RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SOLAR INSTALLATION SIMULATOR

1. My Subscription

This section provides an overview of your current subscription and allows you to manage and adjust your PVGIS24 subscription according to your needs.
This section allows you to view all the details of your current subscription on PVGIS24. You will find information about the subscription type, included features, available credits, management options, and billing details.

1. 1. Subscription Type and Renewal

   • Subscription: Displays the current subscription level and the corresponding monthly rate.
   • Renewal Date: Indicates the next automatic renewal date of the subscription. You have the option to cancel at any time before this date to stop future payments.

2. 2. Features of Your Subscription

   • Authorized Users: Number of user accounts included in your subscription.
   • File Credits: Number of file credits available per month to perform simulations. Credits are used to generate solar and financial simulations.
   • Unlimited Simulations and Features: The subscription includes unlimited solar and financial simulations per file, as well as unlimited access to PVGIS24 features for production and printing.
   • File Management and Storage: Access the management of your files, with the ability to save all simulations and reports.
   • Technical Support and Commercial Use: Enjoy online support and the right to commercial use of the results, with an ad-free experience.

3. 3. Payment Options and Billing

   • Current payment method: Details the payment method used for the subscription, such as your credit card, with the option to update your information if needed.
   • My invoices: View the history of your monthly payments, including dates, subscription type, and invoice amounts.

2. Change my subscription

You can switch to another plan by selecting an option better suited to your needs from the available subscriptions (PRIME, PREMIUM, PRO, EXPERT). If you upgrade to a higher plan mid-month, only the difference in price will be charged, and we will credit the difference in File Credits. If downgrading, the change will take effect on the next renewal date.

3. PVGIS24 Calculator Subscription

An affordable subscription for €3.90 per month, suitable for users with limited needs for advanced production simulations.

4. Additional File Credits

Options to add extra credits to your subscription, at €10 for 10 file credits per month.

5. My PV Systems Catalog: Catalog and Organize Your Solar Systems

This catalog helps you organize and view your solar systems based on their characteristics and objectives, making it easier to present to clients and select solutions suited to their energy needs.
In the "My PV Systems Catalog" section, you can reference and describe all your solar systems, organizing each system by category for clearer and more efficient management. This catalog allows you to create a structured inventory of your photovoltaic solutions based on their characteristics and main applications.

1. 1. Reference and Describe Each System

   You can detail each solar system, including key information such as designation, PV power, battery power, and price. This description facilitates the management and consultation of your photovoltaic solutions.

2. 2. Categorization

   Systems can be classified into the following categories for quicker, more tailored searches based on your clients' specific needs:

   • Resale: Systems designed for selling energy to the public grid.
   • Self-consumption: Systems intended for self-consumption, for users wishing to consume the energy produced on-site.
   • Autonomy: Systems equipped for energy independence with batteries for energy storage.

3. 3. Key Information for Each System

   • Designation: Name or description of the system for quick identification.
   • Price: Indicates the total cost of the system for immediate budget consultation.
   • PV Power (kW): Enter the photovoltaic power to assess energy production capacity.
   • Battery Power: Enter the capacity of the batteries for autonomy or self-consumption systems with storage.

6. Default Settings: Editable Reference Information

Default settings are flexible and adaptable base values. Feel free to customize them in each file and adjust them during simulations to obtain optimal estimates tailored to your specific projects. Default settings are predefined base parameters that serve as a reference to facilitate simulations and solar production estimates. These default values are automatically applied in each file, but they can be adjusted to better fit the specifics of each project.

1. 1. Editable Base Settings

   • Default settings include standard values for costs, interest rates, loss percentages, maintenance fees, and other reference data. They are designed to provide a realistic and simplified base for your initial simulations.

2. 2. Customization for Each File

   • You can modify these settings for each individual project to better reflect the specific conditions of each installation or particular requirements of your clients. This allows you to tailor the simulations to the unique aspects of each project.

3. 3. Modification During Simulations

   • During the simulation, you have the option to adjust the settings based on the needs or scenarios you wish to explore. These modifications allow for more accurate and realistic results for each simulation.

7. Residential Consumption Information

Base for Solar Self-Consumption Simulations

This section provides an essential foundation for simulating your solar self-consumption project with precision and maximizing your energy autonomy gains. The "Residential Consumption Information" section provides key data for simulating solar production for self-consumption with PVGIS. By entering your consumption habits (split by day, evening, and night, weekdays and weekends), you will get an accurate estimate of your electricity consumption, which will serve as a reference for:

1. 1. Adapt solar production to your needs:

   Consumption data helps simulate the most suitable solar installation to cover your energy needs when you need it the most.

