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Orientations in PVsyst 8

Introduction

In PVsyst 7, orientation was a set of parameters including orientation type, tilt, azimuth, tracking parameters, and more. However, except for the Fixed Plane Multi-Orientation option, the system supported only a single, uniform orientation for the entire project. All sub-arrays and 3D tables were referenced to this common orientation.

In PVsyst 8, the concept of orientation has changed significantly. Orientation now serves as a central entity connecting the electrical system (sub-arrays) with tables specified in the 3D scene. This update allows you to define multiple independent orientations, each representing a subsystem. This flexibility lets you combine different system types—such as fixed and tracking arrays, or tracker arrays with varying axis orientations and tracking conditions—within one project. Each orientation can manage several combinations of “system” sub-arrays and tables in the 3D scene. Orientation management has also been improved to provide more information about the system.

Key advantages of the new orientation management:

  • You can define multiple system types—fixed, tracking, or a combination—within a single project.
  • Arrays using “unlimited sheds” or “unlimited trackers” orientation can now coexist with arrays defined in the 3D scene.
  • Bifacial performance of subsystems with different orientations, pitches, and other parameters can now be accurately simulated.
  • You can create more diverse tracker arrays (for example, arrays positioned on different hillslopes or with varying pitches).

This new orientation concept also applies to stand-alone systems, which can now be defined with multiple sub-arrays and therefore multiple orientations or control conditions.

Orientations management procedure

  • Define one or several orientations in the dedicated menu. See Orientations definition procedure for defining orientation objects and their parameters.
  • Define the electrical system with each sub-array having one or two orientations.
  • Optional: Define the fields in the 3D scene to receive these modules. See system and 3D scene definition. When defined, 3D fields must be able to receive all PV modules defined in the sub-arrays for each orientation.

The "System overview" button displays a summary of all your definitions, including any warnings or errors. See System overview tool.