PV system
A PV system represents a solar array / inverter. Power Insight tracks how much it produces, how much of that you self-consume vs. export, and the financial impact. If you have multiple PV systems, add one device each — the sensor selection applies to all of them, but each system gets its own set of sensors.
Add it with Add device → PV system.
Fields
Name
A unique name for this device, for example "Rooftop Solar". Used as the device name in Home Assistant.
Power entity
Sensor that reports this device's power in W, kW or MW.
Sign convention: PV — positive = producing, negative = consuming (standby). Use Invert power direction if your sensor uses the opposite sign.
Invert power direction
Turn on if your sensor reports power with the opposite sign to the expected convention.
Exports power to grid
Turn on if this device can feed surplus power back to the grid. Enables export-compensation tracking when the corresponding option is active.
Default: on for PV systems. When off, the export power / ratio / share / compensation sensors are not created.
Export compensation rate
The amount you are paid per kWh of power exported to the grid, in your currency. Required when export-compensation or savings sensors are enabled.
Default: 0.08. This is your feed-in tariff.
Lifetime production
Total energy in kWh you expect this device to produce over its entire lifetime. Combined with the total lifetime cost to derive the levelized (per-kWh) cost. Required when any levelized sensor is enabled.
Total lifetime cost
Total purchase, installation, and expected maintenance cost of this device over its lifetime, in your currency. Combined with lifetime production to derive the levelized cost per kWh. Required when any levelized cost sensor is enabled.
Together, lifetime cost ÷ lifetime production gives this system's LCOE.
CO₂ footprint
Total CO₂ emitted to manufacture and install this device (in kg). Used to derive a levelized CO₂ intensity per kWh produced. Required when any levelized CO₂ sensor is enabled.
CO₂ sensors are not implemented yet; this field currently has no effect.
Changing lifetime values later
If you reconfigure the lifetime cost or production, Power Insight applies a correction factor that retroactively rescales this device's already-recorded levelized values so history stays consistent.
Sensors this device can create
| Sensor | Unit | Enabled by |
|---|---|---|
| Export power / ratio / share | W / % / % | Power distribution options (needs Exports power) |
| Self-consumption power / ratio / share | W / % / % | Power distribution options |
| Export compensation rate | currency/h | Export compensation rate |
| Total export compensation | currency | Accumulated export compensation |
| Operating cost rate (+ Total) | currency/h, currency | Cost method = Standard (+ Accumulate) |
| Levelized operating cost rate (+ Total) | currency/h, currency | Cost method = Levelized (+ Accumulate) |
| Self-consumption cost savings rate | currency/h | Savings method = Standard |
| Cost savings rate (+ Total) | currency/h, currency | Savings method = Standard (+ Accumulate) |
| Levelized cost savings rate (+ Total) | currency/h, currency | Savings method = Levelized (+ Accumulate) |
See the Entity reference for the exact meaning of each sensor.