Methods and systems for designing photovoltaic systems

1. A computer-implemented method for designing a photovoltaic (PV) system, the method implemented by a design automation computer system in communication with a memory, the method comprising:

receiving a set of site data, wherein the site data includes a set of location identifiers;

determining a set of location design characteristics based on the set of site data;

retrieving a set of structural product rules;

identifying a subset of structural product rules associated with the set of location design characteristics;

receiving a system type selection;

receiving a plurality of system component selections;

receiving a plurality of PV layout preferences;

determining, at the design automation computer system, a PV module layout by iteratively applying a first layout algorithm to the set of site data and the plurality of PV layout preferences, the PV module layout defining a placement of a plurality of PV modules of a PV system;

determining a structural layout, an electrical design, and an electrical layout based on the PV module layout;

refining the structural layout based on the subset of structural product rules;

determining a bill of materials based on the PV module layout, the structural layout, and the electrical layout;

defining a PV system model using the structural layout, the electrical design, the electrical layout, the PV module layout, and the bill of materials; and

displaying at least a portion of the PV system model on a visual display.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a set of boundary offsets associated with the set of site data;

receiving a set of obstruction definitions associated with the set of site data, the set of obstruction definitions including a set of obstruction heights and a set of obstruction offsets;

determining a set of shadow setbacks based on the set of obstruction definitions; and

determining the PV module layout based on the set of shadow setbacks such that the shadow setbacks define a plurality of regions where the plurality of PV modules cannot be placed.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the set of shadow setbacks further comprises:

identifying a set of obstructions based on the set of obstruction definitions;

projecting a set of shadows for a plurality of time periods based on the set of obstructions and a projected sun location for each of the plurality of time periods; and

integrating the set of shadows into an integrated shadow setback area.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the plurality of system component selections further comprises:

providing a plurality of first component options to a user device based on a component library;

receiving a first component selection corresponding to one of the plurality of first component options, from the user device;

retrieving, from the component library, a plurality of second component options associated with the first component selection;

providing the plurality of second component options to the user device; and

receiving a second component selection corresponding to one of the plurality of second component options, from the user device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the system type selection further comprises:

receiving one of a parking canopy type selection, a ground mount type selection, and a rooftop type selection;

providing the plurality of system component selections based on the system type selection; and

receiving the plurality of PV layout preferences based on the system type selection.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an energy simulation, a cost estimation, and a profitability analysis based on the completed PV system design, and the bill of materials.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a plurality of strings in the PV module layout;

identifying a plurality of inverters in the PV module layout; and

assigning each of the plurality of strings in the PV module layout to an associated inverter of the plurality of inverters.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a plurality of electrical properties associated with the PV module layout;

identifying a plurality of meteorological data associated with the location identifiers; and

determining a recommended string size based on the plurality of meteorological data and the plurality of electrical properties.

9. A design automation computer system used to design a photovoltaic (PV) system, the design automation computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to said processor, said processor configured to:

receive a set of site data, wherein the site data includes a set of location identifiers;

determining a set of location design characteristics based on the set of site data;

retrieving a set of structural product rules;

identifying a subset of structural product rules associated with the set of location design characteristics;

receive a system type selection;

receive a plurality of system component selections;

receive a plurality of PV layout preferences;

determine a PV module layout by iteratively applying a first layout algorithm to the set of site data and the plurality of PV layout preferences, the PV module layout defining a placement of a plurality of PV modules of a PV system;

determine a structural layout, an electrical design, and an electrical layout based on the PV module layout;

refining the structural layout based on the subset of structural product rules;

determine a bill of materials based on the PV module layout, the structural layout, and the electrical layout;

define a PV system model using the structural layout, the electrical design, the electrical layout, the PV module layout, and the bill of materials; and

displaying at least a portion of the PV system model on a visual display.

10. The design automation computer system of claim 9 , further configured to:

receive a set of boundary offsets associated with the set of site data;

receive a set of obstruction definitions associated with the set of site data, the set of obstruction definitions including a set of obstruction heights and a set of obstruction offsets;

determine a set of shadow setbacks based on the set of obstruction definitions; and

determine the PV module layout based on the set of shadow setbacks such that the shadow setbacks define a plurality of regions where the plurality of PV modules cannot be placed.

11. The design automation computer system of claim 10 , further configured to:

identify a set of obstructions based on the set of obstruction definitions;

project a set of shadows for a plurality of time periods based on the set of obstructions and a projected sun location for each of the plurality of time periods; and

integrate the set of shadows into an integrated shadow setback area.

