Design Optimization using the Latest

Features in HelioScope
October 2016

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Agenda

1. Latest Features in HelioScope

2. Implications for Design Optimization
3. HelioScope Development Roadmap

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About Folsom Labs & HelioScope
• Solar-focused software company
• Based in San Francisco, CA
• Flagship product is HelioScope
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• Cloud-based sales & design software
• Integrates system design and
performance modeling
• Similar math to PVsyst (PAN file
support, irradiance calculations, etc.)
• Used for preliminary layouts, value-
engineering, and bankable energy yield
calculations
• Used on projects of all sizes
(residential, commercial, utility)
• 7,000 Users worldwide
 1. Latest Features in HelioScope

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The Latest Features in HelioScope

Performance Modeling Design Environment

• Spectral adjustment & weather datasets • Stringing for dual-MPPT inverters
• Sub-hourly calculations • Automatic stringing based on ASHRAE
temperatures
• More robust AC circuit calculations
Engineering Process
• 3D mode & improved visualization
• Team management
• New layout parameters:
• Design profiles
– East-West Racking
• Permit generator (SLD, site plan) – Stackable Field Segments
• Document center – Frame Spacing
– Module Alignment Options

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The Latest Features in HelioScope

Performance Modeling Design Environment

• Spectral adjustment & weather datasets • Stringing for dual-MPPT inverters
• Sub-hourly calculations • Automatic stringing based on ASHRAE
temperatures
• More robust AC circuit calculations
Engineering Process
• 3D mode & improved visualization
• Team management
• New layout parameters:
• Design profiles
– East-West Racking
• Permit generator (SLD, site plan) – Stackable Field Segments
• Document center – Frame Spacing
– Module Alignment Options

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Spectral Adjustment

• First Solar Spectral Adjustment (Lee, M. et al, PVSC 2015):

−0.21
𝑀 ≈ 1.266 − 0.091𝑒 1.199 ∙ (𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑡+0.5)
𝑀 = spectral shift
𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑡 = precipitable water

• Default for CdTe modules

• Weather Data - the biggest barrier

– Only 7% of >25k datasets in HelioScope contain 𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑡
– 𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑡 calculated from Relative Humidity or Dew Point Temp for 87% of datasets
– Rewrote parsers for all weather data sources

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Automatic Stringing based on ASHRAE Temperatures

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3D Mode, Stacking Field Segments, and East-West Racking

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LiDAR (feature-gated)

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 2. Implications for Design Optimization

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Less Reliance on Rules of Thumb

Example: Shade Tolerance

• Rule: winter solstice shade
exclusions (10am-2pm) are
needed for shade setbacks
• Advantages:
– Adjusts for location
– Fairly straightforward to
calculate
• Disadvantage:
– not all hours are created equal

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Less Reliance on Rules of Thumb

Shade losses
calculated based on
hourly weather file
and shade patterns Heatmap of annual
shade losses for
each module

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More Optimization, Across More Complex Designs

10am to 15% Shade 10% Shade 5% Shade

2pm Threshold Threshold Threshold

Shade (%) 2.7% 2.7% 3.2% 4.4%

Power (kW) 96.3 98.3 108.8 122.4 +27%
Yield (kWh/kWp) 1,684 1,674 1,668 1,647 -3%
Energy (MWh/year) 162 165 181 201 +24%

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Performance Modeling using LiDAR

Improved Shade
Obstruction Modeling

Terrain Modeling

Image curtesy of iq.intel.com

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 3. Product Roadmap

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Product Roadmap

• Expand LiDAR
• Optimization incorporating project financials & customer proposals
• Tracker modeling
• Advanced inverter modeling (current limiting, temperature dependency)
• Sub-module MPPT
• NSRDB and proprietary weather sources
• Spectral adjustment for non-CdTe modules

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 Thank you!

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Questions and Comments?

Teresa W. Zhang, PhD

teresa.zhang@folsomlabs.com

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Additional Resources
http://www.folsomlabs.com/resources

Voltage Drop
Shading
Analysis
Optimization
Binning
Cost/Benefit String Inverter
Energy Yield Wiring
Analysis Optimization
Case Study

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Dew point to Relative Humidity to Precipitable Water

• Dew Point to Relative Humidity • Relative Humidity to Precipitable

Meteonorm Global Meteorological Water
Database, “Handbook part II: Theory, Keogh 2011:
Version 7.1”, July 2015:

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