<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Overview > Release notes > Differences V5 to V6 > Historical evolution of the software

Of course any newly discovered error (and errors reported by the users) are repaired for each new version.

Also this contextual "Help" system is continuously updated, either concerning new developments, or according to the numerous questions of users.

 

The up-to-date list of release notes is available on the PVsyst website : https://www.pvsyst.com/release-notes/

 

In Version 6.0   (02/02/2013, Beta release)

The main novelties in the version 6.0 are listed in a separate topic.

Some modifications  may  produce different results than with the version 5. These modifications and their effects are listed here.

 

In Version 5.63 (21.12.2012) :

In Version 5.62 (27.11.2012) :

In Version 5.61 (12.11.2012) :

In Version 5.60 (05.10.2012) :

In Version 5.59 (18.07.2012) :

In Version 5.58 (16.07.2012) :

       update for reading by  Firefox, Chrome, Explorer

In Version 5.57 (29.05.2012) :

In Version 5.56 (16.04.2012) :

In Version 5.55 (21.02.2012) :

In  Version 5.54 (17.01.2012) :

In Version 5.53.2 (16.11.2011) :

In Version 5.53.1 (03.10.2011) :

In Version 5.52 (29.08.2011) :

In Version 5.51 (25.07.2011) :

In Version 5.51 (22.07.2011) :

In Version 5.50 (06.07.2011) :

Development and distribution passing from the University of Geneva to PVsyst SA.

In Version 5.42 (25.05.2011) :

In Version 5.41 (04.05.2011) :

In Version 5.40 (01.03.2011) :

1.  Import of meteo data ASCII files. Bugfixes for some specific files.

7. Import / Export of all database elements modified by the user.

Version 5.31 (15.12.2010) :

Version 5.3 (November 30th, 2010) :

Version 5.21 (September 3rd, 2010 ):

Version 5.20 (August 3rd, 2010) :

Version 5.14 (June 30th, 2010) :

Version 5.13 (June 25th, 2010) :

Version 5.12 (May 25th, 2010) :

Version 5.11 (April 27th, 2010) :

Version 5.11 (April 16th, 2010) :

Version 5.1 (March 19th, 2010) :

Version 5.06 (January 26th, 2010) :

Version 5.05 (December 18th, 2009) :

Version 5.04 (November 24th, 2009) :

Version 5.03 (November 2009, 10th) :

Version 5.02 (October 2009, 26th) :

Version 5.01 (October 2009, 12th) :

Version 5.0 (September 2009) :

This is a major modernization of the software. Many internal mechanisms have been improved since more than 2 years of development  (in parallel to version 4.xx updates). Therefore there may be bugs which have not been detected during the development. Please be so kind as to report them carefully to the authors.

You have now the possibility of specifying either the nominal power, or the available area as starting point.

The software indicates the required ranges for the number of modules in series and in parallel.

A new powerful window shows all the constraints when sizing a field, i.e.

The voltages of the operating array with respect to the inverter's specifications,

Histogram of the waited power production of the array, compared to the inverter's nominal power.

Estimation of the overload losses (and visualization of their effect on the histogram).

This tool allows to determine precisely the ratio between array and inverter Pnom, and evaluates the associated losses.

 

Version 4.37 (June 2009) :

Version 4.36 (April 2009) :

=> Recreated files in the database for all CdTe modules, including recombination term according to our recent measurements at the University of Geneva.

Version 4.35 (March 2009) :

 Bug in some new files of Meteonorm V 6.0  (containing leap years)

 Bug in some TMY3 files (date recognition)

2. CdTe PV modules: according to our detailed measurements:  possibility of defining Recombination Losses.

Version 4.34 (February 2009) :

3. Meteo data import:

4. Tracking tilted axis: error when axis azimuth not south.

5. Measured and Meteo data: little bugs (extended available date formats).

Version 4.33 (September 2008) :

Version 4.32 (July 2008) :

 Date management improvement,

 Site names beginning by "New" are now possible.

