Accuracy Analysis of Pvsyst Software for Estimating the Generation of a Photovoltaic System at the Polo de Inovação Campos dos Goytacazes

Abstract

The use of photovoltaic solar energy has been widespread in recent decades, mainly because it is considered a pollutant-free technology. Due to the increased demand for this type of energy source, various software has appeared on the market promising reliable estimates of electricity generation. Therefore, the article proposes to make a comparison between the generation obtained at the Instituto Federal Fluminense Campus Polo de Inovação Campos dos Goytacazes - Brazil and the simulations presented by the PVsyst software (test version), using four different meteorological databases. The results reveal that the software provides coherent generation estimates, with percentage differences of less than 5% when compared to the real system for the performed simulation. In addition, under those circumstances, when using the Atlas database, the annual estimates were the closest to reality and the monthly analysis showed that the INMET database presented the lowest absolute mean errors (MAPE) and standard deviations (DP).