ABSTRACT
A typical system includes: the modules, a grid-inverter, which is a different type of inverter to that used in stand-alone (non-grid-connected) systems, controllers, disconnects, meters and fuses. The annual energy that can be produced by a given array of modules depends upon several factors, most especially the type of module and the location. It is calculated using the annual energy output per peak kilowatt of rated power supplied by the manufacturer of the module and the insolation data for the location. The larger the installation, the more detailed these calculations need to be. The Solar Energy Pocket Reference Book published by The International Solar Energy Society is a handy source of formulae. The following very rough way of calculating output is taken from the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), the UK Government's tool for assessing the energy and environmental performance of dwellings in the UK.
