Photovoltaic Prediction Software: Evaluation with Real Data from Northern Spain

Prediction of energy production is crucial for the design and installation PV plants. In this study, five free commercial software tools to predict photovoltaic are evaluated: RETScreen, Solar Advisor Model (SAM), PVGIS, PVSyst, PV*SOL. The evaluation involves a comparison monthly annually predicted data on supplied national grid with real field collected from three All systems, located in Castile Leon (Spain), have different tilting systems: fixed mounting, horizontal-axis tracking, dual-axis tracking. last 12 years operating data, 2008 2020, used evaluation. Although were easier use their installations could be described detail, results not appreciably superior. annual global terms, hid poor estimations throughout year, where overestimations compensated by underestimated results. This fact was reflected results: yielded overestimates during colder months, while models showed better estimates warmer months. most studies, deviation below 10% when analyzed. accuracy also reduced complexity solar tracking systems replaced installation.