March 2025

📢 What's new

New Features

Electrical Behavior Calculation Improvement

In this update, we've introduced enhancements to the electrical behavior calculation. These enhancements give you more control over the single-diode model behavior in varying irradiance and temperature conditions.

• Updated PAN parse logic and new single diode model. We have enabled the use of PVsyst's version of the single diode model for c-Si and CdTe modules for PAN files containing the following parameters:

  RSerie, RShunt, Gamma, Rp_0, Rp_Exp, muGamma, and D2MuTau (D2MuTau only for CdTe).

  This improvement allows you to obtain identical single-diode model temperature and irradiance behavior as in PVsyst, ensuring consistent results.
• Default single diode model for incomplete PAN files. When PAN files lack any of the required parameters, our tool will continue to use PVcase Yield's single diode model and Laudani's algorithm to determine the single diode model parameters from the PV module's electrical specifications.
• Electrical behavior calculation in PDF. We've added the option to represent the electrical behavior calculation within PDF reports. This provides a clear and comprehensive view of the calculations performed, enhancing transparency and documentation.
• Impact on Yield results. Previously, the electrical behavior calculation was based on a predefined irradiance dependence for all single-diode model parameters, derived from laboratory measurements. This method occasionally resulted in discrepancies between Yield results and those from other simulation software, primarily due to differences in the low-light model. With these updates, we aim to align more closely with industry standards and improve the precision of our simulations.

Mixed Fixed Tilt and Tracker Systems Simulation

This new enhancement in PVcase Yield empowers you to simulate both fixed tilt and tracker systems in a single simulation. This feature enables you to accurately model complex solar installations and optimize energy yield for projects that utilize a combination of both technologies.

Key improvements

• Enhanced layout modal: All available framing options are now listed in the layout modal, providing you with a comprehensive view, whether they are in edit or read-only modes. Also, tracking range and tilt angle parameters are now prominently displayed within the layout modal, so that you can adjust and review settings with ease.
• Improvement in PDF exports: The enhanced layout modal features — including framing options and tracking range/tilt angle parameters — are now reflected in PDF exports, ensuring that all project documentation is accurate and up-to-date.
• 3D viewer updates: Our 3D viewer has been updated to correctly display systems using both fixed tilt and tracker technologies, ensuring a visually accurate representation of your projects.

Probability Estimation

This feature addresses the significant challenge of uncertainty in energy estimates. This is crucial for engineers, financiers, and industry stakeholders, especially when assessing financial risks and providing accurate annual energy production estimates.

Key features

• Weather Variability and Modeling Uncertainties: A new section has been added to the navigation pane on the left side of the interface. This section is dedicated to inputs related to weather variability and modeling uncertainties.

• Interannual Variability Default Setting: The default value for interannual variability is informed by the comprehensive research of Ineichen (2011), ensuring that you have a reliable starting point based on established scientific findings.
• Comprehensive Probability Values: The platform now displays a range of probability values including P50, P75, P90, P95, and P99. You can access these values both on the detailed report page and within the generated PDF reports, providing you with a transparent view of potential energy estimates under different probability scenarios.
• Updated Documentation: To assist you in maximizing the benefits of this new feature, the PVcase Yield model documentation has been updated, specifically in section 5.1. This update includes detailed information about the probability estimation process and how to leverage it for more accurate energy estimation.

Improvements

Enhanced OND File Support

This update enhances our OND file handling capabilities, specifically addressing the needs of users who deal with single-efficiency curve files.

What changed:

• Support for single-efficiency curve OND files. Our OND parser has been updated to support OND files with just one efficiency curve. This improvement aims to assist both current and potential users who have faced difficulties when loading these files into PVcase Yield.
• Input voltage calculation. For files with a single-efficiency curve, input voltages will now be calculated as follows:
  
  • Low voltage: Minimum MPPT voltage

    VMppMin

  • Medium voltage: 

    (VMppMin+VMPPMax)/2

  • High voltage: Maximum MPPT voltage

    VMPPMax

Inverter Temperature Derating Chart in PDF Report

This update provides a clear, graphical insight into how temperature impacts inverter performance, ensuring more informed decision-making.

We believe these enhancements will significantly improve your simulation experience and provide more robust options for modeling and analysis.