4. Search Edit for easier choice in big component lists.

5. Print Preview: easier navigation through pages.

Version 4.31 (June 2008) :

Some bugs fixed :

1. Satellight data import: Temperatures were not well imported.

2. PVGIS import: copy/paste did not work with some internet browsers.

3. Site/Meteo choice for Projects: generated erroneous meteo files

4. Simulation report: erroneous tables overwrited parameters (namely IAM)

5. Import of Meteo ASCII files: improvements for daily data and date formats.

6. Long component's lists: edit box for direct access to a given item

Version 4.3 (March 2008) :

1. Import of meteo data from multiple popular sources  (NASA, WRDC, PVGIS, RetScreen, Helioclim).

2. Comparison between several Meteo Data sources.  Developments and results in the Help.

3. Import/Export of "Site" monthly data from/to EXCEL.

4. Improvement of the Meteo hourly files management (site and comment now editable/exportable).

5. Implementation of Tracking with vertical axis, also useable with positioning of modules on a "dish"

6. Module temperature calculation: revision (new parameters, absorption, etc).

7. PV model for amorphous: parameter determination according to a specified  muPmpp  value. Adjusment of all triple-junction module parameters in the database.

8. Bug Tracking: azimuth sign error in south hemisphere: the tracking was reversed !

9. Bug Shadings, polygonal fields: rewritten the whole modules calculation.

Version 4.21 (September 2007) :

No new developments, only corrections of bugs.  The main ones were:

1. Tracking two axis: returns to Azim=0 when sun over +/-90°.

2. Near shadings: verification of interpenetration field-objects, some editing errors or improvements

3. New PV modules didn’t appear in the list.

4. Simulation: sometimes division by 0 with sheds.

5. Project situation dialog: improved copy of site <=> meteo.

6. Graphs: copy of the curve values to clipboard for exporting.

Version 4.2 (July 2007) :

1. Improvement of the navigability in the 3D construction tool, copy/paste of an object from one variant or project to another one.  Automatic verification of the Field interpenetration (or tangency) with another object, which may prevent good shading calculations.

2. Backtracking strategy with all tracking systems, involves tracker width and distance definitions.

3. Sun-shields definition in the 3D tool; also with backtracking, which may considerably improve the sun-shield's performances.

4. High-Concentrating systems simulation, associated with 2-axis trackers; adaptation of the simulation process and loss diagram.

5. Long-term financial balance tool, including several Feed-in tariff strategies (day/night or seasonal variations, feed-in and self-consumption tariffs, etc) and system ageing.

6. Soiling parameter included in the simulation and loss diagram, with possibility of defining monthly variations.

7. Direct import of meteo values from NASA-SSE database over the whole earth (by 1°x1° cells), and practical procedure for importing meteo values from WRDC database, especially for countries where METEONORM data are scarce.

8. Improved the model for amorphous PV modules, especially safety of parameter boundaries, and behaviour presentation to the user.

9. Improved the Project dialog and choice of a site/meteo. Improved compatibility checks between the project's site and hourly meteo. Extraction/edition of the site geographic properties within an hourly meteo file, which was not possible up to now.

10. Database update, with PV modules and inverters of 2006/2007  (now around 2250 PV modules and 770 inverters).

11. Adaptations for Windows VISTA OS, especially concerning the visual interface. All other functions seem to be perfectly compatible.

12. Introduction of many "Logs" in the program, in order to facilitate the debugging of user's problems.

Version 4.1 (January 2007) :

1.  MultiLanguage

The Simulation output reports are now available in French, German, Spanish, Italian (useful for presenting the PV system characteristics to customers).

Please contact the author if you wish to implement yourself a translation into your own language (you should have a good knowledge of the technical terms used in the PV technology).

2.  Windows user's rights compatibility

The DATA structure has been modified for compatibility with the user's rights protections in Windows. A user without writing rights can now copy the whole DATA structure for use in his own writable area. Data may be shared - or not - between different users of the machine.

