Give

Sizing a solar system

Peak sun hours, panel tilt and the sun's angle: design a system for a building like a Lantern.

Back to Engineering · Solar power and mini-grids

Planned. This module is part of the plan and is not written yet.

EGEG-ELE-SOL-0404Level11–12

Why it matters

The Lantern's published design shows 16 panels of 550 W. Here you check that design with the same method engineers use for a clinic or a school.

Draft outline · in review
For
Level 11–12 · SSS 2 to SSS 3 (WASSCE)
Inside
6 lessons and a test · about 120 minutes
Topic
Solar power and mini-grids · extension, 3 of 4
Plate EG-ELE-SOL-04: planned.

Inside the module.

6 lessons in order, about 120 minutes in all, then a short test. Learners go at their own pace; the minutes are a guide, not a timetable.

Draft outline · in review

  1. Lesson 1: Peak sun hours

    Turn a day of changing sunlight into an equivalent number of hours of full sun.

    Explain20 min, from minute 0

  2. Lesson 2: Daily output of an array

    Array watts × peak sun hours × a loss factor.

    Worked example20 min, from minute 20

  3. Lesson 3: Tilt and the sun's elevation

    Tilt roughly equal to the latitude, facing the equator, but at least 10–15° so rain washes the dust off.

    Explain20 min, from minute 40

  4. Lesson 4: From budget to panels

    Work back from an energy budget to the number of panels and the battery size.

    Worked example25 min, from minute 60

  5. Lesson 5: Check the Lantern's design

    Test 16 × 550 W against an estimated classroom load, and list what the load study still needs to measure.

    Project30 min, from minute 85

  6. Lesson 6: Check your skills

    Short sizing questions.

    Review5 min, from minute 115

  7. End-of-module test

    Estimate an array's daily output from peak sun hours, choose a sensible tilt for a latitude, and size panels and batteries for a building.

    Mastered at 85% or more. Retake it until you pass; nothing is lost, and each try gives feedback.

    Already know it? A Challenge Test (planned) clears the whole module: 90% overall, no objective below 75%.

    Last stageafter about 120 min

Practicalities

Draft outline · in review

  • Built to run offline

    Planned to run on the Lantern's own computer, with no internet needed.

  • Languages

    Planned first in English; every module aims to reach all of the Lantern's languages.

Try a question.

One question from the module, as a learner would meet it. Have a go, then open the worked solution a step at a time.

Draft outline · in review

The Lantern's design shows 16 panels of 550 W. At a site with 5 peak sun hours, and allowing 25% for losses from heat, dust, wiring and the inverter, roughly how much energy does the array deliver in a day?

Work it out on paper first, then show the answer and mark it yourself.

Particulars

Where it sits

Engineering · Electrical · Solar power and mini-grids

What a learner can do after it

  1. Estimate a panel array's daily output from peak sun hours.
  2. Choose a panel tilt using latitude and the sun's angle of elevation.
  3. Size panels and batteries for a building, and check the Lantern's own design.

Needs first

Unlocks

Level

Level 11–12 · SSS 2 to SSS 3 (WASSCE)

Show levels in

Level mappings are approximate. A qualified teacher or lecturer in each country must check them before they appear in the app.

Difficulty for its level

3 of 4 · Extension

Time

About 120 minutes

Alignments

  • Aligned to WASSCEintroduces · in reviewWASSCE Physics syllabus: energy and society, solar energy (descriptive ref)

Alignment in review until a qualified teacher or lecturer checks it. No exam body, university or vendor endorses us; learners still sit the real exam.

Challenge Test

Planned: a Challenge Test to prove you know it and skip it. Pass at 90% overall, with no objective below 75%.

University courses it previews

Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering

On these pathways

The route here.

Everything this module builds on, drawn as a route from its foundations. Solid lanes must be mastered first, or cleared by a Challenge Test; dashed lanes are suggestions that never lock anything.

