How to Create a Grid-Connected Model in PVSyst｜5 Basic Operational Steps

Table of Contents

• What the PVSyst grid-connected model reproduces

• Step 1: Organize the project conditions and simulation objectives

• Step 2: Set location information and meteorological conditions

• Step 3: Decide the azimuth and tilt angles and array conditions

• Step 4: Select modules and the PCS, and assemble the grid-connected model

• Step 5: Check the loss conditions and the results screen

• Common mistakes and checkpoints when creating a grid-connected model

• Approach to making a PVSyst model easy to use in practice

• Summary

What does PVSyst's grid-connected model reproduce?

When performing design studies of photovoltaic power systems in PVSyst, the most fundamental element is the grid-connected model. A grid-connected model is a model that reproduces in simulation the power generation system in which DC power generated by solar panels is converted to AC by the PCS and connected to loads and the power grid. Even though scales differ—residential, low-voltage, high-voltage, and extra-high-voltage—the basic idea is common: combine the PV array, PCS, wiring, losses, meteorological conditions, installation angle, shading effects, etc., to check the annual energy yield and the breakdown of losses.

Many practitioners investigating how to use PVSyst not only want to know where to enter values on the screen, but also want to know which conditions should be decided and in what order, how strictly input values should be aligned, and what to look for on the results screens to support design decisions. Especially for grid-connected models, because there are many input items, trying to set everything perfectly from the start can easily stall the work. In practice, it is easier to first reproduce the overall layout of the power plant and then progressively refine conditions such as shading, losses, wiring, temperature, overloading, power curtailment, and degradation.

What matters in a grid-connected model is not just the numerical value of the generated energy. It is important to be able to explain why that generation occurred, which losses are large, and which items will improve if the design is changed. For example, even with the same installed capacity, the amount of solar irradiation received changes if the azimuth or tilt angle differs. If the relationship with the PCS capacity changes, the way output limits due to oversizing appear will also change. If shading has a large impact, the amount of energy that can actually be extracted decreases even if irradiation is sufficient. A major purpose of creating a grid-connected model in PVSyst is that these kinds of design differences can be verified as results on an annual, monthly, and hourly basis.

Also, PVSyst models are used for internal briefings, explanations to owners, review materials for financial institutions, design comparisons, and for verifying conditions before and after construction. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the basis for input values can be traced later. Rather than simply entering “plausible” values, organizing the installation location, meteorological data, number of modules, PCS capacity, racking conditions, shading conditions, and loss settings so they correspond with drawings, on-site survey results, specifications, and design criteria will improve the reliability of the simulation results.

This article explains the basic operations for creating a grid-connected model in PVSyst in five steps, arranged in the order in which practitioners are most likely to get confused. The exact names of the interface elements may vary by version, but the overall workflow does not change significantly. If you start by clarifying project conditions and objectives, then set the site information and meteorological conditions, determine the azimuth and tilt angles, combine the modules and the PCS, and finally check the loss conditions and results, it becomes easier for first-timers to grasp the whole picture.

Organize the business conditions and the purpose of the simulation in Step 1

Before creating a grid-connected model in PVSyst, the first thing you should clarify is "what you want the simulation to verify." Because PVSyst allows many conditions to be entered, if you begin working with an unclear objective you will not know which conditions to prioritize. For example, whether you want a rough estimate of power generation at the preliminary stage, want to compare candidate sites, want to verify the suitability of PCS capacity, want to examine shading effects in detail, or want to produce a report close to the final submission — the required level of input accuracy will differ depending on which of these applies.

For preliminary studies, it may be sufficient to first enter the site location, system capacity, installation azimuth, tilt angle, a rough module configuration, and PCS capacity, and simply look at the annual energy production and the general loss trends. On the other hand, when using it for detailed design or external submissions, parameters such as array layout, string configuration, number of PCS units, wiring lengths, shading conditions, temperature conditions, soiling losses, mismatch losses, and degradation rate should be brought as close as possible to the actual design conditions. Deciding this difference in purpose at the outset will reduce the time you spend hesitating in PVSyst.

When creating a grid interconnection model, first create a project and register the power plant's basic information. Here you set the project name, location, country or region, elevation, time zone, simulation target year, and so on. Because the project name becomes important when comparing multiple cases later, it is useful not to name it simply "solar project" but to use a name that shows the site name, capacity, study conditions, creation date, etc. When comparing multiple design proposals, giving names that make the differences clear—such as base case, azimuth-change case, tilt-change case, PCS-capacity-change case, shading-mitigation case—makes management easier.

