PVsyst
PVsyst is a specialized solar design software used by engineers and researchers to accurately simulate, model, and analyze the energy production of photovoltaic systems for various weather conditions.
SimFlow
SimFlow is a comprehensive computational fluid dynamics software that provides an OpenFOAM-based GUI for simulating complex fluid flows, heat transfer, and multiphase interactions across engineering disciplines.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | PVsyst | SimFlow |
|---|---|---|
| Website | pvsyst.com | sim-flow.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $55/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1992 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Satigny, Switzerland | Warsaw, Poland |
Overview
PVsyst
PVsyst is a technical modeling tool designed to help you predict the energy yield of solar photovoltaic systems. You can import meteorological data from various sources and define specific system components like modules, inverters, and cabling to create a highly accurate digital twin of your project. The software handles everything from small residential setups to massive utility-scale power plants, providing you with the detailed reports needed for financial planning and technical validation.
You can perform complex shading analysis using a 3D CAD environment to see exactly how nearby objects impact your energy production. It allows you to account for thermal losses, horizon shading, and spectral effects to ensure your simulations match real-world performance. Whether you are an engineer designing a grid-connected system or a researcher studying stand-alone installations, you get the precision required for bankable solar energy assessments.
SimFlow
SimFlow is a powerful computational fluid dynamics (CFD) platform that brings the capabilities of OpenFOAM to a user-friendly graphical interface. You can handle complex engineering challenges including compressible and incompressible flows, heat transfer, and chemical reactions without writing code. It allows you to import geometry directly from CAD software, create high-quality meshes, and monitor simulations in real-time to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Whether you are designing automotive components or optimizing HVAC systems, the platform provides the tools to visualize flow patterns and pressure distributions effectively. You can run simulations on your local machine or scale up to high-performance computing clusters for massive datasets. It is designed for engineering professionals and researchers who need the precision of open-source solvers combined with the speed of a modern, intuitive workflow.
Overview
PVsyst Features
- System Simulation Model your entire PV system by defining modules, inverters, and strings to calculate hourly energy distribution and losses.
- 3D Shading Tool Build a 3D representation of your installation site to visualize and calculate the impact of shadows on your panels.
- Meteo Data Management Import weather data from Meteonorm, NASA, or your own sensors to simulate performance under specific local climate conditions.
- Grid-Connected Modeling Design large-scale solar farms and calculate the injected energy while accounting for grid limitations and ohmic losses.
- P50/P90 Analysis Evaluate the financial risk of your project by generating probability reports that show expected yields under different scenarios.
- Bifacial Modeling Calculate the additional energy gain from bifacial modules by simulating ground reflections and back-side irradiance accurately.
- Pumping & Stand-alone Design off-grid systems and solar water pumping stations with specialized tools for battery storage and hydraulic needs.
- Detailed Loss Tree Identify exactly where you are losing energy with a comprehensive breakdown of thermal, wiring, and mismatch losses.
SimFlow Features
- Mesh Generation. Create high-quality hex-dominant meshes automatically for complex geometries using the integrated snappyHexMesh and cfMesh tools.
- Multiphase Flow. Simulate interactions between different fluids, such as water and air, to predict cavitation, splashing, or free-surface movements.
- Heat Transfer. Analyze conduction, convection, and radiation within your designs to optimize cooling systems and thermal management strategies.
- Real-time Monitoring. Track residuals and physical quantities during the calculation process to catch errors early and save valuable computing time.
- Parallel Processing. Speed up your simulations by distributing the workload across multiple CPU cores with seamless MPI support.
- Post-processing. Visualize your results with integrated ParaView support to create stunning animations and detailed vector plots of fluid behavior.
Pricing Comparison
PVsyst Pricing
- Full simulation capabilities
- Unlimited project modeling
- Access to PV component database
- 3D shading analysis
- Technical support included
- Software updates for one year
- Everything in Professional, plus:
- Discounted rate for educational use
- Restricted to non-commercial research
- Full feature set access
- Annual renewal required
SimFlow Pricing
- Limit of 200,000 nodes
- All physical models included
- Parallel processing support
- Standard mesh tools
- Community support access
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited mesh nodes
- Priority technical support
- Perpetual license options
- Advanced geometry handling
- Full cluster compatibility
Pros & Cons
PVsyst
Pros
- Industry standard for bankable solar energy reports
- Extensive database of global solar modules and inverters
- Highly accurate shading and loss calculations
- Regular updates to include new solar technologies
- Detailed PDF reports ready for project investors
Cons
- Interface feels dated compared to modern web apps
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Requires Windows environment or virtual machine
- 3D CAD tool can be difficult to master
SimFlow
Pros
- Intuitive GUI makes OpenFOAM accessible to beginners
- Excellent mesh generation capabilities for complex parts
- Free version is highly functional for small projects
- Supports a wide range of physical solvers
- Regular updates keep the software stable and modern
Cons
- Commercial licenses require a custom quote
- Learning curve remains steep for CFD theory
- Hardware requirements are high for large meshes