PV Lighthouse, a valuable resource for photovoltaic engineers and scientists, has received $1.97 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) through the Advancing Renewables Program.
Advanced Simulation Engine
This funding will support the continued development of SunSolve Yield, recognized as the world’s most advanced simulation engine for enhancing yield forecasting in utility-scale solar projects.
Collaboration and Impact
SunSolve Yield was initially created in 2019 in collaboration with Cypress Creek Renewables through a research project funded by the United States Department of Energy.
It has proven instrumental in accurately predicting solar tracker performance, as demonstrated in studies led by various industry leaders including Array Technologies, CFV Labs, Cypress Creek, PVEL, and FTC Solar.
Digital Twin Technology
SunSolve Yield provides a digital twin of the structures and photovoltaic (PV) modules employed in utility-scale solar projects.
This innovative tool enables developers to quickly address design questions that previously required months of investigation and days of computation, thus accelerating the delivery of utility-scale projects.
Detailed 3D Modeling
Developers can utilize SunSolve Yield to create precise 3D models that accurately represent the system’s structural components and PV modules.
This allows for the determination of annual yield for solar projects and the exploration of the impact of varying weather conditions, locations, or mounting structures.
Enhanced Confidence in Forecasts
The high level of detail offered by the SunSolve Yield model significantly increases developer confidence in their yield forecasts, a critical factor for internal assessments and securing project financing.
With the rising costs of financing utility-scale solar projects due to increased global interest rates, financiers demand more accurate and sophisticated forecasts to mitigate financing costs.
Founder’s Perspective
Keith McIntosh, Founder and CEO of PV Lighthouse and SunSolve, emphasized the previous lack of accurate modeling solutions for developers, necessitating the estimation of loss factors in yield forecasts.
SunSolve now enables developers to rapidly calculate these factors, providing greater confidence in forecasts, which is a key advantage when negotiating project financing.
Physics-Based Optical Engine
SunSolve Yield was developed from SunSolve Power, leveraging the same physics-based optical engine used by leading module manufacturers like LONGi and Qcells to design and optimize high-performing solar cells and modules.
It is also utilized by global solar tracker manufacturers such as Nevados and Nextracker to develop intelligent solar tracking solutions for large-scale utility solar projects.
ARENA Investment and Future Plans
McIntosh highlighted ARENA’s investment as an endorsement of SunSolve’s innovation and value to the global solar industry. The funding will enable PV Lighthouse to accelerate SunSolve Yield development by hiring additional researchers and programmers.