Pre-Project Checklist

You can think of this article as a checklist for what you may need to get started with PVFARM on your own projects. PVFARM does provide default equipment, so you will not need to create equipment before working on the platform.

Context and Targets

1. Boundaries (required)

   1. KML, KMZ, and DXF files.
      Please follow the How To Get Boundaries And Terrain Files to get your own boundary files for PVFARM.

2. Site requirements (recommended)

   1. Total DC Target and/or number of blocks

   2. ILR Range (dc/ac ratio)

   3. Row-to-row space

3. Equipment (recommended)

   1. PV Module

      • manufacturer

      • power

      • use one from the Catalog or upload your own PV module as a PAN file
        Please follow the How to Upload a PV Module and Inverter as a PAN/OND file to upload any PV Module you have.

   2. Tracker

      • manufacturer

      • number of modules per string

      • number of modules per row

   3. Combiner box

      • manufacturer

      • String or Central type

      • amperage, A

   4. Inverter

      • manufacturer

      • AC power, kW

      • String or Central type

      • number of inverters per block

      • use one from the Catalog or upload your own inverter as an OND file
        Please follow the How to Upload a PV Module and Inverter as a PAN/OND file to upload any Inverter you have.

   5. Transformer

      • manufacturer

      • DC Power, kW

4. Terrain (optional - Cut&Fill purposes)

   1. GeoTiff, DEM, and PVFM files.
      Please follow the How To Get Boundaries And Terrain Files to get your own terrain files for PVFARM.