SOFTWARE OVERVIEW

13/08/2023 Energy Auditing and Energy Efficiency

NAME: PVSYST

LOCATION: Switzerland

CURRENT VERSION 7.0

Email
admin@pvsyst.com
Address
PVsyst SA
Route de Maison Carrée 30,
1242 Satigny
Switzerland
 Content
Introduction

General Description

Tools and Interface

Preliminary Design

Project Design

Standalone

Grid Connected

Pumping

Conclusion`

13/08/2023 Energy Auditing and Energy Efficiency

PVsyst 7.1: General Description

PVsyst 7.1 is a PC software package for the study, sizing and data analysis of complete PV systems.

It deals with grid-connected, stand-alone, pumping and DC-grid (public transportation) PV systems,
and includes extensive meteo and PV systems components databases, as well as general solar energy
tools.

This software is geared to the needs of architects, engineers, researchers. It is also very helpful for
educational training.

PVsyst 7.1 focuses on complete and precise PV system study with a complete set of tools:

13/08/2023 Energy Auditing and Energy Efficiency

PVsyst 7.1: General Description

Preliminary design :
Project Design and simulation
Databases
Utilities

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13/08/2023 Energy Auditing and Energy Efficiency
Preliminary design :

Presizing step of a project. In this mode the system yield evaluations are performed very quickly
in monthly values, using only a very few general system characteristics or parameters, without
specifying actual system components. A rough estimation of the system cost is also available for
the following
For grid-connected systems
For stand-alone systems
For Pumping systems

13/08/2023 Energy Auditing and Energy Efficiency

Preliminary design :

Presizing step of a project. In this mode the system yield evaluations are performed very quickly
in monthly values, using only a very few general system characteristics or parameters, without
specifying actual system components. A rough estimation of the system cost is also available for
the following
For grid-connected systems
For stand-alone systems
For Pumping systems

13/08/2023 Energy Auditing and Energy Efficiency

Project Design and simulation :

Thorough system design using detailed hourly simulations.

For grid-connected systems (System linked to the grid, by default the grid works as an unlimited
consumer.)

For stand-alone systems ((Thorough system design using detailed hourly simulations.)

For Pumping systems (Off-grid pumping systems, defined by the user's needs in water.)

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Databases :

Meteo Databases :
Creation and management of geographical sites, generation of synthetic hourly data file,
visualization of hourly meteorological data, comparison of meteo data, import of meteorological
data from several predefined sources or from custom files.

Component Databases
Database management of manufacturers and PV components, including PV modules, Inverters,
Regulators, Generators, Pumps, etc...

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Utilities :

Tools :
Contains a set of tools to display tables and graphs of meteo data or solar geometry
parameters, irradiation under a clear day model, PV-array behavior under partial shadings or
module mismatch, optimizing tools for orientation or voltage, etc.

Measured data :
PV system is running and carefully monitored, this part  permits the import of measured data (in
almost any ASCII format), to display tables and graphs of the actual performances, and to perform
close comparisons with the simulated variables. This gives a mean of analyzing the real running
parameters of the system, and identify even very small irregularities.
Included are also some specific tools useful when dealing with solar energy systems:

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13/08/2023 Energy Auditing and Energy Efficiency
PVsyst 7.1: Software Licencing

Run modes in PVsyst

PVsyst can run in 3 modes:
·Evaluation mode: right after a fresh installation, PVsyst will run during 30 days with full features

except for the usage of components limited to generic ones and a watermark being displayed in the
report.

Demo mode: after the Evaluation mode has expired, PVsyst will switch to this mode which removes
·

most capabilities.

Licensed mode: after buying a license and doing the activation, PVsyst will run with full capabilities.
·

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 REVIEW OF SOLAR PV DESIGN AND SIZING - CALCULATION

CAPACITY BUILDING IN ENERGY AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT ENERGYLab

13/08/2023 INITIATIVE
 Load Detail and Sizing of Inverter
SAMPLE ELECTRICAL LOAD DETAIL

Quantity Rating Energy requirement

Sr.No Equiment Name (Watt) Usage (Hr/Day) (Watt Hr./Day)
1 Television 4 50 6 1200.0
2 Fridge 1 150 12 1800.0
3 Light Bulbs 8 15 8 960.0
4 Standing Fan 1 40 1 40.0
255 4,000

Peak Demand = 255W

Inverters are rated in Apparent Power (VA)
Therefore, assuming a Power Factor of 80% and a desired load factor of 70%
Peak Demand 255W
Power Factor x Load Factor 0.8 x 0.7
Inverter Size = = = 455.36VA

CAPACITY BUILDING IN ENERGY AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT ENERGYLab

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 Sizing of Battery
• Daily Energy need = 4,000Wh
• Daily Energy need Plus 3 days of backup/autonomy (for non sunny days) = 12,000Wh

• However, 12,000Wh is the usable size. For a battery with 50% DOD (typical for lead acid), the battery size
would be given by;

Battery Size = Useable CapacityDOD

(KWh)(%) 0.5
= 12,000Wh = 24,000Wh

Calculating the Energy Content of Battery

• Batteries are rated in Voltage (V), and Amp-hour (Ah)

