Some software tools you may find useful, reposted from elsewhere. These will allow you to use data sets specific to the equipment (solar panels, regulators, battery etc...) and location (reliable weather data) you are planning to use to test performance over the year and evaluate your needs.
PvSyst
http://www.pvsyst.com/en/software/download
Fully function evaluation mode, limited to 1 month.
If the locations included by default are not suficient (unlikely), you can grab Meteonorm to get data for a location closer to you.
Meteonorm
Dataset of weather conditions over the years for specific locations around the globe (airports, official weather stations etc). These can be interpolated and averaged so you can have an idea of a "typical year" and "best case" - "worst case" scenarios.
http://meteonorm.com/en/downloads
Works in a demo mode for an unlimited period. Saving is restricted to five sites.
Instructions on how to import data from Meteonorm to PvSyst:
http://files.pvsyst.com/help/meteo_import_meteonorm.htm
PV*SOL
Of course, the sherry on the top of the cake would be using PV*SOL, which allows you to draw a 3D simulation of your installation (including the surroundings, buildings, shadowing - say the effect of that chimney which will be casting a shadow on late afternoon...).
http://www.valentin-software.com/en/prod...ol-premium
Offers a featured restricted demo.
Lately, it seems they moved the design of stand-alone systems to a separate app:
http://www.valentin-software.com/en/down...standalone
Overall, cost wise, for a stationary photo-voltaic system old fashioned lead acid flooded batteries are likely still the best option. Just don't design the system to take more than 50% out of them (valid as well for all but lithium models).
PvSyst
http://www.pvsyst.com/en/software/download
Fully function evaluation mode, limited to 1 month.
If the locations included by default are not suficient (unlikely), you can grab Meteonorm to get data for a location closer to you.
Meteonorm
Dataset of weather conditions over the years for specific locations around the globe (airports, official weather stations etc). These can be interpolated and averaged so you can have an idea of a "typical year" and "best case" - "worst case" scenarios.
http://meteonorm.com/en/downloads
Works in a demo mode for an unlimited period. Saving is restricted to five sites.
Instructions on how to import data from Meteonorm to PvSyst:
http://files.pvsyst.com/help/meteo_import_meteonorm.htm
PV*SOL
Of course, the sherry on the top of the cake would be using PV*SOL, which allows you to draw a 3D simulation of your installation (including the surroundings, buildings, shadowing - say the effect of that chimney which will be casting a shadow on late afternoon...).
http://www.valentin-software.com/en/prod...ol-premium
Offers a featured restricted demo.
Lately, it seems they moved the design of stand-alone systems to a separate app:
http://www.valentin-software.com/en/down...standalone
Overall, cost wise, for a stationary photo-voltaic system old fashioned lead acid flooded batteries are likely still the best option. Just don't design the system to take more than 50% out of them (valid as well for all but lithium models).