Solar and EV lab · Level 4 of 8
Generation against load: size the array for self-consumption
Level 4 of 8 in the Solar and EV lab: a free solar and EV exercise at Intermediate level. Read a day's generation and load curves, then choose how many modules to fit so the site uses enough of its own solar power without wasting it.
Free · no download. Your work is saved on this device. Updated 18 Oct 2026.
The brief
- Client
- Calder Bakery
- Site
- Bakery roof, Calder Street
- Work order
- WO-SEV-104
- Task code
- SEV-04
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Type of work
- Design
Read a day's generation and load curves, then choose how many modules to fit so the site uses enough of its own solar power without wasting it.
Skills you practise
- Reading generation curves
- Self-consumption
- Self-sufficiency
- Array sizing
What the test checks
The acceptance test marks the skills this level practises.
- Reading generation curves
- Self-consumption
- Self-sufficiency
- Array sizing
In this lab
- Strings, protection and the day's generation
- Battery rules under a tariff
- Charger faults and load management
Levels in the Solar and EV lab
Previous: Select cables, fuses, isolators and surge protectorsNext: Battery dispatch: cut the bill under a time-of-use tariff
- Site survey: name every part and every isolation point
- String sizing for the coldest and hottest day
- Select cables, fuses, isolators and surge protectors
- Generation against load: size the array for self-consumption
- Battery dispatch: cut the bill under a time-of-use tariff
- Commission the system: the safe energising order
- EV charger fault: a car will not charge
- Load management: three chargers on a limited supply
Part of the Solar and EV lab
Size a solar array, set a battery and fault-find an EV charger on a commercial site.
Feeds these internships: Electrical Design, Electrical and Solar Energy Systems.