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Design system

This Task is:

  • triggered when a Quote is started.
  • completed by a Prime System Design.

In it, you'll design a system that meets the Customer's needs and add required items to the Bill of materials.

Outcomes​

Steps​

1. Select products​

Select the product(s) in the system.

2. Configure design inputs​

Configure additional inputs that will impact the design. These are based on the products you selected and include things such as the roof type or number of batteries.

3. Design the system​

To complete this Task, you'll use Atlas, our custom-built system design tool.

If your design includes:

3a. Choose a base map​

Atlas offers a range of base map types, including:

  • Orthorectified imagery (Ortho)
  • Vertical aerial photography (Vert)
  • Google Satellite
  • Mapbox Satellite

The location of your Site will determine the base maps you can choose from. Generally, the more remote it is, the fewer options you'll have.

To choose a base map:

  1. Hover over the Layers button.
  2. Select a base map.

3b. Review shading animation​

If Orthorectified imagery is available for a Site, Atlas generates a shading animation that you can use to assess the impact of shading.

To create this animation, Atlas takes the Ortho image and extrapolates how the Site will be shaded at different times of day on the summer and winter solstice based on the sun's relative position and the height of objects in the surrounding area.

To review shading for a Site:

  1. Choose a base map from the shadow map picker.
  2. Use the animation controls to review Site shading:
    • Click the day selector (↻) to choose between the image date, winter solstice, and summer solstice.
    • Move the slider handle to view shading at different times of the day.

3c. Create outlines​

Once you’ve identified the roof surfaces where you want to place panels, the next step is to outline them.

To create outlines:

  1. Click Outlines.
  2. Click Add vertices and start to outline the roof surfaces.
Tips
  • After you've outlined a surface, you can click and hold the vertices to adjust their locations.
  • Clicking one vertex and then clicking another will draw a connecting line that bisects the roof surface.
  • When you're in the middle of drawing a connecting line, you can press esc to cancel.
  • If you make a mistake, you can undo (↺) or use the eraser.
  • To start again, click delete (🗑️), then click Add new (+).

3d. Enter roof surface properties​

After you outline the roof surfaces, you need to set:

  • Roof material
  • Orientation
  • Tilt angle.

If the roof is flat it should automatically identify that you need tilt frames. If it does not, you can tilt frame and edit:

  • Effective tilt
  • Row spacing.

To enter surface properties:

  1. Click Surfaces.
  2. Check that the arrows (⬆️) point towards the lowest edge of each roof surface.
    • By default, Atlas will automatically point to the longest edge of each roof surface.
    • To correct the direction of an arrow, click on it. It will rotate clockwise towards the next edge.
  3. Click on a roof surface (outside the arrow) to open the roof properties pop-up.
  4. Check the roof material, orientation, and tilt angle.
  5. If you need to add tilt frames, click Use tilt frames and edit the effective tilt and roof spacing as required.

3e. Add Grids​

In Atlas, Grids are locations where panels can be placed. You can only put them on roof surfaces that you've previously outlined.

To place grids:

  1. Click Grids.
  2. Select a panel type and orientation.
  3. Click on a roof surface to add panels.
Tips
  • To speed up panel placement, Atlas can auto-arrange them for you. If you hold shift and hover your mouse over a roof surface, Atlas will fill it with the maximum number of panels in your chosen orientation.
  • To place a row of panels, click on the roof to put the first panel, then click on it again and drag your mouse to where you want the last panel to be.
  • To offset two panels by half a panel width, click, hold, and drag one of the panels. It will snap into place exactly half a panel width in the direction you dragged it.
  • You can click on a panel to remove it.
  • The system summary in the right hand panel gives you information on the panels as they are selected.

3f. Set up strings​

Once you've added your grids, you can place panels in them and set up your strings.

To set up strings:

  1. Click Strings.
  2. Choose a Grid, then click, hold, and drag your mouse over it to create a string.
  3. Choose an inverter.
Tips:
  • Clicking on a panel will remove it from a string.
  • If you exceed the DC/AC ratio set by the Clean Energy Council, a warning will appear in the right column.
  • You don't need to fill every grid that you created.
  • The string summary in the right hand panel gives you information on the strings as they are selected.
  • To help you select an inverter for the system, a warning will appear in the right panel of Atlas if you choose one that exceeds the CEC-required DC/AC ratio.

