Modeling Guidance

Series 6 Product
Family
Q3 2021
| Modeling and Energy Prediction Software Tools
PVsyst PlantPredict Helioscope SAM

● Commonly used in PV ● Specifically built for utility- ● Mostly commonly used for ● Mostly commonly used for
industry scale solar PV modeling commercial and academic applications
and design residential PV projects <

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● Limited functionality for ● sam.nrel.gov
utility-scale modeling ● ~75% faster than 5MW
● www.pvsyst.com commonly used PV ● Used for detailed system
prediction software designs
● www.plantpredict.com ● www.helioscope.com

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Reference Documents
| Series 6 Product Family Typical Parameters
Category Parameter Unit Value or Setting
Soiling User-defined monthly soiling loss factor % Site-specific input

LID – Light Induced Degradation % 0.0

LID and Mismatch
Loss when running at fixed voltage % 0.0

% Use 2-parameter Pwat and AM spectral model

Spectral Loss Monthly spectral shift factor6 (typical: 2% loss to 5% gain derived from local
.MET)

Values built into PAN file based on measured

IAM Losses IAM profile [unitless] and validated FS data

Phi Min/Max (min/max tracking angle) Degrees Dependent on chosen structure

Tracking

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Parameters Degrees Dependent on chosen structure
Phi Min/Max (min/max tracking angle)

Year 1 Losses Initial Degradation (year 1) % DC 0

More details on module related parameters can be found in:

“PD-5-390-06: Series 6 Module Energy Prediction Parameters” included in the S6 Energy Prediction Bundle package.
Additional documents and aids for First Solar CdTe module technology modeling can be found in the corresponding Energy Prediction Bundle
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PVsyst
| Summary of First Solar Modelling Adjustments
Disable Backtracking

Use Spectral Correction

Set initial degradation to 0%

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| Set Up Advanced Parameters
Select “Edit advanced parameters”

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IMPORTANT
• For simulation of First Solar Thin Film modules, set defaults to align with First Solar module
technology guidance (see summary on slide #4).
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| Define Project Settings
Monthly or annual albedo input

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For setting the project system parameters Transposition model Adjust your site-specific
for POA calculations design temperature
limits (Manual Input)
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| Define Project Settings - Circumsolar

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“Separate Treatment” is new default for PVSyst 7
“Included in diffuse” is the historic calculation for PVSyst 6 and earlier 10
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| Array Orientation
Fixed-Tilt
Ground Mount
Change collector
bandwidth to
module’s length
(2.024 m) for 1P
structures

Single-axis E-W

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Tracking
Turn back-
tracking OFF
(unchecked)

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| Array Orientation (Single Axis E-W Tracking)
Rows are oriented on a north-south axis, and
the array tracks east-west
• For a “horizontal tracker” where the
panels are flat at noon, set the Axis Tilt to
0
• If each tracker is tilted-up towards the
south at a fixed tilt, set the Axis Tilt
accordingly
• GCR typical for tracker: ~30-50%
• Tracker range dependent on
manufacturer

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• Backtracking OFF for sites where the
diffuse ratio is less than 40%

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 | System Design (Parallel & Series Strings)
Select First Solar CdTe
module. Use the module
denoted with ‘A’ which means
Anti-Reflective Coating

FSLR nameplate already

includes initial degradation,
set to zero

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Modules should be between
5-7. This is based on site
temperature and First Solar’s
Series 6 Open Circuit Voltage
(Voc)
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| System Detailed Losses, continued (Module
Quality - Mismatch
Under Module quality -
Mismatch loses, set the
module efficiency loss
and mismatch power
loss at MPP

Defaults in PVSyst are

dated. Adjust quality
and mismatch to align
with specific project
design

LID loss = 0% for First

© 2021 Copyright First Solar, Inc.

Solar

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 | System Detailed Losses, continued
PVsyst has added the First Solar spectral correction algorithm as a selection in “Detailed Losses”

• Available for PVsyst versions 6.7.6 and later

• Select “Use spectral correction in
simulation” as the default is unchecked
• The correct model coefficients can either be
automatically selected based on the module
technology, or manually chosen.
• Weather file must include relative humidity
or precipitable water

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• Instructions for uploading a weather file with
either precipitable water or relative humidity
are in the Meteo and Site section.