Next, clarify the units used in the simulation. In photovoltaic power generation, the impression of the figures changes depending on whether plant capacity is viewed as the DC-side module capacity or the AC-side PCS capacity. In PVSyst, total module capacity, the PCS rated capacity, the DC/AC ratio, and the occurrence of output limiting also affect the results. For grid-interconnection models, it is important to organize in advance the interconnection agreement and the limit at the point of interconnection, the PCS rating, and the policy on module oversizing.

Also, in grid-connected models, the configuration direction changes depending on whether you assume power sales, include self-consumption, or perform a simple generation assessment. If you want to view annual generation as a pure grid-connected power plant, first create a standard grid-connected model and check the generation and losses. Even if you plan to consider self-consumption or battery storage, creating the basic grid-connected model first makes it easier to compare what has changed when you later add load conditions or storage conditions.

In practice, organizing the supporting documents for the input values at this step will make later stages easier. Collecting the installation site's latitude and longitude, survey maps, layout drawings, module specifications, PCS specifications, single-line wiring assumptions, racking drawings, information on surrounding obstacles, and constraints at the interconnection point will make inputting data into PVSyst smoother. In particular, consistency between the site information and the design drawings is important. If you later discover that "the location was slightly off," "the azimuth reference was different," or "the layout drawings and the number of modules did not match," you may need to review the entire simulation.

Set the location information and weather conditions in Step 2

A major factor that determines the energy production of a grid-connected model is the site information and weather conditions. For solar power generation, the output can vary even with the same installed capacity depending on the installation area's solar irradiance, temperature, snowfall, humidity, and surrounding environment. Setting the site first in PVSyst is not merely registering an address; it is a crucial task to determine how much solar energy that location can receive.

When setting a site, confirm the latitude, longitude, elevation, and time zone. Even if you can specify an approximate location from an address or place name, in practice it is desirable to get as close as possible to the actual local coordinates. In large sites, mountainous areas, reclaimed land, or coastal areas, topography and elevation can vary even within the same town name. Elevation and the surrounding terrain also affect temperature conditions and the appearance of the horizon. In particular, in locations surrounded by mountains, shading of solar radiation at sunrise and sunset caused by distant terrain can affect power generation.

For meteorological conditions, select or create data such as annual solar irradiation, air temperature, and wind speed. In PVSyst, energy production is calculated using site-specific meteorological data, but results can vary depending on the period and type of data used. It is important to choose, according to the purpose of the simulation, whether to use data for a representative year, data close to recent actual measurements, or the region's standard meteorological data.

One thing that is easy to overlook when setting meteorological data is the type of solar irradiance. In photovoltaic simulations, horizontal irradiance, direct irradiance, diffuse irradiance, and tilted‑plane irradiance are relevant. PVSyst calculates the irradiance incident on the module plane from the meteorological data you provide and the azimuth and tilt of the installation surface. Therefore, if the quality of the irradiance data you input is poor, no matter how finely you configure the array, the reliability of the results will be limited.

Also, ambient temperature conditions are related to temperature-related losses. Photovoltaic modules experience reduced generation efficiency at high temperatures, so this affects not only annual energy yield but also summer output. In cold regions, strong solar irradiance can increase output during periods of low temperature, but snowfall and voltage rise at low temperatures are also design verification points. In grid-interconnection models, because temperature conditions affect not only the magnitude of generation but also the PCS input voltage range and string design, meteorological conditions should be checked carefully from the initial stages.

Once you have set the site information, next check how the horizon and distant shading are handled. If there are surrounding mountains, hills, or groups of buildings, sunlight may be blocked at the low solar altitudes around sunrise and sunset. In PVSyst, far-field shading and near-field shading can be treated separately. Far-field shading is the effect of terrain and distant obstacles that make the sun invisible. Near-field shading is the shadow cast by objects located close to the power generation equipment, such as adjacent rows, buildings, equipment, trees, and mounting structures. In an initial model, it is acceptable to treat far-field shading in a simplified way and incorporate detailed near-field shading at a later stage of the design.

In this step, pay attention to mismatches between meteorological data and on-site conditions. For example, in coastal areas with strong winds, regions with heavy snowfall, areas with a lot of dust, or mountainous areas where morning and evening shading is common, standard meteorological data alone may not fully represent the site's characteristics. When using this for external explanations of power generation, it is reassuring to be able to explain the reasons for selecting the meteorological data, the conservative assumptions applied, and the differences from standard conditions.

