Renewables
Solar Farm Output: How to Calculate Annual MWh Generation
Learn how solar developers estimate megawatt-hour production based on peak sun hours, capacity factors, and inverter efficiency.
Sarah Chen, Photovoltaic Specialist
• 
Estimating Solar PV Production in MWh
When designing commercial and utility solar farms, financial models depend on annual energy output predictions measured in Megawatt-hours (MWh).
The Production Formula
Annual Output (MWh) = DC Capacity (MW) × Peak Sun Hours/Day × 365 × Performance RatioExample Calculation
For a 2 MW DC solar installation in a region with 4.5 peak sun hours per day and an 80% performance ratio:
2 × 4.5 × 365 × 0.80 = 2,628 MWh/yearThis equals 2,628,000 kWh of green energy supplied annually to the electric grid.