PVLab, a Powerful, Innovative Software Package for the Simulation of Photovoltaic Systems

International audienceThis paper describes a new, highly modular, simulation tool named “PVLab” and developed by the GREMAN laboratory. It is designed to assist the designer in the sizing of PV (photovoltaic) installations. The programming structure and physical models implemented within this tool are described, and several case studies are proposed to highlight its relevance. The predicted yearly electrical energy production of grid-connected PV plants is discussed. In particular, the predicted performance of such plants is compared with that given by the PVsyst software. PVLab has a high level of flexibility, allowing its physical models and databases (e.g., meteorological data) to be modified according to the user’s needs. This is made possible through the use of expertise applied to all of the computing steps, and to the MATLAB development environment. The user’s ability to control the source code itself will allow much greater progress to be made in the field of renewable energy applications than with PVsyst, which is currently the commercial reference