Determine the azimuth, tilt angle, and array conditions in Step 3

After setting the site information and meteorological conditions, next decide the installation conditions for the PV array. In grid-connected models, azimuth, tilt angle, racking type, row spacing, and the type of mounting surface greatly affect power generation. As a basic operation in PVSyst, first set the orientation and angle of the mounting surface, then check how much solar radiation it receives under those conditions.

The azimuth angle indicates the direction that PV modules are facing. Generally, the direction is chosen to receive solar irradiation efficiently along the sun’s path, but in actual projects the ideal azimuth may not be achievable due to site shape, roof geometry, land development plans, roads, drainage, locations of electrical equipment, constructability, and other factors. In PVSyst, you can create multiple cases with different azimuth angles to compare differences in energy production. By checking how annual energy production changes when the azimuth is shifted slightly and how the output distribution in the morning and evening is affected, it becomes easier to use this information for design decisions.

Tilt angle is also important. Increasing the tilt angle tends to increase solar radiation received in winter, but it can increase inter-row shading and affect wind loads, racking costs, and constructability. Decreasing the tilt angle makes it easier to keep the installation height low and to tighten row spacing, but it can make it harder for dirt to wash off. In PVSyst, you can create multiple cases with different tilt angles and compare annual energy production, monthly energy production, shading losses, temperature losses, and so on. In practice, it is important not to choose merely the angle that maximizes annual energy production, but to judge based on constructability, operation and maintenance, snow, drainage, and racking conditions.

For array conditions, clarify whether there is a single mounting surface or multiple surfaces. For example, ground-mounted installations where the entire array shares the same azimuth and tilt are relatively simple, but roof-mounted installations or complex sites can be divided into surfaces with multiple orientations and tilts. In PVSyst, you can handle multiple sub-arrays or mounting surfaces to simulate arrays with different conditions together. However, when creating a model for the first time, dividing it too much from the outset tends to increase errors. A realistic approach is to first reproduce the main mounting surfaces and add further subdivisions as needed.

Row spacing also affects the energy yield of grid-connected models. For ground-mounted installations, inter-row shading—where modules in the front row cast shadows on those in the rear row—is a concern. Increasing row spacing reduces shading losses but may decrease the number of modules that can be installed on the same site. Narrower row spacing makes it easier to increase capacity, but it can increase shading losses in winter and at dawn and dusk. In PVSyst, you can use shading analysis and near shading to check how much inter-row shading affects energy production. During the design phase, it is important to compare not only capacity per unit area but also annual energy production that includes shading losses.

At this stage, we also check the consistency between the installation conditions and the on-site survey information. If the north direction on the drawings, the coordinate system, site boundaries, slopes of inclined terrain, or post-development ground elevations are offset, the array conditions in PVSyst will differ from reality. Especially on sloped or terraced sites, it can be difficult to correctly assess the effects of shading and layout from a plan alone. By reflecting on-site elevation differences and the positions of obstacles, the grid-connected model becomes closer to actual conditions.

Select the modules and PCS in Step 4 and construct the grid-connected model

Once the azimuth and tilt angles have been determined, the next step is to select the photovoltaic modules and the PCS and to configure the electrical layout. This step is at the heart of the grid-connected model. In PVSyst, you set the module type, number of modules, string configuration, PCS type, number of units, number of inputs, capacity ratio, and so on, reproducing the power generation system from the DC side to the AC side.

First, check the module specifications. The main required parameters are nominal output, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, maximum power operating voltage, maximum power operating current, temperature coefficients, dimensions, number of modules, and so on. Even if there is corresponding module data in PVSyst, it is important to verify that it matches the specification sheet you will actually use. Models with similar part numbers may have different output and electrical characteristics. If you use registered data, compare it with the specification sheet and create user-defined data as necessary.

Next, check the PCS specifications. For a PCS, the rated AC output, maximum DC input voltage, MPPT input range, maximum input current, number of input circuits, conversion efficiency, and behavior under overload conditions are important. In grid-connected models, the relationship between the modules' DC output and the PCS's AC capacity affects energy production. In oversized designs where the module capacity is larger than the PCS capacity, output may be clipped at the PCS limit during periods of high irradiance. On the other hand, it can increase utilization during mornings, evenings, and low-irradiance periods. In PVSyst, these PCS output limitations and conversion losses can be observed in the results.

