7 Points to Understand the Main Screens in the PVSyst Manual

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Table of Contents

• The purpose of organizing the main screens before reading the PVSyst manual

• 7 points to understand the main screen

• Check the project requirements on the project screen

• Confirm the assumptions for power generation on the weather data screen.

• Organize the installation conditions on the azimuth and tilt angle screens

• Verify the capacity and device configuration on the system settings screen.

• Interpret shielding conditions on the shadow analysis screen

• View the factors that cause differences in results on the loss settings screen

• Summarize decision-making materials on the results screen and in the report

• Practical workflow for mastering the main screens

• Points in the PVSyst Manual That Often Cause Confusion

• Summary

The Importance of Organizing the Main Screens Before Reading the PVSyst Manual

Many people consulting the PVSyst manual have concerns such as wanting to carry out energy-yield simulations for solar power systems correctly, wanting to reduce input errors in design conditions, and wanting to understand how to interpret the reports. If you proceed without understanding the role of each screen, it becomes unclear where to enter what, and it becomes harder to explain the basis for the simulation results.

PVSyst is not made up solely of screens for calculating energy yield. Project information, meteorological data, installation angle, module and inverter configurations, shading effects, various losses, result reports, and multiple other screens work together to produce the final simulation results. In other words, understanding the meaning of the main screens is not only about learning how to operate the software, but also about correctly constructing the assumptions behind the energy production forecast.

Especially when you're new to PVSyst, reading the manual from top to bottom can make it difficult to tell which screens are important in practice. Rather than memorizing screen names and field descriptions, you'll understand more quickly if you first grasp which stage of the overall simulation each screen relates to.

In this article, we organize seven key points you should grasp to understand the main screens of the PVSyst manual, arranged according to the practical workflow. The goal is not to memorize detailed operation steps, but to understand what to evaluate on each screen and which inputs affect the results.

7 Points to Understand the Main Screen

A key point in understanding PVSyst’s main screens is to view them not as standalone pages but as a single flow—from defining the simulation assumptions to reviewing the results. The power generation results are displayed at the end, but those figures are the cumulative outcome of the conditions set on the intermediate screens.

The first screen to check is the one that handles the project's basic information. This is where the project name, installation location, items under consideration, and design conditions are organized. The next important screen is the one for meteorological data and solar radiation conditions. Because this forms the foundation for power generation calculations, if the assumptions here are off the overall results will change significantly.

After that, on the screen for setting the azimuth and tilt angles, you decide which direction and at what angle the solar panels will be installed. There is also a system configuration screen where you select modules and inverters and check the string configuration and capacity balance. Here you need the perspective to confirm whether the design is valid.

Next, there is a shading analysis screen that handles shadows from surrounding buildings, topography, and between racking rows. Shading not only affects annual energy production, but its impact varies by season and time of day, so it cannot be judged simply by its presence or absence. Furthermore, on the loss settings screen, which deals with temperature loss, wiring loss, mismatch loss, and so on, the settings need to reflect the practical realism of the design.

Finally, on the simulation results and report output screens, check the generated energy, breakdown of losses, monthly trends, performance ratio, and so on. This results screen is not simply a place to view numbers; it also serves as a confirmation screen to reflect on whether the input conditions were appropriate.

In this way, the main screens can be broadly divided into the screen for defining project parameters, the screen for defining natural conditions, the screen for defining equipment conditions, the screen for adjusting shading and losses, and the screen for checking results. Reading the PVSyst manual with this flow in mind makes it easier to see how each item is connected.

Confirm project conditions on the Project screen

The first thing you should understand in the PVSyst manual is the role of the Project screen. The Project screen is the entry point for organizing the basic information of the project to be simulated. Here you set the project's location and the conditions to be examined, creating the assumptions that will be used in subsequent screens.

What’s important on the project screen is not to treat a project as just a file name. In solar power generation simulations, installation location, intended use, the scale of the power plant, the stage of consideration, and differences between design proposals all influence how the results should be interpreted. For example, whether the study is a preliminary assessment, basic design, or at a stage close to detailed design affects the level of precision required for input conditions.

On the project screen, you may compare multiple design options within the same project. If you organize differences—such as roof surfaces, tilt angles, panel capacities, and shading mitigation measures—as separate options, it will be easier to compare the results later. Conversely, if you proceed while leaving the relationship between project conditions and design options unclear, you will no longer know which results correspond to which conditions.

In practice, when you view the project screen, it is important to confirm at least the installation location, the subject under consideration, the assumed capacity, and the purpose of the design proposal. When reading the PVSyst manual, you should be aware not simply of which button to press, but that this screen serves as the foundation for subsequent condition settings.

Also, the project screen serves as the starting point when explaining simulation results to third parties. Report readers first confirm which project the calculation applies to. If the project information is well organized, the report’s credibility is more easily conveyed.

