RatedPower has introduced a 3D simulation feature to improve the accuracy of utility-scale solar design, enabling more accurate yield modeling that represents terrain variations and shading, validated against real production data.
Spanish software company RatedPower, part of US Enverus, has added 3D Energy, a PV performance simulation tool that takes in oneattribute shadow effects to its web-based platform for utility-scale projects.
The new 3D Energy feature reportedly offers more precise and accurate yield calculations take into account things like uneven terrain and shade. Are Module-by-module simulation supports the characteristics of newer electrical and mounting equipment, as well as PV product trends, such as bifacial panels.
“The key benefit is that with just one click, users can access one of the most detailed PV energy calculations available, automatically including key variables,” says Pascale Abou Moussa, senior product manager at RatedPower. pv magazine. Some of the variables include “terrain-aware backtracking, topography, bifaciality, mounting geometry, edge effects, and mutual shading.”
When used with the platform’s layout editor, 3D Energy users can identify underperforming areas caused by shade or terrain to optimize the overall plant layout, the company said.
The tool uses ray tracing technology to enable topography and various shadow simulations. Ray tracing is a rendering method that follows the physical behavior of light from module to source, or vice versa.
The 3D Energy models were validated using production data from established sites with monofacial single-axis tracker and bifacial fixed system setups. “We have collaborated with several companies on real-world projects to test our model. We are open to more collaborations,” said Abou Moussa. The results of the validation tests are published in a report that can be downloaded from the company website.
The RatedPower platform can be used for early stage site surveys, layout planning, collaboration and investment calculations. It is aimed at developers, engineering firms, purchasing construction companies (EPC), engineering firms, technical consultants and bankers.
Founded in 2017, the Madrid-headquartered company says it has helped design more than 55 TW of capacity in more than 160 countries. Over the years, it has expanded support for utility-scale PV projects to include prospecting, planning, design and reporting, adding features such as a levelized energy cost calculator, package data integration, substation engineering and battery energy storage systems (BESS) integration.
“RatedPower’s competitive advantage lies in offering a unified environment where users can design PV and BESS projects, run 3D energy simulations, edit layouts and generate more than 400 pages of technical documentation, all in one place,” said Abou Moussa.
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