Time-Series Results Files

When an energy calculation is run locally, if selected (see Write Detailed Time-Series Files), detailed time-series result files are written to a folder (default name "Testing") next to the workbook. For layouts where the energy calculation was run in multiple chunks, some of the file types have individual files per chunk. The time stamps indicate the exact time assumed in the calculation for each time interval in the input solar resource data.

The files written are:

File	Description
`"AC Loss tree log.tsv"`	Breakdown of array AC power output including collection effects
`"Inverter AC output log.tsv"`	AC power output for individual trackers
`"Irradiance log for Chunk 1.tsv"`	Breakdown of irradiance at each rack/tracker grouping (one per chunk)
`"Loss tree log for Chunk 1.tsv"`	Breakdown of effects diagram (one per chunk)
`"Module Performance log for Chunk 1.tsv"`	Breakdown of module performance (one per chunk)
`"TrackerPositions.tsv"`	Breakdown of tracker positions (only output for a single-axis tracker site layouts)

Skipping writing some of the output files

Some of the above file types can get quite large, especially for large plants or long time periods. You can skip SolarFarmer logging and writing the different file types by setting some properties in a C# script.

Running the following script before you run the calculation (just run it once and make sure you save the workbook afterwards so it remembers the settings) would skip ALL the file types (probably not what you want!). But it shows which properties are available for each file type.

For the file types that you wish to skip, set the properties to true.
For the file types that you wish to generate, set the properties to false.

Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingModulePerformanceOutput = true;
Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingIrradianceLogOutput = true;
Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingLossTreeLogOutput = true;
Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingAcLossTreeLogOutput = true;
Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingInverterAcOutput = true;
Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingTrackerPositionsOutput = true;

"AC Loss tree log.tsv"

This file contains the AC power results at each time step.

Note

To skip writing the AC loss tree log, run the following C# script before you run the calculation:

(You just need to run the script once and make sure you save the workbook to save the setting).

Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingAcLossTreeLogOutput = true;

Column Header	Description	Units
`Time`	The time stamp	`DD/MM/YYYY HH:mm:ss`
`PowerExportedFromInverters`	AC Power output from all inverters	W
`PowerAfterACWiringLosses`	AC Power output after taking AC collection effects into account	W
`PowerAfterTransformerLosses`	AC Power output after taking transformer effects into account	W
`PowerAfterConsideringAvailabilityEffect`	AC Power output after taking grid availability effects into account	W

"Irradiance log for Chunk 1.tsv"

This file contains a breakdown of irradiance at each rack/tracker grouping. Racks/trackers are grouped by module type, similar tilt and front row/non front row. Columns are labelled with the loss effect that has just been applied. I.e. Shading Loss Beam means the beam irradiance after shading has been taken into account.

Note

To skip writing the irradiance log, run the following C# script before you run the calculation:

(You just need to run the script once and make sure you save the workbook to save the setting).

Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingIrradianceLogOutput = true;

Column Header	Description	Units
`Time`	The time stamp. This is the center of the time period being modelled, and the time used in the solar position calculation.	`DD/MM/YYYY HH:mm:ss`
`Sun Azimuth`	The azimuth angle of the sun	Degrees
`Sun Zenith`	The zenith angle of the sun	Degrees
`Racks in group`	IDs of racks/trackers in the group	-
`Plane of Array Beam`	Beam irradiance on the plane of array	W/m²
`Plane of Array Diffuse`	Diffuse irradiance on the plane of array	W/m²
`Plane of Array Reflected`	Reflected irradiance on the plane of array	W/m²
`Horizon Loss Beam`	Beam irradiance after horizon losses have been taken into account	W/m²
`Shading Loss Beam`	Beam irradiance after shading has been taken into account	W/m²
`Shading Loss Diffuse`	Diffuse irradiance after shading has been taken into account	W/m²
`Shading Loss Reflected`	Reflected irradiance after shading has been taken into account	W/m²
`SoilingLoss Beam`	Beam irradiance after soiling loss has been taken into account	W/m²
`SoilingLoss Diffuse`	Diffuse irradiance after soiling loss has been taken into account	W/m²
`SoilingLoss Reflected`	Reflected irradiance after soiling loss has been taken into account	W/m²
`IAM Loss Beam`	Beam irradiance after IAM loss has been taken into account	W/m²
`IAM Loss Diffuse`	Diffuse irradiance after IAM loss has been taken into account	W/m²
`IAM Loss Reflected`	Reflected irradiance after IAM loss has been taken into account	W/m²
`Spectral Loss Beam`	Beam irradiance after spectral effect has been taken into account	W/m²
`Spectral Loss Diffuse`	Diffuse irradiance after spectral effect has been taken into account	W/m²
`Spectral Loss Reflected`	Reflected irradiance after spectral effect has been taken into account	W/m²
`Backside Loss Beam`	Backside beam irradiance. This includes row-to-row shading, but excludes soiling loss, IAM, spectral loss and bifacial shading and transmission losses.	W/m²
`Backside Loss Diffuse`	Backside diffuse irradiance. This includes row-to-row shading, but excludes soiling loss, IAM, spectral loss and bifacial shading and transmission losses.	W/m²
`Backside Loss Reflected`	Backside reflected irradiance. This includes row-to-row shading, but excludes soiling loss, IAM, spectral loss and bifacial shading and transmission losses.	W/m²

