TEY Calculator
Understanding the TEY (Total Energy Yield) Calculator
The TEY Calculator is a specialized tool designed to help individuals and businesses understand the total financial and energy benefits derived from a renewable energy system, such as solar panels. It goes beyond just the direct electricity generated and consumed, accounting for excess energy that is exported to the grid, thereby providing a more comprehensive picture of the system's value.
What is TEY?
TEY, or Total Energy Yield, represents the sum of two primary components contributing to the overall value of an energy generation system:
- Self-Consumed Energy Value: The financial benefit of the energy produced and used directly by the household or business, avoiding the need to purchase electricity from the grid.
- Exported Energy Value: The financial benefit derived from selling any surplus energy (that is not self-consumed) back to the electricity grid at a predetermined rate (Feed-in Tariff).
How the TEY Calculator Works (The Math Behind It)
The calculator takes several inputs to provide an accurate TEY calculation:
- Energy Production (kWh): This is the total amount of electricity your system is capable of generating over a specific period (e.g., annually).
- Electricity Price (per kWh): This is the rate you would typically pay your utility company for electricity purchased from the grid.
- Feed-in Tariff (per kWh): This is the rate at which you are compensated by your utility or a government program for each kWh of surplus electricity you export to the grid.
- System Loss Factor: Renewable energy systems are not 100% efficient. This factor accounts for energy losses due to factors like wiring resistance, inverter efficiency, temperature effects, and degradation over time. A value of
0.9means 90% of the theoretical production is usable.
The calculation proceeds as follows:
- Usable Energy: First, we determine the actual usable energy after accounting for system losses.
Usable Energy = Energy Production * System Loss Factor - Self-Consumed Energy: For simplicity in this calculator, we assume a typical scenario where a significant portion of the usable energy is self-consumed. A common heuristic is to assume a certain percentage for self-consumption. This calculator simplifies by focusing on the *total* value rather than splitting consumption vs. export explicitly, but the underlying principle is that generated energy has value either through direct use or export. A more advanced calculator might ask for self-consumption rate. For this TEY calculation, we are considering the *potential* value of all usable energy.
- Exported Energy: If we knew the exact self-consumption rate, we could calculate exported energy. However, for a total value perspective, we look at the value of all usable energy.
- Value of Usable Energy: The total potential value is derived from the usable energy. The calculator uses a weighted average concept or, more practically, calculates the potential earnings if all were exported and the savings if all were self-consumed, and sums them. A simplified approach for TEY considers the total usable energy's potential value.
If
Usable Energyis generated:- Value from self-consumption:
Self-Consumed Energy * Electricity Price - Value from export:
Exported Energy * Feed-in Tariff
TEY Value = (Usable Energy * Electricity Price) * (Self-Consumption Rate) + (Usable Energy * Feed-in Tariff) * (1 - Self-Consumption Rate)However, a more direct approach to total *value* if the system is sized appropriately for the load is often expressed as the sum of savings and export revenue. This calculator simplifies by showing the *potential* financial benefit of the energy produced, considering both the cost savings (if self-consumed) and potential export revenue. The formula implemented here is a practical representation of the total financial benefit:TEY (Monetary Value) = (Usable Energy * Feed-in Tariff) + (Energy Produced * Electricity Price * (1 - System Loss Factor))This formula assumes that energy NOT lost to the system is either exported (at FiT) or used to offset grid purchases (at Electricity Price, representing the savings). The termEnergy Produced * Electricity Price * (1 - System Loss Factor)represents the savings from self-consumption, effectively valuing the usable energy at the price of grid electricity it displaces. The termUsable Energy * Feed-in Tariffrepresents the revenue from exporting the energy that is effectively available for export (i.e., the usable energy). - Value from self-consumption:
Note: The exact definition and calculation of TEY can vary. This calculator provides a commonly used method to estimate the total economic yield considering system efficiency, self-consumption value, and export revenue.
Use Cases
- Homeowners: Evaluating the financial performance of rooftop solar installations.
- Businesses: Assessing the return on investment for commercial renewable energy projects.
- Policy Makers: Understanding the economic impact of renewable energy incentives.
- System Installers: Demonstrating the potential value of their systems to clients.
By using the TEY Calculator, you gain a clearer understanding of the financial advantages and the overall energy yield of your renewable energy system.