In this document

We will introduce you to the energy system designer, why they are important for a successful solar project, the best practices for designing photovoltaic energy systems, and what is the Solargis approach to designing energy systems.

Energy system designer software and its role in solar projects

Energy system (ES) designer is one of the important elements of solar project development. It allows engineers to create a comprehensive and detailed model of a PV energy system to reflect real-life scenarios and align them with technical and financial project requirements.

Best ES designer applications integrate various factors, including manufacturer-specific components like inverters and PV modules, shading effects from nearby terrain and structures, and different configurations of PV components. They also account for cabling losses and restricted areas, allowing for the configuration of technical parameters taking into account the site conditions.

By providing accurate energy system characteristics and insights, the existing software applications enable the creation of detailed PV configurations that can be integrated into PV simulation and deliver information about the system’s potential energy output. Every solar project should leverage the power of energy system design instruments to ensure that the PV system is technically correct and delivers expected energy while addressing the challenges of the specific environment.

Best practices

These are the best practices that define an outstanding energy system designer application:

Comprehensive integration: The application should seamlessly integrate solar, meteorological, and environmental data with the design tool sand PV energy simulator, to create a holistic view of the project.
Detailed configuration capabilities: The software should enable detailed configuration of inverter, PV module parameters, losses, or transformer specifications, allowing users to adjust settings to specific project requirements. This includes accounting for grid connection and business plan to ensure optimal performance.
Advanced simulation capabilities: It must be connected to a simulation engine that models real-life scenarios, allowing users to analyze potential energy outputs under different technical specifications and varying conditions, accounting for shading effects, different weather patterns, or PV module layouts.
User-friendly interface: An intuitive interface is essential for enhancing user experience, enabling project engineers to navigate the application quickly and efficiently.
Long-term adaptability: Designing for sustainability and adaptability is crucial; the software should facilitate easy upgrades and maintenance to keep pace with technological advancements in renewable energy.

The Solargis approach

At Solargis, we have combined our expertise and experience to create an unmatched Energy system designer and integrate it into our Solargis Evaluate application. This unique software is designed to generate photovoltaic (PV) energy system designs and, in combination with our advanced PV simulator, assess the feasibility of solar power plants with unparalleled accuracy.

As the most advanced and detailed energy system designer available, our application utilizes a new catalog of PV components that stores verified technical parameters of inverters and PV modules. This integration enables us to characterize technical specifications of power plants with industry-standard components, ensuring realistic designs tailored to project needs. With this powerful software at your disposal, you can confidently create effective and sustainable solar energy projects that meet the demands of today's energy landscape.

Solargis energy system designer

Our photovoltaic energy system designer within Solargis Evaluate offers a comprehensive set of features and configuration capabilities in both 3D and 2D environments. It directly integrates terrain data and includes a catalog of PV components from manufacturers. This tool is crucial for creating solar energy projects and generating feasibility reports, serving as a key component of the Solargis Evaluate application.

Here are some of the key features of Solargis energy system designer:

3D interactive map

A 3D interactive map visualizes the PV system in scale in real time as configuration changes are made.
Users can observe the effects of realistic sun geometry and shadows cast by distant horizons and nearby objects.
The dynamic visualization allows users to view the system from multiple angles and perspectives, facilitating a deeper understanding of the layout and potential issues.

Location and restricted areas

Users can define design boundaries using polygon tools for precise site mapping or import KML files.
The configurator enables the definition of restricted areas and line objects, to define shaded regions or zones with obstructions.
This feature optimizes module placement and maximizes energy production.

Array configuration

The configurator empowers users to design layouts of PV arrays, including:
- Mounting (fixed angle, trackers with backtracking, E-W mounting).
- Orientation, tilt angle, and spacing between modules.
- Advanced options for inverter placing and string patterns on tables.
The system automatically calculates optimal defaults for tilt, azimuth, row spacing, and other relevant parameters..
Generic PV modules can be substituted by the exact definition of a commercial product.
Flexibility in arranging PV modules in either portrait or landscape orientation accommodates various site conditions, shading, and other requirements.

Inverter selection

The system initially selects the most appropriate generic inverter.
Users can replace it with a suitable inverter based on criteria such as power output, efficiency, and compatibility with PV modules.
Detailed information about each inverter option is provided, including technical specifications and performance data.
Individual inverter setup allows for customization based on specific project requirements.
The placement of inverters can be adjusted to accommodate design requirements and access.

Grid connection positioning and parameters

Users can specify position of grid connection that reflect real scenarios.
Key parameters such as power factor, power limit, and voltage can be set.
The system evaluates these parameters to determine whether the use of a secondary transformer is recommended.

Losses setup

Automatic adaptive values are applied based on actual power plant definitions.
Users can set up various loss parameters, including:
- Cabling losses
- Auxiliary losses
- Degradation losses
- Environmental losses, including soiling and snow losses
- Unavailability losses
This feature accounts for expected losses within the PV system.

Albedo, tilt, and horizon settings

The configurator allows adjustments to albedo settings to reflect ground reflectivity either as a whole or separately for each segment with monthly granularity. Default ground surface albedo data is taken from Solargis long-term average database, accesiblealso from Solargis Prospect app.
Users can customize tilt settings for optimal solar exposure while observing the incidence angle of the array as the date and time change.
Horizon settings help account for far shading effects caused by surrounding terrain and dobjects. The terrain displayed in the energy system designer is also utilized in our PV simulations. It accounts for solar radiation reflection based on the albedo of ground surface and objects and accurately casts realistic shadows.

Input and output data

Inputs

Site location and elevation: The designer harnesses the power of the Solargis Time Series, a dataset consisting of 30 years of validated high-accuracy solar, meteorological, and environmental data, allowing you to select sites with high precision and relevant far horizon shading. Alternatively, you can also choose Solargis TMY data.
Module type and quantity: The selection of module type and quantity influences the overall efficiency and performance of the PV system, impacting energy production.
Inverter selection: Choosing the right inverter is essential for optimizing energy conversion and ensuring compatibility with the selected modules. Solargis energy system designer leverages the power PV components catalog, further enhancing the design's accuracy by providing access to components added by manufacturers, certification authorities, consultants, or other experts.
Array configuration (orientation, tilt angle, spacing): Proper array configuration maximizes solar energy potential and minimizes shading effects, which are onbe of critical factors for maximizing energy yield.
Cabling and other losses: By configuring the cabling, auxiliary, environmental, degradation, and unavailability losses, you can further enhance the energy yield simulation accuracy.
Restricted areas and shading: Identifying restricted areas and potential shading sources helps optimize module placement and make informed decisions when deciding on the PV module layout in a given terrain.

Outputs

Best-on-the-market technical specifications for the PV system: The designer generates comprehensive technical specificationsof the PV system and its components with great detail.
Component lists and quantities: You can download lists of required material, including modules, inverters, and mounting systems, facilitating procurement and planning.
Energy yield estimates: The software provides accurate energy yield estimates based on site-specific data, helping you to evaluate the options of the PV system's performance.
Project reports and documentation: Comprehensive project reports and documentation are generated to support project proposals, financing applications, and regulatory compliance.

Validation and data integrity

The energy system designer employs various validation mechanisms to ensure data integrity and accurate results:

Checks for compatibility between selected modules and inverters.
Verifies that the array configuration adheres to best practices and industry standards.
Calculates shading losses based on the location and restricted areas.
Performs energy yield simulations using advanced algorithms and meteorological data.
Generates warnings and error messages when invalid inputs or incompatible configurations are detected.

Note: By leveraging these validation processes, the energy system designer helps users avoid costly mistakes and ensures the reliability of the generated project reports.