"Loss tree log for Chunk N.tsv"

This file contains the plant power, in W, at each stage through the loss tree. The plant is broken down into chunks, and there will be one file for each chunk. It starts with the irradiance calculation, so here each entry represents the power from irradiance, integrated over the active area of all the modules in the chunk, i.e. the units are strictly W and not W/m². The columns then continue through the conversion and inverter stages of the calculation. The AC losses are not included as they are done after the chunks are combined.

Note

To skip writing the loss tree log, run the following C# script before you run the calculation:

(You just need to run the script once and make sure you save the workbook to save the setting).

Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingLossTreeLogOutput = true;

Column Header	Description	Units
`Time`	The time stamp	`DD/MM/YYYY HH:mm:ss`
`IntervalFractionOfAnHour`	The fraction of the hour that the time stamp represents	-
`PowerFromGHI`	Available power from GHI. GHI integrated over the area of all the modules	W
`PowerFromPOAIrradiance`	Available power from POA irradiance. POA irradiance integrated over the area of all the modules	W
`PowerFromIrradianceAfter` `ConsideringHorizonLoss`	Available power from irradiance after horizon effect. Irradiance after horizon effect integrated over the area of all the modules	W
`PowerFromIrradianceAfter` `ConsideringNearShadingLoss`	Available power from irradiance after near shading effect. Irradiance after near shading effect integrated over the area of all the modules	W
`PowerFromIrradianceAfter` `ConsideringSoilingLoss`	Available power from irradiance after soiling effect. Irradiance after soiling effect integrated over the area of all the modules	W
`PowerFromIrradianceAfter` `ConsideringIAM`	Available power from irradiance after IAM effect. Irradiance after IAM effect integrated over the area of all the modules	W
`PowerFromIrradianceAfter` `ConsideringSpectralEffect`	Available power from irradiance after spectral effect. Irradiance after spectral effect integrated over the area of all the modules	W
`PowerFromIrradianceAfter` `AddingBacksideIrradiance`	Available power from irradiance including backside. Total of front and backside irradiance integrated over the area of all the modules	W
`PowerFromIrradianceAfter` `BacksideShadingLoss`	Available power from irradiance after backside shade factor. Irradiance after backside shade factor integrated over the area of all the modules	W
`PowerFromIrradianceAfter` `BifacialTransmissionLoss`	Available power from irradiance after backside transmission effect. Irradiance after backside transmission effect multiplied by the total module area. This is defined as "effective irradiance"	W
`PowerCalculatedAssumingSTCMeasuredEfficiency`	The effective irradiance multiplied by the given measured efficiency of the modules	W
`PowerCalculatedUsingModelledEfficiency` `AtSTCExcludingModellingCorrection`	The effective irradiance multiplied by the efficiency calculated using the diode model, at STC, without applying the modelling correction and finding the maximum power point	W
`PowerCalculatedUsingModelledEfficiency` `AtSTCIncludingModellingCorrection`	The effective irradiance multiplied by the MPP efficiency calculated using the diode model, at STC but including the modelling correction	W
`PowerCalculatedUsingModeledEfficiency` `AtSTCIrradianceButModelledTemperature`	The effective irradiance multiplied by the MPP efficiency calculated using the diode model, at 1000 W/m² but using the correct temperature modelled for the conditions	W
`PowerCalculatedFromDiodeModel`	DC power as calculated by the diode model using the modelled cell temperature and effective irradiance and assuming each sub-module operates at it's maximum power point	W
`PowerAfterBifacialityFactor`	DC power, re-calculated after modifying the effective irradiance according to the bifaciality factor	W
`PowerAfterBackIrradianceMismatch`	DC power, re-calculated after backside irradiance mismatch has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterPowerBinningEffect`	DC power after module power binning effect has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterLIDEffect`	DC power after module LID effect has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterOtherModellingAdjustment`	DC power after other modelling adjustment effect has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterModuleMismatch`	DC power after module mismatch effect has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterElectricalMismatch`	Finally we have now removed the assumption that all sub-modules are operating at their maximum power points. This power is calculated by firstly taking the irradiance value for the most-shaded cell rather than the module average, then the full I-V curve is calculated for each sub-module and these I-V curves are combined to find an array I-V curve. This is the DC power based on the maximum power points from each inverter input.	W
`PowerAfterDcOhmicLoss`	DC power after ohmic losses have been applied to the I-V curves	W
`PowerAfterInverterMinDcVoltageConstraint`	DC power after inverter minimum DC voltage has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterInverterMaxDcCurrentConstraint`	DC power after inverter maximum DC current has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterInverterMaxDcVoltageConstraint`	DC power after inverter maximum DC voltage has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterInverterMinDcPowerConstraint`	DC power after inverter minimum DC power has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterInverterEfficiencyLosses`	AC power after inverter efficiency has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterInverterMaxAcPowerConstraint`	AC power after inverter maximum AC power has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterConsideringInverterOverPowerShutdown`	AC power after inverter overpower shut down has been taken into account	W
`PowerAfterConsideringInverterTareLosses`	AC power after inverter tare loss has been taken into account	W

