The global distributed generation (DG) PV market – primarily comprising residential and commercial & industrial (C&I) rooftop installations – requires careful planning and design to ensure reliable and cost-effective solutions.
Schletter Group, a renowned German manufacturer of solar mounting systems, has introduced its latest browser-based PV planning tool, Schletter Creator. This innovative platform offers multiple advanced features, including the ability to create roof layouts directly in Google Maps by marking the roof surface. From there, it generates a 3D design of a PV system that accommodates virtually any roof shape or type.
To address common planning errors in load calculations – often stemming from the default assumption of a 10-meter building height – the tool prompts users to input both roof pitch and building height, according to Schletter. Based on these inputs, the platform calculates the precise available installation area and simulates the optimal panel layout according to the desired orientation. When it comes to calculating the structure’s maximum snow load and wind load capacities, Schletter Creator draws on a comprehensive global load determination database (similar to the one used in Schletter Calculator). The tool also includes specifications for all commercially available PV modules and determines loads based on the user’s postal code or city.
Dr. Cedrik Zapfe, CTO of Schletter Group, stated, “Once the rollout is complete, we’ll cover approximately 97% of PV-compatible regions worldwide and integrate our entire Schletter product range.”
One of the platform’s standout features is its advanced aerodynamic load calculation capability, which considers 2 key phenomena in wind engineering: the group effect and the cone effect. The group effect refers to the way PV modules within an array influence each other’s wind loads, typically resulting in lower loads on interior modules due to shielding. The cone effect describes localized wind flow acceleration and pressure concentration, especially around roof edges and corners, which can increase structural stress. These considerations enable more accurate calculations, reducing ballast requirements while maintaining structural integrity, ultimately supporting more cost-effective system designs, claims Schletter. Additionally, the tool’s API interface allows seamless integration with major third-party inverter planning tools.
According to the company, Schletter Creator is set to launch in April 2025, initially targeting the European market, with phased expansion into regions such as North America, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
