Shadowing Analysis
See shading losses on the drawing during design and catch them before you commit to changes.
PVGround brings together your panel layout, shading objects and the date/time scenario you choose inside the AutoCAD model. You see which rows are shaded and at what times directly on the drawing, and clarify risky zones before changing row spacing, orientation or obstacle placement.
How it works
- 1
Select your PV Area
When you mark the site boundary, PVGround automatically includes panel rows, fences, trees, transformer/station, wind turbines and custom shading objects in the analysis. You do not need to select each object one by one.
- 2
Define the critical day and time
Project coordinates are read from the PV Area. You can run shading for a single moment in time or for a time range (e.g. before and after noon). Ideal for testing production-critical periods such as the winter solstice.
- 3
Read the result on the drawing
Shaded areas are drawn on the model. Zones intersecting panel rows are highlighted, so you can visually answer whether shading comes from the site itself or from a neighboring row.
- 4
Revise the design and run again
When row spacing, panel orientation, station/fence position or active area boundary changes, rerun the analysis to compare the impact quickly. Address shading risk during layout, before moving to PVsyst.
Highlights
- Evaluates on-site and surrounding shading sources together: panel rows, trees, fences, stations, wind turbines and custom shading objects in one scenario.
- Delivers panel-level visible results: shading is not shown only as a general area; affected rows are clearly marked.
- Single-time or time-range analysis: test different sun angles such as morning, noon and afternoon in the same design.
- Accounts for terrain slope: if topography data is available, shading direction is calculated according to site conditions.
- Speeds up design decisions: get answers on the drawing within minutes to questions like “Is this row spacing enough?”
- Pre-PVsyst quality control: reduce shading risks in the layout before moving to detailed production simulation.
Other features
Explore other systems inside PVGround.
Terrain Analysis
PVGround imports topographic data into AutoCAD and lets you analyze your site before and after panel layout. You see slope limits, elevation differences, water flow directions and cut-fill requirements on a single drawing, and detect risky areas early.
Capacity Iteration
PVGround virtually tests multiple row-spacing scenarios based on your PV Area boundaries and panel settings. It compares capacity, module count and used area per scenario in a table and applies your chosen result directly to the drawing.
DC-AC-HV Cabling
Plan DC, AC and high-voltage cable routes in the 3D model to simplify quantity takeoff and design control.
Pile Analysis
PVGround analyzes topography-based piles frame by frame. It groups front and rear leg lengths into production types using tolerance; calculates column, purlin, brace and accessory tonnage for monofacial or bifacial construction. Results are color-coded on the drawing or exported as a detailed Excel report.
Reporting System
No more manual spreadsheets. PVGround reads power, quantities and site data straight from your design and delivers professional outputs for clients and teams in minutes. One model, one workflow: from early design to tender-ready reports.