When deciding the string configuration, set the number of modules in series and the number in parallel. The number in series affects voltage, while the number in parallel affects current. You need to check that the open-circuit voltage on cold days does not exceed the PCS maximum input voltage and that the operating voltage on hot days does not fall below the MPPT range. PVSyst may issue a warning if there is a problem with the string configuration, but the absence of a warning does not necessarily mean all practical field conditions are met. Also verify the electrical design specifications, protective devices, wiring conditions, and the local minimum and maximum temperatures.

The concept of sub-arrays is also important. Arrays with different orientations or tilts, arrays connected to different PCS, and arrays with significantly different shading conditions are easier to interpret if configured as separate sub-arrays. However, dividing them too finely makes management cumbersome and increases input errors. In practice, it is most manageable to separate parts whose generation characteristics are clearly different and to group parts under the same conditions. Especially for rooftop projects, separating east/west faces, the south face, and roofs with different slopes makes it easier to check differences in generation output and imbalances in PCS loading.

When building a grid-connected system model, always verify the consistency of equipment capacities. Check that the total number of modules, the total module capacity, the number of PCS units, the total PCS capacity, and the DC/AC ratio match the design drawings and specifications. On the PVSyst screen, capacities and counts are calculated automatically, which is convenient, but if you make a mistake in a single input field the overall capacity will be displaced. In particular, when using the same module across multiple sub-arrays or when varying the number of PCS units case by case, always confirm the equipment capacities in the result report.

Also, when considering oversizing the PCS, check not only the increase in energy generation but also the extent of clipping losses. Clipping loss occurs when, even though the DC side can generate more power, output is limited by the PCS’s AC output cap. Increasing the oversizing ratio can raise annual energy generation, but beyond a certain point clipping losses increase and the incremental energy gain per added module capacity becomes small. In PVSyst, the grid-connection model is useful for comparing such capacity designs.

Confirm the loss conditions and results screen in Step 5

After building the grid-interconnection model, set the loss conditions and review the simulation results. For PVSyst results, it is important not only to look at the annual energy yield but also to interpret at which stages and how much loss is occurring. If the loss conditions are inappropriate, the apparent energy production may look acceptable, but the model cannot be considered usable in practice.

The first thing to verify is temperature losses. Solar photovoltaic modules heat up when exposed to solar irradiation, and the resulting temperature rise reduces their output. In PVSyst, module temperature is estimated according to the mounting method and ventilation conditions, and temperature losses are calculated. Temperature conditions differ for installations flush-mounted to a roof, ground-mounted installations with good ventilation, and installations with limited space behind the modules. Because temperature losses have a significant impact on annual energy production, they are set together with the mounting conditions.

Next, check the wiring losses. In photovoltaic power generation, power flows from the modules to the junction/combiner box, the PCS, and the point of interconnection, so losses occur due to wiring resistance. In PVSyst, you can set wiring losses on both the DC and AC sides. In preliminary studies, you may set them to standard percentages, but as the design approaches the detailed engineering stage, you need to reflect considerations such as wiring length, cable cross-sectional area, current, and voltage drop. If wiring losses are set too low, the results will be optimistic; if set too high, the results will be overly conservative.

Soiling losses are another factor that is easy to overlook. When sand, dust, pollen, bird droppings, fallen leaves, or residual snow adhere to the module surface, incoming solar radiation is blocked and power output decreases. Soiling losses vary significantly depending on the region and the maintenance schedule. Conditions differ between regions that are easily naturally cleaned by rain and regions that are dry with a lot of dust. If the tilt angle is small, dirt may be less likely to wash off. In PVSyst it may be possible to set monthly soiling losses, allowing seasonal environmental differences to be reflected.

Mismatch losses are also an important factor in grid-connected system models. Even modules of the same type exhibit individual differences, and their output varies with solar irradiance, temperature, and shading. In series-connected strings, lower-output modules can affect the output of the entire string. In PVSyst, module variability and electrical mismatches can be set as losses. Especially when partial shading occurs, mismatch losses and electrical effects become larger, so they should be regarded not merely as simple irradiance shading but as electrical losses.

