Solar Software Helps Design Photovoltaic Systems

Valentin Software says its PV*SOL basic 6.0 software is a practical tool with a modern interface that’s able to intelligently dimension inverters for photovoltaic system planning in residential areas.

The program enables both beginners and professional planners to rapidly design, simulate and clearly present photovoltaic systems. Valentin Software has adapted the menus and features to the current needs and requirements of the photovoltaic industry.

Using the new “regional settings” feature, operators can define country-specific settings for the tariff model, the unbalanced load and the maximum system voltage, for example, for the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Austria and Germany. Editable load profiles are available for users to forecast net metering. The program can calculate the number of solar modules either photo-realistically, with a digital photo of the house, or graphically, with freely-configurable roof forms. For elevated photovoltaic systems, every possible orientation can be calculated.

New Connection Features
With new features for solar inverter dimensioning, PV*SOL® basic 6.0 is the optimal program to identify a multitude of possible connection configurations. It can automatically configure the inverter connections with arranged results, as well as individually adjust the sizing factor. And inverters with special variable connection options for input B (due to a second MPP tracker) can also be dimensioned and simulated comfortably with PV*SOL® basic 6.0. Also new is the option of entering the cable lengths and cross sections for the string, DC and AC cables. PV*SOL® basic’s new database format means that useful functions such as favourites management, searching in tabulated texts as well as the sorting and filtering of components are now available. The comprehensive project report for the customer includes not only a summary report of the simulation results and financial analysis, but also a customer-oriented cover, clear presentation of the system design and detailed results graphics.

Comprehensive Module, Inverter and Climate Data
As with all of the PV*SOL® programs, PV*SOL® basic 6.0 contains an extensive solar module and solar inverter database with over 11,000 modules and 2,300 inverters, which is continually updated and expanded by the automatic update function. The component data is updated online by the solar module and solar inverter manufacturers. Valentin Software then checks the data and makes it regularly available to users.

The latest climate data from the German Weather Service (DWD) is delivered with the program. For Germany alone, around 450 locations are available and every district is included. Overall, the climate database of the MeteoSyn tool, which is included in the software, contains more than 8,000 locations worldwide. The software, the user handbook, and the context-sensitive help facility are available in five languages: English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. Valentin Software’s regular free introductory webinars for the design and simulation of a photovoltaic system make it even easier to get started planning and simulating photovoltaic systems.

Valentin Software
www.valentin-software.com