"Module Performance log for Chunk 1.tsv"

Breakdown of module performance results for each rack grouping. Racks are grouped by module type, similar tilt, and front row / non front row

Note

To skip writing the module performance log, run the following C# script before you run the calculation:

(You just need to run the script once and make sure you save the workbook to save the setting).

Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingModulePerformanceOutput = true;

Column Header	Description	Units
`Time`	The time stamp	`DD/MM/YYYY HH:mm:ss`
`Row group name or list of submodules`	Submodule IDs or row group indicator	-
`EffectiveIrradiance [W/m2]`	Effective irradiance for group	W/m²
`MismatchShadingIrradiances [W/m2]`	Irradiance used for group to determine electrical mismatch, based on most shaded cell	W/m²
`MaximumPowerPoint [W / submodule]`	Submodule power at MPP for irradiance at most shaded cell and modelled cell temperature	W / submodule

"TrackerPositions.tsv"

Tracker rotation information (available only with full shading model)

Note

To skip writing the tracker rotation information, run the following C# script before you run the calculation:

(You just need to run the script once and make sure you save the workbook to save the setting).

Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingTrackerPositionsOutput = true;

Column Header	Description	Units
`Time`	The time stamp	`DD/MM/YYYY HH:mm:ss`
`Tracker Rotation`	Tracker rotation angle. Negative is facing east, positive is facing west. Zero means pointing straight up	Degrees
`Binned Rotation`	Tracker rotation after binning	Degrees
`Bin Group Id`	ID of rotation bin	-
`Incidence Angle`	Sun incidence angle	Degrees
`Module Azimuth`	Module azimuth angle	Degrees
`Module Zenith`	Module zenith angle	Degrees

"Inverter AC output log.tsv"

This file contains the AC power output from each inverter.

Note

To skip writing the inverter AC output, run the following C# script before you run the calculation:

(You just need to run the script once and make sure you save the workbook to save the setting).

Workbook.CalculationSettings.SkipWritingInverterAcOutput = true;

Column Header	Description	Units
`Time`	The time stamp	`DD/MM/YYYY HH:mm:ss`
`<Inverter label>`	AC power output for inverter, this is based on the sum of the inverter input powers but includes the inverter efficiency and the inverter maximum AC output limit	W