PLANTPREDICT: SOLAR PERFORMANCE MODELING MADE SIMPLE

PLANTPREDICT INTRODUCTION

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“Solar Performance

Modeling

Made Simple”

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WHY PLANTPREDICT?

• Structured for utility scale

• Easy web access

• Straightforward UI transparent modeling

• Minimal training required

• Easily comparable and shareable predictions

• Faster updates with 2 week update cycle

• API automation capability

• Industry supported (in progress)

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TECHNICAL FEATURES

• Advanced vs. simple settings

• Simple powerplant builder with quick edit feature

• Sub-hourly optionality

• Multi-year capability

• Choice of 3 diffuse decomposition models

• Integrated spectral model

• Non-linear temperature coefficient

• Built-in record management

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FUTURE FEATURES

• Battery storage

• POA input

• Tilted tracker geometry

• Slope shading

• One-diode equation solver

• And much more!

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THE POWER OF CLOUD HOSTED SOFTWARE

• Security

— Record retention security by getting it off the desktop

— Cloud based security around your data

• Scalability

— Ability to handle high demand

• Flexibility

— Use the API services without the UX/UI

– Set up your own optimization engine

— Empower forecasting

— Automated evaluation of model vs. actual comparisons

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AN INDUSTRY SUPPORTED SOFTWARE

Building Transparency

1. Create community consensus on the right algorithms for PV technology

2. Maintain full transparency on core calculations

3. PV community to help define and vote on the most important changes

Building Confidence

Technical white paper on accuracy of energy assessments compared to other industry tools

Benchmarked against 1GW of installed utility scale plants

Currently working with the IE community on a technical review

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PREDICTION ACCURACY AT THE ENERGY METER

Underpredicted energy by 0.11% with standard deviation of 1.97% across 20+ sites

Analyzed the equivalent of:

• 1 GW

• 50 system-years

• 438,000 system-hours

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PLANTPREDICT SNAPSHOT

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WEATHER FILE CREATION

• Import existing weather file of any length, time step, and format

• Use PlantPredict template to paste data

• Download weather data from several vendors (limited use)

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WEATHER FILE MANAGEMENT

• Map view of shared weather files within company

• “Summary” view of weather details

• Easily compare up to 6 weather files

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WEATHER FILE COMPARISON

• Compare nearby weather files

• Table summary statistics

• Graphical view, including clear sky

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INVERTER LIBRARY

Large database of inverters

• Add limitless voltage/efficiency curves

• Add limitless temperature/elevation derate curves

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INVERTER LIBRARY

Large database of inverters

• Add limitless voltage/efficiency curves

• Add limitless temperature/elevation derate curves

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MODULE LIBRARY

• Large database of modules – not just First Solar!

• Non-linear temperature coefficient

• Spectral model coefficients

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POWER PLANT BUILDER

Easily create complex designs using the powerplant builder

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POWER PLANT BUILDER

Easily change complex designs using the quick edit feature of the power plant builder

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RESULTS

• Easily view and compare results – block by block or aggregate

• Summary report

• 8760 output summary

• Inputs and assumptions summary

• Detailed nodal data

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RESOURCE CENTER

Resource center includes:

• User manual

• Complete algorithm document

• Update/version information

• Contact dialogue

“Need help?” pop-ups include:

• Step by step information

• Video guide