Create a ground-mounted system

 Before you start

Have the project address or an image, drawing, or PDF of the site available. When using an uploaded underlay, make sure you know one real-world reference dimension and the north direction.

Create the Site Area

1. Start a project using one of three starting points:
   • Google Maps: Position the site boundaries using satellite imagery.
   • Uploaded Underlay: Import a PNG, JPG, or PDF file. Set the scale using two points with a known reference distance, then set the north arrow.
   • Whiteboard: Start on a blank canvas.
2. Draw the site outline using Rectangle (R) or Polygon (P) in the toolbar.
3. In the side panel, select Ground as the surface type.
4. Add Obstacles & Exclusion Zones: Draw trees, access roads, utility poles, or keep-out zones using Rectangle, Polygon, Circle, or Line tools. Set obstacle height, ground alignment, and offset parameters in the side panel.

Good to Know: The ground-mount workflow is designed for rapid feasibility and concept design. Note that explicit 3D terrain elevation models and detailed electrical stringing functionalities are not currently supported in this mode.

Create the PV Layout

1. Navigate to Module Layout and select the ground surface zone.
2. Choose a PV module and mounting system configuration:
   • Filtering & Favorites: Filter the database by manufacturer, power, or type. Select the Star icon next to any component to pin it as a favorite at the top of the list.
   • Missing equipment? Learn how to Add a panel to the panel database or Add an inverter to the inverter database
3. Configure Mounting Racks & Spacing:
   • Row Pitch: Set the center-to-center distance between consecutive rack rows.
   • Rack Spacing: Define the clear distance between adjacent racks in the same row.
   • Azimuth Alignment: Select the alignment method (e.g., direct South/North or aligned to a drawn boundary edge).
4. Place Racks:
   • Autofill: Automatically populates the ground surface with racks while respecting boundary setbacks and obstacle offsets.
   • Free Size: Click and drag to manually define a custom layout boundary.
5. Adjust Layout: Select racks using the selection tool (S) to move, duplicate (E), or delete (Delete) specific tables. Use Add modules to expand the design with the same or a different configuration.

Analyse and Configure the System

1. Shadow Simulation: Enable Shadow simulation for a designated date and time frame to visualize row-to-row inter-shading. Enable Shaded panel removal to automatically purge heavily shaded modules. See Simulate shadow
2. Yield Estimation: Open Yield Settings to configure location data (PVGIS) and system loss assumptions. Review expected annual production and monthly energy graphs. See Simulate yield
3. Consumption & Financial Modeling:
   • Upload site load profiles to calculate self-consumption and grid dependency. See Evaluate production and consumption.
   • Enter CAPEX, OPEX, utility tariffs, and discount rates to generate financial metrics (NPV, IRR, Payback, LCOE). See Create a financial model

Finish the Project

1. Review Overview: Open Project & component overview in the results step to verify ground surface totals, module quantities, installed DC capacity, and table counts. See Review the project and component overview
2. Deliverables:
   • Select Export > PDF report to create a branded project proposal with company logos and key views. See Create a report
   • Select Publish to generate an interactive 3D link with configurable link expiration for client review. See Publish and share a project