2024 Solar Scorecard: How did you your system do this year?

[Q-Dog]

With 2024 coming to a close, I decided to see how our solar system did this year. We installed our first few panels in 2021, and manage to add a few more every few months. This year we went from 2200 watts installed to 3600 watts of installed panels on the house system in the 3rd week of June. (We used some of the older panels and gear to build a small system for our shed, which I don't count here.)

We consumed 3500 kWh from solar this year which represents about 1/3 of the electricity we consumed this year. When I compared this year's PoCo bill with last year, we went from 12,555 kWh in 2023 down to 9750 kWh in 2024.

So, how did your system perform this year?

 

[hwy17]

Edit: My previous numbers were incorrect, 4MWh from solar and 15MWh from the grid.

 

[Q-Dog]

Edit: My previous numbers were incorrect, 4MWh from solar and 15MWh from the grid.

How much solar do you have?

 

[EZPZ]

This year as my first full year I generated just over 23MWh from solar. Didn’t have all the arrays online in Jan and Feb only March all the arrays were up and running. Exported 14MWh. Imported 4.8MWh. So no bills since March. So a good year and mostly happy with everything.

 

[teal95]

14.0 MWh PV for the year.
6.4 MWh grid for the year.
No export, and almost half the grid (2.6 MWh) was December. Hot tub for drained yesterday so that cuts about 1/3 of consumption. 20 kW of PV currently with another 10 kW waiting to get installed.

 

[J.H.]

With 2024 coming to a close, I decided to see how our solar system did this year. We installed our first few panels in 2001, and manage to add a few more every few months. This year we went from 2200 watts installed to 3600 watts of installed panels on the house system in the 3rd week of June. (We used some of the older panels and gear to build a small system for our shed, which I don't count here.)

We consumed 3500 kWh from solar this year which represents about 1/3 of the electricity we consumed this year. When I compared this year's PoCo bill with last year, we went from 12,555 kWh in 2023 down to 9750 kWh in 2024.

So, how did your system perform this year?

View attachment 266970

That’s a good question and a good exercise to explore.

I would love to get to the point.

The problem is I keep changing , adding stuff to my system ,improving or modifying things ,trying to improve performance and all the while the system is off or shutdown for work in progress and it skews getting any real fix on what I’m actually gaining… I know it’s something , but don’t know how much..
I am hoping this year to NOT to need any further gear, modifications or further expense on new stuff I see online… and just finish getting it all hooked up and let it be ….

Then I will be able to calculate accurately what results my system delivers ….in the future.

Congrats on a good idea.

J.

 

[740GLE]

Off grid weekend cabin here, I went from a 12v 460ah battery powering a 1500w inverter with a single 50w panel, to 24v 510ah battery bank powering a 3k multiplus, RaPi Venus, and 510w of PV.

I used all the wattage I wanted and was never under 80% SOC.

2025 will test the system with the plans to add two ceiling fans and 12k mini split, but I also plan to add another 510w of PV, and maybe add another 280ah battery,

 

[CaliSunHarvester]

too early to answer! Sun is still up here, delivering 40W. (5pm)

 

[BentleyJ]

At the end of the 14th year of a Solar City (Tesla) Lease on a 2.82kW system, the guaranteed production is 4,414kWh. According to the Tesla iphone App the system produced 4.544kWh in 2024. [Actually our anniversary is May not the calendar year, but I don't think that detail is worth worrying about.]

For comparison the first year guarantee with new panels was 5,030kWh. After reviewing the yearly data the system has consistently, slightly outproduced the guarantee.

 

[BentleyJ]

too early to answer! Sun is still up here, delivering 40W. (5pm)

You are determined to squeeze every last Watt out of it.

 

[Brucey]

This was with 6.7kW of panels, just added 11.6kW.

 

[CaliSunHarvester]

You are determined to squeeze every last Watt out of it.

Yes, I went joy riding in my EV earlier to have more space for the electrons. The battery bank shall not go past 99%.

 

[B-Mod]

71.5 MWH for 2024

 

[crossy]

Our system has also expanded during 2024, from 11kWp in January to 23kWp in September.

