What is MAPMYSUN?

MAPMYSUN is an online Solar services provider helping customers understand the cost and benefits of going solar by providing them with valuable technical and financial information of their chosen Solar plant

What is MAPMYSUN Report?

MAPMYSUN report is a Solar PV pre-feasibility report which provides valuable technical and financial information required for better decision making prior to investing in a solar PV system. MAPMYSUN provides reports for both; Grid-Connected and Off-Grid Solar systems

Why should I go Solar?

While there are many advantages of switching to Solar, below are a few:

Lower your electricity bills: The advancement in technology has made Solar much more affordable than what it used to be. Lucrative subsidies and policies by the government such as Net metering have not only helped to bring down the initial investment in Solar but also has made electricity from Solar at par and in most cases even cheaper than grid electricity.  This has resulted in a substantial reduction in electricity bills.  

Stay Electrified: Off-Grid Solar can be useful in remote places where the gird has not reached. Even in places where there is grid connectivity but is unstable, people prefer going solar which ensures they have access to electricity 24*7.

Save the Environment: Solar is one of the cleanest forms of producing electricity. By installing a Solar system one can be proud in contributing their bit for the environment by reducing carbon emissions, thereby saving not only trees, but all life forms.

How effective are Solar panels in Canada?

As we might expect, the closer a country is to the equator, the more solar radiation it will receive, and the idea of harnessing that energy with solar panels makes perfect sense. But what about northern countries like Canada that spend many months of the year in the depths of a grey winter, where the sun is low in the sky and the solar gain is minimal? As it turns out, despite our northern location, Canada, too, receives enough solar radiation to make powering PV panels a worthwhile option for homeowners. Most of Canada receives at least seven megajoules of sunlight each day — that's enough to supply an average household's power requirement of about 2,000 watt hours from one 200-watt PV panel!  (Source: Canadian Wildlife Federation)

What does MapMySun Reports provide?

Grid -connected report provides the following:

System sizing (Annual Electricity yield by Solar system, Solar System size, No of Solar panels, Inverter, size, panel tilt angle and direction) Financial analysis (Solar System cost, Savings in a year, Savings in 25 years, Return on Investment, Payback Period, Increase in property value) Environmental benefits (CO2 Emissions avoided; Trees saved) Graph - Cost Vs Savings Graph.

The report also provides Tips on Operating and Maintaining a Solar system as well as Vendor Selection criteria and lots more.

Off-Grid report provides the following:

In addition to all the above that is provided by the Grid-connected report, an Off-Grid report also includes Battery sizing criteria. Customers can use our online Energy Consumption Calculator to find out about their actual daily consumption based on their appliances and the hours they are used.

Where are the sunlight hours obtained from in the report?

The resource data is obtained from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). For every province the sunlight hours are calculated by considering the average sunlight hours of 3-4 cities of that province

Why should I prefer MAPMYSUN over others?

DETAILED: The most comprehensive report in the market! Our report has all the information that is needed from a techno-commercial perspective to make a well-informed decision prior to investing in a Solar PV system.

ACCURATE & LOCAL: The weather data is obtained from the most authentic sources such as National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The system cost is calculated using installation rates from local installation companies and local electricity tariffs, so you get a customized report based on data of your chosen location.

UNBIASED: We do not sell, promote or install solar panels. We just sell reports, so we provide you with the most accurate and unbiased estimate of your system.

Why do we ask for your location?

We need location details for weather data, installation cost and electricity tariffs.

Why do we ask for your highest and lowest electricity bills?

We need this information to calculate the average monthly electricity usage to estimate the system size. The average value is required to ensure the system is not undersized.

What should I know to order the Reports?

For Grid-connected report we need to know your highest and lowest Electricity bill and your location (City and Province).

In case of an Off-grid report apart from your location we need you to use our 'Energy Consumption Calculator' and provide us with your daily electricity consumption.

Why do you need me to use the 'Energy Consumption Calculator' for Off-Grid Report?

