PVsyst has introduced several new features including the ability to model module degradation over time, simulate battery-based standalone systems using state of charge, and improved 3D modeling capabilities. Upcoming versions will allow modeling of bifacial modules, improved 3D editing tools, support for additional battery technologies, and importing from other CAD formats.

1. PVSYST SA - Route du Bois-de-Bay 107 - 1242 Satigny - Suisse
www.pvsyst.com
Any reproduction or copy of the course support, even partial, is forbidden without a written authorization of the author.
New Features in PVsyst
PVPMC Workshop
09-11.05.2016 Santa Clara, California
Bruno Wittmer
Bruno.Wittmer@pvsyst .com

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New Features in PVsyst
• Features in latest Version
– Degradation Tool
– Battery-Based Systems
– 3D (background images, shading calculation)
– Text-based files
• Upcoming Versions
– New 3D Editor based on OpenGL
– Bifacial Systems
– More flexibility in defining Cabling and Transformers
Novelties cover
Sep. 2015 – Apr. 2016
(V 6.40 – V6.43)
PVsyst 6.43
≥ PVsyst 6.44
V 6.44 foreseen for
May 2016

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PV Module Degradation Model PVsyst 6.43
Model for Degradation
Overall power degradation
Mismatch due to Isc evolution
Mismatch due to Voc evolution
Power degradation
Mismatch degradation
Monte-Carlo calculation
of mismatch degradation
Voc evolution
Isc evolution

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Degradation Tool PVsyst 6.43
Apply yearly Degradation in simulation
The degradation factors can be
estimated with the module
degradation model:
• Module power degradation
• Isc and Voc spread
Parameters needed to calculate the
degradation:
• Overall degradation factor
• Mismatch degradation factor
• Choice of year

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Battery-Based Systems
Complete overhaul of the simulation for battery-based systems
Before: The simulation of Stand-Alone systems was an independent branch in PVsyst
Now: Stand-Alone and Grid-Connected Systems share all methods that describe common functionalities
The simulation of the battery control is now based on State of Charge (SOC)
Control based on Voltage thresholds is still possible, but optional
Graphical tools for battery control optimization
PVsyst 6.43

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Next steps for Stand-Alone Systems
Simulation of hybrid systems (grid-connected with battery support)
• So far only lead batteries were supported
• Adding Batteries and Controllers for Li-Ion technology is now easy with SOC-approach
Adding Li-Ion systems
≥ PVsyst 6.44
• Combining grid-connected systems with battery storage is not a problem (both exist in PVsyst)
• The difficulty lies in in setting up a general and meaningful description of the storage management strategy
• This strategy depends strongly on the goal of the user:
Maximize self-consumption, optimize cost of electricity, optimize grid support, backup rare grid failures,
bridge frequent grid failures, stabilize micro-grids or islands, etc.
• The strategy can include decisions based on weather forecasts
• These constraints have an impact on the proper battery and PV sizing and on the simulation of the battery control.

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Background Images
Background images in 3D editor
Example1: Screenshot from Google Maps Example2: Technical drawing
Tools allow quick
scaling, rotating and
positioning of image
PVsyst 6.43
Bitmap pictures can be added as background in the 3D editor
Useful for tracing or verification purposes

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Background Images
Tracing of Technical Drawings
Direct drawing on Background Image
PVsyst 6.43

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New features in 3D Editor
Sheds with opposite orientation (Domes)
Quick freehand drawing directly on main 3D scene
PVsyst 6.43
Parameters:
• Width, Length
• Nb. Of Sheds (rows)
• Tilt
• Pitch, Top Spacing
• Staggering
• Shed to Shed and Baseline Slope

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New 3D Editor
Based on OpenGL library
• Modernized User Interface
• Camera move and zoom with mouse
• Configurable toolbars
• Context menus, Shortcut keys
• Improved performance
• Real-time shadings
• Large and complex scenes can be smoothly edited
≥ PVsyst 6.44

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New Features in 3D Editor
Improved Terrain Editing
Terrain simplification
≥ PVsyst 6.44
Terrain objects imported from text files have often more detail than necessary => performance suffers
A simplification can be performed to recover calculation performance

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Importing other Formats
The new 3D Editor opens the door for better importing capabilities
• More complex Helios 3D projects can be imported
• Importing of Sketchup drawings is on the way
• Work on importing Autocad drawings has started
≥ PVsyst 6.44

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Systems with Bifacial Modules
Set of parameters to describe bifacial systems
• Fraction of direct irradiance that reaches the scattering ground
(depends on sun position)
• Fraction of diffuse irradiance that reaches the scattering ground
(single factor)
• Factor describing the scattering off the ground (Ground Albedo)
• Factor for backside acceptance of scattering ground (form factor)
• Factor describing shadings from mounting structure
• Module bifaciality factor
≥ PVsyst 6.44
• Direct and diffuse irradiance contribute to additional backside illumination
• Only scattering is considered (no specular reflections)
• The diffuse reflection is isotropic
• Non-homogeneous illumination of backside is neglected
• The additional backside illumination is the same for the whole installation
Assumptions for bifacial calculation
In general these parameters have to be supplied by the user.
PVsyst proposes an approximate calculation for the case of a regular shed configuration.

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Bifacial Modules in Sheds
PVsyst Model to determine bifacial parameters for regular shed configurations
Parameter are estimated in 3 steps:
≥ PVsyst 6.44
Rows without boundary effects (infinitely long)
Parameters:
• Tilt, Azimuth
• Width, Pitch
• Height above ground
The factors for the bifacial calculation can be
determined by integrating over the distance between
rows.
1. Ground Acceptance of
direct light
2. Ground acceptance of
diffuse light
3. Backside acceptance of
ground (form factor)
Parameter calculation for other cases may be added successively in the future

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System Circuit
• Cable properties can be specified for every connection or for groups of connections
• Junction boxes can be inserted at any point
• Transformers can be inserted at any point in the AC circuit
• Several stages of transformers are possible
Editable System Circuit
More flexibility for BOS definitions:
≥ PVsyst 6.44

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Other Improvements
Possibility to supply additional data in an hourly input file
≥ PVsyst 6.44
The additional data is specific for the project and can include:
• Humidity and precipitable water depth for spectral corrections (*)
• Custom specification of Tracker orientation
• Grid status, in order to model smart inverter behavior
(*) M.Lee, Combined Air Mass and Precipitable Water Spectral Correction for PV Modelling,
4th PV Performance Modelling and Monitoring Workshop, Cologne, October 2015

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Summary and Outlook
– Simulation of the degradation of the PV system, including mismatch due to
inhomogeneous module aging
– Description of batteries now based on State of Charge (SOC)
– Several improvements in 3D Editor:
Background images, direct drawing in 3D scene, dome configurations
– PVsyst files are now written in human-readable text format
PVsyst 6.43
≥ PVsyst 6.44
– 3D Editor and Shadings Calculation based on OpenGL => Improved performance.
– Bifacial systems can be treated in the simulation. Regular rows are modelled by PVsyst.
Complex geometries are possible with custom defined parameters.
– Li-Ion batteries will be added and the simulation of hybrid systems (grid-connected
with battery storage) will become possible.
– Complete system circuit allows detailed specifications of cabling, junction boxes and
transformers.
– Importing from Sketchup and Autocad will become possible.