PVWatts Version 5 Manual

The NREL PVWatts R calculator is a web application developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that estimates the electricity production of a gridconnected photovoltaic system based on a few simple inputs. PVWatts combines a number of sub-models to predict overall system performance, and includes several built-in parameters that are hidden from the user. This technical reference manual describes the sub-models, documents hidden parameters and assumptions for default values, and explains the sequence of calculations that yield the nal system energy production estimate. This reference applies to the signicantly revised version of PVWatts released by NREL in 2014.

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