In order to determine the Solar system size, we need to know the daily electricity consumption. For this we require the electricity bill or appliance details and usage pattern. As Off-grid house is not connected to the grid hence there is no monthly electricity bill. We therefore ask you to use our 'Energy Consumption Calculator' which determines the daily electricity usage of your household.

Who can benefit from MAPMYSUN Report?

MAPMYSUN report is for anyone who is interested in gaining from investing in a Solar system. The long list of users could include homeowners, shop-owners, small industrial and commercial offices, gas stations, off-grid homeowners, cabins, financial institutions, investors, farm owners, Utilities / electricity distribution companies, EPC companies, etc…  

Which countries does the MAPMYSUN report cater to?

MAPMYSUN report presently caters to Canadian customers only

What is the pricing structure of MAPMYSUN report?

Please refer to the product page for latest pricing. Prices are subject to change without prior notification.

How can I get a copy of my old/lost report?

You may request for a copy of your report by sending us an email. Please provide us your details such as Report type (Grid-connected or Off-Grid), Report number, your name, email address, date and the location you ordered the report for. We maintain a copy of reports upto 1 year.

Can I order your service through smartphone?

Yes, MAPMYSUN services can be accessed via smartphones. 

What is the process to refund money?

MAPMYSUN reserves the right for cancellation or refund of fees. Users should note that once an order has processed it cannot be cancelled and a refund cannot be issued. However in the unlikely event of an error on our part the users should point this to us by writing to us at sales@mapmysun.com and we will try our best to get it resolved or if need be refund the fees to the user.

How long will it take for my order to arrive after I make payment?

While we aim to send you your report within 24 hours, there may be instances where it may take up to 3-4 business days. We recommend you keep checking your Spam folder and contact us if you do not receive your report after 3 business days of placing your order.

What if I don’t receive my report in 3 business days?

In the unlikely event that you don’t receive your report within 3 business days, please do write to us at sales@mapmysun.com and we will email you a copy of your report.

What are the payment methods available?

You can pay using a Credit/Debit card

My credit card payment was declined. How shall I proceed?

In case of a card decline we recommend you to check with your bank

What is a Solar Photovoltaic (PV) module?

A Solar PV module (Solar panel) is an assembly of photovoltaic (PV) cells.  To achieve a desired voltage and current, a group of PV modules (or PV panels) are wired into large array called PV array. Arrays of a photovoltaic system supply solar electricity to electrical equipment

What are the different types of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) modules technologies?

Below are a few types of Photovoltaic modules:

Crystalline Silicon – Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline modules Amorphous or Thin Film Silicon Cadmium Telluride Copper Indium Selenide

What is the difference between Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline PV panels?

The main difference is the type of silicon solar cell used. Monocrystalline solar panels have solar cells made from a single crystalline of silicon, while polycrystalline solar panels have solar cells made from many silicon fragments melted together

What is a Grid-connected Solar system?

A grid-connected PV system is an electricity generating solar PV power system that is connected to the utility grid

What is an Off Grid Solar system?

In an off-grid system there is no public electricity grid. Once solar power is used by the appliances in your property, any excess power will be sent to your battery bank. Once the battery bank is full it will stop receiving power from the solar system

What is an Inverter?

An inverter is an electronic device that converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC)

What is a Solar Inverter?

A solar inverter, or PV inverter, or Solar converter, converts the variable direct current (DC) output of a photovoltaic (PV)solar panel into a utility frequency alternating current (AC) that can be fed into a commercial electrical grid or used by a local, off-grid electrical network.

What DC System voltage is considered?

We have considered a DC system voltage of 24 V DC for calculations

What is Tilt direction?

Tilt direction is the direction in which the Solar PV panels face.

What should be the ideal Tilt / roof direction in Canada for optimum electricity generation from a Solar system?

For Solar panels to produce the maximum amount of electricity they need to face the equator. Therefore, countries in the northern hemisphere one needs to point their solar panels due south and for countries in the southern hemisphere one needs to point their solar panels due north. As Canada lies in the Northern hemisphere, all users need to point their solar panels due south

What is Tilt angle? What is the Optimum Tilt angle?

