Black & Veatch compares pvDesign in a thorough analysis against PVsyst finding a 0.42% average difference in same parameterized simulations
Madrid, August 3rd 2021, Black & Veatch, the leading engineering, procurement, consulting, and construction company has carried out a thorough study of pvDesign to analyze the accuracy and adequacy of its energy model to simulate solar projects.
The report focuses in two main areas:
With regards to the benchmark analysis, Black & Veatch compared pvDesign and PVsyst simulation results for four different cases modelling power plants which had DC capacities of approximately 100 MWdc. These cases include fixed tilt and single axis tracker configurations and monofacial and bifacial modules deployed in Germany, Texas (United States), and Spain. With an average magnitude of 0.42%, the differences between the energy injected into the grid computed by pvDesign and PVsyst ranged from 0.07 to 1.08%, always being pvDesign’s estimates higher.
On the other hand, Black & Veatch reviewed two of the major algorithms implemented in pvDesign – the computations of solar position angle and the irradiance received on the back face of a bifacial module – for technical accuracy. These algorithms were also compared to the ones used in PVsyst. Black & Veatch believes that both algorithms follow the same general approach in pvDesign and PVsyst and conforms with standard industry practice.
This report proves RatedPower’s commitment to provide a trustworthy energy model that its customers can rely on and feel comfortable with since the results are accurate and comply with the industry standards. pvDesign will continue working towards a fully global bankability and to become the one-stop suite for solar development.
“We had internally compared our energy model against PVsyst and we knew we were close. Black & Veatch has helped us validate our previous work and given further credibility to our energy estimates” . Mario Benneckers (product Manager at RatedPower)
To find out more about this report and read it in full, please go here.