3.  Files and projects transfers

Archiving or importing projects, as well as database updating tools have been improved.

4.  Bugs in special shading parts

Several "youth" bugs in newly developed features (often on special requests of users) have been fixed. Especially in the Shading part, concerning tracking mechanism as well as sheds with a tilted baseline or double-orientation.

Version 4.0 (June 2006) :

The main new feature in this PVsyst 4.0 version is the study of Pumping systems, which involves complex developments which may be not quite safe in this first issue.

1. Pump Model

Development of a general and original pump model, suitable for use in PV applications.

This should be suitable for any type of Pump or Motor useable in PV systems.

This should describe the operating of the pump over a large Electrical and Hydraulic domain, encountered in PV conditions.

Its parameter should be available from usual pump manufacturer's datasheets. For a given pump, the model may be specified using several kinds of original data.

Its accuracy over the whole domain has been checked for some pumps using measured data.

The defining dialog shows graphics of the behaviour of the model, as functions of all relevant variables.

The pumps database is still limited to about 20-30 models; only one manufacturer has answered our request for datasheets…

2. Controller / Converter device for pumping

Model for a new controller for pumping systems, including the System Configuration controls and Power converter.

A default controller is proposed for each system configuration, with parameters automatically adjusted according to the system for optimal operation.

3. Pumping systems

Three system types are proposed: Deep well, Pumping from lake, pond or river, and Pressurisation system;

For each type, several system configurations are possible: Direct coupling (with eventual improvements like booster, pump cascading or array reconfiguration), with Power converter (MPPT or Fixed V), or battery-buffered.

Water needs and Head characteristics may be defined in yearly, seasonally or monthly values.

4. Presizing tool for Pumping systems

As for stand-alone systems, a  Pre-Sizing tool has been developed, which proposes a PV power and Pump power sizing, according to the location and meteo, user's needs and LOL requirements.  This simplified model takes the pump technology and system configuration into account. It also proposes a very rough estimation of the costs.

5. Detailed Simulation

The design of the pumping system - rather complex with such a number of pumps and system technological aspects - is assisted by numerous sizing propositions, and helps (advices, graphs, blocking of uncompatibilities, etc) when choosing the system layout and configuration.

The hourly simulation accounts in detail for all features defined for the system, and is specific for each configuration listed above  (direct coupling, with converter or battery).

As for the other systems, a detailed engineer report explains all parameters and results of the simulation. All the losses and mismatches along the system are quantified, and visualised on the "Loss Diagram", specific for each configuration.

6. Help for pumping systems

The development of this Pumping tool has brought a deep understanding of the PV pumping systems problematic, and the operating / efficiency limitations inherent to the numerous possible solutions.

This Help describes in detail the implemented models, and sets a broad panel of the different available technologies, as well as delimits their implementation boundaries.

7. Heat transfer factor for thermal losses of PV array

Some users has pointed out that the proposed parameter accounting for wind velocities was not correct and lead to underestimated thermal losses. There is a new detailed discussion on this subject in the Help, and the program now advices to use wind contribution only when the wind velocity is quite well determined (now default value is  Kv = 0  W/m²K / m/s)

8. Inverters

Several parameter usually specified in the datasheet have been added to the inverter definitions. But none of them is used in the present simulation. Refinements of the inverter modelling are planned for a next version.

These new data have been added in the whole database when available. Almost 300 new inverters were introduced, many also suited for US market. The database includes now more than 650 inverters.

The 50/60 Hz frequency has become a choice criteria in the lists.

9. PV modules

The choice list shows a nominal (MPP) voltage of each module for making the system design easier.

The database includes now more than 1'600 PV modules.

The PV module definition dialog was improved and some bugs fixed.

Specifying the Voltage or Power Temperature coefficient is now possible also for amorphous modules.

10. Remarks in PV components

An unlimited text editor is now available for giving detailed descriptions of all the PV components.

