Overview On PVSyst

Annexure I
Overview on PVSyst V6.66

PVSyst V 6.66 is a PC software package for the study, sizing and data analysis of complete PV systems. It deals with grid-
connected, stand-alone, pumping and DC-grid (public transportation) PV systems, and includes extensive Meteo and PV systems
components databases, as well as general solar energy tools.
This software is geared to the needs of architects, engineers, researchers. It is also very helpful for educational training.
 Basic approach:
When opening PVsyst, it will go to the main page:
This gives access to the four main parts of the program:
“Preliminary design” provides a quick evaluation of the potentials and possible constraints of a project in a given
situation. This is very useful for the pre-sizing of Stand-alone and Pumping systems. For grid-connected systems, it is
just an instrument for architects to get a quick evaluation of the PV potential of a building. The accuracy of this tool
is limited and not intended to be used in reports for your customers.
“Project design” is the main part of the software and is used for the complete study of a project. It involves the
choice of meteorological data, system design, shading studies, losses determination, and economic evaluation. The
simulation is performed over a full year in hourly steps and provides a complete report and many additional results.
“Databases” includes the climatic data management which consists of monthly and hourly data, synthetic
generation of hourly values and importing external data. The databases contain also the definitions of all the
components involved in the PV installations like modules, inverters, batteries, etc.
“Tools” provides some additional tools to quickly estimate and visualize the behaviour of a solar installation. It also
contains a dedicated set of tools that allows measured data of existing solar installations to be imported for a close
comparison to the simulation.
 Project specifications and general procedure:

For an introduction to the development of a project design in PVsyst, let us walk through a full project step-by-step.
As an example consider a farm located in Geneve-Cointrin, Europe.
Details of the site is given below.
1|Page
When we choose "Grid connected" project, we will get the following dashboard for the management of a project:
2|Page
The dashboard has two parts: The Project basic definitions and the System variant management.
‘Project’ in PVsyst, is just the central object for which you will construct different variants (or system configurations,
calculation variants) of your system. The Project contains the geographical site of your system, the reference to a file
with the meteorological data, and some general parameters like the Albedo definition, some sizing conditions and
parameters specific to this project. In the database it will get a filename with the extension *.PRJ.
Each System Variant contains all the detailed definitions of your system, which will result in a simulation calculation.
These definitions include the choice of solar panels and inverters, the number of panels and inverters, geometrical
layout and possible shadings, electrical connections, different economic scenarios, etc. In the database, the files with
the Variants of a project will have the Project's file name, with extensions VC0, VC1, VCA, etc. You can define up to
36 Variants per project.
 Steps in the development of a project:

When developing a project in PVsyst, you are advised to proceed in small steps:
Create a project by specifying the geographical location and the meteorological data.
Define a basic system variant, including only the orientation of the PV modules, the required power or available
area and the type of PV modules and inverters that you would like to use. PVsyst will propose a basic configuration
for this choice and set reasonable default values for all parameters that are required for a first calculation. Then you
can simulate this variant and save it. It will be the first rough approximation that will be refined in successive
iterations.
Define successive variants by progressively adding perturbations to this first system, e.g., far shadings, near
shadings, specific loss parameters, economic evaluation, etc. You should simulate and save each variant so that you
can compare them and understand the impact of all the details you are adding to the simulation.
we can either choose a site from the built-in database, which holds around 1,200 sites from Meteonorm, or we can
define a new site that can be located anywhere on the globe. To create or import a site other than those available in
the database, “Meteorological Data management" will be used.
The project’s site defines the coordinates (Latitude, Longitude, Altitude and Time zone), and contains monthly
meteorological data.
The simulation will be based on a Meteo file with hourly data. If a near meteo file exists in the vicinity (less than 20
km), it will be proposed. Otherwise PVsyst will create a synthetic hourly data set based on the monthly meteo values
of the site. However, we can always choose another Meteo file in the database. A warning will be issued if it is too
far from the site.
In the project dashboard we can click on the button "Albedo - Settings" which will give access to the common project
parameters, namely the albedo values, the design conditions and design limitations.
3|Page
Usually the albedo factor will never be modified. The value of 0.2 is a standard adopted by most people.
Nevertheless, if for example site is located in the mountains, then a higher albedo factor like 0.8 can be chosen for
the months where there is persistent snow.
The second tab in the project parameters dialog contains the "Design Conditions" page.
4|Page
This page defines sizing temperatures, which may be site-dependent. These are only used during the sizing of the
system; they are not involved in the simulation.
The "Lower temperature for Absolute Voltage Limit" is an important site-dependent value, as it is related to the
safety of the system (it determines the maximum array voltage in any conditions). Ideally, it should be the minimum
temperature ever measured during daylight at this location. In Central Europe the common practice is to choose -
10°C (lower in mountain climates).
 Saving the Project:

When all the tabs are done, it will be prompted to save the definitions of the project. The dialog that comes up
allows to rename the project. It is good to use a simple filename, since it will be used as a label for all the Variants.
 Executing the first simulation:

On the Project's dashboard, all buttons are now green (eventually orange) or Off.
The "Simulation" button is activated, and we can click on it.
5|Page
When the simulation button is clicked following window appear.
 Analysing the results:
6|Page
 Analysing the report:
7|Page
8|Page
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10 | P a g e

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Annexure I

Overview on PVSyst V6.66

This gives access to the four main parts of the program:

 Project specifications and general procedure:

 Steps in the development of a project:

 Saving the Project:

 Executing the first simulation:

 Analysing the results:

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