Accuracy analysis of software for the estimation and planning of photovoltaic installations

Abstract

As the use of photovoltaics expands, with more and more commercial and residential users investing on solar energy systems around the globe, there is substantial demand for relatively simple, easy-to-use software packages for the planning and performance estimation of photovoltaic installations by installers and architects. In this paper, the calculative accuracy of TRNSYS, Archelios, Polysun, PVSyst, PV*SOL and PVGIS is being examined in comparison to the real electrical energy generated by a grid-connected 19.8kWp photovoltaic installation. The assessment has been performed by using the climatic data which have been recorded at the site of the real photovoltaics (PV) park over the same calendar year. Our results displayed that the software packages tend to overestimate the global irradiation received by the PV modules but still significantly underestimate the electrical energy generated by the installation.