Solar Lattice

Metric

Insolation-adjusted expected energy ratio

ID
metric:insolation-adjusted-expected-energy-ratio
IRI
https://solarlattice.org/kb/metric/insolation-adjusted-expected-energy-ratio
Status
active
Also known as
IEER, insolation-adjusted estimated energy ratio
Category
Performance

The insolation-adjusted expected energy ratio is a site-level, monthly performance ratio adjusted for weather. It is widely used because the calculation is simple and easy to follow. To calculate it, divide measured AC energy by expected AC energy. Then divide that result by the ratio of measured insolation to expected insolation. Expected energy and expected insolation are long-term values based on a typical meteorological year. The user enters them as monthly values in the site configuration and the weather station configuration. Measured insolation can come from any weather sensor on the site. If no sensor is available, a modeled global horizontal value from satellite-based virtual irradiance can be used. Measured and expected insolation must use the same orientation, so a plane-of-array sensor needs plane-of-array expected values. IEER is reported as a percentage and can be found under Modeled Data in charts, reports and the data API. The result is only as accurate as the original design model. If the design estimate was too high, IEER will read low by about the same amount. The adjustment also tends to be inaccurate on sites with a high DC to AC ratio. GEER is a less flexible version of IEER that always uses virtual irradiance for measured insolation and TMY3 data for expected insolation. The two metrics are offered side by side.

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Claims

subclass_of

c1 verified · fact Performance ratio

Described as a monthly, weather-adjusted type of performance ratio, calculated at site level.

verified by: review-workflowverified on: 2026-10-24

c2 verified · fact Expected energy ratio

IEER takes the expected energy ratio (measured over expected energy) and adjusts it by the ratio of measured to expected insolation.

verified by: review-workflowverified on: 2026-10-24

Referenced by

Data