pvpltools 0.1.0a1

Useful tools for photovoltaics and beyond.

PV Performance Labs Tools for Python

Useful tools for photovoltaics and beyond!

Latest news

2024-02-13: More proof that these tools are useful! The module efficiency functions were put to good use in this new study by Lelia Deville and her colleagues:

2021-10-17: New module power_conversion, which introduces a function for calculating the ADR inverter model coeffients and more.

2021-08-11: The IEC 61853 spectral factor function has a new option integration_limit. Explanations are provided in the doc string.

2020-12-02: Seven models and a model fitting function are now available, and the example code shows how to fit them to data and calculate rms error for comparisons. And of course there are nice graphs.

Contents

A quick overview:

• pvpltools/

  • power_conversion.py (work in progress)

    • functions related to PV inverters and other power conversion devices

  • module_efficiency.py

    • a collection of models for PV module efficiency (at MPP)
    • includes the new ADR model and others
    • also includes a model fitting function
    • demonstrations in a Jupyter Notebook in examples directory

  • iec61853.py

    • reliable functions for Climate-Specific Energy Rating (CSER) calculations
    • incident angle modifier for direct and diffuse irradiance
    • spectral correction/mismatch factor
    • module operating temperature
    • efficiency matrix interpolation/extrapolation

  • dataplusmeta.py

    • a simple way to pack data and essential meta-data into a single text file

  • data/

    • nrel_mpert/
      • module measurements, model parameters and other data in DataPlusMeta style

  • tests/

    • test files for the functions in the main module, to be run with pytest

• examples/

  • module_efficiency_demo.ipynb
  • dataplusmeta_demo.py

• docs/

  • sphinx project files and documentation auxiliary files, user guide, etc.

Development status

2020-12-02

• The new module module_efficiency.py now contains functions for:
  • the new ADR model
  • HEY
  • MotherPV
  • PVGIS
  • MPM5
  • MPM6
  • bilinear
  • fitting any of the models to measurements

2020-02-29

• The main building blocks for the Energy Rating calculation are complete.
• A higher level function of example script may be coming some day.

Copyright

Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Anton Driesse, PV Performance Labs.

License

GPL-3.0, but feel free to let me know if that causes any problems!

Citing

When referring to this software in either academic or commercial context, please use a citation similar to the following:

• A. Driesse, "PV Performance Labs Tools for Python", (2020), GitHub repository, https://github.com/pvplabs/pvpltools

When referring to specific functions, docs strings or algorithms, please add specifics to the citation.

The following report introduces the new ADR PV module efficiency model and compares it to the IEC 61853 efficiency matrix interpolation/extrapolation method as well as several other published models:

• Driesse, Anton, & Stein, Joshua. "From IEC 61853 power measurements to PV system simulations." SAND2020-3877, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 2020. doi:10.2172/1615179.

Additional publications related to the contents of pvpltools will be listed here as they become available.

Acknowledgements

The contents of this repository have been developed before, during or after various projects; as a product or byproduct; with funding in whole, in part, or not at all.

I would like to acknowledge Sandia National Labs and the US DOE for substantial project funding as well encouragement to publish open source code.

I also acknowledge and thank all the contributors to pvlib-python, parts of which I use very frequently in the context of my work.

Getting help

The doc strings within the code are currently the primary source of documentation.

Feel free to contact me with questions or suggestions though. For commercial use, extended support and related services are available.