6 pages to check when reading PVSyst｜Don't get lost

How to Read PVSyst: You Won't Get Confused if You Decide the Page Order

When you open a PVSyst report for the first time, it’s easy to be unsure where to start reading. The simulation results for a solar power plant compile a large amount of information, including energy production, irradiance, losses, PR, system capacity, power conditioners, temperature, shading, wiring, and grid interconnection. You can read every page from top to bottom, but in practice you need to grasp the conclusions within a limited time and extract information that can be used for design, estimates, internal briefings, and client explanations.

Therefore, when reading PVSyst, the important thing is not to chase detailed numbers from the start but to decide in advance which pages to look at. If you organize which page to use to see the overall picture, which to see the energy production, which to see the causes of losses, and which to see monthly trends, you can grasp the meaning of the entire report in a short time.

In commercial solar projects in particular, PVSyst results are often used in financing documents, client briefings, EPC estimates, O&M planning, energy production guarantees, PR tests, design reviews, and similar contexts. If you judge solely by the annual energy production, you may later notice differences in site conditions or loss assumptions, making comparisons difficult. PVSyst is not only software for producing energy production estimates but also documentation for confirming under which conditions those estimates were derived.

This article narrows down the pages you should look at when reading PVSyst to six and explains them. It is a practical guide for reading PVSyst reports so you won’t be unsure where to look when faced with a report. Before memorizing all the detailed technical terms, first grasp the role of each page; doing so will make the overall picture of PVSyst much easier to understand.

The page you should view first is the Overview page

The first page you should look at when reading PVSyst is the report's overview page. The overview page summarizes the assumptions and parameters needed to understand the energy production, such as the project name, location, meteorological data, PV modules, power conditioners (inverters), installed capacity, tilt angle, azimuth, and simulation conditions.

When reading PVSyst results, many people first want to look at the annual energy production and PR. However, the energy production and PR should be examined only after confirming that the assumptions are correct. This is because, even for the same plant, the results can change significantly if the meteorological data, panel capacity, PCS capacity, tilt angle, azimuth, albedo, soiling losses, wiring losses, transformer losses, and so on differ.

What you should first check on the overview page is whether the target project is actually the one you want to review. If there are multiple proposals with similar project or site names, you may be looking at an older version of the report. For example, when there are proposals that change the tilt angle, change the PCS capacity, change the number of modules, or update the shadow analysis, it can be difficult to judge from the file name alone. By checking the parameters on the overview page, you can prevent the mistake of reviewing and discussing the wrong proposal.

Next, what you should look at is the combination of the solar modules and the power conditioner. Verify that the module model, output per module, total number of modules, DC capacity, PCS model, AC capacity, and DC/AC ratio match the blueprints and the estimates. If these differ, it is meaningless to later argue about discrepancies in energy production. When reading PVSyst, it is important to check the system conditions before looking at the results.

Tilt angle and azimuth are also items that should be checked on the overview page. Solar power generation is affected by tilt angle and azimuth. Especially for ground-mounted power plants, the racking angle and layout directly impact generation. Whether the array faces south or east–west, and whether the tilt is 10 degrees, 15 degrees, or 20 degrees, will change monthly generation and winter solar irradiance acquisition. When reviewing PVSyst results, you should first confirm these angular conditions.

The type of meteorological data is also important. In PVSyst, various meteorological datasets may be used, such as Meteonorm, SolarGIS, on-site observation data, and satellite data. When differences in annual energy yield occur, it is not uncommon for the cause to be the meteorological data rather than the design conditions. If assumptions about solar irradiance, temperature, wind speed, etc. differ, the same installation can produce different amounts of energy.

The overview page is the entry point to the PVSyst report. Even a quick check of the conditions here can greatly change how easy the later pages are to read. By making it a habit to look at the overview page first, you can avoid the danger of judging based only on the energy production.

The page to look at is page 2: Main Results

The next page to look at when reading PVSyst is the Main Results. The Main Results page consolidates the key results that describe the power plant’s performance, such as annual energy production, Specific Yield, Performance Ratio, and Capacity Factor. It can be regarded as the page in the PVSyst report that is closest to the conclusions.

The first thing to check in Main Results is the annual energy fed into the grid. This indicates the amount of electricity ultimately delivered from the solar power plant to the grid. In PVSyst, the final generation figure is shown as the result after subtracting temperature losses, mismatch losses, cable losses, PCS losses, transformer losses, and grid-side losses from the power produced by the PV array. For project feasibility assessments and calculations of revenue from electricity sales, this final energy amount is what matters.