*Refer to Application Note: PD-5-423: Module Characterization Energy Prediction Adjustment for Local Spectrum” for implementing spectral correction in PVsyst releases prior to 6.7.6
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| Near Shading

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Open the ‘Near Shadings’ dialogue To modify or create new shading scheme,
press ‘Construction/Perspective’
*Near shading is unnecessary if using unlimited sheds
(Fixed-tilt utility-scale case)
Select “Linear Shadings” for FS modules
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| Near Shading (Tracking), Continued
Module Length

Choose “Array of trackers”

Frame should show
0 for FS modules,
0.02m to
accommodate
clamping

# of trackers
should be
equivalent to #
of rows

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Row spacing

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| Near Shading (Tracking), Continued
• Orientation – for S6 modules, long side of the
module to be perpendicular to the tracking axis
• Number of modules in X –axis
— 1 for 1-high, 2 for 2-high, and 3 for 3-high
• Number of modules in Y-axis – depends on the
tracker in use
— Iterations of string length (78-modules, 84-,
etc.)

Adjust to Modules
After changing the number of modules in

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Y– axis to adjust tracker outline

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| Simulation Report
Quality check that your report
contains “Spectral Correction”
when modeling First Solar

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Report – for detailed prediction “Waterfall” diagram, excerpt from PVsyst report (Loss
report detailing all system and Breakdown Report)
simulation conditions

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Plant Predict
 | PlantPredict – Site Selection
Create a new project

Input project name/location and save

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(can enter coordinates or navigate via map)

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| PlantPredict – Building a PV Plant Prediction
Create new prediction Name the prediction and select
how to build

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Change statuses for sharing and documenting

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| PlantPredict – Build Block by Block Overview
Follow “Start” prompts to complete each required section in order

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| PlantPredict – Environmental Conditions

• Select a weather file

— (see next slide)
• Albedo and soiling values
may be entered monthly
or annually
• ASHRAE design
temperature station
selected automatically

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based on project location
• Optional horizon scene to
account for far-horizon
shading

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| PlantPredict – Environmental: Select Weather

Select weather
from:
• Add New
Weather
• View existing list
of weather files
• Filter through
files

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| PlantPredict – Adding New Weather File
Lat/Long are prepopulated
based on the project location.
Files may be:
• Uploaded
• Downloaded from a variety of
sources:
— NSRDB PSM
— CPR (SolarAnywhere)*
— Meteonorm*
— SolarGIS*

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— NASA-SSE
• Created from monthly data

*Limited free trial.

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| PlantPredict – Power Plant Builder : Block

Hierarchy to develop a utility scale PV power plant (Block -> Array -> Inverter -> DC Field)
• View capacity summary • Add blocks for each major design of the project
• Clone blocks and edit

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| PlantPredict – Power Plant Builder: Array

• Define number of
repeat arrays
• Set optional MV
transformer
parameters
• Define other
electrical losses

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| PlantPredict – Power Plant Builder: Inverter
• Set DC:AC ratio
• Choose inverter from
library or
• Import/create your
own inverter
• Define inverter output
– Maximum (Set
Point)
– Design Derate
(Power Factor)
• kVA limit from
“Environmental

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Conditions”
• Define number of
repeat inverters –
good for string inverter
packs
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| PlantPredict – Power Plant Builder: DC Field - Table
Select a module to pre-populate
default parameters

Table - Design physical system

• Mounting configuration can
be adjusted
• Define Table configuration

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| PlantPredict – Block Builder: DC Field – Field Losses Objects
Field - Define modules in series and nameplate
power/parallel strings, & adjust terrain

Losses
• Defaults are preloaded, adjust
according to specific project design

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• Also note advanced losses for module
temperature, model parameters and
tracker actuator load
Objects
• Optional object shading parameters
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| PlantPredict – System Details
• Enter availability loss & plant output limit if you have at your site
• Can model up to 6 transformers and transmission lines between power plant and energy meter

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| PlantPredict- Simulation settings
Set model choices for First
Solar:
• Linear Shading
• Spectral model: 2-Param
Pwat and AM
• Use Linear DC Degradation
here for your PAN file.
• Able to model multi-year
predictions, triggers extra
buckets when value is > 0.
• First year degradation
should be off for FS

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modules because of
nameplate rating

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| PlantPredict – Simulation and Results
Click “Run Prediction” once simulation is complete, and then click “View Results” to go to prediction summary

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| PlantPredict – Results and Prediction reports
Multiple report export options:
• PDF, XLSX, Nodal data in XLSX

Various other tools to analyze

prediction results:
• “Overview” tab:
• “Blocks” tab
• “Charts” tab varying time resolution

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from hourly to annually
• “12x24” tab production by hour of day
& month of year

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Helioscope
| Create New Project
Creating a new project
■ Type in Name and address
■ Center pin on site footprint

Select profile:
■ First Solar Series 6 Fixed Tilt
■ Default Ground-mount
■ None Specified

