eh where is this location... i try to find it but could notice it.. bagan datoh is in perak btw...

I have been doing a survey and I think the following is worth commenting;

- it's profitable to home owner because SEDA / TNB buys at RM1+ per kwh from the house owner. In comparison, we buy electricity from TNB at 22sen+ per kwh.  A lot of subsidy.

- installers in Malaysia use between 3.0 to 3.4 hours of (effective) sunlight for their calculation. It depends on the lumens / brightness of the sun.  There is a website for a solar installation in malacca which publishes monthly data, and it fits the figures I described above.

- overall, it's profitable if;
+ you get good guarantee and maintenance and warranty.  Make sure you buy a "Toyota" quality for "perodua" price and not the other way around.  That is a skill, and important especially when the big solar manufacturers are going bust.  So what if you have the best warranty but the manufacturer go bust.
+ some basic maintenance to maintain output. Regular cleaning etc.
+ cheap debt will boost the return on investment significantly.

Good luck !

I have also looked at degradation (drop in output per annum) in some detail.  Most of the empirical testing is under ideal condition; cool and bright eg dessert.

Malaysia is not ideal. Bright but humid. Electrical equipment hates humidity.  I have not come across any empirical study of degradation on energy output over say 10 to 20 years in a Malaysia like environment.

My fear is that a lot of the performance guarantee (10% drop within 10 years) may be optimistic.  Any one can assist ?

I did say its profitable which means its worth investing ....

Just need to be careful....

FYI, my PV system installed in Dec 2012, up to now, performance in Jan & Feb is slightly below expectation (3.25kWh/kW) and Mac is much better (+/-4.2kWh/kW)

Cloud and rain are part of our climate. We have to live with them. My system best performance day is 5.2kWh/kW which is a day without rain and little cloud shading. Definitely a hot day

FYI, my PV system installed in Dec 2012, up to now, performance in Jan & Feb is slightly below expectation (3.25kWh/kW) and Mac is much better (+/-4.2kWh/kW)

Cloud and rain are part of our climate. We have to live with them. My system best performance day is 5.2kWh/kW which is a day without rain and little cloud shading. Definitely a hot day

What is your PV rated to generate? <At max>

This yrs estimate to be rainy yrs. Yield would be much more lower.

My system is 7.7kW using 2 units of 3.6kW inverters.

My system is 7.7kW using 2 units of 3.6kW inverters.

Agreed, this year is expected to be wet.
I found another factor which is important. The distance between earth and sun. In Malaysia, Mac and Sept are the period which the closest distance and June and Dec are the further distance.

In Mac, even rain started in 3pm, the generation still can easily reached above 3.5kWh/kW. Where in Dec, this will sure below 3kWh/kW. The radiation from sun is very critical and even can offset the rain effect.

Look like the yield is about 55-65% on average. Look like you still have to pay about RM 50+- for electric bill after contra off.

Is it the output is normal for 7.7KW system? Look quite low the output from the 7.7kw system.

From what i have learn, it is not distance between earth and sun. But rather the pole rotation half yrs sun position between north and south. Our sun shine on us is changing between north and south for half yrs. If you hang your cloth under the sun, observe the east shadow and light in the morning.

All the installer recommend to install face to south the panel. Cause later half the yrs, the sun would be at the south. And raining season is mostly at the later yrs. If face north, the panel will receive less sun + monsoon = very low output.

This is apply to the solar heater too.