30-Day FREE Trial of PV*SOL premium

Are you looking for free professional PV solar system software? Take advantage of our 30 day obligation-free trial of PV*SOL Premium by completing the form below.

Learn to plan and design better PV systems with PV*SOL premium

Learn to plan and design better PV systems with PV*SOL premium

Training Courses and Webinars

Are you looking for training on the PV*SOL and PV*SOL Premium platforms? We have a great selection of pre-recorded video tutorials for you to follow, but if you prefer the personal touch, we also offer live trainings as part of the Solar Power Designer Commercial course by GREEN Solar Academy. Click here for more details >>

Valentin Software also holds webinars that allow you to listen live to a presentation and ask questions using text chat. You will enjoy the experience more if you have already downloaded a trial version for free. Click here to see Valentin Software’s webinar schedule >>

If you are looking for custom one-on-one or group training and troubleshooting with PV*SOL, please contact Paul Mclean on info@paulmclean.co for rates and availability. Paul also offers design services using PV*SOL software.

Online Tutorials

Which PV*SOL or PV*SOL Premium – Which software is right for me?

First Steps to designing a 3D PV system using PV*SOL Premium

Design a fast PV system with PV*SOL premium using Google Earth data

Polystring Connections & Power Optimizers in PV*SOL premium

Model your building with Sketchup Make for use in PV*SOL Premium

Extract Google Earth 3D models with Pix4D and PV*SOL premium

Introduction to system planning with PV*SOL – Part 1: 2D

Introduction to system planning with PV*SOL – Part 2: 3D planning

“The professional and detailed reports generated by PV*SOL help to secure the deal…

I’ve been working with PV*SOL and PV*SOL Premium for over 7 years. I use it for the design and precise prediction of the performance of grid-coupled systems of all sizes, as well as AC-coupled off-grid systems.

PV*SOL really comes into its own when I am doing complex designs for commercial systems where every cent per kwh saved makes a vast difference. With PV*SOL, I can simulate different scenarios with various inverters and modules from the built-in database to see the effects on the LCOE (levelized cost of electricity).

The graphs that PV*SOL outputs are incredible; you can compare solar production with load profiles, and if you see from the graph that solar production would start too late to deal with the load, you can consider, for instance, using an east-facing roof to fill that gap.

The software also shows me the state of the system components at any set point in time, as well as an energy flow graph that shows you visually where your power is flowing to. And it will pinpoint all losses so that you can optimise the system based on those results.

The reports generated by PV*SOL help to secure the deal because they are detailed and easy to understand for the end user, and they just look more professional than a simple spreadsheet.

PV*SOL’s financial tools are really comprehensive; I can add complex Time of Use (TOU) and inclined block tariffs, simulate tax and loan periods, give the client a full cash flow table based on from-grid tariffs and feed-in tariffs.

There’s so much flexibility with this programme: you have the ability to simulate zero feed in, for locations where feed-in is not allowed. You don’t want your system to be producing more power than you can use or store if you can’t feed back into the grid. This feature ensures I am not oversizing the system, which means my client saves money.

String plans can be understood at a glance; each string is colour-coded, and each panel has an individual reference number, showing which inverter and MPPT belong to that panel. When running the shading simulation, you receive a calculated yield output for every single module in your array.

Plus, PV*SOL will warn if you’ve oversized your panels by too much and will recommend that you do a more precise per minute simulation, instead of the standard per hour simulation, to get a precise handle on the Voc of your strings.

The shading simulation is more than just a nice-to-have. People tend to look at the roof and see that it’s mainly unobstructed and a good place to place panels, but during winter, for instance, when the sun is lower and the shadows are longer, the shading effects and subsequent yield losses can be considerable, even if the objects casting shadows seem quite far away.

Another handy tool is the one that allows you to import a horizon file. If you have access to a shading analyser, you sit on the roof, take a wide-angle photo of the horizon with all trees and buildings in place, and upload that image into PV*SOL, and get a accurate shading simulation for all seasons.

And PV*SOL takes away the headache of calculating the lengths of cable required for even the largest system, because it does this all automatically based on your location and design. You get a proper single-line diagram with all your protective devices in place, and you’ll be given a report of the losses you might expect.

Marius Geldenhuys

Owner of Adaptive Solutions

Get your PV*SOL Free Trial

If you are curious about the PV*SOL software and want to give it a try before buying a license you can use the free trial version of the software.

Here is how it works:

  • The trial lasts 30 days from activation
  • You get the full version of the software with full functionality
  • The only restriction is that you cannot save project reports

Need more information? Have any queries?

Contact Alex Hattingh will be glad to assist you with any questions regarding PV*SOL software.

Alex is the PV*SOL sales representative for GREEN Solar Academy in South Africa.

Contact: +27 (0) 10 012 6552

Email: pvsol@solar-training.org