Methods and systems for determining a photovoltaic system layout

1. A computer-implemented method for determining a system layout of a photovoltaic (PV) system for a site having a site boundary, the method implemented by a design automation computer system including one or more processors in communication with a memory, the method comprising:

receiving a set of site data for the site, the set of site data including data defining three-dimensional attributes and positions of obstructions located at the site and the site boundary;

applying at least one of a coarse shadow algorithm and a fine shadow algorithm to the obstruction data to determine setbacks and offsets that define negative space where the PV system should not be designed;

receiving a maximum system size definition;

receiving a first selection of one or more module tables;

receiving a layout type designation;

identifying a system orientation;

identifying a system spacing by applying a shade analysis algorithm that simulates shadow effects caused by each row of the one or more module tables;

receiving a layout detail designation;

iteratively applying at least one of a first layout algorithm and a second layout algorithm to determine one or more completed layouts of module tables for the site based on the site data, the first selection of module tables, the layout type designation, the system orientation, the system spacing and the layout detail designation by varying at least one variable not constrained by the first selection of module tables, the layout type designation, and the layout detail designation until the earlier to occur of no additional module tables being able to be positioned within the site boundary and the maximum system size being met, the completed layout including a reduced risk of structural damage to the PV system through the use of local design data;

determining a system size for the one or more completed layouts;

sorting the one or more completed layouts by system size; and

recommending a preferred layout selected from the one or more completed layouts based at least partially on a plurality of user preferences.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the first selection wherein the first selection is at least one of a fixed tilt table type, a tracker table type, and a canopy table type.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving at least one of a user alignment to true south and a user alignment to off-azimuth, and wherein applying the layout algorithm further comprises applying the layout algorithm to determine the completed layout of module tables for the site based on the received user alignment.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying a system spacing further comprises:

identifying the system spacing at least partially based on the maximum system size definition.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying a system spacing further comprises:

identifying a designation of layout uniformity; and

identifying the system spacing based on the designation of layout uniformity.

6. A design automation computer system used for determining a system layout of a photovoltaic (PV) system for a site having a site boundary, 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 for the site, the set of site data including data defining three-dimensional attributes and positions of obstructions located at the site and the site boundary;

receive a maximum system size definition;

receive a first selection of one or more tables;

receive a layout type designation;

identify a system orientation;

identify a system spacing;

receive a layout detail designation;

iteratively apply a layout algorithm to determine a completed layout of module tables for the site based on the site data, the first selection of module tables, the layout type designation, the system orientation, the system spacing and the layout detail designation by varying at least one variable not constrained by the first selection of module tables, the layout type designation, and the layout detail designation until the earlier to occur of no additional module tables being able to be positioned within the site boundary and the maximum system size being met, the completed layout including a reduced risk of structural damage to the PV system through the use of local design data;

determine a system size for the one or more completed layouts;

sort the one or more completed layouts by system size; and

recommend a preferred layout selected from the one or more completed layouts based at least partially on a plurality of user preferences.

7. The design automation computer system of claim 6 , further configured to:

receive the first selection wherein the first selection is at least one of a fixed tilt table type, a tracker table type, and a canopy table type.

8. The design automation computer system of claim 6 , further configured to:

receive at least one of a user alignment to true south and a user alignment to off-azimuth; and

apply the layout algorithm to determine the completed layout of module tables for the site further based on the received user alignment.

9. The design automation computer system of claim 6 , further configured to:

identify the system spacing at least partially based on the maximum system size definition.

10. The design automation computer system of claim 6 , further configured to:

identify a designation of layout uniformity; and

identify the system spacing based on the designation of layout uniformity.

11. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media for determining a system layout of a photovoltaic (PV) system for a site having a site boundary, the non-transitory 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 for the site, the set of site data including data defining three-dimensional attributes and positions of obstructions located at the site and the boundary of the site;

receive a maximum system size definition;

receive a first selection of one or more module tables;

receive a layout type designation;

identify a system orientation;

identify a system spacing;

receive a layout detail designation; and

iteratively apply a layout algorithm to determine a completed layout of module tables for the site based on the site data, the first selection of module tables, the layout type designation, the system orientation, the system spacing and the layout detail designation by varying at least one variable not constrained by the first selection of module tables, the layout type designation, and the layout detail designation until the earlier to occur of no additional module tables being able to be positioned fully within the site boundary and the maximum system size being met, the completed layout including a reduced risk of structural damage to the PV system through the use of local design data;

determine a system size for the one or more completed layouts;

sort the one or more completed layouts by system size; and

recommend a preferred layout selected from the one or more completed layouts based at least partially on a plurality of user preferences.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

receive the first selection wherein the first selection is at least one of a fixed tilt table type, a tracker table type, and a canopy table type.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

receive at least one of a user alignment to true south and a user alignment to off-azimuth; and

apply the layout algorithm to determine the completed layout of module tables for the site further based on the received user alignment.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

identify the system spacing at least partially based on the maximum system size definition.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

identify a designation of layout uniformity; and

identify the system spacing based on the designation of layout uniformity.