My company is doing the MEP design for a high-end private residence. The owner is considering putting a PV array on one of the buildings, either for water heating or for power. I have not done (and would not do, at least for this project) any PV design. That will be handed over to a PV supplier. We are in the early stages of design, and I need to get the architect to reserve some real estate for the PV-related equipment. Presuming it is only for generating power, and they want enough to cover the house and pool energy, here are my questions:
- How many “boxes” should I show on the floor plans, to represent PV-related components?
- What should I call each box (e.g., battery, inverter, etc.)?
- About how much space should I get the architect to set aside for this equipment?
So - assumably this house will be on the grid?
Is this solar PV or solar pool heating thermal?
If PV, you need a space for the inverter(s). Not too different in size from a surface mount electrical breaker panel. Preferably located in garage or on north side of building (out of the sun)
And you need conduit to/from the inverter to the array and to/from the main electric panel.
How many inverters depends on how many kw of panels there will be. (which is related to how much power the owners will use)
Going to >10kW of panels may require extra work - depends on the AHJ.
Quite likely 10KW of panels or less and 1 inverter - but you could put in space in the plans for 3 inverters to allow for more. (relatively little space needed and lots easier to have the space and not use it than need the space and not have it.)
The bigger problem for the architect IMO is where to put the panels. (on the roof? how much roof faces south? or at least east and west? Required setbacks from the edges? ) Or if it's a ground-mount array, then it's where on the site does it go - what is the shading, etc.
If this is high-end and the owner really wants it, you may need to find a spot in garage or something for a Tesla powerwall. (waste of money IMO - but could very well be on the wish-list for a high-end residence)
Speaking of Tesla - you should also make sure you have a spot for the electric car charger - or at least spots with 220V power in the garage - probably multiple spots since I'm sure it's >2 stalls.
If the owners will be using electric car, that can be significantly more electric usage.