3g. Mark up Site design​

You can now mark up the Site design with annotations and text labels.

To add an annotation icon:

  1. Click on the icon.
  2. Drag it to your desired location on the Site design
  3. Click again to place the icon.

To add stringing between panels:

  1. Click on the Stringing icon.
  2. Click on a panel at the end of a row to start drawing, then click again to continue drawing and connect the strings together.
  3. Click on the last point to finish the drawing.

To draw a cable path:

  1. Click on the Cable Path icon.
  2. Click to start drawing the cable path. then click again to continue drawing.
  3. Click on the last point to finish the drawing.
Tips:
  • You can measure distances using the Measure tool. To use it:
    • Click on the tool, then click a point on the Site design to start measuring.
    • Click again to measure the distance between multiple points.
    • Click on the Measurements tab on the right hand side to view the total, vertical, and horizontal distances.
  • For a Site design to be valid, all panels need to connected by a string. If they're not, the panels will shake, the string drawings will disappear, and you'll have to draw the string again.
  • You can draw cable paths between icons by clicking on the icon when drawing a cable path.
  • If you hold 'D' when on the Markup tab, any white perpendicular lines and associated measurements near the roof edge will indicate the vertical height. If the drop is over 5m the line will be yellow.
  • It's best to decide on the desired zoom frame before adding annotations to the Site design. If you zoom in or out after they've been placed, their position may change.

3h. Create design images​

To create the design images, click Save. Three images will be created:

  1. System design - Doesn't include markup.
  2. System design Installer markup - Includes markup and is used in the Installer app.
  3. System design Customer markup - Includes markup and is used on the Quote.

If required, you can also upload your own images.

Tips:
  • If your design image is unsuitable, you can re-frame the rooftop image in Atlas and click Save again.
  • If your design does not have solar panels, then the customer markup version will be used as the system design image. To override this, upload the required file.

3i. Modify the Bill of materials​

Now that you've created the Site design, you can add variations and update the Bill of materials (BOM).

To do this:

  1. In the Variations table, click Add.
  2. Select the variation, enter the required details, then click ✓.

It will be added to the variations table, and the BOM table below automatically.

Unlinking the BOM

If you need to adjust the BOM further, you can unlink it. This means the BOM is no longer generated from the automatic or UPowr BOM rules, and you can override and make changes to it.

If required, you can also relink the BOM. This will remove your changes, and restore the original BOM design determined by the BOM generation method.

Tips:
  • If a variation is required in the Site's state, it will be pre-selected in the variations list. For example, if the Site is in NSW, a meter protection devices will be pre-selected.

4. Review the forecast​

Now that you've created the Site design and BOM, you can review the energy generation and savings forecasts. There are two calculation methods available:

  • First year only: Simplified energy modelling and savings outputs.
  • Cash flow: Energy modelling and savings outputs over 25 years that consider these additional factors:
    • Panel performance degradation
    • Electricity cost increases
    • Maintenance costs
    • Inverter replacement costs
    • End-of-life costs
    • Financing

To review the system forecast:

  1. Select the desired forecast option.
  2. For the cash flow option, adjust the additional factors as required.
  3. Review the savings and generation forecasts, and other costs and benefits.
  4. Add Quote caveats if required.
Tips:
  • Currently the cash flow option is only available for commercial Customer projects.
  • Industry-standard default values have been provided for the cash flow, and you can adjust these for your use case.

5. Finalise the Quote​

Now that you've created the design, you can finish the Task.

To finish the Task:

  1. Add any comments regarding the design for the Principal to review.
  2. If you need to generate an additional quote, you can choose to create a new quote that is either:
    • A blank quote.
    • A duplicate quote that carries over the BOM items, design inputs, or site images from the previous quote.
  3. Click Complete.

Reject the Project​

To reject the Project:

  1. Click the Reject Project button.
  2. Select the rejection reason.
  3. Click Reject.

This will terminate the workflow.