Over the year we made 14.6MWh (no export) and used 2.5MWh from the grid. most of the grid usage was when we were still on the smaller solar system and had UK family over (arctic A/C setting required).

Either way that's 2,100 USD that we've not paid to the power company.

 

[hwy17]

How much solar do you have?

I have 3.8kW right now. Those annual numbers are with the solar only installed in April though, so next year will be better. And I have 14kW more sitting on a pallet so eventually a lot better.

 

[2TrevorJ]

27.3 MWh PV
2.1 MWh grid assist
4.3 MWh grid export
22.6 MWh load
2.5 MWh lost to/from battery setup/inverter operation

 

[scrubjaysnest]

According to the shunt, 232.7 kWh discharge and 139.1 kWh charge.
That's about 6 months and 880 W of panels.
We tend to be conservative with use. Right now 128 W of use, heater fan and 1 led lamp. Refer cycled off. Inverter is off.
Edit for an oops, forgot the odd panel. Total panel wattage is 1080.

 

[CaliSunHarvester]

Ok. Here are some numbers.

grid-tied system: 4.8kW pv Production in 2024: 5.9MWh
The Growatt inverter lost connectivity and I have been unable to restore it. They are in process of migration to a new app, that may be the reason.
So I don't have data after December 14th for the Growatt. I had to assume that the 2nd half of December was like the first half.

off-grid system 1: 3kW pv Production in 2024: 2.6MW
This one just powers my (recently not often used) man-cave, storage room and RV.
The 15kWh battery is usually full by 10am.

off-grid system 2: 17kW pv Production in 2024: 8.8MW
This one covers (since April) the house that I live in. I used 126kWh of grid power in this house since April 2024 (during November/December 2024).
This system was started 12/25/2023 covering just a fridge and lights, since April 2024 it's the full house.

All in all 17.3MWh...
which is worth in theory ~$8500. (I see prices as low as 44c and as high as 68c per kWh on my various bills, and we just got another increase). Since 11/1/ we are on NEM-3, and sadly, we sold ~600kWh since then to the PoCo for which we did NOT receive $300. More like $30.
That brings the total savings from $8500 to $8230.

 

[42OhmsPA]

10.15MWh of Solar harvested.
Started with 10.85KW of PV, added 3.7KW the 2nd week of Oct.
I'll end up using ~600KWh from the grid, still running the rectifier to top the battery off. .... Wow, it's getting damn close to cutting the cord and using a generator when needed; or managing loads better.

 

[ricardocello]

Sorry for the cross-posting.

Post in thread 'Power Production This Time of Year!'

Dec 31, 2024

It's a good idea to look back at the year!



Some Observations

(1) 5.8 MWh isn't going to cut it for 2025! Planning to double it.

(2) I like to consume the PV when it is available.
If I double the number of panels, the batteries are going to get a bigger workout.

(3) 6.3 kWh back to the grid is what a Victron ESS system does over a year when you set a 200W Grid Limit. Beware!
I have an old spinning wheel meter, no concerns. That may change in 2025.

Happy New Year everyone!

• ricardocello

• 

 

[CaySol]

0 MWh
Shortfall 53MWh.
Here’s to a productive 2025 with the installation of my system.

 

[registered-bum]

For 2024, our primary system is 48v w dual 6000XPs captured 2.0 Mwh from 2 strings (8x 550w Renogy, and 8x 310w LG).
The secondary system is 12v w a Harbor Fright 2kw inverter, and the Victron 150/70 SCC captured 152Kwh from string of 2x Hyundai 395w panels.

We are off grid, and did have to run a total of 267hrs off the generators (HF Predators, one 3500w and one 2000w ).

Gross solar capture is then 2,150Kwh for CY 2024.

 

[Rednecktek]

Remind me about this thread in April when I'm back shoreside and can see how badly my EPEver treated my lead acid bank...

 

[Q-Dog]

0 MWh
Shortfall 53MWh.
Here’s to a productive 2025 with the installation of my system.

Good Luck!

 

[Mike 134]

I'm slightly ahead of what PVWatts predicated I'd generate (over 3 years) so I'm very happy. As to actual numbers compared to the rest of the world meaningless!