“Getting Started with the Solmetric
PV Designer”
Solmetric Corporation
Peter Hoberg
VP Sales and Marketing
Solmetric Corporation
• Founded in 2005
• 20 employees
• Headquarters in Sebastopol, CA
• Mission: to improve the effectiveness of solar systems
and those who install them by providing high quality,
easy-to-use, accurate tools with embedded technical
know-how.
Topics
• Background
• Introducing PV Designer
• Installing the software
• Creating a design
• Using SunEye shade measurements
• Viewing the results
CONFIDENTIAL
PV String Simulation Model
Sun position, panel tilt/Azimuth
Irradiance, shade, temperature, wind speed
Module bypass diode configuration
Module parameters
Inverter parameters
String wiring AC KWh
Importance of measuring and modeling
shade
• Choose optimum location for panels
• Identify issues early in the process
• Ensure sufficient energy production
• Ensure optimum state rebate
Note: Shading can have disproportionate
impact on energy production
Steps for measuring solar access
Bubble Level
Compass
1. Point south*
2. Hold Level
3. Press the button
* Point south in the northern hemisphere; point north
in the southern hemisphere.
Using shade measurement to calculate
energy production
• SunEye is a point measurement
• Need to address shading across the
area of the roof
• Averaging solar access can be
inaccurate
• 3D models can be time consuming or
expensive
Solmetric PV Designer
Maximum Power Point
IV and PV curves
Max Power
Isc I-V
Imp
Max
Output Power
P-V Power
Current
Point
Voltage Vmp
PV Simulation Model (string)
• Typical module: 24 cells in 3 strings
• Bypass diode for each cell
• Shading disrupts current flow
• Module output is reduced
• String output is reduced
Impact of Shading on the P-V Curve
Multiple humps make life interesting for the inverter
Normal P-V curve
Power
Shaded P-V curve (multi-
humps, typical of
mismatch conditions)
Voltage
Shading: a little bit goes a long way
100%
73%
Business Card
covering half
of one cell
PV string mismatch
Mismatched Strings tied in parallel
must operate at the same voltage
and can not be optimized by the
inverter’s MPPT.
Solmetric PV Designer
Version 4.3 (May 2010)
New PV Designer Features
• Equipment database updated, esp. CEC
• Multiple Inverters in each design
• Inverter “gas gauge” showing limit checks at a glance
• Design and Layout Guides
For More Information
30-day free trial available
[Link]
1-877-263-5026
Email: support@[Link]