---
title: "Performance settings"
slug: "esd-performance-settings"
updated: 2026-09-30T06:50:39Z
published: 2026-09-30T06:50:39Z
canonical: "kb.solargis.com/esd-performance-settings"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.solargis.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Performance settings

**In this document**

You'll learn how to open the Performance settings panel in the Energy system designer, choose a performance profile (Essential, Balanced, or Full experience) that matches your device, and fine-tune individual rendering options such as shadow quality, auto-update design, polygon fills, visibility of module frames, table structures, torque tubes and poles, built-in model details, and map texture quality to keep the 3D scene smooth on large designs.

The **Performance settings** let you match the **3D rendering fidelity** of the Energy system designer to your device and to the size of your design. Lowering the level of detail keeps navigation smooth on less powerful computers or on large power plants, while higher detail gives you a more realistic view of the design.

> [!WARNING]
> **Important**: Performance settings affect **visualization only**. Your energy yield, shading analysis, and all other simulation results stay exactly the same, whichever profile or setting you use.

## Prerequisites

- Access to the Energy system designer and an energy system design open in it.
- Admin access for editing purposes.

## Accessing performance settings

The Performance settings panel is available from the **Settings** menu in the top bar of the Energy system designer.

1. Click **Settings** in the top menu bar.
2. Select **Performance settings…** to open the panel.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae2d502f-6c0d-4865-a68e-43ad8da61149/Images/Documentation/image-7ZGC3YPN.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-16T20%3A59%3A18Z&se=2026-10-16T21%3A59%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=vnSJ1WG6c1DW9%2FTtQ0eRCjF0ycrBQn7rZJqflfsmXJ8%3D)

> [!TIP]
> **Note**: The **Settings** menu also lets you toggle **Auto-update design** directly, without opening the Performance settings panel. A check mark next to the option means it is switched on.

## Performance settings panel overview

The panel groups all rendering options in one place. From top to bottom, it contains:

1. [Performance profiles](/v1/docs/performance-settings#choosing-a-performance-profile) — predefined presets that set all rendering options at once.
2. [Shadow quality](/v1/docs/performance-settings#shadow-quality) — the level of detail of shadows in the 3D scene.
3. [Auto-update design](/v1/docs/performance-settings#auto-update-design) — automatic recalculation of the layout after each change.
4. [Polygon fills](/v1/docs/performance-settings#polygon-fills) — fill display of segments and restricted areas.
5. [Object visibility](/v1/docs/performance-settings#object-visibility) — visibility thresholds for module frames, table structures, tracker torque tubes, and poles.
6. [Built-in model details](/v1/docs/performance-settings#built-in-model-details) — simplified or realistic 3D models.
7. [Map textures](/v1/docs/performance-settings#map-textures) — high-resolution and low-resolution map texture quality.
8. [Apply and Cancel buttons](/v1/docs/performance-settings#applying-your-changes) — confirm your changes, or discard them and keep the previous settings.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae2d502f-6c0d-4865-a68e-43ad8da61149/Images/Documentation/image-9QPP1JGD.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-16T20%3A59%3A18Z&se=2026-10-16T21%3A59%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=vnSJ1WG6c1DW9%2FTtQ0eRCjF0ycrBQn7rZJqflfsmXJ8%3D)

## Choosing a performance profile

Performance profiles are the quickest way to adjust rendering. Select a profile at the top of the panel, and all settings below are updated accordingly.

| Profile | When to use |
| --- | --- |
| **Essential** | Minimum detail: low shadows, auto-update and fills off, construction details hidden, simplified models, low map textures. Best for slower computers or very large designs. |
| **Balanced** (default) | Medium shadows, auto-update and fills on, construction details for smaller designs (<5k modules/tables, <2.5k for poles), realistic models, medium high-res map. Suits most devices and designs. |
| **Full experience** | Maximum detail: high shadows, auto-update and fills on, construction details up to <10k modules/tables (<5k for poles), realistic models, large high-res map. Best for powerful hardware or presentation visuals. |
| **Custom** | Created automatically when you change and save any individual setting, letting you tailor rendering beyond the three presets. |

> [!TIP]
> **Note**: **Balanced** is selected by default. If you change the selection, it is **remembered on your device** for future sessions.

