RatedPower debuts 3D Energy tool for solar PV performance modeling
Validated with live plant data, RatedPower’s new 3D Energy simulation uses advanced ray-tracing to improve yield predictions for complex terrain and bifacial module layouts
RatedPower, part of Enverus, has launched its most advanced solar PV simulation yet — a 3D Energy modeling tool that aims to better predict actual system performance by accounting for more terrain-level realities.
The RatedPower used ray-tracing technology to validate against data from operating solar plants. As a result, the 3D Energy took provides module-level insight into shading, terrain, and layout effects that typical energy models often miss.
“The rise of bifacial modules and limited availability of ideal terrain for solar PV plants have revealed limitations of traditional energy modeling tools,” said Nacho Alvarez, senior product manager at RatedPower. “To address these challenges, we developed a 3D Energy model for accurately predicting the yield of PV plants thanks to an improved shading analysis based on ray-tracing technology.”
Normalizing the ‘irregular’ site
As developers push into steeper or irregular sites, yield predictions have become harder to trust. RatedPower says its new 3D Energy tool lessens that margin of uncertainty by using more detailed slope, elevation, and backtracking data to generate more realistic energy simulations.
Rather than exporting layouts to third-party tools, RatedPower has integrated the simulation directly within its cloud platform. Users can design a full PV plant, run 3D Energy results with a single click, and export outputs in PDF, CSV, AutoCAD, GLTF, or PVCollada formats — complete with methodology documentation.
RatedPower 3D Energy features
- Detects underperforming areas caused by shading and slope variations directly in the platform.
- Incorporates topography, backtracking, bifaciality, mounting geometry, and mutual shading automatically.
- Generates validated, parcel-level data for land prospecting and performance benchmarking.
- Combines PV and BESS design, 3D simulations, and document management in one collaborative cloud environment.
“Together with our Layout Editor tool, 3D Energy allows users to refine their designs based on precise energy results, identify underperforming areas caused by shading or terrain, and optimize the overall layout of the plant,” Alvarez said.