 P=V x I x PF [W]
 E =(V x I x t) x PF [Wh]
 I x t = Ah
 E = (V x Ah) x PF [Wh]
CAPACITY BUILDING IN ENERGY AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT ENERGYLab
Where; P = power; E = Energy; V = voltage, I = current; Ah = amp-hour
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 Sizing of Solar PV Array

Using the sample load details and data from the previous example;
• Required Solar PV Energy Output = 24,000Wh
• Peak Sun Hour (location dependent) = 6Hours (e.g. for Nigeria)

Required Energy Output 24,000Wh

PV Size =
PSH
= 6hrs

• PV Size = 4000W (theoretical at STC)

• Actual PV Size = Theoretical @ STC
PR
 Assuming PR of 80%
• Actual PV Size = 4000W = 5000W
0.8

CAPACITY BUILDING IN ENERGY AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT ENERGYLab

13/08/2023 INITIATIVE
 Sizing of Solar Charge Controller
Using the sample load details and data from the previous example;
• Battery capacity = 24,000Wh
• Battery Voltage = 12V
• Solar PV Array = 5000W

Solar PV Size 5000W

Required Solar Charge Controller = =
Battery Voltage 12V

Required Solar Charge Controller = 416.67A (Assuming other losses are neglected)
• Note that increasing the battery voltage will reduce the capacity of the charge controller
required to charge the batteries
• In summary; 416.67A charge controller is required to support 5,000W solar PV array to
charge 24,000Wh battery storage

CAPACITY BUILDING IN ENERGY AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT ENERGYLab

13/08/2023 INITIATIVE
 Load Detail and Sizing of Inverter - EXERCISE

EXERCISE 1

Calculate the inverter size required if the peak demand is 400W, Power Factor is 85% and desired load
factor is 60% to allow for future load additions

Peak Demand = 400W

Inverters are rated in Apparent Power (VA)
Therefore, assuming a Power Factor of 85% and a desired load factor of 60%
Peak Demand 400W
Power Factor x Load Factor 0.85 x 0.6
Inverter Size = = = 784.3VA

CAPACITY BUILDING IN ENERGY AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT ENERGYLab

13/08/2023 INITIATIVE
 Load Detail and Sizing of Inverter - EXERCISE

EXERCISE 1

Calculate the inverter size required if the peak demand is 400W, Power Factor is 85% and desired load
factor is 60% to allow for future load additions

Peak Demand = 400W

Inverters are rated in Apparent Power (VA)
Therefore, assuming a Power Factor of 85% and a desired load factor of 60%
Peak Demand 400W
Power Factor x Load Factor 0.85 x 0.6
Inverter Size = = = 784.3VA

CAPACITY BUILDING IN ENERGY AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT ENERGYLab

13/08/2023 INITIATIVE
 Sizing of Battery

Exercise 2
• Calculate the number of batteries required to produce 4KWh of daily energy need plus one day of
autonomy for cloudy/non sunny days using Lithium batteries with the following rating; 12V, 100Ah and 80%
DOD,

Solution
• Daily energy need = 4KWh

• Daily energy need plus 3 days of autonomy = 4KWh x 1 =4KWh

• Actual Battery Size at 50% DOD = 4KWh/0.5 = 8KWh

• Specific storage capacity of battery = 12V x 100Ah = 1200Wh = 1.2KWh

• Total number of batteries required = 8KWh/1.2Wh = 6.6 or 7 (assuming other losses are neglected)

CAPACITY BUILDING IN ENERGY AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT ENERGYLab

13/08/2023 INITIATIVE
 Sizing of Solar PV Array
Exercise 3
Using the sample load details and data from the previous example;
• Required Solar PV Energy Output = 24,000Wh
• Peak Sun Hour (location dependent) = 5Hours (e.g. for Nigeria)
• PR = 65% Required Energy Output 24,000Wh
PV Size =
PSH
= 5hrs

• PV Size = 4000W (theoretical at STC)

• Actual PV Size = Theoretical @ STC Assuming a 200watt panel
PR 7385/200= 37 panels
 Assuming PR of 65% Assuming a 300 watts panel
• Actual PV Size = 4800W = 7385W 7385/400 = 19 panels
0.65

CAPACITY BUILDING IN ENERGY AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT ENERGYLab

13/08/2023 INITIATIVE
 Sizing of Solar Charge Controller
Using the sample load details and data from the previous example;
• Battery capacity = 24,000Wh EXERCISE 4
• Battery Voltage = 12V Calculate the required charge
controller for exercise number 3
• Solar PV Array = 5000W
assuming 24V batteries were used

Solar PV Size 5000W

Required Solar Charge Controller = =
Battery Voltage 12V

Required Solar Charge Controller = 416.67A (Assuming other losses are neglected)
• Note that increasing the battery voltage will reduce the capacity of the charge controller
required to charge the batteries
• In summary; 416.67A charge controller is required to support 5,000W solar PV array to
charge 24,000Wh battery storage

CAPACITY BUILDING IN ENERGY AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT ENERGYLab

13/08/2023 INITIATIVE
 Thank you for your attention

Uche Ihunweze, MNSE, CEA

Consultant | Wasser and Bau
info@wasser-bau.com | +234 8140439427

13/08/2023 Energy Auditing and Energy Efficiency