Argus PV simulator outputs

In this document

This document introduces the outputs produced by the Argus PV simulation engine in Solargis Evaluate. It describes what results are available, how they are organized, and where to access them within the application and through Solargis consultancy services.

Overview

The output of the Argus PV simulation is the power output (PVOUT) of the energy system — expressed both as a total value in kilowatt-hours and as specific PVOUT normalized to the installed capacity of the power plant in kWh/kWp. PVOUT is the culminating result of the full simulation chain: every stage from inputs through optical simulation, electrical simulation, and post-processing contributes to this final figure.

Argus simulation outputs go well beyond a single annual yield number. At every stage of the simulation chain, intermediate results are calculated and retained, allowing users to analyze the contribution of each loss mechanism individually and understand precisely where energy is lost in the system. The complete loss breakdown — from horizon shading through to long-term degradation — is visualized in the Sankey loss diagram and complementary monthly tables, providing an unprecedented level of transparency in the energy yield assessment.

Solargis Evaluate provides solar and meteorological data, PV system design, energy yield simulation, analysis, and reporting in one cloud-based software solution. Simulation outputs are delivered to users through two complementary channels: directly within the Solargis Evaluate application via the comprehensive Analysis section, and through Solargis consultancy services, where expert analysts interpret results and prepare bankable energy yield assessment reports tailored to the specific requirements of developers, financiers, and independent engineers.

Simulation output parameters

The primary output of the simulation is PVOUT, tracked at each cumulative loss stage from theoretical irradiance-based DC output through to the final AC grid delivery. These sequential output parameters — each carrying the losses of all preceding stages — allow a detailed stage-by-stage loss analysis.

The full list of exportable output parameters

GHI_NOSHD, DNI_NOSHD, DIF_NOSHD — Irradiance components without horizon shading losses.
GTI_FRONT_NOSHD, GTI_REAR_NOSHD — Front and rear GTI without any shading losses.
GTI_FRONT_HORIZ_SHD, GTI_REAR_HORIZ_SHD — GTI after far horizon shading losses.
GTI_FRONT_NEAR_SHD, GTI_REAR_NEAR_SHD — GTI after far and near shading losses.
GTI_FRONT_SOIL, GTI_REAR_SOIL — GTI after shading and soiling losses.
GTI_FRONT_IAM, GTI_REAR_IAM — GTI after shading, soiling, and angular reflection losses.
GTI_FRONT_SPECTRAL, GTI_REAR_SPECTRAL — GTI after all optical losses including spectral correction.
PVOUT_DC_THEOR — DC power output after all irradiance losses.
PVOUT_DC_SELF_CLIP — DC output after irradiance and inverter clipping losses.
PVOUT_DC_CLIP — DC output after irradiance, clipping, and grid limitation losses.
PVOUT_DC_INV_IN — DC output after irradiance, clipping, and DC cable losses.
PVOUT_AC_INV_OUT — AC output after irradiance, clipping, DC, and inverter losses.
PVOUT_AC_AUX — AC output after all preceding losses and auxiliary losses.
PVOUT_AC_TR_LEVEL1_IN / PVOUT_AC_TR_LEVEL1_OUT — Inverter transformer input and output.
PVOUT_AC_TR_LEVEL2_IN / PVOUT_AC_TR_LEVEL2_OUT — Power transformer input and output.
PVOUT_AC_GRID — Final AC output at the grid connection point after all losses.
PVOUT_SPEC_AC_GRID — Specific PVOUT at grid after all losses.
PVOUT_AC_R_GRID — Reactive power component at grid connection.

Outputs in Solargis Evaluate

Analysis section

The Analysis section is the primary interface for exploring Argus PV simulation results in Solargis Evaluate. It presents solar, meteorological, and environmental data alongside PV-specific outputs, all organized into the following categories:

Solar resources — GHI, DNI, D2G, and GTI, with shaded and non-shaded values for third-party software comparison.
Climate — key meteorological parameters including air temperature, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and snow depth equivalent.
Environment — ground albedo and precipitable water, presented as monthly long-term averages.
PV statistics — specific and total PVOUT, Performance Ratio (PR), and theoretical PV electricity potential. Available for PV energy systems only.
PV system losses — a stage-by-stage loss breakdown from irradiance to grid connection, visualized in the Sankey loss diagram. Useful for comparing energy system configurations and identifying the largest loss contributors.
PV long-term degradation — 25-year PVOUT and PR projections accounting for module degradation rates, supporting financial forecasting and operational planning.
Uncertainty — GHI and DNI model uncertainty estimates, available on request for Full evaluation projects.

For a detailed description of the Analysis section, the energy system selector, and how displayed data categories relate to the selected energy system, see Data analysis.

Charts and temporal resolutions

All data categories are presented through charts and complementary tables. Data is available across multiple temporal resolutions — yearly-monthly, daily, hourly, and 15-minute — enabling analysis at the scale most relevant to the task. For key parameters such as GHI, DNI, GTI, and PVOUT, monthly histograms at up to 15-minute resolution provide insight into high-frequency variability, supporting more accurate yield estimates and grid integration planning.

For a full explanation of each chart type, its axes, and guidance on how to interpret and use it, see How to read the charts.

Data export

You can download project data and use it in other PV data-supporting systems. Several formats are available, such as JSON, CSV, NREL SAM, HelioScope, and PVsyst data formats. Data is available at the temporal resolution of the simulation dataset used — up to 1-minute granularity for Full evaluation projects. Complementary tables in the application also provide shaded and non-shaded values for direct comparison with third-party tools.

Reports

From the Downloads section of your project, you can generate several types of reports and technical notes for your energy system. A comprehensive report covers the site's solar resource, meteorological conditions, PV energy yield potential, estimated losses, and long-term PV production forecast. Reports are available in PDF format on demand, ready for use in project development, due diligence, and financing workflows.

Consultancy services

For projects requiring deeper expert interpretation, Solargis consultancy services deliver Argus PV simulation outputs in the form of tailored bankable energy yield assessments. Consultancy reports combine simulation results with expert analysis of uncertainty, site adaptation, and risk, supporting investment decisions, independent engineering reviews, and regulatory submissions.

Documentation Index