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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.