A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis
<p>The growing adoption of renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, has led to the development of numerous simulation software tools to simplify system design, analysis, and optimization. This study evaluates five widely used PV simulation software packages—SAM, PVsyst,...
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| مؤلفون آخرون: | , , , , , , |
| منشور في: |
2025
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إضافة وسم
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| _version_ | 1864513524002193408 |
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| author | Md. Ashraful Islam (8985728) |
| author2 | M.M. Naushad Ali (22497335) Ian B. Benitez (22497338) Sidahmed Sidi Habib (22497341) Taskin Jamal (20838416) Aymen Flah (22497344) Vojtech Blazek (18554735) Claude Ziad El-Bayeh (17542284) |
| author2_role | author author author author author author author |
| author_facet | Md. Ashraful Islam (8985728) M.M. Naushad Ali (22497335) Ian B. Benitez (22497338) Sidahmed Sidi Habib (22497341) Taskin Jamal (20838416) Aymen Flah (22497344) Vojtech Blazek (18554735) Claude Ziad El-Bayeh (17542284) |
| author_role | author |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv | Md. Ashraful Islam (8985728) M.M. Naushad Ali (22497335) Ian B. Benitez (22497338) Sidahmed Sidi Habib (22497341) Taskin Jamal (20838416) Aymen Flah (22497344) Vojtech Blazek (18554735) Claude Ziad El-Bayeh (17542284) |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv | 2025-02-21T03:00:00Z |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv | 10.1016/j.esr.2025.101663 |
| dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv | https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/A_comprehensive_evaluation_of_photovoltaic_simulation_software_A_decision-making_approach_using_Analytic_Hierarchy_Process_and_performance_analysis/30448106 |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv | Engineering Chemical engineering Electrical engineering Environmental engineering Information and computing sciences Data management and data science Distributed computing and systems software Information systems Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) PV simulation software Renewable energy Software evaluation Decision making |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv | Text Journal contribution info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion text contribution to journal |
| description | <p>The growing adoption of renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, has led to the development of numerous simulation software tools to simplify system design, analysis, and optimization. This study evaluates five widely used PV simulation software packages—SAM, PVsyst, HOMER, PV∗SOL, and RETScreen—by analyzing their features and performance across ten critical criteria, including cost, solar database accessibility, modeling capabilities, and ease of use. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the criteria are ranked by importance, with the working platform identified as the most influential factor in software selection, followed by economic modeling capabilities and software cost. Additionally, the flexibility of simulation data requirements, reporting and analysis options, and user friendliness and ease of use are identified as important criteria, albeit ranking lower in importance. Performance analysis using simulation and real data further validates the evaluation process, providing insights into the accuracy and reliability of the simulation results generated by each software. Our findings indicate that SAM delivers superior accuracy when compared to real-world data, making it the most reliable tool for PV system analysis. PV∗SOL also ranks highly for its robust reporting and modeling capabilities. These results provide valuable insights for professionals and researchers in selecting the most suitable software for PV system design and optimization, emphasizing the balance between functionality, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendliness.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Energy Strategy Reviews<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2025.101663" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2025.101663</a></p> |
| eu_rights_str_mv | openAccess |
| id | Manara2_ec5c67b7a1931f7438583b3d64c4d53d |
| identifier_str_mv | 10.1016/j.esr.2025.101663 |
| network_acronym_str | Manara2 |
| network_name_str | Manara2 |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:figshare.com:article/30448106 |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| repository.mail.fl_str_mv | |
| repository.name.fl_str_mv | |
| repository_id_str | |
| rights_invalid_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 |
| spelling | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysisMd. Ashraful Islam (8985728)M.M. Naushad Ali (22497335)Ian B. Benitez (22497338)Sidahmed Sidi Habib (22497341)Taskin Jamal (20838416)Aymen Flah (22497344)Vojtech Blazek (18554735)Claude Ziad El-Bayeh (17542284)EngineeringChemical engineeringElectrical engineeringEnvironmental engineeringInformation and computing sciencesData management and data scienceDistributed computing and systems softwareInformation systemsAnalytic hierarchy process (AHP)PV simulation softwareRenewable energySoftware evaluationDecision making<p>The growing adoption of renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, has led to the development of numerous simulation software tools to simplify system design, analysis, and optimization. This study evaluates five widely used PV simulation software packages—SAM, PVsyst, HOMER, PV∗SOL, and RETScreen—by analyzing their features and performance across ten critical criteria, including cost, solar database accessibility, modeling capabilities, and ease of use. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the criteria are ranked by importance, with the working platform identified as the most influential factor in software selection, followed by economic modeling capabilities and software cost. Additionally, the flexibility of simulation data requirements, reporting and analysis options, and user friendliness and ease of use are identified as important criteria, albeit ranking lower in importance. Performance analysis using simulation and real data further validates the evaluation process, providing insights into the accuracy and reliability of the simulation results generated by each software. Our findings indicate that SAM delivers superior accuracy when compared to real-world data, making it the most reliable tool for PV system analysis. PV∗SOL also ranks highly for its robust reporting and modeling capabilities. These results provide valuable insights for professionals and researchers in selecting the most suitable software for PV system design and optimization, emphasizing the balance between functionality, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendliness.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Energy Strategy Reviews<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2025.101663" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2025.101663</a></p>2025-02-21T03:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.esr.2025.101663https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/A_comprehensive_evaluation_of_photovoltaic_simulation_software_A_decision-making_approach_using_Analytic_Hierarchy_Process_and_performance_analysis/30448106CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/304481062025-02-21T03:00:00Z |
| spellingShingle | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis Md. Ashraful Islam (8985728) Engineering Chemical engineering Electrical engineering Environmental engineering Information and computing sciences Data management and data science Distributed computing and systems software Information systems Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) PV simulation software Renewable energy Software evaluation Decision making |
| status_str | publishedVersion |
| title | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| title_full | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| title_fullStr | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| title_short | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| title_sort | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| topic | Engineering Chemical engineering Electrical engineering Environmental engineering Information and computing sciences Data management and data science Distributed computing and systems software Information systems Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) PV simulation software Renewable energy Software evaluation Decision making |