Today I conducted a little test to compare the performance of two low cost solar site assessment tools. I consider low cost to be anything under $1,000. These tools provide infomation about the amount of available sunlight that falls on a surface. They do this by examining the landscape features in the area that provide shade at different parts of the day such as buildings and trees. These tools provide a percentage of available solar radiation you can expect to receive. This can then be combined with weather data and solar panel information to perform preliminary energy calculations using energy modelling software. This site assessment information is supplied for each month however for the purpose of this test I am only going to compare the total annual values.
The two tools I compared are:
Vivint Solar acquired Solmetric Corporation in January 2014. Vivint Solar is the second largest installer of solar energy systems to the U.S. Residential market with approximately 16 percent. Solmetric Roof Azimuth Toolclose By pressing Send, you will send an email to the recipient(s) specified. The email will contain a link so that the recipient can access the same roof picture, including the address field you entered and azimuth measurement you have prepared. To access the link, the recipient will require a free Solmetric account. Solmetric’s Suneye 210 is a comprehensive site evaluation tool for solar PV system design and installation. The Suneye 210 allows installers and designers to accurately predict a solar PV system’s performance, and to preemptively identify potential future shading issues as nearby trees grow or new buildings are constructed. Lightning Surge Generators; Surge, Burst/EFT, Telecom, Ring Wave, Dips & Interrupts; Magnetic Field Generators; Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Guns; Power Fail Simulators.
1) Solar Pathfinder (http://www.solarpathfinder.com) $299 + $199 software
Solar pathfinder image. The black areas inside the ring mark the obstructions in the surrounding area. This image is traced using computer software.
2) Solmetric iPV iPhone application (http://www.solmetric.com/solmetricipv.html) $29.99
The Solmetric app lets you trace the obstructions directly with the iphone.
The calculations for the percentage of available sunlight were as follows:
Solar Pathfinder: 84%
Solmetric iPV: 86%
Solmetric Network & Wireless Cards Drivers
Both of these tools require tracing so they have a element of human error involved. When using the pathfinder you take a picture of the equipment and trace it using the computer software. When using the Solmetric app you trace the horizon directly with the iphone. Given the close proximity of the results I don’t really feel as though one is any better than the other from a performance standpoint. When you consider the price the Solmetric iPV iPhone application is the clear winner, but only if you already own an iPhone.
Solmetric also makes professional site assessment tools in the $2,000 price range that do not require any manual tracing and are remarkably accurate.
Solmetric Selected to Present at Investors’ Circle
Solmetric Network & Wireless Cards Drivers
Solmetric Corporation, maker of tools for solar installers, was selected from a pool of 200 applicants to present at the Investors’ Circle 2010 Spring Conference and Venture Faire on April 19, 2010. Investors’ Circle is the oldest and largest angel group dedicated to funding emerging social enterprises.
Solmetric designs and manufactures the popular SunEye shade analysis tool and the PV Designer simulation software. Solmetric has raised $600,000 so far in its current 2010 financing round. “Solmetric is committed to designing the best tools for the solar industry and providing strong return for its shareholders,” says President and CEO, Willard MacDonald. For more information about Solmetric, visit: www.solmetric.com.
The Investors’ Circle Network is comprised of angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations, family offices and others who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy. The Spring 2010 Investors’ Circle Conference and Venture Fair will be held April 18th- 20th at the Westin Market Street in San Francisco. For more information about Investors’ Circle, visit: http://www.investorscircle.net.