Sam-vs-pvsyst

Making high-quality, high-power solar cells and modules using U.S.-based technology at affordable costs to address the world’s energy needs PV PERFORMANCE AND YIELD COMPARISONS: NREL SAM AND PVSYST JUNE 2012 Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 2 Compare energy yield, performance results, and the reports between two recognized PV simulation tools. How do they compare in the areas of key interest? This short presentation will not compare to actual collected field data from our monitored sites. Nor is this presentation a tutorial on the tools. Focus will be more on the engineering side rather than the financial. NREL’s System Advisor Model (SAM) is a leading application (freely available) that has evolved over many years. Does morethan PV including numerous renewable sources such as solar thermal and geothermal PVSYST is a PV-centric simulation tool developed initially at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Now a standalone company. Both tools will work for simulating systems anywhere in the world. AGENDA Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 3 Both SAM and PVSYST will report on the most important engineering results: – Energy yield (and the specific production (normalized)) – Performance Ratio – Loss breakdown The level of detail varies with PVSYST focusing more on the engineering aspects of design and deployment; SAM provides good engineering control with a tremendous amount of financial parameter manipulation and reporting (including LCOE analysis) PVSYST focuses on year one with extensive reports and breakdowns; since SAM provides multiyear economic analysis, it takes into account annual degradation Both tools allow extensive loss parameter entry (including custom shading) QUICK OVERVIEW SAM version 2012.5.11 (this is the latest) PVSYST version V5.56 (latest as of April 2012; new minor release V5.57 as of May 2012) Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 4 TOOL VERSIONS Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 5 1 MW Suniva 250W OPTIMUS monocrystalline system 4004 panels with a string size of 14 (286 strings) 1 MW COMMERCIAL MODELING EXAMPLE SAM 2012.5.11 PVSYST 5.56 Climate file Atlanta Hartsfield Airport TMY3 Atlanta Hartsfield Airport TMY3 Tilt 30 degrees 30 degrees Azimuth 180 (due south) 0 (due south) (Northern Hemisphere centric) NOCT 46 C 46 C DC Wire Ohmic loss at STC 1.0% 1.5% AC wire Ohmic loss at STC 0.5% 0.5% Diode and connector loss 0.5% N/A Module efficiency loss/nameplate 0% 0.1% Power loss at MPP/mismatch 2.0% 2.0% Soiling loss annual 2.0% 2.0% Degradation per year 0.5% N/A Availability per year 98% N/A Shading 0% 0% Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 6 Main PV array screen SAM W ALKTHROUGH Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 7 Key points are highlighted with key parameters SAM REPORT – PARAMETER AND RESULTS SUMMARY Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 8 Losses and derate are shown as a function of loss in annual energy SAM REPORT – LOSSES Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 9 Monthly yield is easy to follow SAM REPORT – MONTHLY YIELD Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 10 Main grid-tie systems screen PVSYST WALKTHROUGH Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 11 Main PV array entry screen PVSYST WALKTHROUGH Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 12 All parameters are shown so system simulation can be reproduced by a 3 rd party independently PVSYST REPORT – PARAMETER SUMMARY Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 13 The three main simulation results are clear PVSYST REPORT – RESULTS SUMMARY Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 14 The loss diagram is very clear PVSYST REPORT – LOSSES Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 15 Monthly breakdown of energy yield is presented in numerous formats PVSYST REPORT – MONTHLY YIELD SAM 2012.5.11 PVSYST 5.56 Energy yield 1586.206 MWH/yr 1560 MWH/yr Specific yield 1586 MWH/yr 1558 MWH/yr Performance Ratio (PR) 88% 84.30% Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 16 RESULTS COMPARISON If the derate-loss/parameters are set properly and the weather files are the same (TMY3 in this case) then both PVSYST and SAM give similar results (2% difference in this case). PVSYST is a little more conservative and very closein comparisons with our field data. Key is setting the parameters, accuracy of the panel and inverter models, and the validity of the weather file. Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 17 TOOL COMPARISONS NREL SAM PVSYST Availability Free and accessible to anyone in the world For purchase/license only (30 day free full eval) PV System Types Grid-tie only for residential, commercial, commercial PPA, Utility Power Producer. No off-grid or hybrid. Grid-tie, off-grid, and DC grid. No hybrid grid-tie + standalone. Loss parameters All required parameters are available Extensive Weather file support TMY2, TMY3, EPW Meteonorm, TMY2, TMY3, EPW, PVGIS, WRDC, Retscreen, Helioclim, SolarGIS Default module database CEC and Sandia performance models Photon Component database modification/creation New version allows some flexibility in module creation. Not inverter or anything else. Full flexibility for PV Module, Inverter, Charge Controller, Battery, and Generator Overall ease of use “straightforward” learning curve – data entry is highly graphical “medium” learning curve Customer facing reports Clear and succint Elaborate, professional, customizable Economic/Financial Modeling Very powerful, easy-to-use and easy-tounderstand economic modeling Difficult to understand economic modeling Engineering Flexibility Provides some degree of component modeling but limited thermal modeling Very detailed component modeling with extensive thermal modeling Confidential & Proprietary © Suniva®, Inc. 2012 18 PRESENTER INFO Sol Haroon is the lead systems engineer (EE) at Suniva, Inc. Suniva is a US manufacturer of high efficiency solar cells and PV modules. Sol is responsible for systems modeling, simulation, monitoring, design of PV systems, along with assessing the financial viability of systems entailing balance of system gear such as inverters and racking. Sol is a solar professional, EV enthusiast, and a sustainable habitat systems architect working on net-zero architecture. When not working and designing sustainable solutions, he enjoys volunteering with international humanitarian missions around the globe. He may be reached at sol@suniva.com Making high-quality, high-power solar cells and modules using U.S.-based technology at affordable costs to address the world’s energy needs SOL HAROON SOL@SUNIVA.COM THANK YOU