Confirm assumptions for power generation on the weather data screen

Among PVSyst’s main screens, the meteorological data screen is extremely important. The electricity generation of a photovoltaic system is largely influenced by natural conditions such as solar irradiance, ambient temperature, and wind speed. No matter how finely the system configuration is set, if the assumptions about the meteorological data do not match reality, the validity of the simulation results will be reduced.

When reading the weather data screen in the PVSyst manual, it is important not only to know how to choose the data but also to understand what that data represents. The solar radiation conditions used in generation calculations are a central factor that determine the installation site's annual energy yield. Regional differences, elevation, climate characteristics, and the surrounding environment can cause the energy output to vary even for the same installed capacity.

On the meteorological data screen, you verify the correspondence between geographic location information and meteorological data. The meaning of the results changes depending on whether you use data near the installation site, data from a representative location, or imported externally obtained data. This is especially true in mountainous areas, coastal areas, snowy regions, and high-temperature regions, where the choice of meteorological conditions has a significant impact on the results.

Also, meteorological data affect not only annual power generation but also the trends in monthly power generation. Even in regions with strong solar irradiance in summer, output can decrease due to high temperatures, and in regions with low solar irradiance in winter, snowfall and reduced sunlight can have a large impact. When viewing monthly generation in the results screen, it is important to return to and check the assumptions set on the meteorological data screen.

When using the PVSyst manual, regard the weather data screen not simply as an input page but as the place to verify the assumptions behind the generation forecast. If you review it carefully, it will be easier later, when explaining the figures in a report, to clarify why the predicted energy output turned out as it did.

Organize the installation conditions on the azimuth and tilt angle screen

The azimuth and tilt angles of solar panels are fundamental parameters that directly affect power generation. If you want to understand the main screens of the PVSyst manual, you should be sure to grasp the meaning of the screens that deal with installation angles.

Azimuth indicates which direction the panels face. Generally, the closer they are to facing south, the easier it is to achieve higher annual energy production, but in practice roof shape, site conditions, racking layout, shading effects, and the timing of electricity demand mean that simply facing south is not always optimal. For east–west configurations or roof installations divided across multiple surfaces, it is necessary to correctly separate the conditions on the screen and consider them.

The tilt angle indicates how much the panel is tilted relative to the horizontal plane. When the tilt angle changes, the way it receives sunlight in each season changes. For ground-mounted installations, the angle is often decided while considering power generation and inter-row shading, and for roof-mounted installations it is common to match the slope of the existing roof. Therefore, the tilt angle screen should be understood not as a place to look only at the theoretical optimum value, but as a place to reflect actual installation conditions.

When there are multiple roof or array surfaces, combining the azimuth and tilt into a single value can deviate from the actual power generation patterns. For example, on a building that mixes south-, east-, and west-facing surfaces, each face receives solar radiation differently. Since some faces tend to generate power in the morning, others at midday, and others in the afternoon, you need to organize on-screen how to treat them as design options.

When reading the PVSyst manual, it is easier to understand if you regard the azimuth and tilt angle settings not as mere numeric inputs but as a translation task to reflect the design conditions in the energy production calculations. It is important to verify, by cross-checking site survey drawings, layout plans, roof plans, and design drawings, that the on-screen settings accurately represent the actual installation.

Check capacity and device configuration on the system settings screen

The System Settings screen in PVSyst is one of the interfaces that involves many practical decisions. Here you verify the conditions that determine whether the installation is viable, such as photovoltaic modules, inverters, string configuration, capacity ratio, and voltage range.

When reading this screen in the PVSyst manual, it is important not to focus only on the operation of selecting equipment. What matters is determining whether the combination of selected equipment matches the design conditions assumed for the planned power plant. Increasing only the module capacity can lead to output limiting or reduced efficiency if the balance with the inverter is poor.

On the system settings screen, set the number of modules in series and in parallel and verify them against the inverter's input conditions. You need to check electrical compatibility from perspectives such as voltage rise at low temperatures, voltage drop at high temperatures, the maximum power point tracking range, and input current limits. These items may seem technical, but by carefully checking on-screen warnings and range displays, you'll more easily notice design inconsistencies.

Also, the system configuration screen affects not only power generation but also equipment costs and constructability. If the string configuration is too complex, construction management becomes difficult and it will affect wiring distances and switchboard configurations. Even if simulations show high power generation, designs that are difficult to construct or maintain in practice may be hard to adopt.

What matters on this screen is to distinguish between whether the calculations run and whether the design is reasonable. Even if PVSyst can compute a configuration, it may not fit site conditions or design standards. While consulting the PVSyst manual, be mindful of how the figures on the screen relate to practical design decisions.