11. Miscellaneous improvements or fixed bugs

-  Projects are now sorted according to their system type in the list.

-  The "Archive Projects" tool has been debugged and improved.

-  Summer/Winter Hour may now be taken into account when importing Meteo Data as ASCII files.

-  Some little bugs concerning the simulation, especially of stand-alone systems (Wearing state not computed, display errors, etc).

-  Loss diagrams: complete review, some corrections for losses coherence.

 

Version 3.41 (March 2006):

1. Automatic facility for importing "satellight" meteo data.

"Satellight" data are real measured meteo data, available free from the web for any pixel of about 5x7 km² in Europe, and for years 1996-2000. Their quality becomes better than any terrestrial measured data, as soon as you are far from more than 20 km of the measuring station.

2. Fix some bugs of version 3.4, concerning:

-  HIT PV modules model,

-  memory leakages and orientations in some shading special cases,

-  transposition safety when bad meteo values,

-  orientation choice dialog,

-  meteo ASCII conversion facility.

 

Version 3.4 (July 2005) :

1. New modelling procedure for the amorphous modules

This procedure was established and validated using the results of a research project performed at CUEPE, funded by the SIG-NER fund  (the  SIG - Services Industriels de Genève - are the Geneva Electric and Gaz Utility). This project included detailed long-term measurements of 6 PV modules in real conditions. It also gave a quantified validation of the standard model for crystalline and CIS modules.

2. Extended component database

Over 1'200 PV modules and 400 inverters are now referenced, with dates for identification of market availability or obsolete components. With such big lists, a mechanism for quick access time (and background process update) had to be implemented.

3. Near shading 3D tool

View of the shading scene in realistic colors (settable by the user for each object)  - instead of  "iron wires" representation - improves the understanding of complex scenes, and gives a much more attractive image of the project for the final customers. Animation over a whole chosen day also clarifies the shading impact of a given situation.

4. Implementation of tracking planes in the 3D shading tool.

Especially suited for the optimisation of heliostat arrays layout.

5. Review and improvement of the Simulation Process

Clarification of the losses at any stage of the system, extension to battery systems with DC-DC converters, rewriting of the heterogeneous field treatment , etc.

6. Detailed loss diagram

Gives a deep insight on the quality of the PV system design, by quantifying all loss effects on one only graph. Losses on each subsystem may be either grouped or expanded in detailed contributions.

7. Restructuration of the internal representation of the physical variables

These two last improvements were made possible thanks to a very deep revision of the internal data structure, in order to obtain more flexibility when using the simulation variables. This reorganization is transparent for the user, but allows now many enhancements of the simulation process, namely easy adding of new variables when necessary, including them dynamically in the simulation process according to specific system configurations (for example defining regulator losses when used in a battery system), or inversely discarding other ones when they are not relevant.

The old fixed variable set did not allow a coherent description of the system losses. Therefore simulation has to be performed again for getting the Loss Diagram on the old result files.

Caution: In spite of intensive tests, these deep modifications may have produced some bugs which have not been detected by the author. We thank the users for carefully reporting any misrunning or strange behaviour of the software to the author.  

8. Measured data – simulation  comparison

Improvement and debugging of the Measured Data Importing Tool, and the comparison between measured and simulated values. Improvement of the break-down data eliminations.

9. Daily and Hourly Plots of the load profiles

 

 

Version 3.3 (February 2004) :

1. Output results presentation and hourly plots

When displaying simulation results, the standard printable result forms are now directly accessible (while they were only available through the "preview" option in the "print" dialog up to now).

During simulation process, the program can store a sample of chosen variables in hourly values. This allows for displaying graphics in hourly or daily values, with several variables on the same plot.

Thanks to a very fast and easy navigation over the whole year, this offers a powerful tool for visualizing the instantaneous behaviour of the system all over the year. This helps, for example, identifying unexpected behaviours of the system in some specific operating conditions (for example, SOC and regulation states in stand-alone simulations).

