Solar clipping capture helps to maximize the efficiency of solar and battery energy storage systems. This page explores the fundamentals of solar clipping capture, its benefits, and how it can be applied at scale.

What Is Solar Clipping Capture?

Solar clipping occurs when a photovoltaic (PV) system produces more electricity than its inverter can handle. This excess energy is lost (or “clipped”) because the inverter is unable to convert it into usable AC power. Solar clipping is a common design feature in solar systems. Inverters are often intentionally undersized to reduce system development costs. Solar clipping primarily happens during peak hours when the solar panels generate more power than the inverter’s capacity. 

Solar clipping capture, on the other hand, is the process of utilizing technologies such as battery storage systems (BESS) to capture the clipped energy. By storing excess energy, solar assets can operate at maximum efficiency, even when they are generating more power than the inverters can handle. 

Key Factors That Contribute To Solar Clipping:

Undersized Inverters: Solar systems often use undersized inverters that have smaller capacity than the total potential energy output of the panels. 

Environmental Factors: Solar clipping is more common during seasons or in locations with intense sunlight. Clipping often occurs when panels are producing at full capacity for long periods of time. 

System Design Trade-Offs: By choosing smaller inverters, solar system designers can lower the cost of installation while trading off occasional energy production losses due to clipping.

How Does Solar Clipping Capture Work?

Solar clipping capture involves utilizing battery storage systems (BESS) to store energy that would be lost due to clipping. This is typically achieved using DC-coupled systems, which allow the solar panels to send energy directly to a battery, bypassing the inverter.

DC-Coupled Systems: These systems directly connect the solar panels to the battery storage, allowing energy to be stored before it reaches the inverter. 

Battery Storage Integration: Once stored, the clipped energy can be dispatched during times of higher demand or when solar production is lower. 

Increased Energy Production: By capturing clipped energy through BESS, solar systems can generate more electricity, improving the system’s overall energy output. This ensures that the solar panels are used to their full potential during peak production hours.

Improved Return On Investment (ROI): Solar clipping capture can significantly enhance a solar project’s financial viability. Solar asset owners can store excess energy and realize its value in the energy and ancillary markets through real-time battery optimization practices.

System Stability: Capturing and storing clipped solar energy supports the electric system. This stored power can be used to balance the system in ancillary markets during peak demand periods. 

Challenges and Considerations

System Costs: Implementing solar clipping capture requires additional investments in battery storage systems. This can significantly increase the overall cost of the solar project and should be planned carefully. See our BESS revenue forecasting tool to plan your battery ROI.

Storage Capacity Limitations: The capacity of the battery must be carefully sized to capture all potential clipped energy. It is important to run a financial impact analysis to determine the best battery size.

Market Participation: Solar asset owners may need to navigate complex market regulations to sell the captured energy back to the market. SYSO offers turnkey market access for asset owners. As a Market Participant (MP) in ISO/RTO markets, we simplify market complexities by managing asset enrollment, bid strategy, and financial settlement.