Crete is not a single design point. Slope, orientation, local horizon, temperature and shading can change output even between neighbouring buildings. A useful estimate states its inputs, method and limitations rather than offering one guaranteed yield for every roof.
Use a specific location
The European Commission's PVGIS provides solar-resource and photovoltaic performance information. For a reproducible estimate, record location, version or dataset, array kWp, module technology, slope, azimuth and assumed losses.
No site-specific PVGIS result is claimed here without actually running that assessment. The designer should retain the exported calculation and its assumptions with the project documentation.
Convert specific yield to energy
Use E = P × Y, where P is array capacity in kWp and Y is specific yield in kWh/kWp/year. In a hypothetical scenario with Y = 1,500, an 8 kWp array gives 12,000 kWh/year and a 12 kWp array gives 18,000 kWh/year. The value 1,500 is a calculation example, not a prediction for any particular Cretan town.
What a rough estimate can miss
| Factor | Practical check |
|---|---|
| Nearby shading | Chimneys, parapets, trees and adjacent buildings |
| Thermal operation | Mounting method and module ventilation |
| Soiling | Dust, salt and safe cleaning access |
| Electrical limits | Inverter, wiring, availability and export restriction |
| Changes over time | Degradation, faults and growing vegetation |
A solar-resource model does not automatically know every nearby obstruction. Site inspection and shading analysis complement the resource calculation. Avoid counting the same loss twice when combining model settings with additional allowances.
Generation is not the same as savings
Generation is the system's energy output. Self-consumption is the portion used on site. Financial value also depends on contracts, operating schedules and surplus management. A zero-export installation may curtail some potential production, while batteries introduce conversion losses.
Verification after installation
Compare monthly inverter data with expected seasonality, allowing for weather variation and availability. A difference does not automatically prove a fault, but a persistent change deserves technical investigation. Check data gaps and meter boundaries before comparing two figures from different systems.
Explore our Crete service coverage, PV installation service and published projects. Measured production results should be added only when records and permission to publish are available.
Keep a record of assumptions
A generation estimate is useful when it can be reproduced. Save the location, tilt, orientation, installed capacity, selected climate dataset and loss assumptions. You can then compare two designs without confusing equipment differences with model-input differences. The official PVGIS platform models a specific location; it does not guarantee an annual outcome.
After installation, compare measured and modelled production over matching periods, checking downtime, shading and weather differences first. Generation alone does not show how much electricity was used on site or how much money was saved.
Discuss your installation
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