17 January 2012
GeoModel Solar, an international provider of solar resource data, photovoltaic (PV) simulation tools and consultants, launched a new generation of solar software, iMaps and pvPlanner, delivering new industry standards at the World Future Energy Summit on 16-19 January 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Project developers can quickly and easily identify sites with high insulation, to maximise electricity production and the economic profitability of solar energy projects. Engineers, installers, financiers, policy-makers and the wider community can access this state-of-the-art software suite from the SolarGIS web-based platform.
Sample SolarGIS iMaps view of the Middle East and North Africa
According to Marcel Suri, managing director of GeoModel Solar, SolarGIS iMaps provide access to key solar resource parameters with a spatial detail of 250 meters, m (~820 feet, ft), thus allowing for accurate data query, site selection and comparison and informed decision-making about the best position for a prospective PV, concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) or concentrated solar power (CSP) project.
iMaps also offer unlimited access to the relevant site-specific climate and geographic data required for prefeasibility studies, supported by the data reports and high-resolution interactive maps. Once a site is selected, PV electricity yield can be interactively estimated by pvPlanner.
SolarGIS pvPlanner simulates long-term electricity production of PV projects ranging from large open-space power plants to roof-top systems and rural electrification projects. For small and medium-size PV systems, pvPlanner reports are bankable as they benefit from validated insulation resource data, state-of-the-art knowledge and best practices in energy simulation learned in previous projects, such as the European Union (EU) initiative PV Geographical Information System (PVGIS).