From Level 1, Adding and subtracting to Level 8, Voltage, current and resistance
  1. MA-ARI-OPS-01 Adding and subtracting, Level 1–3, Maths. Planned.
  2. MA-ARI-OPS-01Adding and subtractingMaths · Primary 1 to Primary 3 (Level 1–3) · Planned
  3. MA-ARI-OPS-02 Multiplication as equal groups, Level 2–3, Maths. Sample lesson in the demo.
  4. MA-ARI-OPS-02Multiplication as equal groupsMaths · Primary 2 to Primary 3 (Level 2–3) · Sample lesson in the demo Needs Adding and subtracting (required).Try the sample lesson: Multiplication as equal groups
  5. MA-ARI-OPS-03 Division as sharing and grouping, Level 3–4, Maths. Planned.
  6. MA-ARI-OPS-03Division as sharing and groupingMaths · Primary 3 to Primary 4 (Level 3–4) · Planned Needs Multiplication as equal groups (required).
  7. MA-ARI-OPS-04 Multiplying and dividing together, Level 3–4, Maths. Planned.
  8. MA-ARI-OPS-04Multiplying and dividing togetherMaths · Primary 3 to Primary 4 (Level 3–4) · Planned Needs Division as sharing and grouping (required).
  9. MA-ARI-ORD-01 Order of operations, Level 5–6, Maths. Planned.
  10. MA-ARI-ORD-01Order of operationsMaths · Primary 5 to Primary 6 (Level 5–6) · Planned Needs Multiplying and dividing together (required).
  11. MA-ALG-LIN-01 What an equation means, Level 5–6, Maths. Planned.
  12. MA-ALG-LIN-01What an equation meansMaths · Primary 5 to Primary 6 (Level 5–6) · Planned Needs Order of operations (required).
  13. MA-FDP-OPS-02 Adding and subtracting with different denominators, Level 5–6, Maths. Planned.
  14. MA-FDP-OPS-02Adding and subtracting with different denominatorsMaths · Primary 5 to Primary 6 (Level 5–6) · Planned · recommended
  15. MA-ALG-LIN-02 One-step equations, Level 6, Maths. Planned.
  16. MA-ALG-LIN-02One-step equationsMaths · Primary 6 (Level 6) · Planned Needs What an equation means (required).
  17. MA-ALG-EXP-01 Letters for numbers, Level 6–7, Maths. Planned.
  18. MA-ALG-EXP-01Letters for numbersMaths · Primary 6 to JSS 1 (Level 6–7) · Planned Needs Order of operations (required).
  19. MA-ALG-LIN-03 Two-step equations, Level 6–7, Maths. Sample lesson in the demo.
  20. MA-ALG-LIN-03Two-step equationsMaths · Primary 6 to JSS 1 (Level 6–7) · Sample lesson in the demo Needs One-step equations (required), Adding and subtracting with different denominators (recommended).Try the sample lesson: Two-step equations
  21. MA-NUM-POW-01 Squares, cubes and roots, Level 6–8, Maths. Planned.
  22. MA-NUM-POW-01Squares, cubes and rootsMaths · Primary 6 to JSS 2 (Level 6–8) · Planned
  23. SC-ENV-SOL-01 Energy from the sun: the Lantern, Level 6–9, Sciences. Planned.
  24. SC-ENV-SOL-01Energy from the sun: the LanternSciences · Primary 6 to JSS 3 (BECE) (Level 6–9) · Planned · recommended
  25. MA-ALG-FRM-01 Substituting into formulae, Level 7–8, Maths. Planned.
  26. MA-ALG-FRM-01Substituting into formulaeMaths · JSS 1 to JSS 2 (Level 7–8) · Planned Needs Letters for numbers (required).
  27. SC-PHY-ELC-01 Circuits and current, Level 7–8, Sciences. Planned.
  28. SC-PHY-ELC-01Circuits and currentSciences · JSS 1 to JSS 2 (Level 7–8) · Planned
  29. MA-ALG-LIN-04 Unknowns on both sides, Level 7–8, Maths. Planned.
  30. MA-ALG-LIN-04Unknowns on both sidesMaths · JSS 1 to JSS 2 (Level 7–8) · Planned Needs Two-step equations (required).
  31. MA-GEO-PYT-01 Pythagoras' theorem, Level 8–9, Maths. Planned.
  32. MA-GEO-PYT-01Pythagoras' theoremMaths · JSS 2 to JSS 3 (BECE) (Level 8–9) · Planned Needs Squares, cubes and roots (required).
  33. SC-PHY-ELC-02 Voltage, current and resistance, Level 8–9, Sciences. Planned.
  34. SC-PHY-ELC-02Voltage, current and resistanceSciences · JSS 2 to JSS 3 (BECE) (Level 8–9) · Planned Needs Circuits and current (required), Substituting into formulae (recommended).
  35. EG-ELE-SOL-01How a solar panel makes electricityEngineering · JSS 2 to JSS 3 (BECE) (Level 8–9) · Planned Needs Circuits and current (required), Energy from the sun: the Lantern (recommended).
  36. MA-TRG-RAT-01Sine, cosine and tangentMaths · JSS 3 (BECE) to SSS 1 (Level 9–10) · Planned Needs Pythagoras' theorem (required), Unknowns on both sides (required).
  37. SC-PHY-ELC-03Electrical power and energySciences · JSS 3 (BECE) to SSS 1 (Level 9–10) · Planned Needs Voltage, current and resistance (required), Substituting into formulae (recommended).
  38. EG-ELE-SOL-02Watts and watt-hours: an energy budgetEngineering · JSS 3 (BECE) to SSS 1 (Level 9–10) · Planned Needs How a solar panel makes electricity (required), Electrical power and energy (required), Substituting into formulae (recommended).
  39. MA-ALG-FRM-02Changing the subject of a formulaMaths · JSS 3 (BECE) to SSS 1 (Level 9–10) · Planned Needs Substituting into formulae (required), Unknowns on both sides (required).
  40. SC-PHY-ELC-04Series and parallel circuitsSciences · JSS 3 (BECE) to SSS 1 (Level 9–10) · Planned Needs Voltage, current and resistance (required).
  41. MA-TRG-RAT-02Finding anglesMaths · SSS 1 (Level 10) · Planned Needs Sine, cosine and tangent (required).
  42. EG-ELE-SOL-03Batteries: storing the sunEngineering · SSS 1 to SSS 2 (Level 10–11) · Planned Needs Watts and watt-hours: an energy budget (required), Series and parallel circuits (required), Changing the subject of a formula (required).
  43. MA-TRG-RAT-03Angles of elevation and depressionMaths · SSS 1 to SSS 2 (Level 10–11) · Planned Needs Finding angles (required).
  44. EG-ELE-SOL-04Sizing a solar systemEngineering · SSS 2 to SSS 3 (WASSCE) (Level 11–12) · Planned · the destination Needs Batteries: storing the sun (required), Angles of elevation and depression (required).
27 stops across Maths, Sciences and Engineering. 2 have a sample lesson in the demo; the other 25 are planned and not yet written.

Help light the room where this is learned.

Every route on this map starts in a classroom with 24 stations, a tutor that works offline and a facilitator upstairs. Four are planned and waiting for light.

Help light a LanternTalk to us about a major gift