Next you should look at Specific Yield. Specific Yield is an indicator that shows the annual energy generation per 1 kWp of installed capacity. The unit is commonly kWh/kWp. When comparing projects with different installed capacities, you cannot determine which is larger or smaller based solely on annual generation, because larger plants will naturally produce more annually. By looking at Specific Yield, you can compare the generation efficiency per unit of capacity.

Performance Ratio, or PR, is also an important metric to check in the Main Results. PR is the ratio that indicates how much of the ideally attainable energy yield was actually produced. A higher PR means the system is generating more efficiently given the solar irradiance conditions. However, PR is not simply better when higher. It varies with assumptions such as meteorological data, temperature conditions, loss settings, output limits, shading, snow, and soiling, so when comparing with other reports you need to align the conditions.

Capacity Factor is also a useful metric to check. The Capacity Factor, a concept similar to capacity utilization, indicates the equivalent extent to which a power plant operated at its rated output over the course of a year. It is an indicator that is easy to present alongside annual generation in project feasibility assessments and materials for financial institutions. However, because solar power does not generate electricity at night, it should not be directly compared with thermal or wind power.

In Main Results, you need to pay attention not only to the numbers but also to the units. Because kWh, MWh, GWh, kWh/kWp, % and so on are mixed together, misreading them can lead to major misunderstandings. For example, mistaking annual generation for monthly generation, or confusing generation per unit of capacity with total generation, can cause significant mistakes in estimates and explanatory materials.

When reading PVSyst, treat the Main Results as the conclusion page. However, do not judge based solely on this page; it is important to confirm the assumptions on the Overview page and check the reasons on the subsequent Losses and Monthly pages. The Main Results page is where you look at the answers, and you need to consult the other pages to see why those answers were produced.

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The page to view is page 3: Loss Diagram

One of the most important things to understand when reading PVSyst is the Loss Diagram. The Loss Diagram is the page that shows, in a flow, where and how much loss occurs from when solar irradiance enters the solar cells, is converted into electricity, and is finally sent to the grid. Among the pages in a PVSyst report, it can be said to be the one that most easily explains the reasons for the energy production.

Looking at the Loss Diagram, you can see that it starts with the solar irradiance stage and then, through tilted‑plane irradiance, near shading, IAM losses, soiling losses, array output, temperature losses, module quality losses, mismatch losses, wiring losses, PCS losses, transformer losses, auxiliary losses, and grid injection, the generated energy gradually decreases. If you’re unsure how to read PVSyst, looking at the Loss Diagram makes it easier to grasp the overall causal relationships.

The first thing to look at in the Loss Diagram is which losses are the largest. There are various types of losses in solar power generation, but you don't need to treat all of them with the same importance. By checking them in order from the largest values, it's easier to identify the factors that have the greatest impact on energy production. For example, if temperature losses are large, you should check the ambient temperature, the mounting system type, ventilation conditions, and module characteristics. If shading losses are large, check the terrain, nearby obstacles, row spacing, solar altitude, and the validity of the 3D model.

IAM loss is also an item commonly checked in the Loss Diagram. IAM represents losses due to the angle of incidence. The more obliquely sunlight strikes the module surface, the more the usable irradiance that can be captured is reduced due to reflections and other effects. The impact of incidence angle is particularly large in the mornings and evenings and during winter. In PVSyst this loss is modeled and reflected in the annual energy production.

Soiling losses are also important in practice. When soil dust, pollen, yellow sand, bird droppings, snow, fallen leaves, and similar contaminants reduce the solar irradiance reaching the module surface, energy production also declines. In PVSyst this is often set as Soiling Loss, and its appropriateness varies depending on the region and the maintenance schedule. Power plants with high cleaning frequency and those with low cleaning frequency will have different expected generation even with the same equipment.

Temperature losses are a significant loss factor at many solar power plants. Photovoltaic modules see their output decrease as temperature rises. Even when solar irradiance is strong in summer, module temperatures can rise and reduce efficiency, so you cannot determine energy production simply from irradiance alone. In PVSyst, this effect is taken into account by a temperature model.

DC wiring losses, AC wiring losses, and transformer losses are also items that should be checked on the Loss Diagram. When wiring is long or current is large, losses due to wiring resistance increase. PCS and transformers also incur losses during the conversion process. Whether these losses are reasonable as design values needs to be verified against cable length, cross-sectional area, voltage, PCS placement, transformer capacity, and so on.

