Design Optimization using the Latest Features in HelioScope

1. Design Optimization using the Latest
Features in HelioScope
October 2016
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2. Agenda
1. Latest Features in HelioScope
2. Implications for Design Optimization
3. HelioScope Development Roadmap
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3. About Folsom Labs & HelioScope
• Solar-focused software company
• Based in San Francisco, CA
• Flagship product is HelioScope
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• Cloud-based sales & design software
• Integrates system design and
performance modeling
• Similar math to PVsyst (PAN file
support, irradiance calculations, etc.)
• Used for preliminary layouts, value-
engineering, and bankable energy yield
calculations
• Used on projects of all sizes
(residential, commercial, utility)
• 7,000 Users worldwide

4. 1. Latest Features in HelioScope
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5. The Latest Features in HelioScope
Performance Modeling
• Spectral adjustment & weather datasets
• Sub-hourly calculations
Engineering Process
• Team management
• Design profiles
• Permit generator (SLD, site plan)
• Document center
Design Environment
• Stringing for dual-MPPT inverters
• Automatic stringing based on ASHRAE
temperatures
• More robust AC circuit calculations
• 3D mode & improved visualization
• New layout parameters:
– East-West Racking
– Stackable Field Segments
– Frame Spacing
– Module Alignment Options
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6. Performance Modeling
• Spectral adjustment & weather datasets
• Sub-hourly calculations
Engineering Process
• Team management
• Design profiles
• Permit generator (SLD, site plan)
• Document center
Design Environment
• Stringing for dual-MPPT inverters
• Automatic stringing based on ASHRAE
temperatures
• More robust AC circuit calculations
• 3D mode & improved visualization
• New layout parameters:
– East-West Racking
– Stackable Field Segments
– Frame Spacing
– Module Alignment Options
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The Latest Features in HelioScope

7. Spectral Adjustment
• First Solar Spectral Adjustment (Lee, M. et al, PVSC 2015):
𝑀 ≈ 1.266 − 0.091𝑒1.199 ∙ (𝑝 𝑤𝑎𝑡+0.5)−0.21
𝑀 = spectral shift
𝑝 𝑤𝑎𝑡 = precipitable water
• Default for CdTe modules
• Weather Data - the biggest barrier
– Only 7% of >25k datasets in HelioScope contain 𝑝 𝑤𝑎𝑡
– 𝑝 𝑤𝑎𝑡 calculated from Relative Humidity or Dew Point Temp for 87% of datasets
– Rewrote parsers for all weather data sources
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8. Automatic Stringing based on ASHRAE Temperatures
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9. 3D Mode, Stacking Field Segments, and East-West Racking
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10. LiDAR (feature-gated)
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11. 2. Implications for Design Optimization
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12. Less Reliance on Rules of Thumb
Example: Shade Tolerance
• Rule: winter solstice shade
exclusions (10am-2pm) are
needed for shade setbacks
• Advantages:
– Adjusts for location
– Fairly straightforward to
calculate
• Disadvantage:
– not all hours are created equal
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13. Less Reliance on Rules of Thumb
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Heatmap of annual
shade losses for
each module
Shade losses
calculated based on
hourly weather file
and shade patterns

14. More Optimization, Across More Complex Designs
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Shade (%)
Power (kW)
Yield (kWh/kWp)
Energy (MWh/year)
96.3
1,684
162
98.3
1,674
165
108.8
1,668
181
122.4
1,647
201
2.7%
10am to
2pm
15% Shade
Threshold
10% Shade
Threshold
5% Shade
Threshold
2.7% 3.2% 4.4%
+27%
-3%
+24%

15. Performance Modeling using LiDAR
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Terrain Modeling
Image curtesy of iq.intel.com
Improved Shade
Obstruction Modeling

16. 3. Product Roadmap
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17. Product Roadmap
• Expand LiDAR
• Optimization incorporating project financials & customer proposals
• Tracker modeling
• Advanced inverter modeling (current limiting, temperature dependency)
• Sub-module MPPT
• NSRDB and proprietary weather sources
• Spectral adjustment for non-CdTe modules
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18. Thank you!
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19. Questions and Comments?
Teresa W. Zhang, PhD
teresa.zhang@folsomlabs.com
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20. Additional Resources
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http://www.folsomlabs.com/resources
Voltage Drop
Analysis
Shading
Optimization
Binning
Cost/Benefit String Inverter
Energy Yield
Analysis
Wiring
Optimization
Case Study

21. Dew point to Relative Humidity to Precipitable Water
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• Dew Point to Relative Humidity
Meteonorm Global Meteorological
Database, “Handbook part II: Theory,
Version 7.1”, July 2015:
• Relative Humidity to Precipitable
Water
Keogh 2011: