Solar energy is booming and market studies predict continuous growth of utility scale PV for the coming years. In the development of these PV power plants, bifacial and sun-tracking systems are becoming increasingly popular. Bifacial market share is predicted to grow to 40% of all installations in the next decade. While sun-tracking systems promise levelized cost of energy (LCOE) reductions as well, the combination of both technologies has the potential of reaching record low energy-cost levels.
For investors and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) service companies developing PV power plants, the ability to predict energy yield – and thereby return on investment – of plants at the design phase is crucial. Software tools have limited modelling capabilities for bifacial and sun-tracking systems, resulting in time consuming design iterations and limited accuracy for these new technologies. The simulation software engine developed by imec relies on a bottom-up, physics-based methodology combined with calculation-efficient, ray-tracing algorithms, resulting in an accurate and computation-efficient software tool. By combining imec’s simulation methodology with the knowhow of PVcase in solar site planning and software development, a commercially available solution will be born, offering a streamlined workflow to design PV power plants that includes accurate energy yield at acceptable costs.
A simulation using the new tool starts from the PV technology parameters – e.g. cell and module specs – and takes into account contextual factors such as climate data – light, wind, weather – anticipated plant layout and geometry, surrounding obstacles etc. The prototype software has already outperformed peers in a blind test by a potential launch customer. At this moment, PVcase has transferred imec’s computation core into a user-friendly, web-based environment which enables the use of cloud computing. This gave both parties the confidence to agree on a partnership for further development and commercialization. In the coming period, the exact strategy will be outlined. Interactions with additional partners, potential investors and launch customers are already ongoing. If all goes to plan, the software should be launched in the first half of 2020.
David Trainavicius, CEO of PVcase said: “We are excited about the collaboration with imec. As a leading research institute they give us the guarantee of qualitative technological input and a solid reputation towards future developments. This software will give us a tool to increase our momentum in becoming a leading player in design and engineering software for PV power plants. It will allow us to better serve our existing customers and broaden towards a new client base.”
Jozef Szlufcik, PV department director at imec said: “PVcase is an important partner for us because of their experience in commercial PV simulation software. The recent interactions have proven that we have an ideal match to successfully develop our prototype into a market-ready solution. It’s this kind of innovation and collaboration that shows that Europe still is bringing substantial added value to the globalized PV market.”
