PVsyst

PVsyst is a preliminary design tool for evaluating the effectiveness and deployment possibilities of photovoltaic systems for converting sunlight into usable electricity.



Designed from the ground up to be a valuable tool for engineers, researchers, educators, and architects, PVsyst can quickly and reliably model the possible deployment formats for PV systems, create full reports, visual graphs, and detailed data tables that are ready for exporting and use in other software.

PVsyst is an all-in-one software package for the evaluation of PV systems. It provides built-in tools for evaluating the initial system designs (with a large database of pre-built components for easier setting of starting parameters and a full editor for tweaking each component to fit your needs), a system sizing tool for exploring optimal inverter sizing, and other parameters of your PV setup.



Interactive and highly customizable 3D Shading Scene tool that can simulate the effects of your setup, comprehensive simulation and reporting service, support for calculation of grid storage, direct integration with metronome service for placing and testing of your PC setup on any simulated location on Earth, a database of meteo data, other PV modules and components, multi-year batch simulation of aging effects, and many more tools and services.

This highly-customized simulation tool is perfect for the simulation of PV systems of all sizes, from small personal projects to large PV platforms intended to provide reliable power delivery to a large number of customers. It even features a 3D CAO tool for drawing the geometry of the entire PV system, automatic sun position and shading calculation for beam components, and much more.

PVsyst is available for purchase under several types of licenses (Pro30 and Premium, all with one year of official support with the option to extend it), the entire app can also be tested for FREE in a 30-day trial.



New Features

Meteo import: possibility to import 3E TMY hourly data in Import in known format

Optimizer: implemented Sungrow optimizers, with sizing constraints (inverters allowed, limits on the number in series, etc.) and update of the help

Trackers: wind stow position for tilted axis and horizontal North-South trackers.

Features and Highlights

• Comprehensive design tool for evaluating photovoltaic systems of all sizes.
• Compile a detailed evaluation of the effectiveness of your PV platform. Detailed computation of PV conversion effectiveness.
• Simulation of sun/shadow for your PV system, including placement on structures and precise location/orientation.
• Build-in support for location searching via Google Maps and Meteonorm interpolation.
• Direct shading simulation calculation takes into consideration the effects of nearby big plants.
• Tools for parameter optimization.
• Optimized for Windows 7 and 10. It can be used in Windows 8/8.1 via virtual machines.
• Available for FREE via 30-day trial demo.

Installation and Use

The installation package of PVsyst weighs in at just under 200 MB, enabling any user to quickly download it and deploy it on their home, work PC, workstation, or virtual machine.



The app officially doesn’t support access via Remote Desktop Client or running at Windows and Application servers. Instead, it is intended to be run natively on Windows 7/10, or under virtual machines on Windows 8/8.1.  Mac and Linux users can run this app using virtual machines.

Minimal system requirements are set at any PC that can run Windows 7 or 10, with at least 1 GB of system RAM memory, 1GB of free storage space, a graphics card that supports OpenGL 2.0 or higher, and a minimum screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels (SVGA).

Pricing

Professional Version - $681 USD.

• Unlimited features
• Unrestricted access to components database
• Updates included
• Discounts for non-profit use

Required Computer Fonfiguration

Compatible Operating Systems

• All Windows client versions currently supported by Microsoft: Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Other operating systems may support PVsyst installation and execution but no guarantee can be provided

Unsupported Operating Systems

• Windows servers
• Application servers (Citrix, ZenDesktop, ZenApp,…)
• Azure Virtual Desktop

Other requirements

• At least 1 GB of RAM
• At least 1 GB of free hard drive space
• Minimal screen resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels
• .NET 4.8 framework (for Meteonorm)
• Graphics card supporting OpenGL 2.0 or higher
• PVsyst workspace does not support shared or remotely synced drives / folders (including OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc…). Files and workspaces can be synced as a separate task, once PVsyst has been closed.

PROS

• Comprehensive Analysis: Offers detailed simulation and analysis for PV systems, including shading analysis, system loss calculations, and performance ratio.
• User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive interface that simplifies complex simulations.
• Wide Database: Extensive database of PV modules, inverters, and meteorological data.
• Financial Analysis: Provides economic evaluation tools, helping in assessing project feasibility.
• Versatile Applications: Suitable for different types of PV systems, including grid-connected, stand-alone, and hybrid systems.
• Detailed Reporting: Generates comprehensive reports and visualizations, aiding in documentation and presentation.

CONS

• Steep Learning Curve: Requires time and effort to master due to its extensive features.
• High Cost: Can be expensive, particularly for small businesses or individual users.
• Resource-Intensive: Demands significant computational resources, which might slow down older systems.
• Limited Customization: Some users may find the customization options limited for specific needs.