SolarGIS Importing Monthly Data Into PVsyst

Importing

SolarGIS Long-term monthly averages

into PVsyst

How to import SolarGIS data into PVsyst:

Importing SolarGIS Long-term monthly averages into PVsyst

2013 GeoModel Solar page 2 of 19

CONTENT

Importing SolarGIS Long-term monthly averages into PVsyst ...................................................................... 3 Note: Limitations of Long-Term Monthly Averages ................................................................................... 3 Purchasing Data ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Import Into PVsyst 5 Series ..................................................................................................................... 4 Import into PVsyst 6 series ................................................................................................................... 13




IMPORTING SOLARGIS LONG-TERM MONTHLY AVERAGES INTO PVSYST

Purchasing Data

SolarGIS long-term monthly averages (12 values) are available for download in .XLS format via iMaps or pvPlanner. Annual subscription to iMaps/pvPlanner can be purchased online.

In iMaps, once a site is choosen, a click on the placemark (red balloon) allows download of data in XLS format.

Note: Limitations of Long-Term Monthly Averages

PVsyst generates a synthetic hourly time series from long-term monthly averages. However, it generates a distorted representation of time series. Mathematical models for generating synthetic time series have been tuned for few specific sites in temperate climate.

The performance of these models is not validated in other climatic zones such as rain tropics or arid deserts. Hence, the resulting synthetic time series deviates significantly from the actual time series. data are closest to real time series as they include 12 Typical Meteorological Yearfragments of real data that describe a climate more realistically based on the given selection criteria. Energy Yield simulations using TMY data represent better accuracy compared to energy yield simulations done using synthetic time series data.

More information can be found in . our dedicated paper




In pvPlanner, once a system is configurated, data can be downloaded in XLS format.

You can download sample .xls files with long term averages for a few demo sites around the world. The demo sites are listed in bottom left corner within the iMaps and pvPlanner applications.

Import Into PVsyst 5 Series

1. Download XLS file from iMaps or pvPlanner.

2. Run PVsyst, click on button Tools,




then on button Geographical sites.

3. In the new window Choosing a geographical site click on button New.




4. In the next new window Geographical site parameters, start with filling subwindow Geographic

Coordinates .

5. Insert Site name, choose Country and Region. Then, insert Geographical Coordinates as Latitude,

Longitude and Altitude. This information can be found directly in iMaps or pvPlanner XLS file in

Metadata sheet. ADVICE: Insert values only in degrees and minutes and PVsyst will recalculate the

position into decimal values automatically.




6. Once completed, click on Monthly meteo subwindow. Copy long-term averges (12 monthly values)

from column Ghm of pvPlanner XLS file or column GHIm of iMaps XLS file.

Return to PVsyst, click on button Paste which is below column "Global Irrad." in PVsyst. All data

should be pasted automatically at once. Insert the Temperature data in the same way. Type SolarGIS

in Data source line. Click on button "OK".




7. In the new window called Save as ... click on button Save and wait for few seconds.

An updated window "Choosing a geographical site" will be displayed which will indicate that your data

has been saved and are now ready to use. Click on button Close and on button Exit in the remaining

window Tools.




8. SolarGIS long-term averages data file is now available for both Preliminary design and "Project

design".

a. For preliminary design, the data file can be impoted by clicking on Location,

then by specifying Country and choosing it from the pop-down list Site. Once you choose

the data file, by clicking on button OK PVsyst will become ready for the next step input of

system specification.




b. For project design, PVsyst will use these 12 Long-term monthly averages for creation of

sythetic hourly meteo dataset with 8760 values which seeks to imitate fuctions and

characteristics of regular TMY dataset. Please note limits of this approach for yield

assessment of PV projects here (linked to the note on top of this section). Data file with

SolarGIS long-term averages can be accessed by clicking on button "Project"

and then on button Site and Meteo.




In the new window Project: Situation and Meteo, the file can be accessed by specifying

"Country", and choosing from the drop-down list Site. Click on button Generate.

In the new window "Generation of Synthetic Hourly Meteo Values" click on button "Execute

Generation".

In new window, which informs that generation was completed sucessfully, click on "OK". Then

in the active window "Project: Situation and Meteo" click on button "Next". In the new window

"Project's parameter: Albedo for the project's situation" adjust available values if necessary

and click on button "OK". In new window save the project. By clicking on button "Back




(Calculation)" you can continue with setting other parameters of the project.




Import into PVsyst 6 series

1. Save XLS file issued from iMaps or pvPlanner.

2. Run PVsyst, click on button Database,

then on buttonGeographical sites.




3. In the new window Choosing a geographical site click on button New.

4. In the next new window Geographical site parameters, start with filling subwindow Geographic

Coordinates. ADVICE: Do this before inserting monthly long-term averages, in Monthly meteo

subwindow,




5. Insert Site name, choose Country and Region. Then, insert Geographical Coordinates as Latitude,

Longitude and Altitude. This information can be found directly in iMaps or pvPlanner XLS file in

Metadata sheet . ADVICE: Insert values only in degrees and minutes and PVsyst will recalculate the

position into decimal values automatically.

6. Once completed, click on Monthly meteo subwindow and type SolarGIS in Data source line. Copy

Long-term averges (12 monthly values) from column Ghm in pvPlanner or column GHIm in iMaps XLS

file.




Click on button Paste which is below column "Global Irrad." in PVsyst. All data should be pasted

automatically at once. Insert the data on Temperature in the same way. Click on button "OK".

7. In the new window called Save as ... click on button Save and wait for few seconds.




An updated window "Choosing a geographical site" will be displayed which will indicate that your data

has been saved and are now ready to use. Click on button Close and on button Exit in the remaining

window Database.

8. SolarGIS long-term averages data file is now available for both Preliminary design and "Project

design".

a. For preliminary design, the data file can be imported by clicking on Location,




then by specifying Country and choosing it from the pop-down list Site. Once you

highlight/choose the data file, by clicking on button OK PVsyst will become ready for the next

step PV system configuration.

b. In project design, PVsyst will use these 12 long term monthly averages for creation of sythetic

hourly meteo dataset with 8760 values which try to imitate fuctions and characteristics of

regular TMY dataset. Please note limits of this approach for yield assessment of PV projects

here (linked to the note on top of this section). Data file with SolarGIS long-term averages can

be accessed by clicking on button Site and Meteo.




In the new window Project: Situation and Meteo, the file can be accessed by specifying

"Country", and choosing from the pop-down list Site. By clicking on button OK you can

continue with simulations.

If stuck, contact us at [email protected].

Last updated: 18 September 2013

SolarGIS Importing Monthly Data Into PVsyst

Documents

Transcript of SolarGIS Importing Monthly Data Into PVsyst