. The yearly photovoltaic potential in Calgary is 1292 kWh/kW. Berlins

photovoltaic potential is 848 kWh/kW. This means a one-kilowatt solar system in Calgary will
produce 52 per cent more electricity than one in Berlin.
3. Off Grid or Grid Tied?
a. Grid Tied is most economical, uses the grid as storage (no batteries), less
complicated to use and install, ability to add other forms of electricity generation (wind
turbine, mechanical turbine, alternative generator, hydro-electric, etc).

II. Grid Tied System

1. Overview of a simple residential grid tied solar system.

III. Inverters
1. String Inverter vs Micro-inverter.
Micro-inverter:
PROS
o Easy installation - No high voltage DC wiring
o Isolates each solar panel - Less loss due to shading
o 5-25% more energy yield - Per module MPPT
*MPPT stands for Maximum Power Point Tracking, and it relates to the solar cell itself. Each
solar cell has a point at which the current (I) and voltage (V) output from the cell result in the
maximum power output of the cell. It is particularly effective during low light level conditions.
During low light level situations it will compensate for the low light level and find the new point
at which the solar cell delivers its maximum power output.
o 331 year projected life - 25 year warranty
o No Fans - No single point of failure in the system

o Flexibility - Can expand array - Simple installation

o Easy WIFI monitoring
CONS
o Short Term 30-40% more expensive.
String Inverter:
PROS
o Significantly lower initial cost
CONS
o
o
o
o
o

Need replacement in 10 years - 5-10 year warranty

Shading of one panel effects whole string
Single, central point of system failure
More complex installation, hard to diagnose problems
Only monitors overall array production

2. Tracking power output.

a. Data logging i/p to inverter.
b. Utility Meter/company tracking/logging.

IV. Sizing a System

Eg.
o Typical Calgary Residential Home use = 300-700kwH per month.
o Average amount of sun hours per day in Calgary ~ 6.4.
Calculations:
Average daily use = Average monthly usage / 30
= 500kwH / 30 = 16.67kwH
kw of Solar Panels required = Average Daily Use / Average Daily Sun Hours
= 6.67kwH / 6.4H
= 2.6 kw
Therefore to offset the cost of electricity for the typical Calgary home it would need ~ 2.6kw of
solar panels.
However, best practices would dictate to calculate the optimum amount of solar panels required
there are many more factors involved such as solar panel angle, roof direction for solar panel
placement, shading, snow, solar panel aging efficiency losses, inverter type, sun tracking system
used if any, etc.
o kw of Solar Panels required * 30% = 2.6 kw * 1.3 = 3.38kw

Another way to calculate it is to use the kwH/kw potential of the region (Calgary = 1292
kwH/kw).
Average kwH/year = Average Monthly Use * 12 = 500kwH * 12 = 6000 kwH/yr
kw of Solar Panels required = 6000kwh / 1292 kwH/kw = 4.64 kw
This produces a much higher number than the previous calculation, leading me to believe that
further research and study is in order to determine which calculated value would be most
representative of real world results. However, anecdotal results of other users systems in the
region seem to suggest the first calculation to be fairly accurate.

V. Cost/Payback
1. Cost
i. 3.5kw of 250W Solar Panels
ii 4kw String Inverter/Microinverter
iii. AC disconnect
DC disconnect
Cabling/Mounting/Etc

$3500-4000
$700-2000 (String) / $3000 (Micro)
$1000-1500

o Cost: w/String Inverter ~ $5200-7500

o Cost: w/Micro Inverter ~ $7500-9500
*Add $3000-6000 for labour rates if installing yourself.
2. Payback
Cost of Electricity / month = kwH per month * Cost per kwH (includes 50% of variable fees) =
500 kwH * .12 = ~ $60
o Cost: w/String Inverter ~ $4700-7500
= $5200/ ($60*12) = 7.2 years
= $7500/ ($60*12) = 10.4 years
o Cost: w/Micro Inverter ~ $7000-9500
= $7500/ ($60*12) = 10.4 years
= $9500/ ($60*12) = 13.2 years
*Note: As electricity rates rise on a yearly basis, the time of payback will be lower than the
above calculated scenarios. However if adding in labour rates for install, the costs calculated
above would be considered a fairly accurate representation of the payback time.