“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

www.solmetric.com
1-877-263-5026
Email: support@solmetric.com