Solar Energy Yield Calculator
Estimate how much a solar plant will produce per year — and what it is worth — from installed power, irradiance and performance ratio.
Turkey average ~1500–1800
Well-run plants: 75–85%
Optional — for annual revenue estimate
Result
How is solar production estimated?
A solar plant's annual production depends on three variables: installed power (kWp), the annual irradiance reaching the site (kWh/m²) and the performance ratio (PR). The formula is simple: annual production (kWh) ≈ installed power × annual irradiance × PR. Irradiance is the total energy falling on the plane the panels face; PR rolls all real-world losses — shading, temperature, soiling, cable and inverter losses — into a single coefficient.
A worked example
Consider a 1,000 kWp (1 MWp) plant. Say the region's annual plane-of-array irradiance is 1,600 kWh/m² and the plant's performance ratio is 80%. Annual production = 1,000 × 1,600 × 0.80 = 1,280,000 kWh. That means a monthly average of ~107,000 kWh and a specific yield of 1,280 kWh/kWp. The tool above does this instantly with your own figures; add a sale price and it shows annual revenue too.
Why does performance ratio matter so much?
PR is the single indicator of how efficiently your plant runs. For a well-operated plant, annual PR is typically 75–85%. A 1 MWp plant running at 75% instead of 80% loses tens of thousands of kWh per year — direct revenue loss. PR varies with season and temperature: it drops as panel temperature rises in summer and increases on cool, sunny days. So it is the temperature-corrected annual PR, not a single day, that should be monitored.
Specific yield and regional difference
Specific yield (kWh/kWp) is the fairest way to compare plants of different sizes. In Turkey it ranges from about 1,300 to 1,700 kWh/kWp by region — higher in the south, lower in the north. In an investment decision, this value directly affects the payback period.
From estimate to reality: monitoring with SolarTools
This tool gives you expected production; real output does not always match it. The SolarTools solar module compares actual production against weather-station irradiance in real time, continuously calculates PR, and raises an alert when it drops below the expected band. So you catch a shading- or soiling-related loss the same day, not months later. Do your estimate above, then try real performance monitoring free for 14 days.
Related guide
What Is a Good Solar Performance Ratio? →Frequently Asked Questions
How is annual solar production estimated?
Annual production (kWh) ≈ installed power (kWp) × annual plane-of-array irradiance (kWh/m²) × performance ratio (PR). PR captures all real-world losses.
What is a good performance ratio?
For a well-run plant, annual PR is typically 75–85%. Above 80% is good, above 85% excellent. PR drops in summer due to temperature and rises on cool, sunny days.
What is specific yield?
Specific yield is annual production divided by installed power (kWh/kWp). In Turkey it typically ranges from about 1,300 to 1,700 kWh/kWp depending on region and PR.
Why does actual production differ from the estimate?
Shading, panel soiling, temperature loss, cable/inverter losses and equipment faults all reduce output. Continuous monitoring finds the cause when production falls below the expected band.
Stop penalties before they hit your bill
SolarTools monitors your energy data in real time and alerts you before limits are exceeded. 14-day free trial, no credit card.