Inverters

This task allows you to define the inverter specifications (for both central and string inverters) that will be used in your site.

Importing Inverter Specifications

There is support for importing PVsyst *.OND inverter files (as long as they are in text file format - generally from PVsyst version 6.40 onwards).

You can also import inverter specifications in SolarFarmer's proprietary *.InverterSpec file format.

Defining the Properties

After creating a brand-new inverter specification or importing a file you are presented with multiple properties.

Any validation errors in the values will be highlighted in red, with additional validation information appearing at the top in a red (errors) or orange (warnings) drop-down. Any errors must be rectified before the inverter specification can be used in the energy yield calculation.

Exporting Inverter Specifications

You can export the inverter specification values to a file (*.InverterSpec) format - a proprietary SolarFarmer format and can be imported into other SolarFarmer workbooks). There is currently no support to export to the PVsyst .OND format.

Maximum AC Power Model

There are two options for specifying inverter overpower and temperature dependent rated power. The first option is to specify a single value for the inverter maximum AC power.

Setting a single value is equivalent to disabling inverter overpower as a function of temperature. The second option is to specify a table of temperature dependent rated power.

The table can either allow overpower, if there are entries greater than the maximum AC power, or limit overpower, by limiting rated power to the maximum AC power. After toggling from the table to maximum AC power option, when toggling back, SolarFarmer will restore the previous temperature dependent table of rated power.

When SolarFarmer imports an OND file it will set the maximum AC power and fill in the table of temperature dependent rated powers if present.

See the Inverter Over-power page in the Calculation Reference for an explanation of how the SolarFarmer energy calculation handles inverter over-power.