The Loss Diagram is a page that is easy to use when explaining things to clients or supervisors. Rather than explaining why the energy production ended up at a particular value with words alone, showing it as a flow of losses makes it easier to understand. To avoid getting confused when reading PVSyst, it is important to remember the workflow: look at the conclusions in Main Results and then see the reasons in the Loss Diagram.

The page to view (page 4) is Monthly Results

The next page to look at when reading PVSyst is the Monthly Results page. In Monthly Results, you can check monthly solar irradiance, energy production, PR, temperature, losses, and so on. It is an important page for understanding seasonal variations that cannot be seen from annual values alone.

Solar power generation: looking only at annual output gives you a sense of the overall scale, but it doesn't reveal monthly distribution. For example, even if annual output is the same, a project that produces more in spring and autumn, one that produces more in summer, and one that drops sharply in winter will change how you view operations and revenue. By viewing the Monthly Results, you can see which months have high generation and which months have low.

When examining monthly power generation, check it together with solar radiation. Even if there are months with low generation, you need to determine whether this is due to equipment problems or simply a season with less solar radiation. For example, generation can drop during the rainy season or in winter because of reduced solar radiation. On the other hand, if solar radiation is sufficient but generation is low, you should check other factors such as temperature losses, output limitations, shading, PCS capacity, and wiring losses.

In Monthly Results, the monthly variation of PR is also important. Looking at PR only as an annual value shows only average performance, but viewing it by month reveals seasonal characteristics. In summer, while solar irradiance is high, temperature-related losses increase and PR can decline. In winter, while solar irradiance is low, module temperatures are lower and output losses due to temperature can be smaller. However, in regions affected by snow, low solar altitude, or shading, winter PR can also decrease.

Monthly temperatures should also be checked. PVSyst uses ambient temperature based on meteorological data, which affects module temperature. Months with higher ambient temperatures tend to experience greater temperature-related losses, which can suppress increases in power generation. In particularly hot regions, even with high solar irradiance, temperature losses can cause generation to fall short of expectations.

In regions affected by snow, the monthly results for the winter months must be read particularly carefully. In areas with snowfall, not only irradiance data but also shading from snow, increased albedo, whether snow is cleared, and how easily snow sheds due to the tilt angle affect energy production. It is dangerous to judge winter energy production without confirming how snow effects are reflected in PVSyst’s results.

Monthly Results is also useful for comparing against measured data. When checking power generation after the system starts operation, comparing monthly values as well as annual values lets you see which seasons show discrepancies. For example, if measurements are low only in summer, suspect temperature or output limiting; if low only in winter, suspect snow or shading, which makes it easier to isolate the cause.

When reading PVSyst, it's effective to confirm the annual conclusions in Main Results and to check seasonal trends in Monthly Results. Rather than judging based only on annual values, examining month-by-month changes provides a more practical understanding.

Page 5 to view is Detailed Losses

The page to check more deeply when learning how to read PVSyst is Detailed Losses. Detailed Losses is a page where you can examine loss conditions and calculation results in more detail than the Loss Diagram. This page is very important when reviewing the plausibility of the energy production or when comparing with other companies' reports.

The Loss Diagram is a page for intuitively understanding the flow of losses, while Detailed Losses lets you check how each loss is configured for calculation. For example, you can check the settings for module quality loss, LID loss, mismatch loss, DC wiring loss, AC wiring loss, PCS efficiency, transformer loss, auxiliary equipment loss, availability, and soiling loss.

When reading PVSyst, it's important not only to verify whether the loss figures are typical, but also to confirm that they match the project's design conditions. For example, if DC wiring losses are set at 1.5%, whether that is reasonable depends on PCS placement, combiner box locations, cable lengths, cable sizes, voltage, current, and circuit configuration. The same wiring loss rate may not be appropriate when PCS units are distributed and located close to the racking versus when long cable runs are pulled to a centralized PCS.

The same applies to AC wiring losses. Losses vary depending on the distance from the PCS to the transformer, the current on the low-voltage side, the cable size, and the voltage conditions. By verifying that the PVSyst settings match the design drawings and single-line wiring diagrams, you can increase the reliability of the report.

Transformer losses are also items you should check in Detailed Losses. Transformers have no-load losses and load losses. No-load losses can occur even during periods when no power is being generated, and load losses vary with output. By verifying that the loss settings are appropriate for the transformer’s capacity and specifications, you can improve the accuracy of annual energy production estimates.

