Solar-PV model using Pvwattsv8 module in PySAM

Solar-PV model using Pvwattsv8 module in PySAM#

This model uses the Pvwattsv8 module available in PySAM to simulate the performance of a solar-PV system.

To use this model, specify "pysam_solar_plant_performance" as the performance model. An example of how this may look in the tech_config file is shown below and details on the performance parameter inputs can be found here.

technologies:
    pv:
        performance_model: "pysam_solar_plant_performance"
        model_inputs:
            performance_parameters:
                pv_capacity_kWdc: 1000.0
                dc_ac_ratio: 1.3
                create_model_from: "new" #"options are "default" and "new"
                tilt: #panel tilt angle to use if tilt_angle_func is "none"
                tilt_angle_func: "lat-func" #options are "lat-func", "lat", "none"
                config_name: #only used if create_model_from is "default"
                pysam_options: #user specified pysam inputs
                    SystemDesign:
                        array_type: 2
                        azimuth: 180
                        losses: 10.0
                    SolarResource:
                    Lifetime:
                    AdjustmentFactors:

Performance Parameters#

  • pv_capacity_kWdc (required): capacity of the PV system in kW-DC

  • dc_ac_ratio: the ratio of DC capacity to AC capacity, equal to pv_capacity_kWdc/pv_capacity_kWac is used to calculate the PV capacity in kW-AC and is equivalent as the inverter rated power. An inverter is used in PV systems to convert DC power (output from panels) to AC power (input to AC microgrid). The PV capacity in kW-AC is pv_capacity_kWdc/dc_ac_ratio. A general default dc_ac_ratio is between 1.2 and 1.3. This is required if dc_ac_ratio is not either loaded from a default Pvwattsv8 config OR not included in the pysam_options dictionary under the SystemDesign group.

\[ \text{PV Capacity (kW-AC)} = \frac{\text{PV Capacity (kW-DC)}}{\text{dc_ac_ratio}} \]

  • tilt (optional): tilt angle of the PV panel (in degrees) used if tilt_angle_func is "none". Must be between 0 and 90.

  • tilt_angle_func (optional): options are "none", "lat-func" or "lat" and defaults to "none".

    • "none": use the tilt angle value specified in 'tilt' input (if provided). If tilt is not provided, use the default value from the Pvwattsv8 module or config.

    • "lat": set the panel tilt angle equal to the latitude of the site.

    • "lat-func": calculate the tilt angle based on the latitude of the site using the equation below:

      \[\begin{split} \theta = \begin{cases} \text{lat} \cdot 0.87 & \text{if } \text{lat} \leq 25^\circ \\ 3.1 + \text{lat} \cdot 0.76 & \text{if } 25^\circ < \text{lat} \leq 50^\circ \\ \text{lat} & \text{if } 50^\circ < \text{lat} \\ \end{cases} \end{split}\]

  • create_model_from: this can either be set to "new" or "default" and defaults to "new". If create_model_from is "new", the PV model is initialized using Pvwattsv8.new() and populated with parameters specified in pysam_options. If create_model_from is "default", the PV model is initialized using Pvwattsv8.default(config_name) (config_name is also an input parameter) then updated with parameters specified in pysam_options.

  • config_name: this is only used if create_model_from is "default". The default value for this is "PVWattsSingleOwner". The available options and their default parameters are listed below:

  • pysam_options (dict): The top-level keys correspond to the Groups available in the Pvwattsv8 module. The next level is the individual attributes a user could set and a full list is available through the PySAM documentation of Pvwattsv8 module. The Groups that users may want to specify specific options for are the:

SystemDesign group#

Note

Do not include the system_capacity parameter of the SystemDesign group. The system capacity should be set in the performance parameters with the variable pv_capacity_kWdc.

Some common design parameters that a user may want to specify within the SystemDesign Group are:

  • array_type (int): Required if create_model_from = 'new'.

    • 0: fixed open rack

    • 1: fixed roof mount

    • 2: 1-axis tracking

    • 3: 1-axis backtracking

    • 4: 2-axis tracking

  • azimuth (float): Angle representing the direction that the panels are facing. Required if array_type<4 and create_model_from = 'new'.

    • East: 90

    • South: 180 (default for most Pvwattsv8 configurations)

    • West: 270

    • North: 360

  • bifaciality (float): bifaciliaty factor of the panel in the range (0, 0.85). Defaults to 0.0.

  • gcr (float): ground coverage ratio in the range (0.01, 0.99). Defaults to 0.0

  • inv_eff (float): Inverter efficiency in percent in the range (90, 99.5). Linear power conversion loss from DC to AC. Defaults to 96.

  • losses (float): DC power losses as a percent in range (-5, 99.0). Defaults to 14.0757 in most Pvwattsv8 configurations. Required if create_model_from = 'new'.

  • module_type (int):

    • 0: standard, approximate efficiency of 19%

    • 1: premium, approximate efficiency of 21%

    • 2: thin film, approximate efficiency of 18%

  • rotlim (float): rotational limit of panel in degrees (if tracking array type) in the range (0.0, 270.0). Defaults to 45.

  • tilt (float | None): Panel tilt angle in the range (0.0, 90.0). Required if array_type<4 and create_model_from = 'new'.

    • 0: panel is horizontal

    • 90: panel is vertical

    Note

    Do not specify tilt angle in the SystemDesign Group parameters if the following parameters are specified in the performance_parameters:

    • tilt_angle_func is set to either "lat" or "lat-func"

    • tilt_angle_func is set to "none" and tilt is specified under the performance parameters.

SolarResource group#

Solar resource data is downloaded from the National Solar Resource Database and input as the solar_resource_data variable in the Pvwattsv8 SolarResource Group. Some other common resource parameters that a user may want to specify within the SolarResource Group are:

  • use_wf_albedo (bool): if True, use albedo from weather file (if valid). If False, use value for albedo_default. Defaults to True.

  • albedo_default (float). Value in range (0,1) to use as the albedo if albedo value in weather file is invalid OR if use_wf_albedo is set to False.

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