Streamline site selection by automatically generating a layout for each project parcel and calculating the capacity and AC yield of each layout.
Introduction
Layouts allows you to enhance site selection by generating a layout for each of the parcels in your project and calculating the capacity and AC yield of each layout. You can then filter and sort project parcels by DC capacity, AC capacity, and AC yield to more easily and quickly identify interesting land.
Layouts iterates through each land asset in the project, including super parcels, generating a layout and yield estimate for each layout.
Before using Layouts for a project, run a Buildable area analysis.
Use Layouts
Layouts is available in the left sidebar when viewing a project. Select the Layouts button on the sidebar to open the Layouts modal.
Don't see the Layouts button on your project? Contact your account manager to discuss getting access.
Layouts options
Module size
Select the Module size that most closely aligns with your strategy when making early capacity and yield estimates. Consider the physical dimensions (length and width in meters) of the module and also the peak wattage of the module.
Frame type
Select from Single-axis tracker or Fixed-tilt. The option determines the orientation of racks and assumptions made in the yield estimate.
Frame configuration
Use the default settings for Single-axis tracker and Fixed-tilt or specify the frame configuration by rows and columns.
Ground coverage ratio (GCR)
Use the default of 0.3 (30%) or set a different ground coverage ratio to specify the spacing between rows of frames within the same block. The GCR is measured as the ratio between the module length and row pitch.
Frame placement
Select the frame placement option that best aligns with your strategy when making early capacity and yield estimates.
Include corridors
Enable Include corridors to insert wide spacing between every other block of frames to create access routes to inverters.
DC/AC ratio
Use the default value of 1.2 or specify the value of your choice between 0 and 2. The DC/AC ratio affects the AC capacity calculation in the results and is an input used to estimate yield.
Maximum DC capacity (MW)
An optional field used to limit how many frames Layouts places for each land asset in the project. Even if there is more buildable area available, Layouts stops placing new frames on the asset when the Max. DC capacity is achieved; then moves to the next asset. Each asset's layout independently respects the Max. DC capacity value.
View your layouts
Layouts for all land assets in the project are saved to a layer called Site Layout that appears in the layer catalog. Toggle the layer on and off like any other layer.
The Site Layout layer updates automatically each time you run Layouts. It shows the most recent layouts that exist for the land assets in the project.
Running a layout on a parcel automatically updates that parcel's layout across all projects in which it is included, making the new layout the most current version.
Click a frame on the layout to view details about the layout, including yield estimates, in the map popup. Each parcel has its own layout popup with metadata scoped to that parcel asset.
If your project contains a super parcel that is based on its child parcels, Layouts will generate layouts for both. This results in overlapping layouts on your site.
We recommend removing the child parcels from the project before running layouts.
Layout results also appears in the Parcel Data table, allowing you to filter and sort by Site Capacity (DC), Site Capacity (AC), and AC yield.
If you removed an asset that included a layout from your project, please rerun Layouts to successfully remove the old layout.
Export layout visualizations
You can export Layouts visualizations from PVcase Prospect as:
- Parcel reports
- Parcel images
- Screenshots
Parcel reports
Generate Parcel reports for your project or parcel. When a Layout is available for a given parcel, the report includes a Site Layout section showing the layout visualization and key information about the layout such as the capacity, AC yield, and number of modules.
Parcel images
Export Parcel images for your project or parcel. When a Layout is available for a given parcel, the export includes a site-layout.png file.
The Parcel images are also included in the Parcel report zip file.
Screenshots
Use Screenshots while the Site Layout layer is toggled on, or take a direct screenshot of the layout visualization as it appears in your browser using screenshot tools in your computer's operating system.
Before taking screenshots, consider hiding the Buildable Area on the map by clicking its entry on the Constraint Map legend.