2. Stand alone systems: implementation of MPPT and DC-DC converters

Up to now the stand-alone systems were only defined with a simple usual configuration (i.e. PV array directly connected to the load and battery through the regulator).

It is now possible to include a MPPT or DC-DC converter between the PV array and the battery/load. This converter is part of the regulator definition.

3. New tool for optimising Fixed Input Operating voltage

Shows the average power or efficiency of the PV array over a period (year, summer, winter), as a function of a fixed user's voltage. Shows ohmic and diode voltage drop effects.

4. Hourly profile for domestic use load definition

In order to better estimate the battery behaviour and wear. Automatic placement of lighting and TV uses to evening hours.

5. Improved irradiance clear sky models for very high altitudes (up to stratospheric).

For very special uses of the software.

6. Meteonorm input adaptation

The outputs format of the Meteonorm monthly files has been changed with the new version 5, and we had to match the reading format accordingly. This is not yet quite fixed (namely the new Meteonorm files don't include the Station name nor the geographical coordinates, which have to be input manually).

6. Databasse update

Added about 500 new PV modules, from the PHOTON magazine tables of February 2003 and February 2004.

Added about 40 Inverters from PHOTON magazine, march 2003.

Created  a  list of the main component manufacturers. This list is now selective, according to Manufacturers/Retailers and Component type.

 

Version 3.21 (November 2002) :

 

Shading factor calculations with partition in Modules chains: Some computation errors had been introduced with v3.2, fixed.

Horizon definition with more than 20 points now possible.

Minimization (iconisation) of the Program window now works.

Corrections for compliance with Windows XP environment.

 

Version 3.2 (July 2002) :

1. Thin film modelling

The main novelty is the special tools for the treatment of Thin film technology modules (a-SI:H, with tandem or tripple junctions, CIS, CdTe).

Up to now the program used the standard one-diode model, although it is not well-suited for these technologies.

There is no consensus up to now in the PV community on how to model these devices. The task of finding a general model is by far above our possibilities. It would require a big research project at the international level).

Nevertheless we carefully measured a single device in great detail (a-SI:H tripple junction) and tried to find improvements of the "standard" one-diode model. We found and implemented two adjustments, which can improve significantly the performances of the model:

- the Shunt resistance of the device is drastically increasing (exponentially) when the irradiation diminishes.

- the temperature behaviour, which is fixed as a result in the standard model, can now be adjusted at any desired value (often given by manufacturer).

For our test device, this diminished the modelling error (over a 4-month continuous measuring period) from about 11% to a very few (1 to 3%). But this doesn't take spectral effects into account (see the "Help" for further details).

Be aware that these are available tools, but we cannot assess parameter values for any modules or any technologies.

2. Orientation optimising tools

There is now an on-line tool showing the collecting performance as a function of tilt and orientation when choosing them.

Also for shed disposition, a new graph shows the annual yield curves taking shadings into account, for optimising the tilt, shed spacing and collecting/ground area ratio.

3. Components Database tools

Export and Import of PV components (PV modules, Inverters) between the PVsyst database and spreadsheets like MS Excel, allowing for displaying, input and correcting component data in tabular form.

Improved and securised default values for the input of new PV modules in the database, only based on Manufacturer datasheets. The Excel sheet shows clear detailed information about required, optional and PVsyst-calculated parameter.

Inverters: Automatic build of efficiency profile, according to Maximal and "Euro" efficiency data. This allows for a much more easy input of inverter data from Manufacturer datasheets.

Be aware that due to additional parameter, PV module and Inverter files written by Version 3.2 are not yet readable with anterior versions  (but old files can of course be read by version 3.2 !).

Update of the Database, which includes now more than 600 PV modules and 200 inverters of the market.

4. Miscellaneous

Near shadings: several little bugs and practical improvements. Improved the tools for manipulating and zooming the scene on the screen. Implemented the display of shadings calculated by points, when standard polygon algorithm fails.