12. The design automation computer system of claim 9 , further configured to:

provide a plurality of first component options to a user device based on a component library;

receive a first component selection corresponding to one of the plurality of first component options, from the user device;

retrieve, from the component library, a plurality of second component options associated with the first component selection;

provide the plurality of second component options to the user device; and

receive a second component selection corresponding to one of the plurality of second component options, from the user device.

13. The design automation computer system of claim 9 , further configured to:

receive one of a parking canopy type selection, a ground mount type selection, and a rooftop type selection;

provide the plurality of system component selections based on the system type selection; and

receive the plurality of PV layout preferences based on the system type selection.

14. The design automation computer system of claim 9 , further configured to:

determine an energy simulation, a cost estimation, and a profitability analysis based on the structural layout, the electrical design, the electrical layout, the PV module layout, and the bill of materials.

15. The design automation computer system of claim 9 , further configured to:

identify a plurality of strings in the PV module layout;

identify a plurality of inverters in the PV module layout; and

assign each of the plurality of strings in the PV module layout to an associated inverter of the plurality of inverters.

16. The design automation computer system of claim 9 , further configured to:

identify a plurality of electrical properties associated with the PV module layout;

identify a plurality of meteorological data associated with the location identifiers; and

determine a recommended string size based on the plurality of meteorological data and the plurality of electrical properties.

17. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media for designing a photovoltaic (PV) system, the computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein, when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

receive a set of site data, wherein the site data includes a set of location identifiers;

determining a set of location design characteristics based on the set of site data;

retrieving a set of structural product rules;

identifying a subset of structural product rules associated with the set of location design characteristics;

receive a system type selection;

receive a plurality of system component selections;

receive a plurality of PV layout preferences;

determine a PV module layout by iteratively applying a first layout algorithm to the set of site data and the plurality of PV layout preferences, the PV module layout defining a placement of a plurality of PV modules of a PV system;

determine a structural layout, an electrical design, and an electrical layout based on the PV module layout;

refining the structural layout based on the subset of structural product rules;

determine a bill of materials based on the PV module layout, the structural layout, and the electrical layout;

define a PV system model using the structural layout, the electrical design, the electrical layout, the PV module layout, and the bill of materials; and

displaying at least a portion of the PV system model on a visual display.

18. The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

receive a set of boundary offsets associated with the set of site data;

receive a set of obstruction definitions associated with the set of site data, the set of obstruction definitions including a set of obstruction heights and a set of obstruction offsets;

determine a set of shadow setbacks based on the set of obstruction definitions; and

determine the PV module layout based on the set of shadow setbacks such that the shadow setbacks define a plurality of regions where the plurality of PV modules cannot be placed.

19. The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

identify a set of obstructions based on the set of obstruction definitions;

project a set of shadows for a plurality of time periods based on the set of obstructions and a projected sun location for each of the plurality of time periods; and

integrate the set of shadows into an integrated shadow setback area.

20. The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

provide a plurality of first component options to a user device based on a component library;

receive a first component selection corresponding to one of the plurality of first component options, from the user device;

retrieve, from the component library, a plurality of second component options associated with the first component selection;

provide the plurality of second component options to the user device; and

receive a second component selection corresponding to one of the plurality of second component options, from the user device.

21. The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

receive one of a parking canopy type selection, a ground mount type selection, and a rooftop type selection;

provide the plurality of system component selections based on the system type selection; and

receive the plurality of PV layout preferences based on the system type selection.

22. A computer-implemented method for constructing a photovoltaic (PV) system, the method implemented by a design automation computer system in communication with a memory, the method comprising:

receiving a set of site data, wherein the site data includes a set of location identifiers;

determining a set of location design characteristics based on the set of site data;

retrieving a set of structural product rules;

identifying a subset of structural product rules associated with the set of location design characteristics;

receiving a system type selection;

receiving a plurality of system component selections;

receiving a plurality of PV layout preferences;

determining, at the design automation computer system, a PV module layout by iteratively applying a first layout algorithm to the set of site data and the plurality of PV layout preferences, the PV module layout defining a placement of a plurality of PV modules of a PV system;

determining a structural layout, an electrical design, and an electrical layout based on the PV module layout;

refining the structural layout based on the subset of structural product rules;

determining a bill of materials based on the PV module layout, the structural layout, and the electrical layout;

creating a plurality of PV system options using the structural layout, the electrical design, the electrical layout, the PV module layout, and the bill of materials;

providing the plurality of PV system options to a user device for display on a visual display of the user device;

receiving a PV system selection corresponding to one of the plurality of PV system options; and

constructing the PV system based on the PV system selection.