Interpreting Shading Conditions on the Shadow Analysis Screen

The shading analysis screen is one of PVSyst’s primary interfaces where the impact on results is easy to see, yet it can also be difficult to understand. In photovoltaic power generation, shadows are caused by surrounding buildings, trees, equipment, terrain, rows of mounting structures, and rooftop obstructions. Shadows not only reduce power output but also affect performance differently depending on the time of day and the season.

When reading the shading analysis screen in the PVSyst manual, it is important not to judge solely by the presence or absence of shadows. Whether shadows appear only in the morning, only become longer in winter, or occur throughout the year will change the impact on energy production. Also, depending on where the shadow falls, electrical losses can occur that are greater than the simple shaded area.

In the shading analysis screen, nearby shading conditions and three-dimensional arrangements may be handled. For ground-mounted installations, inter-row shading—where front rows of panels cast shadows on rear rows—is important. For roof-mounted installations, parapets, rooftop structures, HVAC equipment, and adjacent buildings can be sources of shading. In agrivoltaic or specialized racking systems, the structure itself may also affect shading conditions.

When using the shading analysis screen in practice, you should organize on-site photos, layout drawings, the heights of surrounding buildings, and the positions of obstacles as much as possible. If you run a shading analysis with ambiguous input values, you may get visually precise results that do not match reality. In the PVSyst manual, while checking the operating procedures, it is also important to be aware of the reliability of the source information you enter.

The results of shadow analysis can also be useful for comparing design proposals. By considering slight changes to panel layout, adjusting the racking pitch, moving panels away from obstacles, or separating installation surfaces, it may be possible to reduce the effects of shading. The shadow analysis screen is not simply a screen for entering losses; it is also a screen for gaining hints to improve the design.

View the elements that cause differences in results on the loss settings screen

PVSyst simulation results are not determined solely by solar irradiation conditions and system capacity. Various loss factors—temperature losses, wiring losses, mismatch losses, soiling, degradation, inverter losses, auxiliary consumption, and so on—accumulate to produce the final energy yield. Therefore, the loss settings screen is one of the main screens that should be checked carefully.

When reading the loss settings screen in the PVSyst manual, it is important to distinguish between items that can be left at their default values and items that should be reviewed for each project. It is not necessary to adjust every item in detail, but leaving assumptions that differ significantly from the actual installation conditions will reduce the reliability of the results.

Temperature loss is related to the reduction in output caused by an increase in module temperature. In high-temperature regions, installations close to roof surfaces, or installations with poor ventilation, the impact of temperature can be greater. Conversely, conditions differ for well-ventilated ground-mounted installations. It is necessary to confirm that the on-screen settings appropriately reflect the actual on-site installation environment.

Wiring losses depend on cable length, conductor cross-sectional area, and current conditions. As the design approaches the detailed design stage, information on wiring routes and panel layouts becomes clearer, enabling more realistic settings. In the initial study stage, approximate values may be used, but in that case the assumptions should be clearly stated when presenting the report.

Settings for soiling and degradation also change depending on the project's location and operating conditions. In areas with heavy sand and dust, regions with snowfall or falling leaves, or sites near the coast, it can be difficult to judge based solely on simple standard values. Considering cleaning frequency and maintenance policies as well makes the meaning of the loss settings clearer.

Understanding how to read the loss settings screen makes the breakdown of losses on the results screen easier to interpret. You will be able to distinguish which losses are large, which can be improved by design changes, and which should be managed through operations. When using the PVSyst manual, treat the loss settings as a screen to reflect actual equipment conditions, not as a screen to adjust energy production.

Summarize decision-making materials on the results screen and in the report

The results screens and reports in PVSyst are important interfaces for performing the final verification of a simulation. Here you check annual energy production, monthly generation, performance ratio, breakdown of losses, and an overview of the input conditions. The purpose of understanding the main screens in the PVSyst manual is ultimately to correctly interpret these results and apply them to design decisions and explanatory materials.

The first thing to check on the results screen is not just the annual power generation figure. If the annual generation is higher or lower than expected, you need to identify the reason. From the loss breakdown and monthly trends, determine whether it is influenced by solar irradiance conditions, large shading losses, significant temperature losses, or an impractical system configuration.

Checking monthly power generation is also important. Even if the annual values look fine, generation can drop significantly in certain months. Monthly variations have reasons such as winter shading, snowfall, low solar radiation, high summer temperatures, and the effects of the rainy season. If you find a concerning trend on the results screen, it is important to return to the weather data screen, the shading analysis screen, and the loss settings screen to verify the assumptions.

In report outputs, summarize the conditions and results in a format that a third party can easily verify. The items emphasized differ depending on the purpose—internal reviews, customer presentations, materials for financial institutions, or pre-construction assessments. Rather than presenting only the power generation figures, you must be able to explain which conditions were used for the calculations, what the major losses are, and where the differences between design proposals lie.

