Solar Lattice

Metric

Balance-of-system loss

ID
metric:bos-loss
IRI
https://solarlattice.org/kb/metric/bos-loss
Status
active
Also known as
system loss, BOS loss, Ls, system losses, BOS, Balance of System
Category
Performance

Balance-of-system loss, also called system losses, appears in the IEA PVPS analytical monitoring parameter list under the symbols lS and LS. The instantaneous form, lS, has no unit, while the form LS is reported in hours, the same unit used for yields. The balance of system covers all the equipment that lets the electricity the PV array produces be delivered properly to the load. That usually means the array mounting structures and the power-conditioning equipment that changes the DC output into the AC form and magnitude the load needs. The balance of system can also include storage such as batteries, which let PV energy be used at night or on cloudy days. The abbreviations BOS and BoS are both used for balance of system in manuals and O&M guidance.

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