PV Solve™ is the only Civil 3D plugin powered by GPU acceleration and Google OR-Tools. Automate rack placement on 0.2m LiDAR data, visualize your DC network before you solve, and generate electrically optimal string layouts that mathematically minimize mismatch losses.
As we run out of simple terrain, the new generation of non-conventional PV projects requires more than just layout tools—it demands proper civil analysis. PV Solve™ is built directly on top of Civil 3D® to provide a developer and execution-grade design solution. Validate constructability instantly on complex topography and eliminate the risk of late-stage redesigns.
Stop compromising between speed and precision.
| Feature | Industry Standard Software | PV Solve™ Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Placement Density | Static spacing skips valuable land on complex terrain. | GPU Micro-stepping tests positions every 10cm. |
| Terrain Resolution | Downsampling to 5m grids required to prevent crashes. | Native 0.2m resolution for construction-ready piles. |
| Electrical Mismatch | Blindly merges strings of different lengths/shading. | Mathematically guarantees length & maximizes shading compatibility. |
| Routing Control | Black box algorithms with no visibility. | Transparent network graph with custom routing trenches. |
| Cable Routing | "As-the-crow-flies" estimates (10-20% error). | Topology-aware routing through actual trenches. |
Engineering Precision Meets Commercial Speed.
Traditional CPU-bound tools choke on utility-scale sites. Our GPU engine processes millions of terrain points in seconds, allowing you to test 10 layout scenarios in the time it takes a competitor to load one.
Stop painting yourself into a corner with greedy algorithms. Our global solver finds the absolute minimum total cable length required to connect every string, respecting your trench topology.
Validate every single pile against a 0.2m resolution height grid. If PV Solve™ places a rack, you know it builds—no more change orders for steep slopes or short piles.
Protect your plant's lifetime revenue. PV Solve™ actively prevents Electrical Mismatch by enforcing strict string length matching and segregating strings with different shading profiles.
From field placement to PVsyst in 5 Steps.
Load PV field boundaries directly from Shapefiles or existing drawing objects. PV Solve™ samples your Civil 3D Surface to build an authoritative 0.2m resolution height grid.
The engine uses "Aggressive Dynamic Placement" to micro-step along rows. Configure your constraints across three intuitive tabs, then visualize the results instantly.
Use fields and alignment line objects in your drawing or simply import them as shapefiles. Join them with common field IDs. If rack and field settings are available in your shapefiles, map the parameters to the fields and start your placement faster
Read rack blocks in the drawing, create new ones or import predefined racks. Determine their placement priority per field and on to the next step
Configure your field settings (tilt, azimuth, aisle width, etc.) in a spreadsheet format. No more laggy or buggy UI. Spreadsheets are way to go in a utility project with multiple fields. You can also export the settings to an Excel file, edit them and reimport them again. This is the professional solution you were looking for.
Generated Layout on Terrain with minimal error up to 0.2 cm on a 0.2 m resolution topography model if available. It is not just the rack edges that fit the placement requirements, it is the entire rack footprint. Using our proprietary smoothing algorithms, we ensure optimal placement with minimal shading and highest possible PR- something our competitors have only been dreaming of.
Run the Network Debugger to see the site's connectivity. Spot disconnected racks and draw custom "Routing Trenches" to bridge gaps before solving.
Connectivity Graph
Inverter configuration
Using the Google OR-Tools solver, strings are assigned to inverters to minimize cable length while guaranteeing no length mismatch and minimal shading mismatch.
String-inverter allocation settings
Optimized String Layout
Export directly to .PVC and .DAE for PVsyst. Racks are exported as optimized meshes with correct Z-up coordinates, ready for immediate analysis.
We outperform the competition on speed, precision, and electrical optimization—but we don't believe in overcharging for it.