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PV Planning with autarc

This article guides you through the layout and design of a photovoltaic (PV) system using the autarc software.

Divine Bunda-Rühl avatar
Written by Divine Bunda-Rühl
Updated over 3 months ago

In the PV planning section under Settings, you can choose between different background types:

Type

Description

Google Maps

Globally available. Image quality is good, but satellite angles may cause distortions, leading to inaccurate roof dimensions.

Orthophotos

Distortion-free, to-scale aerial images with ~20 cm ground resolution. Very accurate roof sizes, but currently only available in Germany.

Custom Image Upload

Upload your own drone photos or construction plans. During upload, you'll define a known reference length and the north direction. This is the most accurate and up-to-date method.


Drawing & Editing Roofs

  • Go to Add > Roof to start drawing.

  • Click along the edges of the roof. A green dot indicates the shape is closed.

  • Start a new roof surface from an existing corner if needed.


Edit Roofs:

  • After drawing, click on a roof surface to adjust pitch, orientation (azimuth), and edge spacing in the sidebar.

  • Arrows on the roof show orientation. Click Edit to change.

  • Use the ... menu to rename or delete roof sections.

Exclusion Zones, Windows, and Chimneys

You can draw these just like roofs. They define areas where modules shouldn’t be placed, such as around obstructions.

Placing PV Modules

  • Go to Add > Modules to add panels to your roof.

  • Sidebar Options:

    • Adjust module spacing and orientation.

    Manual Placement:

    • Place one module, then use the + fields to expand automatically in set increments.

    Automatic Layout:

    • Hover over a roof surface to preview.

    • Click to auto-place modules based on sidebar settings.

    • Repeat for each roof section.

Manage Multiple Designs

  • Use the ... menu to rename, duplicate, or delete projects.

  • Use the top navigation bar to switch between or create new designs.

Layers and Components

  • Use the sidebar to show/hide layers (roofs, modules, etc.) via the eye icon.

  • Hover near “Layers” to expand/shrink the section — useful if component settings are hidden.

Additional Components: Inverter & Battery

You can add inverters and storage systems (batteries) to your layout.

  • These are currently included in the total system cost during simulation.

  • String planning, storage sizing, and energy flow modeling will be available soon.

Keyboard Shortcuts are available to speed up your workflow.
You can find the full list hier .

Shortcuts bzw. Tastenküzel für eine noch schnelle Bedienung finden sie hier.

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