When reading the PVSyst manual, understand the results screen not only as the final confirmation screen but also as a screen for validating the validity of the input conditions. A good simulation is not one that simply shows a large energy yield, but one that can explain the link between the assumptions and the results.

Practical workflow for mastering the main screens

Once you understand the main screens of PVSyst, the next step is to organize how to use it within the practical workflow. Even if you know the meaning of each screen, ambiguous task sequencing makes input omissions and missed checks more likely.

In practice, we first organize the project conditions. We clarify the installation location, the conditions of the roof or site, the expected system capacity, the purpose of the study, and the design options to be compared. At this stage, we also consider what level of accuracy is required. While approximate figures may be acceptable for initial proposals, when using them for detailed design or investment decisions it is necessary to verify the basis for the input conditions more carefully.

Next, set the meteorological data and installation conditions. Select meteorological data appropriate for the installation site, and enter the azimuth and tilt angles. If there are multiple surfaces, organize the conditions for each surface and determine which parts can be simplified and which should be configured separately. At this stage, verifying consistency with drawings and on-site information will reduce later revisions.

After that, decide the system configuration. Verify the module and inverter pairing, the string configuration, the capacity ratio, and the input range. Here, it is important not only to check whether PVSyst shows any errors or warnings, but also to consider whether the design is reasonable in terms of constructability and maintainability.

Next, configure shading and losses. In the shading analysis, account for nearby obstructions and inter-row shading, and revise layout proposals as needed. In the loss settings, verify conditions such as temperature, wiring, soiling, and degradation. Running the simulation after these inputs are complete will make the results easier to interpret.

Finally, review the results screen and the report. While checking the annual power generation, monthly power generation, loss breakdown, and performance ratio, verify that there are no anomalies in the input conditions. If unexpected results appear, do not judge based only on the results screen; go back to the previous screen and investigate the cause.

Thus, the main screens of PVSyst do not merely progress in a single direction; you need to go back and forth, returning to the assumptions after reviewing the results. To make the PVSyst manual useful in practice, aim not only to operate each screen in sequence but to understand and be able to verify the relationships between screens.

Common Points of Confusion in the PVSyst Manual

What tends to be confusing when reading the PVSyst manual is less the technical terminology itself than the fact that it’s hard to see how each item affects the results. For example, even the same loss item can be something that can be improved at the design stage, something determined during construction, or something managed during operation. If you don’t keep this distinction in mind, you’ll end up merely entering numbers on the screen.

Another aspect that can easily cause confusion is how to handle initial values. PVSyst includes preset values and values that can be used as general assumptions. However, initial values are not necessarily the optimal values for every project. They are useful as references in preliminary studies, but as project conditions become clearer, there will be items that should be reviewed.

Also, you need to be careful about how you interpret warnings and errors. When a warning appears on the screen, it does not necessarily mean that a calculation cannot be performed; it may indicate that attention is required for the design conditions. Rather than making it your goal to simply clear the warning, it is important to understand why the warning has appeared.

There can be confusion about how to read a report. When figures for power generation are presented, it’s easy to focus only on those numbers, but the report also includes the input conditions and a breakdown of losses. To determine whether the generation is high or low, you must check the underlying assumptions as well. Especially when comparing design proposals, if the conditions are not aligned the comparison will not be valid.

To use the PVSyst manual effectively, it is more useful to organize which part of the main screens each item pertains to rather than trying to memorize unknown items on the spot. If you classify whether they relate to meteorological conditions, system configuration, shading, or losses, they become easier to understand.

Summary

To understand the main screens in the PVSyst manual, it is important not only to know how to operate each screen but also to grasp the overall flow of the simulation. The Project screen organizes the basic conditions of the project, the Meteo data screen confirms the natural conditions for the energy production calculations, the Azimuth and Tilt screen reflects the installation conditions, and the System Settings screen verifies the appropriateness of the capacity and equipment configuration.

On the shadow analysis screen, check the effects of shading caused by the surrounding environment and the layout; on the loss settings screen, configure various losses to better match real equipment conditions. Finally, on the results screen and in the report, verify the annual energy production, monthly trends, and breakdown of losses, ensuring you can explain the link between the input conditions and the results.

What matters in mastering PVSyst is not to focus solely on the energy production figures. By understanding which conditions were entered, under what assumptions the calculations were made, and which losses are affecting the results, you can increase the reliability of the simulation.

When reading the PVSyst manual, you do not need to try to memorize every item at once. First, organize the roles of the main screens from seven perspectives, and in practice it is effective to understand them in the flow of project conditions, meteorological conditions, installation conditions, system configuration, shading, losses, and results verification. By doing this, it becomes easier to switch between PVSyst screens according to purpose, from initial studies to detailed design and report explanations.