In the rush for installations, Sunlight New Energy aids in the competitive survival of distributed photovoltaics
Date: April 3, 2025
As the new regulations for managing distributed photovoltaics and the comprehensive entry of new energy policies are officially released, distributed photovoltaics have undoubtedly become a significant area of impact. Recently, draft management guidelines for distributed photovoltaics have been circulated in several provinces, marking the entry of distributed photovoltaics into a critical competition phase. Projects that do not connect to the grid by April 30 may face challenges in achieving full grid connection or high proportions of self-consumption, while those that connect after May 31 could encounter market entry risks and potential reductions in electricity prices.
After several years, the photovoltaic industry is once again experiencing critical installation deadlines, notably on April 30 and May 31.
The Urgency of Distributed Photovoltaic Installations
It is widely recognized that the construction of distributed photovoltaics often faces complex rooftop conditions. Additionally, the small scale of individual projects, coupled with their large numbers, presents challenges such as low efficiency in manual surveying and design, difficulties in achieving cohesive design plans, and repeated delays in design changes, all of which keep investors on edge. For instance, if a project requires a redesign due to component changes, the key parameters are often constrained by multiple factors, necessitating repeated adjustments and optimization, which can take 2 to 3 days for significant design alterations.
Moreover, during the design phase of distributed photovoltaic projects, manual measurement errors and a lengthy process can result in inefficiencies. For example, it takes two people four days to survey a rooftop of 100,000 square meters, coupled with the workload of producing over 50 different design drawings, making it clear that time is of the essence for those in the distributed photovoltaic sector.
To address these design challenges, Sunlight New Energy has leveraged its extensive experience in the digital transformation of photovoltaic power stations to launch the iSolarBP distributed intelligent assessment and design software. This innovative tool encompasses the entire process, from lead assessment to design and construction documentation, enabling same-day surveying, drawing production, and material listing to accelerate the realization of distributed photovoltaic projects.
iSolarBP: Efficiency and Precision Combined
Unlike other design software, iSolarBP is a comprehensive solution that covers the entire process of distributed station design, from lead assessment to detailed construction drawings. It provides specific project implementation lists applicable to various mainstream scenarios, including concrete flat roofs, color steel tile roofs, photovoltaic carports, and BIPV.
During the assessment phase, users simply input the factory name and electricity consumption, and the software retrieves electricity prices to calculate the economic viability of distributed photovoltaics and storage. In the initial project stage, drone surveys provide a 360-degree view of the surrounding environment and roof conditions, allowing 3D modeling with 10cm accuracy, enabling completion of the survey for a 100,000 square meter rooftop in just two hours. This significantly enhances the efficiency of traditional manual surveys while minimizing potential safety risks.
The modeling software can measure distances, heights, and identify slope directions and gradients, while also accommodating various obstacles such as skylights, wind turbines, chimneys, parapets, and ventilation shafts. For instance, the software supports defining the position and height of parapets in segmented layouts, especially in complex scenarios where manual settings may lack precision and efficiency.
With a one-click preliminary design function, iSolarBP can automatically arrange components, string wiring, and equipment placements, quickly generating initial design proposals that provide more accurate decision-making references and effectively avoid misunderstandings during initial communication.
In the design phase, leveraging precise data from drone surveys, the software allows for equipment selection, array information, and layout parameters, automatically calculating the number of series connections based on the chosen equipment. Depending on the project’s specifics, users can choose between modular or standardized layout modes, with iSolarBP considering obstacles and shadow ranges to enhance the layout capacity by over 5% compared to conventional methods. If designers find the layout unsatisfactory, they can customize shading ratios or adjust component arrangements freely.
It’s important to note that each distributed photovoltaic project faces different rooftop construction environments. In light of the current rush for installations, traditional methods, whether in terms of cost, timeliness, safety, or precision, are proving inefficient. In contrast, iSolarBP’s modules support customizable adjustments, making it adaptable to virtually any design scenario and significantly improving preliminary design efficiency.
Detail Optimization with AI Models
iSolarBP not only aligns closely with the actual usage in the industry from an overall modeling perspective but also integrates automated and manual inputs in many detailed areas to ensure precise output. For instance, due to the variability of rooftop conditions, each rooftop’s distribution room location and wiring direction differ. To ensure cable routing aligns with the actual site conditions, iSolarBP requires designers to manually draft the cable paths. During rooftop extraction, the software will automatically adjust the rooftop layout to ensure the accuracy of the drawings and designs.
After the software automatically completes the steps of zoning, convergence, and string wiring, a review of the convergence is essential to ensure the voltage and current of the strings are balanced, facilitating reasonable distribution of MPPT. This step is crucial for ensuring that the design is both feasible and implementable.
iSolarBP’s attention to detail extends to considering boundary factors across various stages. For example, in cable tray layout schemes, it accounts for power transmission efficiency, structural safety, and maintenance convenience. The software assesses line loss, voltage drop, low-voltage cable load requirements, regulatory compliance, and overall system efficiency to optimize the design while marking the materials and models for cable trays. Through multi-path planning algorithms, it can reduce cable and tray costs by approximately 20%.
Upon completing all steps, iSolarBP can generate a range of documents, including photovoltaic layouts, primary and secondary electrical diagrams, structural drawings, hydraulic diagrams, and various lists and calculation reports, effectively encompassing all project outcomes typically produced by design institutes. Additionally, the generated lists can be directly used for procurement of materials and equipment, allowing construction teams to work efficiently based on provided drawings.
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the design of new energy power stations is entering a new era of digital transformation. iSolarBP, with its high efficiency, speed, and precision, is helping distributed photovoltaic practitioners stay ahead during critical installation periods.
