THREE YEARS UNDER A PV ROOF IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND

摘要

Towards the end of 2000, the author installed a photovoltaic (PV) system on hisrnhouse in Farnborough. He wanted to gain first-hand experience of living under a solarrnroof, monitor its performance, and hopefully, set an example for others to follow. Thernsystem consists of a 2.04-kWp PV array on the south-facing roof, two string inverters, dcrncircuit breakers, switchgear, meter, and cabling. Surplus solar-generated power is fedrninto the grid under a net-metering agreement.rnThe system has worked faultlessly, without cleaning or maintenance, and hasrnproduced successive annual outputs of 1644, 1698, and 1927 kWh in the three yearsrn2001-2003, equating to a mean of 861 kWh/kWp. The solar contribution to the domesticrnload has risen from 47%, through 61% to 77% in the exceptionally sunny year of 2003.