Auxiliary losses are also an item that tends to be overlooked. At power plants, the PCS control power supply, monitoring equipment, communications devices, air conditioning, fans, and other auxiliary equipment can consume electricity. Ensuring that auxiliary losses are accounted for and not set too high or too low is important, especially for large projects.

Detailed Losses is also well suited for comparison with analyses from other companies. When annual energy production or PR differ, you can explain the cause of the discrepancy by identifying which loss settings differ. For example, if another company's report assumes low soiling losses while your company's report assumes high soiling losses, part of the difference in energy production may arise from that. By comparing temperature models, IAM, wiring losses, PCS losses, transformer losses, auxiliary losses, and so on, you can explain differences as a comparison of conditions rather than merely a comparison of results.

To improve your practical proficiency in reading PVSyst, it is important not to avoid the Detailed Losses section and to read it. At first, the items may seem numerous and difficult, but you do not need to understand everything at once. Start by focusing on the major losses, the losses that can be adjusted through design, and the losses that are most likely to create differences when comparing with other companies.

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Page 6 to look at: System Output and Grid Injection

The pages you should make sure to review last when reading PVSyst are the System Output and Grid Injection pages. Here you can check how much power the plant ultimately outputs and injects into the grid. Because these figures are directly linked to project viability assessments and revenue from electricity sales, they are extremely important in practice.

In a solar power plant, the electricity generated by the PV array does not directly equal the amount of electricity sold to the grid. The DC power generated by the array is converted to AC by the PCS, then passes through transformers and wiring before being finally delivered to the grid. Losses occur during this process. In addition, output can be limited by PCS capacity or grid-side constraints.

System Output allows you to check the amount of electrical energy output by the system. What you should look at here is the difference between the generation on the array side and the final output. If the array is generating sufficiently but is being limited by the PCS or the grid side, the final amount of electricity sold will be reduced. In designs with a particularly high DC/AC ratio, the portion that exceeds the PCS capacity can be clipped during periods of strong sunlight.

Grid Injection confirms the amount of electrical energy injected into the grid. The figures used for revenue from electricity sales and project viability assessments are, in many cases, close to this final grid injection amount. If you only look at intermediate-stage generation values in PVSyst, you may overestimate the actual amount of electricity sold. When interpreting PVSyst, you must be clear about which final figure you will adopt.

In self-consumption solar power installations and projects that include battery storage, interpreting Grid Injection becomes even more important. Not all generated power flows into the grid; it can be divided into the portion consumed on the demand side, the portion charged into batteries, and the portion that flows into the grid as surplus. In this case, you need to consider not only simple annual generation but also separately read self-consumption, reduction in purchased electricity, surplus sold to the grid, and battery charge/discharge losses.

Care is required even for projects involving output control. If output limits or grid limits are set in PVSyst, a portion of the potentially generated energy may be curtailed. This can be set as an upper limit on the grid side or in the contract, separate from the PCS capacity limit. If generation is lower than expected, it is important to check not only irradiation and losses but also whether output control conditions have been applied.

System Output and Grid Injection are the final outputs of the PVSyst report. Check the assumptions on the Overview page, the conclusions in Main Results, the reasons in the Loss Diagram and Detailed Losses, and the seasonal variations in Monthly Results, and then finally confirm which figures to use as the final output. Grasping this flow makes PVSyst results easier to use in practice.

How to read PVSyst: understand it by linking six pages

The important thing when reading PVSyst is not to look at each page in isolation, but to understand how the pages connect. The Overview page presents the assumptions, Main Results gives the conclusions, the Loss Diagram shows the flow of losses, Monthly Results shows seasonal variations, Detailed Losses details the loss settings, and System Output and Grid Injection are the pages for checking the final outputs.

By going through these six pages in order, the PVSyst report becomes much easier to read. First, check the conditions on the Overview page, and on Main Results note the annual energy production and PR. Next, use the Loss Diagram to see where production is being lost. Check monthly trends in Monthly Results, and inspect the fine settings in Detailed Losses. Finally, use System Output and Grid Injection to confirm the amount of energy that will be used for the final feasibility assessment.

If you remember this order, you can avoid common mistakes when interpreting PVSyst. For example, the mistake of judging high or low based only on annual energy production, the mistake of judging performance based only on PR, the mistake of comparing with other companies' reports without checking the loss settings, the mistake of explaining things using only annual values without looking at monthly trends, and the mistake of using intermediate-stage energy figures instead of the final output.

