Export PV Collada to PVsyst, advanced features in KML/KMZ files
pvDesign - backend v5.7.17, frontend v1.6.5
In April we released two features which could be huge time-savers for pvDesign users. The PV Collada file allows users to import the shadings scene in PVsyst. Besides being faster than creating the scene by hand, this also means that it is possible to calculate the energy yield with 3D shades.
And the advanced features in KML/KMZ addresses some long standing pain points of pvDesign users, like importing multi geometry elements or complex geometries with inner holes.
New Features
These new features were released in April:
- Export PV Collada to PVsyst: A PV Collada is a file which allows you to import the 3D layout in the PVsyst shadings scene. pvDesign now generates this file for every simulation. The first benefit of importing the file in PVsyst is that it saves you the time spent in creating the shadings scene manually, while being more accurate as well. The second benefit is that the file includes the positions of the structures in the terrain, which means that simulations in PVsyst can include the effects of 3D shading between structures.
Please check out these tutorials to learn how to use the file in PVsyst:
How to export a PV Collada tracker scene to PVsyst
How to export a PV Collada fixed structures scene to PVsyst - Advanced features in KML/KMZ files: It is now possible to upload KML/KMZ files with multi geometry elements, paths, and inner holes to pvDesign. Multi geometry elements are treated as a folder of single elements. For example, if you upload 3 polygons as a single available area multi geometry element, each polygon must have its own access point. Available areas can now be defined as paths instead of polygons. Polygons (available or restricted areas) may now include inner holes, allowing for very complex geometry definitions. Finally, the limit of restricted areas was increased to 200 restricted areas.
Bug fixes and improvements
The following bug fixes and improvements were released in April:
- It is now possible to edit the name of individual designs when generating multiple designs.
- The name of CAPEX templates can now be changed.
- A password strength meter is now shown when a user first logs in.
- Fixed a typo which caused the meteorological data cards to display the wrong text.
- New currencies added in the costs tab.
- Increased the maximum ridge distance to 4 meters.
- Custom medium voltage cables are now shown in the site details.
- Fixed a bug causing the energy simulation to fail for extremely small PV plants.
- Removed an unresolved reference from the DXF files, resulting in faster opening times.
- Added more elements to the legend of the MV-LV SLDs.
- Fixed a bug which caused the surface area of individual areas to be zero.
- Updated French translations of the design and energy report.
- Tweaked the voltage drop assigned to string cables. Now the drop is 25% of the total DC voltage drop that the user defines as an input.
- Improved the connectivity of MV cables by ignoring very small gaps in between available and restricted areas which could interfere with the tracing algorithms.
- Fixed a bug which caused a simulation failure due to the trajectory of MV cables not matching the roads.
- Fixed a bug which caused simulation failures if there was no path available from the available area to the substation.
- Fixed several errors which caused simulations failures due to geometry precision issues.