If nearby shading is set, also check the shading loss results. Shading loss includes the physical blocking of solar radiation and the electrical effects on module circuits. In PVSyst, losses are calculated based on the shape of the shadow and the time of day. On the results screen, check how much shading loss there is annually, which months have larger losses, and whether losses are concentrated in the morning/evening or in winter. If shading loss is large, consider changing the layout, reviewing row spacing, altering how PCS and strings are divided, and reconsidering the distance to obstacles.

After running the simulation, first check the annual energy production. Here, we look at the plant’s total annual energy production, the energy production per unit capacity, the PR, the loss diagram, and the monthly generation. PR is used as an indicator of how efficiently the received irradiance was converted into AC electrical energy. However, you should not look at PR in isolation; it is important to evaluate it together with irradiance, temperature, shading, and loss conditions. Rather than simply deciding that a high PR means a good design and a low PR means a poor design, verify why the value is what it is.

The loss diagram shows the losses at each stage along the flow from incident solar radiation to AC output. From this you can tell whether temperature loss, PCS loss, wiring loss, or shading loss is large. When improving the grid interconnection model, the basic approach is to prioritize reviewing the items with the largest losses. For example, if shading loss is large, review the layout and row spacing; if wiring loss is large, revise the wiring plan; if clipping loss is large, reconsider the DC/AC ratio and PCS capacity.

Monthly generation is also important. If you only look at annual generation, seasonal characteristics can become difficult to discern. By checking month by month, you can see whether generation is higher in summer, reduced in winter due to shading or snow cover, or strongly affected by the rainy season or overcast skies, which reveals weaknesses in the design. In particular, when examining self-consumption or the relationship with demand, monthly and hourly output distributions can be more important than the annual total. Using a grid-connected model as the baseline and checking hourly data as needed leads to more practical decision-making.

Common Mistakes and Checkpoints When Creating Grid Interconnection Models

A common mistake when creating a grid-connected model in PVSyst is that filling in the input fields becomes an end in itself, and the results are used without verifying consistency with the design conditions. PVSyst is a highly capable simulation tool, but if the input values are wrong, the results will be wrong. Especially for first-time users, it’s easy to assume there’s no problem because no errors appear on the screen, but in reality the calculation may be performed under conditions that differ from the design intent.

A common mistake is misinterpreting the azimuth reference. You need to correctly understand which direction is used as the reference and how degrees are defined when entering the azimuth. If the north on the drawings, the survey coordinates, the direction observed on site, and the input reference in PVSyst are not aligned, the simulation will be run with an orientation different from reality. This is especially important for rooftop and multi-surface projects, where east, west, south, and north orientations may be mixed, so it is important to verify the azimuth of each surface against the drawings.

The next most common issue is mismatches in the number of modules and PCS units. Although the drawings specify a fixed number, in PVSyst the count may increase or decrease due to the string configuration. When the number of PCS units or inputs is changed, the subarray configuration may remain outdated. After the simulation, cross-check the module capacity, PCS capacity, and DC/AC ratio displayed in the report with the design documentation.

Errors in selecting meteorological data can also have a large impact on the results. Even if you think you used data from a nearby location, you may actually be using data from an area with different elevation or climate. Coastal areas, mountainous regions, basins, snowy regions, and urban areas exhibit different patterns of solar radiation and temperature. When using the data to explain power generation, confirm that the meteorological data are appropriate for the project site. In particular, when comparing multiple projects, the comparison will not be fair if the meteorological data conditions are not consistent.

Be careful not to leave the loss settings at their default values. While default values can serve as a starting point for model creation, they do not necessarily reflect the conditions of each project. Wiring losses, soiling losses, mismatch losses, temperature losses, shading losses, PCS losses, and the like should be reviewed according to the design conditions and the site environment. In particular, if you will use them for external submission, it is important to be in a position to explain why those loss values were set.

Care must be taken when handling near-field shading. Simple models that do not perform shading analysis can underestimate shading losses. Conversely, if obstacles are modeled too conservatively, the predicted energy production may be lower than actual. To correctly assess the impact of shading, you need to input the obstacles' positions, heights, shapes, and distances to the array as accurately as possible. If site survey data or 3D data are available, using them will improve how accurately shading conditions can be reproduced.

When checking the results, look not only at annual energy generation but also at the loss diagram, monthly generation, PR, clipping loss, shading loss, and temperature loss together. If the annual generation is lower than expected, investigate which loss is causing it. Conversely, if it is higher than expected, caution is also necessary. It could be that the loss assumptions are too lenient, shading is not included, wiring losses are underestimated, or the weather conditions are overly optimistic. The better the results look, the more important it is to carefully verify the input conditions.