## Customizing rendering settings

If none of the profiles fits your needs, adjust the individual settings below.

### Shadow quality

| Available options | - Off - Low - Medium - High |
| --- | --- |

Controls the level of detail of **shadows displayed in the 3D scene**. Shadow rendering is one of the most demanding operations — lowering the quality, or turning shadows **off** entirely, gives you the biggest performance gain.

> [!TIP]
> **Note**: This setting changes only the displayed shadows. Shading losses in the simulation are calculated independently of it.

### Auto-update design

| Available options | - On - Off |
| --- | --- |

When **on**, the design is recalculated and redrawn automatically after every change. When **off**, an **UPDATE DESIGN** button appears after you make a change, and the layout is recalculated only once you click it.

> [!NOTE]
> **Tip**: Turn auto-update off if the application feels slow when editing large designs, or if you experience **"WebGL context lost"** errors. See [Evaluate FAQs](/v1/docs/evaluate-faqs).

### Polygon fills

| Available options | - On - Off |
| --- | --- |

Shows or hides the colored **fills** of **segments**, **restricted areas**, **restricted lines**, and **exclusion zones**. Turning fills off reduces the rendering load and can make the terrain and map below the polygons easier to see.

### Object visibility

These settings define the **maximum design size** up to which detailed construction elements are rendered. If your design exceeds the selected threshold, the element is hidden in the 3D scene to keep it responsive.

| Setting | Available options | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Module frame visibility** | Off, <5k modules, <10k modules | Displays PV module frames when the design contains fewer modules than the selected limit. |
| **Table structure visibility** | Off, <5k tables, <10k tables | Displays mounting table structures when the design contains fewer tables than the selected limit. |
| **Tracker torque tube visibility** | Off, <5k tables, <10k tables | Displays tracker torque tubes when the design contains fewer tables than the selected limit. |
| **Pole visibility** | Off, <2.5k tables, <5k tables | Displays mounting poles when the design contains fewer tables than the selected limit. |

> [!TIP]
> **Note**: On large designs, PV modules may appear to float in the air because mounting structures are hidden. This is a visual restriction only and does not affect the simulation.

### Built-in model details

| Available options | - Simplified boxes - Realistic |
| --- | --- |

Defines how built-in 3D models are displayed in the scene. **Simplified boxes** replace detailed geometry with basic box shapes to lower the rendering load, while **Realistic** shows the full model detail.

> [!TIP]
> **Note**: The simulation always uses realistic models, regardless of this setting.

### Map textures

Map texture settings control the quality of the satellite or map imagery displayed under your design.

| Setting | Available options | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **High-res map texture** | Off, Medium, Large | Controls the **size of the high-resolution map area** around your design. A larger area shows more detail further from the site but requires more resources. |
| **Low-res map texture** | Low, High | Controls the quality of the lower-resolution map texture displayed outside the high-resolution area. |

## Applying your changes

1. Select a **performance profile** or adjust the individual settings.
2. Scroll down to review all settings in the panel.
3. Click **Apply** to confirm the changes, or **Cancel** to discard them.

The 3D scene is redrawn with the new settings. Use the **Learn more about Performance settings** link at the bottom of the panel to return to this article at any time.

## Tips for smooth performance

If the Energy system designer feels slow or less responsive, try the following:

- Switch to the **Essential** profile.
- Lower the **shadow quality** or turn shadows off.
- Turn off **Auto-update design** and update the design manually when needed.
- Set the **object visibility** thresholds to **Off** or to the lowest limit.
- Close other web-based 3D applications (for example, Google Earth or SketchUp) running at the same time.

> [!NOTE]
> **Tip**: For more details on hardware recommendations and design size limits, see [Introduction to the Energy system designer](/v1/docs/energy-system-configurator-introduction).