2. 2. Optimize self-consumption:

   By understanding your peak consumption periods, PVGIS can estimate how much of your solar production will be used directly, thus reducing your dependence on the public grid.

3. 3. Forecast potential savings:

   By comparing estimated solar production with your residential consumption, PVGIS calculates the percentage of energy you can self-consume, providing an estimate of savings on your electricity bill.

8. Commercial Consumption Information

Base for Solar Self-Consumption Simulations

This section is essential for commercial solar simulations as it helps tailor solar production to the specific needs of the business, promoting better energy autonomy and reducing operational costs.
The "Commercial Consumption Information" section provides crucial data for performing solar self-consumption simulations adapted to business needs. By entering your electricity consumption habits (split by time of day on weekdays and weekends), this data serves as a reference for:

1. 1. Adapt solar production to business hours:

   Consumption data helps simulate a solar installation that precisely matches the times when your business needs the most energy, maximizing the use of the solar energy produced.

2. 2. Optimize the self-consumption rate:

   Based on your consumption peaks, PVGIS estimates the proportion of solar production that will be directly consumed, reducing electricity costs from the grid.

3. 3. Forecast savings and return on investment:

   By comparing solar production with your energy needs, PVGIS calculates the potential for self-consumption and estimates the savings you can achieve on your electricity bills, providing a key indicator to evaluate the project's profitability.

9. Recommended Losses by Default for a Solar System

These recommended default losses help to provide an estimate that takes into account the practical limitations of your solar system, ensuring a more accurate production forecast.
Solar production simulations incorporate estimated losses to provide a realistic prediction of usable energy. These losses are default recommended percentages based on the average performance of solar installations. Here are the default losses typically recommended for each component and their impact:

1. 1. Cable Losses (1-2%):

   • Cable losses are inevitable since the electricity produced by the panels must be transported to the inverter and then to the grid or consumption meter.
   • Generally, an estimate of 1 to 2% cable losses is recommended. This percentage depends on the length and gauge of the cables: longer or smaller cables result in higher losses.
   • Using high-quality cables with an appropriate gauge can minimize these losses.

   PVGIS24 estimates the cable loss by default at 1%.

2. 2. Inverter Production Losses (2-4%):

   • The inverter converts the DC power produced by the solar panels into usable AC power. This process is not perfect and leads to losses.
   • On average, inverter losses are estimated at 2-4%. High-quality modern inverters can reduce these losses, while less efficient equipment can increase them.
   • This percentage is based on the conversion efficiency of the inverter, which typically ranges between 96% and 98%.

   PVGIS24 estimates the inverter production loss by default at 2%.

3. 3. Solar Panel Production Losses (0.5-1%)

   • The panels themselves experience efficiency losses due to external factors such as dirt, partial shading, high temperature, and the natural degradation of solar cells over time.
   • The performance of panels naturally declines over time (about 0.5% to 1% per year depending on materials). The performance loss is due to physical degradation, such as glass yellowing, corrosion, and cracks in the cells.
   • Regular maintenance, such as cleaning the panels and optimizing their placement (to limit shading), can reduce these losses.

   PVGIS24 estimates the solar panel production loss by default at 0.5%.

By using these default loss values, PVGIS gives you a reliable and realistic estimate of your solar production. These percentages are based on industry averages and help account for the gaps between theoretical and actual production, incorporating the physical variables that affect the performance of each component.

10. Maintenance Information

This maintenance information helps plan regular maintenance to maximize the photovoltaic system's production and reduce long-term costs. By keeping the system in good condition, you prevent performance losses and ensure the profitability of your solar investment.
The "Maintenance Information" section provides key details for planning and estimating the maintenance costs of a photovoltaic system. Regular maintenance is essential for ensuring optimal performance and extending the system's lifespan. Here are the maintenance elements considered in this section:

1. 1. Annual maintenance of the photovoltaic system (% of the total system cost):

   • This percentage indicates the share of annual maintenance costs relative to the system's initial cost. Generally, maintenance represents about 1 to 2% of the system's total cost per year.
   • This estimate covers necessary interventions to clean the panels, check the wiring and inverter, and ensure the system is working correctly.
   • Regular monitoring helps prevent performance losses related to dirt, wear, or component degradation.

2. 2. Maintenance cost per Watt

   • The cost per watt provides an estimate of the annual maintenance expenses based on the installed power. This value is useful for large installations, as it allows easy calculation of costs based on the system's size.
   • By indicating this cost, you can obtain an accurate estimate of your annual maintenance expenses, proportionate to the size of the installation.

3. 3. First maintenance period after commissioning

   • This information helps plan the first inspection or maintenance after installation. Generally, the first maintenance is recommended within 6 to 12 months of commissioning to ensure the system is functioning perfectly.
   • The first maintenance is important for detecting and correcting any early issues, such as installation defects, panel alignment, and inverter performance.

11. Financial Information: Public Grid Electricity Sale Rates

This information is essential to simulate your resale income and better understand the profitability of your solar project. By providing resale data, you get an estimate of your potential earnings, adjusted for caps and rate changes.
This section allows you to provide financial information related to the sale of electricity produced by your solar system to the public grid. This data will help you estimate your potential income from selling your excess energy.

1. 1. Resale Rates (kWh) for Electricity Produced to the Public Grid

   • Enter the current rate at which you can sell each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity produced by your solar installation. This rate is generally set by the authorities or your electricity provider.

2. 2. Estimated Annual Increase in Resale Rate (kWh)

   • Enter the estimated percentage increase of the annual resale rate. The current global average of 3.5% per year helps estimate the evolution of your income over the long term.

3. 3. OPTION: Production Caps for Full Resale Rate (kWh)

   • Some resale offers include a production cap, beyond which the resale rate is reduced. Enter the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) you can sell at the full rate.
   • This cap allows you to optimize your revenue up to a certain annual production limit.

4. Resale Rates (kWh) for Electricity Produced to the Public Grid After Exceeding the Cap

   • Enter the rate applied for the resale of electricity beyond the production cap, if applicable. This rate is usually lower than the full rate and is applied once the production limit is reached.

12. Financial Information: Administrative Fees, Connection, and Installation Compliance

This information helps you take into account available subsidies and get an overview of your financing. By incorporating grants and aids, you can obtain a realistic estimate of the net costs and evaluate the profitability of your solar project.
This section allows you to provide information regarding state grants or subsidies that you may benefit from when acquiring your photovoltaic system. These subsidies, often offered to encourage renewable energy, can significantly improve the profitability of your project.

1. 1. Estimated Administrative Fees for Public Grid

   • Enter the estimated amount for administrative fees required to obtain the necessary permits. These fees may include costs for file review, permits, and processing by local authorities or energy regulatory agencies.

2. 2. Estimated Connection Fees to the Public Grid

   • Enter the estimated costs to connect your solar installation to the public power grid. This includes fees related to the installation of connection equipment (meters, cables, etc.) and any necessary work required to link your system to the grid.

3. 3. Estimated Compliance Fees for the Installation

   • Enter the estimated amount to ensure that your installation meets all current safety and quality standards. These fees include inspections, certifications, and tests necessary to ensure that the installation complies with local regulatory requirements.

13. Financial Information: State Grants and Subsidies

This information helps you take into account available subsidies and get an overview of your financing. By incorporating grants and aids, you can obtain a realistic estimate of the net costs and evaluate the profitability of your solar project.
This section allows you to provide information regarding state grants or subsidies that you may benefit from when acquiring your photovoltaic system. These subsidies, often offered to encourage renewable energy, can significantly improve the profitability of your project.

1. 1. State Grant or Subsidy for the Acquisition of a Photovoltaic System

   • Enter the amount of the state grant or subsidy you are receiving to finance your photovoltaic installation. You can enter this amount as a percentage of the total system cost or as an absolute value (in rupees).
   • These aids can reduce acquisition costs and improve the return on investment of your solar installation.

2. 2. Payment Period for the State Grant or Subsidy After Commissioning

   • Enter the number of months after the commissioning of the solar installation before receiving the grant or subsidy. This helps incorporate this delay into your financial forecasts.

3. 3. Date of Payment for the State Grant or Subsidy

   • If you know the exact payment date for the grant or subsidy, enter it here. This helps align financial flows and better manage the project budget.

14. Financial Information: Tax Subsidy

This information helps you calculate the net cost of your solar installation after accounting for tax subsidies, improving the accuracy of your financial forecast and facilitating the evaluation of your project's profitability.
This section allows you to provide details regarding tax subsidies you may receive for the installation of your photovoltaic system. Tax subsidies are incentives offered by the government to encourage solar energy, helping reduce the net cost of your investment.

1. 1. Tax Subsidy for the Acquisition of a Photovoltaic System

   • Enter the amount of the tax subsidy you receive for the acquisition of your photovoltaic system. You can enter this amount as a percentage of the total installation cost or as an absolute value.
   • This subsidy reduces the acquisition cost, thus improving the overall profitability of your solar project.

2. 2. Payment Period for the Tax Subsidy After Commissioning (months)

   • Enter the number of months after the commissioning of your photovoltaic installation before the tax subsidy is paid. This helps incorporate the delay into your financial planning and anticipate the availability of funds.

3. 3. Payment Date for the Tax Subsidy

   • If the date for the tax subsidy payment is set, enter it here. This allows you to synchronize this payment with your budget management and optimize your cash flow.

15. Financing Information: Cash Payment (CASH)

By providing this information, you get an overview of your cash financing capacity and payment terms, helping you plan your investment in your photovoltaic system with greater peace of mind.
This section allows you to enter information about personal contributions and payment facilities for financing your photovoltaic system through a cash payment.

1. 1. Minimum Contribution (%)

   • Enter the percentage of personal contribution you plan to invest in the installation. This minimum contribution represents the share of financing you are able to provide immediately, without external financing.
   • A higher personal contribution can reduce the need for loans and thus the associated financial costs.

2. 2. Payment Terms (months)

   • Enter the duration of the payment terms offered by the supplier or service provider to complete the financing. This number of months represents the period during which you can settle the remaining amount, often without interest.
   • Payment terms can help you better manage your cash flow and spread the cost of the installation without significantly impacting your personal finances.

16. Financing Information: Loan

By providing this information, you can estimate the total cost of your loan financing and calculate the impact of interest and fees on your solar energy investment.
This section allows you to enter details regarding the financing of your photovoltaic system through a bank loan. By entering this information, you get a more accurate estimate of the costs associated with the loan and its impact on the overall budget of your project.

1. 1. Personal Contribution (%)

   • Enter the percentage of the total installation cost that you are financing with a personal contribution. This contribution is the portion of financing you provide yourself, without borrowing.
   • A higher personal contribution can reduce the loan amount needed, which may lower the monthly payments and interest fees.

2. 2. Loan (%)

   • Enter the percentage of the total installation cost that you wish to finance through a loan. This percentage represents the portion financed by the bank loan.
   • By combining the personal contribution and loan amount, you get the total financing needed for your solar project.

3. 3. Interest Rate (%)

   • Enter the annual interest rate applied to the loan. This rate determines the cost of the financing based on the loan duration and the borrowed amount.
   • A lower interest rate can reduce the total cost of the loan and improve the profitability of your project.

4. 4. Duration (months)

   • Enter the total loan repayment period in months. The loan duration influences the amount of monthly payments as well as the total interest paid.
   • A longer loan may reduce the monthly payments but generally increases the total interest paid over the period.

5. 5. Bank Processing Fees

   • Enter any processing fees or other banking costs associated with taking out the loan. These fees are often charged at the beginning of the contract and should be included in the overall project budget.

17. Financing Information: Leasing

By filling in this information, you will get an estimate of the costs of your leasing financing, including monthly rent, fees, and the buyout value. This helps you assess the profitability and accessibility of this financing option for your solar project.
This section allows you to enter details about financing your photovoltaic system through a leasing contract. Leasing is a financing option that allows you to rent the equipment with an option to purchase at the end of the contract, via a buyout value.

1. 1. Initial Contribution (%)

   • Enter the percentage of the total installation cost that you are financing with an initial contribution. This contribution reduces the amount financed by the leasing and can lower the monthly payments.
   • A larger personal contribution can make the leasing contract more affordable by reducing financing costs.

2. 2. Leasing Financing (%)

   • Enter the percentage of the total installation cost that you are financing through the leasing contract. This amount is financed by the leasing company and is repaid through monthly rents.
   • The personal contribution added to the leasing financing should match the total project cost.

3. 3. Interest Rate (%)

   • Enter the interest rate applied to the leasing. This rate determines the cost of the monthly rents, based on the duration of the contract and the amount financed.
   • A lower interest rate reduces the total cost of the leasing financing.

4. 4. Duration (months)

   • Enter the total duration of the leasing contract in months. The contract duration influences the rent amount as well as the interest paid.
   • A longer contract may reduce the monthly rents but increases the total interest cost.

5. 5. Banking Fees

   • Enter the application fees or other administrative costs associated with setting up the leasing. These fees are usually due at the beginning of the contract and should be included in the overall project budget.

6. 6. Buyout Value (%)

   • The buyout value is the amount to pay at the end of the leasing contract if you wish to own the photovoltaic system. Enter this value as a percentage of the initial cost or as a fixed amount.
   • The buyout value allows you to transfer the ownership of the system at the end of the contract. It should be included in the total cost calculation if you plan to purchase the system at the end of the leasing.

By filling in this information, you will get an estimate of the costs of your leasing financing, including monthly rent, fees, and the buyout value. This helps you assess the profitability and accessibility of this financing option for your solar project.