PVSyst is specialized software, so trying to understand every item takes time. However, what you initially need in practical work is not to memorize everything. First decide which pages to look at, and then proceed to detailed settings as required. Simply deciding the order in which to read will greatly improve the efficiency of reviewing reports.

For internal reviews, it is clearer to explain using these six pages. First, describe the project conditions on the Overview page and show the annual energy production and PR on Main Results. Next, explain the main losses in the Loss Diagram and supplement seasonal variations with the Monthly Results. If detailed questions arise, verify the basis for the settings in Detailed Losses, and finally present the figures used for power sales and grid injection in Grid Injection. With this flow, it becomes easier to explain not only to engineers but also to sales staff, management, financial institutions, and the client.

PVSyst results become more accurate when read together with design drawings, single-line wiring diagrams, layout plans, meteorological conditions, and site conditions. There is much that cannot be understood from the report alone. For example, the validity of shading losses is difficult to assess without examining the surrounding terrain and obstacles, and the validity of wiring losses is difficult to assess without looking at cable routes and cross-sectional areas. Therefore, reading PVSyst should not be confined to the report itself; it is important to read it in conjunction with site information and design documentation.

When verifying with PVSyst, cross-checking against on-site information is also important

To put PVSyst readings to practical use, it is essential to cross-check the figures in the report against on-site information. PVSyst is a sophisticated simulation software, but if the input conditions differ from the actual site, the output results will also deviate from real-world conditions. In particular, terrain, slope, shading, racking layout, module orientation, cable routes, PCS location, snowfall, vegetation, and surrounding buildings are items that are especially susceptible to the influence of site conditions.

Even if the tilt and azimuth are set correctly on the overview page, differences in power output can occur if some rack angles differ during actual construction. Even where drawings appear free of shading, trees, slopes, utility poles, fences, or neighboring buildings may cast shadows on site. When interpreting PVSyst, it is necessary to verify on site whether the conditions stated in the report actually hold.

Such on-site checks benefit from smartphone-based positioning and AR display. For example, by combining an iPhone with GNSS to obtain location information on site and overlaying drawings and survey data on the field for inspection, it becomes easier to grasp the differences between the assumptions in PVSyst and the actual site conditions. Using a system like LRTK that handles high-precision positioning on a smartphone and allows checking drawings and point clouds on site can streamline the reconciliation between design conditions and construction realities.

In a solar power plant, not only the figures from PVSyst but also the on-site as-built conditions and placement accuracy are important. If you can confirm that module row positions, racking height, tilt, the locations of PCS and junction boxes, and cable routes match the design, it becomes easier to identify the causes of generation discrepancies. Especially in large-scale plants, carrying out site checks using only paper drawings makes it time-consuming to determine your current position and to identify the target equipment. Being able to verify on site with high-precision GNSS and AR also facilitates reviewing the PVSyst results.

Also, leveraging drone surveys and point cloud data is useful for checking terrain, site development conditions, and surrounding shading. When creating 3D scenes and performing shadow analysis in PVSyst, faithful reproduction of the local topography and obstacles is important. Using point clouds and on-site positioning data to capture the terrain makes it easier to evaluate the validity of shading losses.

When you delve into how to interpret PVSyst, you realize that it's important not just to read the report but to cross-check it against information that can be verified on site. While PVSyst is strong at predicting energy production during the design phase, updating on-site information is necessary to reflect actual construction conditions and local changes. To make PVSyst results more reliable, it is important to connect and cross-check the report, drawings, field positioning, point clouds, and construction records.

Common confusions when interpreting PVSyst

One common source of confusion when interpreting PVSyst is whether to place more emphasis on PR or on energy production. To conclude, the metric you should look at depends on your objective. When assessing revenue from power sales or the commercial viability of a project, the final annual energy production is important. On the other hand, PR and Specific Yield are useful for evaluating equipment performance or comparing with other projects. A high PR can still coincide with low energy production if the irradiance is low, and a large energy production can simply reflect a large installed capacity. For that reason, it is important not to judge based on a single metric.

Another common source of confusion is the difference between the Loss Diagram and Detailed Losses. The Loss Diagram is the page for viewing the overall flow of losses, while Detailed Losses is the page for checking loss settings in detail. First identify the major losses on the Loss Diagram, then drill down into items of interest in Detailed Losses to make the information easier to understand.

Care should also be taken when interpreting monthly results. When you find a month with low monthly generation, do not immediately conclude it is abnormal. If it is a season with low solar irradiance, low generation is natural. Conversely, if irradiance is high but generation does not increase, check for temperature losses, output limitations, PCS clipping, shading, soiling, etc. It is important to read monthly results together with irradiance and PR as well as generation.

