The design of a photovoltaic system in the PV*SOL program begins by entering preliminary information on the type of PV system to be designed.
Depending on the version of the PV*SOL program, the list of types of photovoltaic systems to be designed varies and is extended from year to year. The PV*SOL Premium 2021 version allows you to design one of the photovoltaic systems listed below, i.e:

• connected to the grid,
• connected to the grid with electrical equipment,
• connected to the grid with electrical equipment and battery systems,
• connected to the grid with electrical loads and electric vehicles,
• connected to the grid with electrical loads, electric vehicles and battery systems,
• self-sufficient,
• self-sufficient with auxiliary generator.

After selecting the type of installation, the designer visualizes the photovoltaic system and, for a given location, enters its geographical data and, from the database, enters the climatic condition ( Fig. 1 ).

Figure 1: PV*SOL program work screen – selecting installation type and climate data. Own elaboration on the basis of the PV*SOL premium 2021 software from Valentin Software Gmb.

Searching for a given location from around the world with its assigned climate data in PV*SOL is easy thanks to the interactive map built into the MeteoSyn database, the main working window of which is shown in Fig. 2.

Figure 2: Working screen of the built-in MeteoSyn climate database in PV*SOL software. Own elaboration on the basis of the PV*SOL premium 2021 software from Valentin Software GmbH.

Climatic conditions such as annual sum of insolation and annual average temperature are assigned to each location. The program also enables the creation of new climate data either by the interpolation method from existing measurement data or based on one’s own monthly data.
The program enables three-dimensional design of objects to be covered with PV modules, thanks to a built-in module for selecting the type of 3D object, whose functions are shown in Fig. 3. The program also allows you to introduce ready-made building elements into the project. Examples of these include windows, doors, roofs (e.g. chimneys, dormers) and objects (e.g. fences, trees) that may be located near the installation.

Figure 3: The working screen of the built-in 3D object type selection module in PV*SOL software. Own elaboration on the basis of the PV*SOL premium 2021 software from Valentin Software GmbH.

The dimensions and orientation of the chosen object to be clad with photovoltaic modules as well as the other objects in the project can be freely changed using the editing window shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 4: PV*SOL program working screen with a sample window for editing parameters of designed objects. Own elaboration on the basis of the PV*SOL premium 2021 software from Valentin Software GmbH.