In sizing solar systems, we calculate two potential limits on the size of a solar array at this building.
We use the smaller of the two as the technical potential:
- The capacity that can fit on the roof of the building, accounting for 50% obstruction, a 4ft installation setback, and the typical multi-crystalline silicon solar module installation power density of 14W per sq. ft.
- The maximum capacity that will not make the customer a net exporter of energy; doing so would prevent the customer from being fully compensated under "net metering" rules
The following are the calculations behind the roof capacity and net metering limits that we use:
- For roof capacity:
- For net-metering limits: