Panel Placement & Inverter Selection
The page is used to design and simulate a complete PV system, including panel placement on the 3D roof model, inverter selection, shading and irradiance analysis, and system performance validation.
Purpose of This Page
This page is the continuation of the project creation flow and focuses on PV system design and simulation.
After defining the project location and creating a 3D roof model, the technical design can be finalized by converting roof surfaces into an operational PV system. Decisions made here, such as panel placement, inverter selection, and shading analysis, directly affect system capacity, energy production, and financial feasibility.
What You Can Do Here
On this page, you can:
Select PV modules from the system’s product database
Define setback and placement rules
Place panels manually or automatically on roof faces
Configure panel orientation, rotation, spacing, tilt, and grouping
Select inverters manually or use automatic inverter suggestions
Simulate the system to calculate production results
Analyze shading and solar irradiance on both roof faces and individual panels
Visualize sun position and evaluate seasonal solar exposure using Sun Path
Export the PV layout as a DXF file for CAD workflows
Download hourly simulation results for detailed analysis
Panel Placement on the 3D Roof Model
Solar panels are placed directly on the 3D roof model created in the Roof Drawing step.
Each roof face is treated as an independent surface with its own. When a roof face is selected, detailed technical information is displayed on the right panel.
Roof Face Interaction
Roof faces can be selected either before or after placing panels.
Click on a roof face to see the face details
Panels automatically align with the selected roof face’s slope and orientation
Panels placed on one roof face do not affect other faces
This allows different roof faces within the same project to be designed and evaluated separately.
Available Characteristic Parameters
Slope: Inclination of the selected roof face
Azimuth: Orientation of the roof face
Area: Total usable surface area
Panel Count: Number of panels placed on that face
Panel Coverage: Percentage of roof area covered by panels
These values directly affect shading analysis, irradiance calculations, and simulation results.
Panel Placement Modes
After selecting a PV panel, placement can be done using two different methods.
Fill Roof Face
The Fill Roof Face mode automatically places panels across the selected roof face.
Automatically fills the selected roof face with panels
Uses defined panel settings such as orientation, spacing, grouping, and tilt automatically for each one
The system calculates the maximum number of panels that can fit
Suitable for fast, uniform, and large-scale layouts
This mode is recommended for standard residential, commercial, and industrial designs.
Manual Placement
Manual placement allows precise control over individual panel positions.
Panels can be placed one by one
Drag-to-place interaction is supported
Placement respects all defined panel settings; however, every panel can have different settings like orientation, spacing, grouping, and tilt.
Manual placement is useful for:
Irregular roof shapes
Avoiding obstacles
Fine-tuning layouts for aesthetics or shading optimization
Panel Placement Settings
Panel behavior and layout are controlled from the placement settings panel.
Available Settings
Orientation: Panel alignment direction
Tilt Angle: Custom tilt relative to the roof surface (useful for flat roofs)
Rotation Angle: Fine rotation adjustment
Horizontal Spacing: Distance between panels placed side by side
Vertical Spacing: Distance between panels placed above or below each other
Racking Type: Mounting structure type, which may affect spacing and tilt constraints
These settings apply to both manual placement and automatic fill operations.
Panel Bundling, Duplication, and Rearrangement
After panels are placed on roof faces, solarVis allows you to manage them as groups instead of individual modules. This enables fast replication of layouts and efficient adjustments across large or repetitive roof areas.
Bundling Panels
Panels placed on a roof face can be bundled into a single selectable group.
Select multiple panels on a roof face
Create a bundled panel group
Treat the bundle as a single object
Bundled panels remain linked and move together while preserving spacing and alignment.
This is especially useful for agricultural projects, as it allows you to adjust the tilt and orientation of panels simultaneously.
Arrange the panels into a bundled group in the solarVis account, as shown in the image below.
Place the bundled panel groups across the agricultural area, following the design created in solarVis.
Duplicating Panel Groups
Bundled panel groups can be duplicated and reused across the roof.
Copy an existing panel bundle
Place it on another roof face or location
Maintain the same layout and spacing
This is especially useful for industrial and commercial roofs with repeating geometry.
Editing Panel Properties After Placement
Panel orientation and geometry settings can be modified even after placement.
The following properties can be updated for selected panels or panel groups:
Orientation
Tilt angle
Rotation angle
Changes are applied instantly to the selected panels or bundles and reflected in production calculations.
Panel Grouping
When panel grouping is enabled:
Panels are placed as grouped frames rather than single units
Horizontal and vertical panel counts per group can be defined
Frame spacing can be customized independently
Grouping rules apply to both Fill Roof Face and Manual Placement modes
Panel grouping is commonly used for:
Large flat-roof installations
Standardized mounting structures
Shading Analysis & Solar Irradiance
When shading analysis is enabled, roof faces and panels are color-coded based on annual average solar irradiance.
The analysis takes into account the sun array angle and shading effects from surrounding buildings, trees, and other obstacles on the roof
Results are calculated on a yearly average basis
Both the roof-point and panel average performance can be analyzed
Visual Heatmap
Roof surfaces and panels are displayed using a color gradient:
Dark / Red tones: Lower solar performance or higher shading impact
Orange tones: Medium solar performance
Yellow tones: High solar irradiance and optimal areas
This heatmap helps quickly identify suitable areas for panel placement.
Panel colors may change based on their angle and orientation, as these directly affect the irradiance they receive.
Inspector Popup Window
When moving the cursor over a roof face or panel, the inspector popup window updates dynamically.
Values change instantly based on the cursor position
Enables detailed, point-based analysis across the roof and panels
Displayed metrics include:
Irradiance - Solar energy received per unit area, measured in kWh/m²/yr.
Solar Access (%) - Percentage of irradiance reaching the roof after shading losses.
TOF (Tilt and Orientation Factor) - How well the panel's tilt and orientation compare to the optimal angle.
TSRF (Total Solar Resource Fraction) - Overall solar resource available, factoring in both shading and TOF.
Users can switch between:
Solar Access view
Shows the percentage of annual sunlight per unit area on the roof can access.
Irradiance view
Displays the total solar radiation (kWh/m²/year) received per unit area
Time-Based Analysis
The Inspector panel also provides a monthly distribution chart:
Shows how irradiance or solar access changes throughout the year
Helps understand seasonal production patterns
Supports more accurate system evaluation before simulation
Recalculation Warning
When there is any change in PV module placement, the system will display:
"Irradiance has changed and needs recalculation."
This indicates that changes to panel placement or configuration have affected the irradiance results.
Users should re-run the simulation to ensure accurate performance outputs.
This analysis allows users to compare different roof faces and panels and validate placement decisions with real performance data.
Sun Path
The Sun Path view helps users understand how the sun moves around the project area during different times of the hour, day, and month.
This view is used to visually evaluate solar exposure conditions on the roof and better understand how seasonal and hourly sun position affects the project.
Displays the sun trajectory around the project model
Shows the sun position for a selected hour, day, and month
Helps users visually interpret solar access before or during system design
Supports a better understanding of shading behavior across different periods
Sun Path is a visual analysis tool. It helps interpret solar exposure conditions, but final production and shading impacts should still be validated through system simulation and irradiance analysis.
How It Works
The Sun Path tool creates a visual path around the project area and places the sun according to the selected date and time.
Users can:
Start or pause the sun path animation
Select a specific hour
Change the day
Change the month
As these values are updated, the sun position changes accordingly in the 3D scene.
This helps users check how solar exposure changes throughout the year and supports more informed panel placement decisions.
Advanced Settings
Advanced Settings allow you to fine-tune how system performance and production are calculated.
These settings affect simulation accuracy, loss assumptions, and data sources used in energy calculations.
Advanced Settings are divided into two sections:
Loss Calculations
System Preferences
You can access this panel from the PV design screen at any time. Changes apply to the current design version only.
Advanced Settings are optional. If not modified, solarVis uses default industry standard values.
Loss Calculations
Loss Calculations define system-level losses that reduce theoretical production to realistic output values.
Each parameter is expressed as a percentage and applied during simulation.
Available Loss Parameters
Shading: Losses from partial or indirect shading
Soiling: Losses caused by dirt or dust on panels
Snow: Losses due to snow covering panels
Environmental conditions: Losses from humidity or wind
Light-induced degradation: Initial performance loss after a certain time of installation
DC connections: Losses at DC connection points, like connectors
DC wiring: Losses caused by the strength in cables connecting panels to the inverter or other components
AC wiring: Energy losses in AC wiring from the inverter to the grid
These values directly impact annual energy production and financial outputs.
Reset to Default
Resets all loss parameters to solarVis default values.
System Preferences
System Preferences define the data sources and assumptions used for production simulation.
These settings control how solar resource data and weather information are selected for calculations.
Available System Preferences
Production source (PVGIS, PVWatts)
Simulation year
Weather data source
By default, solarVis uses PVGIS-based datasets.
Changes to system preferences immediately affect simulation results.
Setback Configuration
Setback rules define restricted areas near roof edges where panels cannot be placed.
Prevents panel placement close to the roof boundaries
Applied consistently across all placement modes
Helps ensure installation safety and regulatory compliance
Setbacks help ensure:
Installation safety
Maintenance access
Compliance with local regulations and fire codes
Inverter Selection
After panel placement, an inverter should be selected to complete the system design.
Manual Inverter Selection
Inverters can be selected directly from the database
Full control over inverter brand, model, and specifications
Suitable for custom or advanced system designs
Auto Suggest System
The system can automatically suggest inverter configurations based on production analysis.
Analyzes installed project DC capacity and production behavior
Suggests optimized inverter configurations
Provides alternative inverter systems
Users can select one of the suggested options or override them manually
This feature helps ensure proper sizing and system efficiency.
Inverter Limiting
Inverter output power can be limited manually
Useful for grid constraints or design optimization
🧷 For supporting battery integration;
On-Grid projects: Hybrid inverters can be used.
Off-Grid projects: Off-grid or hybrid inverters can be used.
Zero Injection projects: Off-grid or hybrid inverters can be used.
Please note:
You can use an on-grid inverter in an on-grid or a zero injection project; however, in this case, battery integration is not supported.
Downloads
After completing the PV design, you can export the current layout and simulation data from the Downloads menu on the page.
This allows you to take both the technical solar design and system performance results into external tools for further use, including CAD workflows and detailed analysis.
Available export options:
Export DXF
Download Hourly Simulation
Export DXF
This export makes it possible to take the technical solar design into external CAD software for review, coordination, and installation planning.
The exported DXF file is compatible with common CAD tools such as AutoCAD, DraftSight, and similar software.
To export a DXF file:
Open the Downloads menu
Click Export DXF
Review the drawing in the CAD Viewer
Optionally add measurements or adjust the view
Click Download DXF
What Gets Exported
The DXF file includes the current PV design and is organized into separate layers so each drawing element can be reviewed independently.
Available layers include:
ROOF_LAYOUT: Roof edges, vertices, and roof face information (White)
PANELS: PV module positions with tilt & rotation (Cyan)
STRINGS: Electrical wiring paths between panels (Magenta)
STRING_NODES: Panel center markers and string labels (Magenta)
INVERTERS: Inverter locations with AC/DC symbols (Blue)
SETBACKS: Restricted offset areas from roof edges (Orange)
OBSTACLES: Roof obstructions such as chimneys or HVAC units (Red)
DORMERS: Roof protrusions (Green)
ELEVATIONS: Height labels in metric or imperial units
CAD Viewer
Before downloading the DXF file, solarVis opens a built-in CAD Viewer where the drawing can be reviewed and annotated.
This allows users to inspect the exported design and optionally add dimensions before downloading the final file.
Available Viewer Tools
The CAD Viewer includes the following tools:
Length tool for measuring distances between two points
Snap system for accurate measurement placement using endpoint, midpoint, and perpendicular snapping
Layer visibility toggle layers on/off
Unit toggle for switching between metric (m) and imperial (ft)
Undo / Redo / Clear all controls for managing annotations
Zoom and pan scroll to zoom, right-click drag to pan
Monochrome mode for simplified single color viewing
Any measurements added in the CAD Viewer are included in the downloaded DXF file.
Export Details
The DXF export reflects the current technical design as configured in the project.
Panels are exported in flattened 3D with tilt and rotation written on the top left of the panel if it is non-zero
Strings follow actual routed paths between panel centers, with circle markers and labels
Inverters are shown with AC and DC symbols
Setbacks are shown with outline and hatched fill
Elevation labels are converted automatically based on the selected unit system
File names are automatically transliterated for cross-platform compatibility
The DXF export is useful for field review, electrical engineering checks, installation planning, and sharing technical layouts with external stakeholders.
Download Hourly Simulation
The Download Hourly Simulation option allows you to export detailed system performance data as an XLSX file.
This export provides hour-by-hour production results based on the current system design and simulation settings.
To download the hourly simulation file:
Open the Downloads menu
Click Download Hourly Simulation
What Gets Exported
The XLSX file includes detailed time-series simulation data at an hourly resolution, based on the current system design and configuration.
Each row represents a specific timestamp and provides both production and system behavior metrics.
Typical data includes:
Timestamp data for each simulation hour
Hourly consumption values
Hourly production values at the system level
Energy imported from the grid and energy exported to the grid
Battery Charging Power, Battery State of Charge, and Battery Loss values if a battery is applicable
Base Consumption, Heat Pump Consumption, and Total Consumption values if a heat pump is applicable
The dataset reflects how the designed system performs across different hours of the year, capturing variations caused by sun position, shading conditions, and system configuration.
This file can be used for:
Detailed performance analysis at the hourly level
Validation of system design assumptions
Financial modeling based on realistic production curves
Consumption and production matching analysis
Battery & Heat Pump and self-consumption optimization studies
The export features are useful for engineering validation, installation planning, and sharing both technical layouts and performance data with external stakeholders.
System Simulation
After completing panel placement, inverter selection, and shading analysis, click Simulate System.
Simulation results include:
Installed system capacity (kWp)
Total panel count
Estimated annual energy production (kWh)
Impact of orientation, shading, and inverter configuration
Detailed outputs can be reviewed via Simulation Result Graphs.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Canvas Navigation
Mouse Wheel Up: Zoom in
Mouse Wheel Down: Zoom out
Design Tools
Esc: Edit mode
C: Create mode
Ctrl (hold): Multiselect mode
Actions
Ctrl + Z: Undo
Ctrl + Shift + Z: Redo
Related Pages
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