This paper presents a novel method of sizing PV storage systems for different household types such as single -, family –shared flats – or pensioner households. The method is based on a simulation model that characterizes the PV system including peripheral components like the inverter and the battery. The required input data to carry out the calculations is gathered from simulated household loads, characteristics of system components and measure. This paper presents a novel method of sizing PV storage systems for different household types such as single -, family –shared flats – or pensioner households. The method is based on a simulation model that characterizes the PV system including peripheral components like the inverter and the battery. The required input data to carry out the calculations is gathered from simulated household loads, characteristics of system components and measured radiation values. Sizing the grid-connected PV storage system is performed based on technical parameters only, without economic evaluation. The results show significant differences in the ideal system configuration depending on the household types ranging from a PV to battery ratio of 0.76–4.25 kWpeak/kWh. This suggests, that the household type needs to be considered before installing a PV storage system in order to ensure optimal results for the customer and the energy system. After the technical sizing, the results are compared to economic design optima, in order to investigate existing differences.••••Sizing PV storage systems.••Differentiation of user groups.••Optimizing degree of self-sufficiency.••Comparison of technical optima and economic optima in sizing PV storage systems.Sizing PVSizing batteryHouseholdsUser-Groupsa YearsAC Alternating currentBESS Battery energy storage systemCP Convex ProgrammingDC Direct currentDoD Batteries, in combination with PV systems in residential buildings, have a strong influence on the achievable degree of self-sufficiency (DSS) and the amount of power exchanged with the grid. While a single PV system can only supply electricity during the day when the PV panels generate power, a system combined with a battery unit allows the owner to store surplus energy and use it when it's needed. Therefore, the combination of a PV system with a battery system enhances the share of self-consumed energy from the PV system (SCR), and reduces dependency on the grid. Supported by decreasing feed-in tariffs for PV power and lower battery prices of today's main technology of lithium-ion-batteries (more than 95% market share in 2017), the cumulated amount of installed batteries in combination with grid-connected PV systems has raised from close to 0 to 85,000 installations in Germany in the years from 2013 to 2017. 31,700 batteries were installed in combination with a PV system in 2017 alone, resulting in a cumulated energy capacity of 245 MWh, which corresponds to an increase of 60% compared to 2016. The total energy capacity of decentralized storage systems is estimated to amount to 600 MWh, with an installed power of 280 MWpeak in Germany. [1,2]In the years from 2010 to 2012 the average additional installed power of PV installations was still around 7–8 GW per year, before it dropped to 1.2 GW in.