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| Module Selection: First Solar Series 6
Search in Manufacturer for: First Solar
Module Name: FS-6
Always select modules with the label ‘A’ at
the end.
■ This stands for modules with Anti-
Reflective-Coating (ARC) which our the USA
standard
Select the module base on the Wattage of
your interest
■ i.e. 420 W module would be FS-6420
■ i.e. 420 W module with ARC would be FS-
6420A

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■ Use the newer date for each module type if
you haven’t purchased from First Solar yet
■ Favorite your commonly used modules

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| Create New Design – Profile: None or Default Ground-Mount
Creating a new design
■ Type in a Description Name
■ Chose to clone a design if comparing layouts

If the profile is: None or Default Ground-mount

■ Condition set needs to be adjusted
■ Mechanical configurations need to be
adjusted
■ Electrical configurations need to be adjusted

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| Create Design: None or Ground-Mount – Mechanical
Draw the site layout and adjust system design
for ground-mount
■ Adjust GCR or Row spacing
■ Adjust DC:AC ratio and capacity limits
■ Adjust tilt angle and azimuth
Change MECHANICAL values to:
■ Default Orientation: Portrait (Vertical)
■ Frame size: 2 up x 6 wide for 1500V systems
■ Frame size: 2 up x 4 wide for 1000V systems

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| Create Design: None or Ground-Mount – Electrical
Wiring zones need to be created
Select an inverter model based on your
desired system voltage.
1500V string inverters that have built-in PID
mitigation are:
■ Sungrow: SG 250 (250kW), SG 125HV
(125kW), SG 60HV (60kW)
■ Delta: M125HV (125kW), M30A (30 kW)
■ Huawei: 185KTL (185 kW), 60KTL (60 kW)

Add combiner poles at 6

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■ Represents combining 6 strings into a
harness
String sizing default: 6 to 6
■ 6 modules per string
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| Conditions: None or Default Ground-Mount
If the profile is: None or Default Ground-
Mount
■ The condition set will need to be adjusted
■ View the condition set and create a new
set in the project’s tab labeled
‘Conditions’

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| Profile: None or Default Ground-mount
Cell-temp Model: Diffuse
■ Original is Sandia, but PVsyst uses diffuse
The condition set needs to be changed in
Mismatch
■ Irradiance Variation to 3.5%
— Original is 5%
■ Module Binning: 0 to +5%
— Original is -2.5% to 2.5%
Spectral Adjustments: enabled
■ Original should have it enabled

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| Report Outputs – Condition Set
Weather Dataset should vary
Wiring Zone: String Size default should
match
Field Segments should match default:
■ Racking: Fixed Tilt
■ Orientation: Portrait (Vertical)
■ Frame Size: 2 high x 6 wide
Components:
■ Inverter: can be swapped with another that
has the same system voltage
■ Combiners: should be the same or less

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than the strings per harness
■ Strings: match the First Solar Series 6
module pigtails wiring gauges included in
the modules

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| Tracker Design: Default Profile– Mechanical
Start with the First Solar Series 6 Fixed Tilt
– Mechanical
Draw the site layout
■ Adjust DC:AC ratio and capacity limits
■ Adjust tilt angle and azimuth
Adjust system design
■ Change MECHANICAL values to:
— Frame size: 1 up x 6 wide
— Add Frame Spacing: 0.01ft
— Adjust GCR or Row spacing

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■ Go to Racking and select: Single-axis
Trackers (N/S axis)
■ Consider your site’s setback

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| Tracker Design: Spacing, Tracking Angles, Algorithms
Row spacing is calculated as distances
from edges of modules in one row to the
next
■ I.E. 33% GCR is ~13.37 ft. module to
module edge, and 19.97 ft. post to post.
Helioscope does not have tracking angle
selection at this time
■ Typical ranges -52/+52 up to -60/+60
Helioscope does not have algorithm
options at this time
■ I,E, true-tracking versus backtracking

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| Specific Designs with First Solar’s Series 6 Modules
System Structure Modules Modules Modules in Suggested Harness
Structure Provider
Voltage Type High Wide Series (per string) (Combiner Poles)
Tier 1 Fixed Tilt
1000 Fixed 2 12 4 6
Providers
Tier 1 Fixed Tilt
1500 Fixed 2 18 6 8
Providers
Ganged Trackers
1500 Tracker 1 84 6 7
(Ex: Array Tech)
Individually Driven
Trackers 1500 Tracker 1 84 6 7
(ex: NexTracker)
Individually Driven

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Trackers 1500 Tracker 2 36 6 6
(ex: Soltec)

Consider your DC System Voltage

Please reach out to your specific structure (racking) provider for details and before purchasing
This list is to be used as a reference for indicative designs as of 3rd Quarter 2020
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 © 2021 Copyright First Solar, Inc.
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