There are also points that can easily cause confusion when comparing reports from other companies. It is dangerous to judge which is correct by comparing only the annual energy production or PR. If meteorological data, loss settings, PCS capacity, DC/AC ratio, shading conditions, albedo, soiling losses, wiring losses, transformer losses, etc. differ, different results are to be expected. When comparing with other companies, you must first align the assumptions before looking at the results.

To avoid getting confused when reading PVSyst, it is effective to always use the same order of checks. If you look in the order Overview, Main Results, Loss Diagram, Monthly Results, Detailed Losses, System Output, and Grid Injection, you can confirm the assumptions, conclusions, reasons, seasonal variations, details, and final outputs in sequence. If you adopt this pattern, you will be less likely to get lost even when the project changes.

Tips for internal sharing when reading PVSyst

When sharing how to read PVSyst within the company, it's easier to convey if you explain the role of each page rather than simply listing technical terms. For engineers, you can explain up through "Detailed Losses", but for sales staff and management it's better to focus first on annual energy production, PR, major losses, risk items, and the final amount of energy to be adopted.

In internal communications, it is important to present the conclusion first. Start by explaining upfront what the project's annual power generation is, what the PR is, and how much it differs from the previous proposal and other companies' proposals. After that, explain the reasons for the differences, such as solar irradiance, temperature losses, shading losses, wiring losses, and PCS losses. If you jump straight into the detailed items of "Detailed Losses," the audience can easily lose sight of the big picture.

When documenting how to read PVSyst, it is useful to fix the roles of six pages. The Overview page is for checking the assumptions, Main Results for confirming the conclusions, Loss Diagram for checking loss factors, Monthly Results for checking seasonal variations, Detailed Losses for checking the basis of settings, and System Output and Grid Injection for checking the final outputs. If you share this template within the company, anyone reading the report can verify it from the same perspective.

When explaining to the client, it is not necessary to go through every page of PVSyst. What the client wants to know is how much electricity will be generated, what assumptions that is based on, what factors could reduce generation, and how reliable the estimated values are. Therefore, it is clearer to focus explanations on the Main Results, the Loss Diagram, and the Monthly Results, and to supplement with the Overview page and Detailed Losses as needed.

For financial institutions, the basis for annual energy production, the validity of the meteorological data, the appropriateness of the loss settings, and whether the settings are conservative are important. When reading PVSyst, you need to not only check the Main Results but also verify the meteorological conditions, the loss settings, and the final Grid Injection, and be able to explain where the figures used in the revenue calculation come from.

What is important for internal sharing of PVSyst is to maintain technical expertise while making the order of explanations easy to follow. By organizing and explaining the role of each page, people who are not familiar with PVSyst will find it easier to understand the results.

Summary

To avoid getting confused when reading PVSyst, it is important to decide which pages to look at. First check the assumptions on the Overview page, then view key indicators such as annual energy production, Specific Yield, PR, and Capacity Factor in Main Results. Next, use the Loss Diagram to see where generation is being lost, and check Monthly Results to grasp monthly trends. Finally, verify the validity of the loss settings in Detailed Losses, and confirm the final output and grid injection in System Output and Grid Injection.

By reading these six pages in order, you can efficiently understand the overall picture of a PVSyst report. Rather than looking only at the energy production, reading continuously from the assumptions, losses, and seasonal variations through to the final output makes it easier to use the report for design reviews, estimates, internal explanations, client presentations, and comparisons with other companies.

PVSyst is a powerful tool for predicting the energy yield of a solar power plant. However, the results depend on the input conditions. Unless you verify the meteorological data, installed capacity, tilt angle, azimuth, shading, soiling, wiring, PCS, transformers, output limits, and so on, you cannot correctly interpret the meaning of the predicted energy yield.

It is also important to cross-check PVSyst results with on-site information. By combining drawings, survey data, point clouds, construction status, on-site verification using iPhone and GNSS, and high-precision positioning like LRTK or AR checks, it becomes easier to identify discrepancies between the simulation conditions and the actual site. Reading PVSyst is not only a skill for interpreting reports but also a verification process that links the site and the design.

First, get into the habit of looking at six pages: the Overview page, Main Results, Loss Diagram, Monthly Results, Detailed Losses, and System Output and Grid Injection. If you keep this order in mind, you’ll be less likely to wonder where to start when faced with a PVSyst report.