Included a full example as tutorial for the "Measured Data Analysis" part, which allows for importing measured data in PVsyst, and closely comparing them with the simulated values.

Revision and improvement of the "PV array behaviour" graphic tools. Included a detailed Help.

"Perez" transposition algorithm (not the Hay transposition model proposed by default !) had a little bug which caused a discrepancy of the order of 2-3% on yearly results for vertical planes (and of course less for less tilted planes).

Revision of the tool for defining Currency Rates, which had some bugs.

Revision of the general displaying conditions when using screen settings with "large fonts". Many windows appeared not full developed, and had often to be resized. Also graphics and tables had sometimes very little fonts.

Reading of files without "Archive" attribute (which is sometime removed by some file managers) is now possible.

 

Version 3.11

Meteo: generating meteo hourly files in CSV format for export.

Meteo transposition tables: possibility of -180°..180° scale.

Horizon: automatic import of files from  "Meteonorm" and "HoriZON" software.

PV module: Pnom tolerance from manufacturer included as parameter.

Simulation: The user can now define a PV module quality loss, with respect to the manufacturer nominal data on which is based the PV module model. Therefore the results can be adjusted if necessary for Energy Yield Warranty.

Installations in Polar regions:  Possibility of defining meteo, and performing presizing and simulations for Arctic and Antarctic meteo (including months with zero irradiation).

 

Version 3.1 with respect to Version 3.01, 3.02 and 3.03

Database updates will be periodically available on the WEB site www.pvsyst.com. A special tool allows to dispatch the files into the PVsyst data structure.

Printed outputs: Printed results forms may also be exported as image, for pasting in other software like MS-Word. Allows to fully insert PVsyst results in documents (useful for example for sending them by e-mail).

Import of Meteo data: Import from Meteonorm software now quite debugged (except for bugs of the Meteonorm software itself with monthly data: the program tells you how to come over).

Direct import of US TMY files (240 US sites available free from WEB).

User's needs definitions: Graphs and printings are now available. A new feature allows for importing Load Profiles in hourly or daily values from ASCII files (e.g. for example from EXCEL).

Horizon definition: Diffuse and Albedo factors are newly introduced.

Horizon treatment in simulation strategy has been changed: it is now equivalent to the near shadings treatment (i.e. included in the "shading loss" calculation).

Near Shading tool: Further debugged. Undo facility (up to 10 levels), Very useful new tools for distances and angle "measurements" on the scene.

Simulation: Losses: New parameter accounting for the real quality of PV modules.

South hemisphere compatibility: Fully debugged, with new azimuth definition (negative toward east, clockwise). Sunpath diagrams are now from right to left (negative azimuts, i.e. sunrise, are on the right of the graph, as the sun progression ...).  Therefore gives realistic image of the horizon drawing.

Measured data: Importing widely debugged, Possibility for ASCII lines of more than 255 characters, Data import is now possible with input Daily Values. Measured data with orignal irradiation measurements in the collector plane. Graphics and comparison tool are debugged and improved.

 

Version 3.0 (December 1999)  with respect to Version  2.21

 

The PVsyst software has been entirely rewritten, using the Borland DELPHI 3  platform  instead of the old Borland Pascal 7, gaining in user graphical interface quality and reliability, as well as in compatibility with most recent versions of the Windows operating system.

The user's interface has been redesigned, and navigation in the software was strongly improved, with the collaboration of the LESO-EPFL team. Introduction of a "Green line" for guiding the user in the project development.

Preliminary design: Implementation of this quite new sizing feature, for grid-connected and stand alone systems.

Project design: The Project organization has been simplified. Parameter definition and results are summarised in one only "Simulation Version" file.  Several valuable tools were added (including the sizing "expert" for building the system parameter).

Several new Tools which help understanding more deeply many PV system behaviours.

"Help" system, which provides a detailed contextual  "help"  by typing F1 anywhere in the program.