The degree which the solar PV panels make with the ground is called the tilt angle/tilt degree.

Orienting the PV panel in a direction and tilt to maximize its exposure to direct sunlight will optimize the collection efficiency. The panel will collect solar radiation most efficiently when the sun's rays are perpendicular to the panel's surface. The angle of the sun varies throughout the year. Therefore, the optimal tilt angle for a PV panel in the winter will differ from the optimal tilt angle for the summer. This angle will also vary by latitude.

To optimize the performance of PV panels for a system located in Northern hemisphere; in the winter, they should be tilted up from horizontal at an angle 15° greater than the latitude while in Summer the panel should be tilted 15° less than the latitude.

How does the tilt angle and/or orientation of the PV panel affect system performance?

Photovoltaic (PV) panels collect solar radiation directly from the sun, from the sky, and from sunlight reflected off the ground or area surrounding the PV panel. Orienting the PV panel in a direction and tilt to maximize its exposure to direct sunlight will optimize the collection efficiency. The panel will collect solar radiation most efficiently when the sun's rays are perpendicular to the panel's surface. The angle of the sun varies throughout the year. Therefore, the optimal tilt angle for a PV panel in the winter will differ from the optimal tilt angle for the summer. This angle will also vary by latitude.

What are DC/AC Losses?

Losses due to dust, dirt, snow, temperature, wiring, shading, etc

What is Inverter Efficiency?

Inverter efficiency can be defined as what percentage of the power that goes into the inverter comes out as usable AC current

What are various losses in solar PV plant?

Some of the losses are as below:

Losses in PV modules due to conversion of solar radiation to DC electricity Losses in interconnections and cables, Losses due to dirt, snow, icing and soiling, Self-shading of PV modules Inverter efficiency losses Battery efficiency Losses in AC section and transformer (where applicable) depend on the system architecture Losses due to downtime caused by maintenance or failures Temperature

Are losses due to shading considered?

Losses due to shading are not included in calculations.

What is Performance ratio?

The performance ratio (PR) of a PV installation is defined by the difference between the actual energy yield of a site (production energy), and the expected energy of the site, based on the module type and environmental sensor measurements. The PR value ranges between 0 and 1 and is used to evaluate the PV system performance: A high PR indicates a properly operating site. You can use the PR to compare the performance of several systems in different locations, monitor a site’s performance over time and check if a site is meeting its energy production targets

How much area is required for a 1kw rooftop solar PV system?

As a rule of thumb, you need 10 sqm area for 1 kW solar system capacity

What is irradiation?

Irradiation is the process by which an object is exposed to radiation

I got a battery capacity as 5000Ah. This is not available in the market?

The value obtained under battery capacity’s total capacity considering your appliance requirements and the reserve time required. The number of batteries required can be obtained by dividing this value by the battery rating. As this may differ from user to user we have calculated the total capacity.

How can I obtain the number of batteries required?

Please refer above answer

What is a Net-Metering?

Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid. As a net metering customer, when you generate more electricity than you consume, you receive a credit to your account. This credit is applied against your future consumption.

What is Gross-Metering?

Gross metering is an arrangement in which a consumer is compensated at a fixed feed-in-tariff for the total number of units of solar energy generated and exported to the grid (accounted by a unidirectional ‘gross meter’) and has to pay the electricity distribution company at retail supply tariff for the electricity consumed from the grid. The feed-in-tariff and retail supply tariff are typically different rates.

What is Payback Period?

The payback period is the time required for the amount invested in an asset to be repaid by the net cash outflow generated by the asset.

What is Return On Investment?

Return on investment represents the financial benefit received from an investment. Basically, it's a measure of what you get back compared to what you put in.

What is electricity tariff?

Tariff refers to the amount of money the consumer has to pay for making the power available to them at their home or workplace.

What is Levelized Cost Of Electricity (LCOE)?

The Levelized Cost Of Electricity (LCOE) is the measure of the average net present cost of electricity generation for a generating system over its lifetime. This means the solar PV system will produce power at this same per unit rate throughout its life.