Design Optimization using the Latest Features in HelioScope

Design Optimization using the Latest

Features in HelioScope

October 2016

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Agenda

1. Latest Features in HelioScope

2. Implications for Design Optimization

3. HelioScope Development Roadmap

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About Folsom Labs & HelioScope

• Solar-focused software company

• Based in San Francisco, CA

• Flagship product is HelioScope

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• Cloud-based sales & design software

• Integrates system design and

performance modeling

• Similar math to PVsyst (PAN file

support, irradiance calculations, etc.)

• Used for preliminary layouts, value-

engineering, and bankable energy yield

calculations

• Used on projects of all sizes

(residential, commercial, utility)

• 7,000 Users worldwide

1. Latest Features in HelioScope

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The Latest Features in HelioScope

Performance Modeling

• Spectral adjustment & weather datasets

• Sub-hourly calculations

Engineering Process

• Team management

• Design profiles

• Permit generator (SLD, site plan)

• Document center

Design Environment

• Stringing for dual-MPPT inverters

• Automatic stringing based on ASHRAE

temperatures

• More robust AC circuit calculations

• 3D mode & improved visualization

• New layout parameters:

– East-West Racking

– Stackable Field Segments

– Frame Spacing

– Module Alignment Options

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Performance Modeling

• Spectral adjustment & weather datasets

• Sub-hourly calculations

Engineering Process

• Team management

• Design profiles

• Permit generator (SLD, site plan)

• Document center

Design Environment

• Stringing for dual-MPPT inverters

• Automatic stringing based on ASHRAE

temperatures

• More robust AC circuit calculations

• 3D mode & improved visualization

• New layout parameters:

– East-West Racking

– Stackable Field Segments

– Frame Spacing

– Module Alignment Options

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The Latest Features in HelioScope

Spectral Adjustment

• First Solar Spectral Adjustment (Lee, M. et al, PVSC 2015):

𝑀 ≈ 1.266 − 0.091𝑒1.199 ∙ (𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑡+0.5)−0.21

𝑀 = spectral shift

𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑡 = precipitable water

• Default for CdTe modules

• Weather Data - the biggest barrier

– Only 7% of >25k datasets in HelioScope contain 𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑡

– 𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑡 calculated from Relative Humidity or Dew Point Temp for 87% of datasets

– Rewrote parsers for all weather data sources

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Automatic Stringing based on ASHRAE Temperatures

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3D Mode, Stacking Field Segments, and East-West Racking

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LiDAR (feature-gated)

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2. Implications for Design Optimization

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Less Reliance on Rules of Thumb

Example: Shade Tolerance

• Rule: winter solstice shade

exclusions (10am-2pm) are

needed for shade setbacks

• Advantages:

– Adjusts for location

– Fairly straightforward to

calculate

• Disadvantage:

– not all hours are created equal

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Less Reliance on Rules of Thumb

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Heatmap of annual

shade losses for

each module

Shade losses

calculated based on

hourly weather file

and shade patterns

More Optimization, Across More Complex Designs

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Shade (%)

Power (kW)

Yield (kWh/kWp)

Energy (MWh/year)

96.3

1,684

162

98.3

1,674

165

108.8

1,668

181

122.4

1,647

201

2.7%

10am to

2pm

15% Shade

Threshold

10% Shade

Threshold

5% Shade

Threshold

2.7% 3.2% 4.4%

+27%

-3%

+24%

Performance Modeling using LiDAR

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Terrain Modeling

Image curtesy of iq.intel.com

Improved Shade

Obstruction Modeling

3. Product Roadmap

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Product Roadmap

• Expand LiDAR

• Optimization incorporating project financials & customer proposals

• Tracker modeling

• Advanced inverter modeling (current limiting, temperature dependency)

• Sub-module MPPT

• NSRDB and proprietary weather sources

• Spectral adjustment for non-CdTe modules

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Thank you!

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Questions and Comments?

Teresa W. Zhang, PhD

[email protected]

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Additional Resources

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http://www.folsomlabs.com/resources

Voltage Drop

AnalysisShading

OptimizationBinning

Cost/Benefit String Inverter

Energy Yield

AnalysisWiring

Optimization

Case Study

Dew point to Relative Humidity to Precipitable Water

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• Dew Point to Relative Humidity

Meteonorm Global Meteorological

Database, “Handbook part II: Theory,

Version 7.1”, July 2015:

• Relative Humidity to Precipitable

Water

Keogh 2011: