Note: The MCS calculator is only available when designing a system within the UK. If used outside of the UK it will throw an error.
OpenSolar's MCS Calculator follows the MCS standards in calculating solar PV output as defined in MIS 3002 (The Solar PV Standard (Installation)). It also follows the methodology in calculating self-consumption with and without energy storage as defined in MGD 003 (Determining the Electrical Self-Consumption of Domestic Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Installations with and without Electrical Energy Storage).
Setting up the MCS Calculator as the Default
To set the MCS PV Output Calculator to be the default calculator please go to Control > Design & Hardware > Setbacks & Design Settings > Simulation Settings and select MCS (UK Only) option under Energy Production Calculator. Note, MCS is the default option as standard for all designs created within the UK.
Setting up the MCS Calculator for a specific project
You can set to use the MCS PV Output Calculator within Design under Summary > Advanced Settings > Energy Production Calculator. For non-MCS or larger systems (typically 50kW+) OpenSolar offers alternative calculation methodologies based on System Advisor Model (NREL) and PVWatts.
Setting up the MCS System Performance Summary & Sunpath Shading Diagram in your Proposal
You can add the MCS system performance summary table and sunpath shading diagram (Only if using the MCS Calculator) to your proposal template by the following steps:
- Go to Control > Purchase Experience > Proposal Template and then click on
of an existing proposal template (please create a new proposal template if you don't have one created already). You will then need to open up the Proposal Content section.
- Scroll down to the Disclaimers section in Proposal Content.
Note: The placeholder for the MCS system performance summary table and sunpath shading diagram is only available within the Disclaimers section of the Proposal Template.
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You can add the placeholder for the MCS system performance summary under any Disclaimer section by clicking on the icon as shown in the image below.
And then search for the . It is recommended to either place it under System Performance or System Hardware Components to show the MCS table directly under the System hardware section in MyEnergy.
- Repeat step 3 to add the sunpath shading diagram via the placeholder
- Save the proposal template and go to MyEnergy to see if the MCS system performance table and sunpath shading diagram have been applied as follows:
Setting up the Occupancy Archetype for MCS Self-consumption Calculations
You can set the occupancy archetype in Projects > Electricity Usage. You will need to choose a usage source other than default as you set the occupancy archetype under Curve weekday. Each of the options for Curve Weekday maps to the 3 different occupancy archetype as defined in the table below:
Limitations of the MCS Calculations:
MIS-3002 (generation calculations)
- This Standard specifies the requirements for MCS Contractors undertaking the supply, design, installation, set to work, commissioning and handover of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems supplying permanent buildings and normally connected in parallel to the electricity distribution network up to a maximum DC output of 50kWp.
MGD 003 (self-consumption calculations)
- The method for determining the generation from solar PV systems is as described in MIS 3002: The Solar PV Standard (Installation)
- The total annual domestic electricity consumption is between 1,500 kWh and 6,000 kWh per year
- The total expected annual electricity generation from the solar PV system is less than 6,000 kWh per year.
- Any EESS: Has a round-trip efficiency at 25°C (as defined by BS EN IEC 62933-2) greater than or equal to 80%. Has a power rating sufficient for them to be fully charged and discharged within 6 hours at rated power.
If any of these conditions are not met, the self-consumption will be calculated using OpenSolar's self-consumption calculations.
Note: MGD 003 defines the maximum self-consumption percentage as 95%. Hence when using the MCS calculator, the self-consumption will never exceed 95%.
MCS Self-consumption Table Explainer:
A. Installation data | |
Installed capacity of PV system (kWp) | Total capacity of the solar PV system represented in terms of kilowatt peak power output (kWp). A solar system with a peak power rating of 3.68kWp working at its maximum capacity on a sunny day will produce 3.68kW of electricity. |
Orientation of the PV System - degrees from South | The orientation of the proposed solar PV system(s) in relation to true south. |
Inclination of system - degrees from horizontal | The angle of the proposed solar PV modules. Often determined by the pitch of the roof facet or the mounting system. |
Postcode region | Region as determined by MCS UK postcode zones. |
B. Performance calculations | |
kWh/kWp (Kk) from table |
Kk is an MCS factor derived from: |
Shade Factor (SF) | A value used to assess the potential impact of shading on a solar PV installation as a result of both near and far objects. The shade factor (SF) is used to modify the amount of electricity that is predicted to be generated by a proposed Solar PV system. Values range from 1 (no shading) to 0 (full shading). |
Estimated annual output (kWp x Kk x SF) | An estimate of the total annual output of the system. |
C. Estimated PV self-consumption - PV Only | |
Assumed occupancy archetype | Lifestyle factor indicating the length of time a property is occupied throughout a typical day. |
Assumed annual electricity consumption | The amount of electricity consumed by a property over a typical year. |
Assumed annual electricity generation from solar PV system | Predicted solar PV generation taking into account system size, location and shading factors. |
Expected solar PV self-consumption (PV Only) | The proportion of solar PV generation consumed by the property, assuming no electrical energy storage system (EESS) is present. |
Grid electricity independence / Self-sufficiency (PV Only) | The degree of utility independence or “self-sufficiency” gained by adding a solar PV system. |
D. Estimated PV self-consumption - with EESS | |
Assumed usable capacity of electricity energy storage device, which is used for self-consumption | The amount of capacity available for storing solar PV energy. Self-consumption is the proportion of solar PV output which is directly consumed by the domestic property. Increasing the expected consumption of electricity generated by a solar PV system enables greater self-sufficiency. Usable capacity of an energy storage device is determined by manufacturer specifications or installation parameters. |
Expected solar PV self-consumption (with EESS) | The proportion of solar PV generation consumed by the property, assuming an electrical energy storage system (EESS) is present. |
Grid electricity independence / Self-sufficiency (with EESS) | The degree of utility independence or “self-sufficiency” gained by adding a solar PV system alongside an electrical energy storage system (EESS). |
E. Additional benefits from PV and EESS | |
EESS capacity not used for self-consumption | The amount of storage capacity not utilised by domestic generation technologies such as solar PV. |
Total energy discharged per annum | The total amount of energy discharged from an electrical energy storage solution (EESS) per year. |
Additional self-consumption for EV, heat pumps, diverters (only when present) | Domestic electricity consumption related to technologies such as EV, heat pumps and power diverters. |
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