Turning desktop plans into construction-ready designs
Design decisions made at the planning stage directly affect a solar power plant’s performance.
Overlooked or unclear initial conditions can have a significant impact on the business plan.
We combine accurate 3D models with detailed layout simulations in PVsyst to evaluate solar power plants under realistic conditions and optimize their layouts, helping our clients develop better-performing plants.
Our services
Terrain analysis / Layout analysis / Energy yield simulation (PVsyst)
Terrain analysis
We create and use 3D terrain models to carry out a range of analyses.
By extracting the ground slope and slope direction in each area, we can identify areas that meet mounting-system installation requirements and predict catchment areas and surface runoff routes during rainfall.
We can also estimate earthwork volumes (cut and fill) by modeling the proposed grading plan and comparing it with the existing terrain.
Our analyses can use a variety of source data, including the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan’s Fundamental Geospatial Data, survey data (photogrammetry and laser surveys), and grading plans.
Layout analysis
We model mounting systems and other structures in 3D to analyze the proposed layout.
By modeling mounting systems, trees, power conditioning systems, inverters and other structures within the project area, we generate shading visualizations for different times of day. Where tree removal is being considered to reduce shading on panels, we can identify the trees with the greatest impact.
We can also calculate reflected sunlight from each mounting system using the angle of incidence and visualize it by season and time of day. Importing the reflected-light data into Google Earth makes it possible to examine its effects on buildings outside the project area.
We work with a wide range of layouts, including terrain-following installations, agrivoltaic mounting systems and solar carports.
PV glare assessment and solar reflection simulation
PVsyst energy yield simulation
We use PVsyst, an internationally established photovoltaic simulation tool, to simulate energy production.
Alongside design conditions such as voltage-drop losses and panel degradation, we import a 3D model of the layout to provide accurate simulations that account for shading from surrounding structures.
We also feed simulation results back into the layout design to propose configurations that can increase energy production.
The resulting reports include annual energy yield, performance ratio (PR), and the contribution of each type of loss.
When this service can help
- Developing a solar power plant with high energy efficiency
- Establishing energy yield in PVsyst with the design conditions included, then using it to optimize PR and production
- Designing a solar power plant that can be built in practice