Approaches to Creating PVSyst Models That Are Practical for Real-World Use

A PVSyst model that is practical for professional use is not merely one that can calculate energy production, but one that can accommodate changes in conditions and be defensible in explanations. During the design phase, capacity, layout, PCS, mounting structures, shading, and loss conditions may change many times. Rather than rebuilding the model from scratch each time, it is more efficient to create a baseline model and manage separate change cases.

First, clearly define the base model. The base model should include the design conditions that are considered most standard at that time. Next, create derived cases that change only the conditions you want to compare. For example, a case that changes only the tilt angle, a case that changes only the PCS capacity, a case that changes only the row spacing, or a case that implements shading countermeasures. If you change multiple conditions at once, it becomes difficult to determine what is causing the difference in power generation. When comparing designs, it is important to organize changes one by one.

Model names and case names are also important in practice. If a name doesn't make it clear later which models were being compared, internal sharing and revalidation become difficult. Naming them so that the project name, capacity, conditions, date, and changes are identifiable can prevent confusion when handling multiple variants. When producing result reports, matching file names to model names also makes it easier to manage submission materials.

It is also important to keep the rationale for input values. Looking only at the PVSyst results, you cannot tell why those values were entered. If you record separately as notes the reasons for selecting meteorological data, the approach to soiling loss, the basis for wiring losses, how shading conditions were obtained, the dates when module and PCS specifications were checked, and so on, it will be easier to explain later. In particular, when multiple people are working on a project or when a project is revisited after some time, whether or not the input rationale is documented directly affects work efficiency.

When sharing internally, it is more important to organize how to interpret the results than to explain every screen in detail. Extract and explain the items necessary for decision-making, such as annual energy production, monthly generation, PR, major losses, shading losses, clipping losses, system capacity, DC/AC ratio, etc. Because PVSyst reports contain a large amount of information, adding notes to indicate where recipients should look makes them easier to use in design meetings and in decision-making.

Integrating on-site information is also indispensable for improving model quality. Grid-connected models can be created on a desk, but actual power plants are affected by local topography, obstacles, construction tolerances, racking positions, ground elevation, and the surrounding environment. If coordinates and elevations, point cloud data, photo locations, and obstacle information obtained from site surveys can be reflected in the design model, the conditions in PVSyst will be closer to reality. In particular, for shading analysis and array layout considerations, the more three-dimensional on-site information is available, the easier it is to make decisions.

Summary

Basic operations for creating a grid-connected model in PVSyst are easier to follow if you proceed in the sequence of organizing project conditions, setting site information and meteorological conditions, deciding azimuth, tilt and array conditions, selecting modules and PCS, and defining loss conditions and reviewing results. Rather than trying to input everything perfectly from the start, a more practical approach is to first build a basic model to grasp the overall picture of generation and losses, and then progressively refine conditions such as shading, wiring, temperature, soiling, mismatch, and oversizing.

In a grid-connected model, what matters is not just the numerical results. It is important to confirm that the input conditions match the design drawings and on-site conditions, that the meteorological data are appropriate, that the loss settings have a justified basis, and that any differences in results can be explained. The objective is not to create a model with high annual generation but to create a model that can be used for real design decisions. To that end, you should organize the rationale for input values from the start of model creation, manage change cases separately, and on the results screen check not only the generation but also the loss diagrams and monthly generation.

To make PVSyst’s grid-connected model more reflective of real-world practice, accurate on-site location and topographical information are essential. If azimuth, tilt, obstacle heights, array layout, and the positions of surrounding structures remain ambiguous, the accuracy of shading analysis and energy yield assessment will be limited. By linking desk-based design assumptions with on-site measured data, the credibility of the simulation results is greatly increased.

In on-site surveys and design verification of solar power plants, using LRTK, a high-precision GNSS positioning device that can be attached to an iPhone, makes it easier to use position information acquired on site in design reviews. If planned array locations, racking locations, obstacles, site boundaries, and the locations of inspection photos can be recorded with high accuracy, it becomes easier to verify the assumptions of the grid-connection model created in PVSyst. By linking and managing simulated power output with on-site coordinates, photos, and point cloud data—rather than leaving simulation figures as desk-bound numbers—you can more easily perform consistent verification across the design, construction, and maintenance of solar power equipment.