Introduction
One of the hottest sources of renewable energy in recent years is solar energy. The photovoltaic industry is rapidly expanding, and it is expected that the construction of solar projects will increase in the coming years, not to mention the many companies that have directed (or redirected) their activities towards this sector.
Many projects are proposed, but once they are validated, a question arises about their design: which software to choose? Many solutions exist on the market, but not all companies or professionals have the same needs, and projects are not standardised. Are you currently looking for an intuitive and high-performance photovoltaic design software that can simplify your daily life? We give you 10 good reasons to use the archelios™ PRO design app.
archelios™ PRO is an online application and is one of the most versatile tools on the market for the design of photovoltaic projects, as it adapts to all types of installations, whether large or small, rooftop or ground-based, with optimal performance for both residential self-consumption systems and large solar power plants.
1 – Choose your baseline weather data
Irradiation and temperature data are essential for carrying out photovoltaic project simulations and must be integrated into the study. To do this, archelios™ PRO automatically offers the closest METEONORM dataset and allows users to import weather data from other recognised suppliers such as PVGIS, HELIOCLIM, SOLARGIS, NREL and 3E, in order to carry out different simulations.
2 – 3D Model your installation, the way you want to
3D modelling a PV installation can be a long and tedious task if you don’t have the right tool. archelios™ PRO is a flexible application since it not only has its own 3D modelling function, but is also connected to other architecture tools such as SketchUp and Revit. Users can therefore choose the most appropriate tool for the job, saving time and avoiding frustration, with no power limitation (depending on the version)
3 – Optimise your installation’s performance with the shading study
Nearby shading, such as that caused by buildings, chimneys, trees, or other elements close to the project site, is an essential factor to consider when simulating a solar installation’s performance. A shaded module causes a drop in production that will have repercussions on the entire module chain. Taking into account the nearby shading is a guarantee for optimal production. archelios™ PRO allows a precise production analysis by faithfully representing the environment and its impact on the installation. The 3D Map module allows you to effortlessly import a 3D environment, thus guaranteeing and accurate yield calculation: and all in just one click!
4 – Access a large multi-manufacturer database
archelios™ PRO has a large multi-manufacturer database containing a multitude of electrical components such as solar panels, photovoltaic inverters, storage batteries and many more. As each project is unique, you can insert the references you need to develop your project. Is a manufacturer reference missing? No problem! You can request components if they don’t yet exist in the catalogue or easily create them yourself for personal use.
5 – Choose the best photovoltaic configuration for your project
There are a multitude of technologies on the photovoltaic market and archelios™ PRO does more than just maintain a database. Thanks to its intelligent algorithm, the application automatically suggests all configurations that are compatible with the installation. What’s more, with just the inverter, archelios™ PRO is able to offer all compatible inverter configurations based on the voltage and current. With such advanced calculations, the user can choose a configuration in total autonomy.
6 – Optimise your plant’s production right from the design stage
As far as photovoltaic inverters are concerned, it is essential to string together modules with the same characteristics and orientation in order to limit power losses and maximise electricity production. Thanks to the precise module shading analysis, archelios™ PRO allows for optimal module wiring and an hourly output analysis for each MPPT.
7 – Design precise self-consumption installations
With archelios™ PRO it’s possible to add detailed self-consumption profiles thanks to the import of personalised device profiles, partial or annual consumption profiles, battery storage systems, and even hourly tariff profiles. At the end of the project, export a detailed report on the production and economic analyses of the plant.
8 – Carry out a realistic economic analysis
The development of solar energy is constantly changing the market, especially in terms of price. Beyond increasing energy costs and the need to move towards renewable energies, profitability remains a major argument in the development of photovoltaic projects. To meet these challenges, archelios™ PRO takes into account the initial investment, operating costs, financing and also inflation and discounting. This makes it possible to accurately calculate the economic flows and return on investment of any potential project.
9 – Benefit from a commercial tool that makes a difference for your customers
Thanks to the customisable reports and detailed documentation generated by archelios™ PRO, you have all the necessary tools to present a PV project to your end customer. The software generates a complete PDF report with annual irradiation forecasts, production forecasts (with P50 and P90 probabilities) and a bankable economic analysis. The 3D design provides a realistic rendering that will allow your clients to visualise the end product and the value of their investment. The application is positioned not only as a real photovoltaic design tool but also as a marketing tool that can make a difference in a customer’s decision. It is also possible to edit a list of materials to speed up the procurement and billing phases.
10 – Size the electrical part of your installation thanks to a unique export to archelios™ CALC
Thanks to its export to archelios™ CALC, archelios™ PRO is the only solution on the market that allows you to quickly and easily carry out the electrical sizing of the photovoltaic installation. With this export, you will automatically obtain a single-line diagram corresponding to the archelios™ PRO design, enabling you to carry out the normative controls and AC/DC electrotechnical calculations right up to the LV or HV connection point. archelios™ CALC warns you of any compliance errors via a traffic light system and allows you to fine-tune the electrical component sizing.
Learn more about archelios™ PRO
Depending on the version you choose, you’ll get unique features for fast and accurate design. 3D design, production forecasting, management of self-consumption projects, solar pumping, precise management of large power plants, detailed economic analysis, etc. These are some of the features that make archelios™ PRO a powerful and unique tool, notorious in the photovoltaic software market.
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