A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis
The growing adoption of renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, has led to the development of numerous simulation software tools to simplify system design, analysis, and optimization. This study evaluates five widely used PV simulation software packages—SAM, PVsyst, HOMER, PV...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Energy Strategy Reviews |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X25000264 |
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| author | Md. Ashraful Islam M.M. Naushad Ali Ian B. Benitez Sidahmed Sidi Habib Taskin Jamal Aymen Flah Vojtech Blazek Claude Ziad El-Bayeh |
| author_facet | Md. Ashraful Islam M.M. Naushad Ali Ian B. Benitez Sidahmed Sidi Habib Taskin Jamal Aymen Flah Vojtech Blazek Claude Ziad El-Bayeh |
| author_sort | Md. Ashraful Islam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The growing adoption of renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, has led to the development of numerous simulation software tools to simplify system design, analysis, and optimization. This study evaluates five widely used PV simulation software packages—SAM, PVsyst, HOMER, PV∗SOL, and RETScreen—by analyzing their features and performance across ten critical criteria, including cost, solar database accessibility, modeling capabilities, and ease of use. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the criteria are ranked by importance, with the working platform identified as the most influential factor in software selection, followed by economic modeling capabilities and software cost. Additionally, the flexibility of simulation data requirements, reporting and analysis options, and user friendliness and ease of use are identified as important criteria, albeit ranking lower in importance. Performance analysis using simulation and real data further validates the evaluation process, providing insights into the accuracy and reliability of the simulation results generated by each software. Our findings indicate that SAM delivers superior accuracy when compared to real-world data, making it the most reliable tool for PV system analysis. PV∗SOL also ranks highly for its robust reporting and modeling capabilities. These results provide valuable insights for professionals and researchers in selecting the most suitable software for PV system design and optimization, emphasizing the balance between functionality, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendliness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e363f309bd0c4d6abfc246adfaa5fbaf |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2211-467X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Strategy Reviews |
| spelling | doaj-art-e363f309bd0c4d6abfc246adfaa5fbaf2025-08-20T03:02:56ZengElsevierEnergy Strategy Reviews2211-467X2025-03-015810166310.1016/j.esr.2025.101663A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysisMd. Ashraful Islam0M.M. Naushad Ali1Ian B. Benitez2Sidahmed Sidi Habib3Taskin Jamal4Aymen Flah5Vojtech Blazek6Claude Ziad El-Bayeh7Department of EEE, Green University of Bangladesh, BangladeshDepartment of EEE, Green University of Bangladesh, Bangladesh; Corresponding author.Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, FEU Institute of Technology, Manila City, PhilippinesDepartment of Mechanical System Engineering, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0862, JapanDepartment of EEE, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, BangladeshEnergy Processes Environment and Electrical Systems Unit, National Engineering School of Gabès, University of Gabès, Gabès 6029, Tunisia; Centre for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140401, Punjab, India; College of Engineering, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah, 21448, Saudi Arabia; Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman, 11931, JordanENET Centre, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech RepublicCollege of Engineering and Technology, University of Doha for Science and Technology, Doha, QatarThe growing adoption of renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, has led to the development of numerous simulation software tools to simplify system design, analysis, and optimization. This study evaluates five widely used PV simulation software packages—SAM, PVsyst, HOMER, PV∗SOL, and RETScreen—by analyzing their features and performance across ten critical criteria, including cost, solar database accessibility, modeling capabilities, and ease of use. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the criteria are ranked by importance, with the working platform identified as the most influential factor in software selection, followed by economic modeling capabilities and software cost. Additionally, the flexibility of simulation data requirements, reporting and analysis options, and user friendliness and ease of use are identified as important criteria, albeit ranking lower in importance. Performance analysis using simulation and real data further validates the evaluation process, providing insights into the accuracy and reliability of the simulation results generated by each software. Our findings indicate that SAM delivers superior accuracy when compared to real-world data, making it the most reliable tool for PV system analysis. PV∗SOL also ranks highly for its robust reporting and modeling capabilities. These results provide valuable insights for professionals and researchers in selecting the most suitable software for PV system design and optimization, emphasizing the balance between functionality, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendliness.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X25000264Analytic hierarchy process (AHP)PV simulation softwareRenewable energySoftware evaluationDecision making |
| spellingShingle | Md. Ashraful Islam M.M. Naushad Ali Ian B. Benitez Sidahmed Sidi Habib Taskin Jamal Aymen Flah Vojtech Blazek Claude Ziad El-Bayeh A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis Energy Strategy Reviews Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) PV simulation software Renewable energy Software evaluation Decision making |
| title | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| title_full | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| title_fullStr | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| title_short | A comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software: A decision-making approach using Analytic Hierarchy Process and performance analysis |
| title_sort | comprehensive evaluation of photovoltaic simulation software a decision making approach using analytic hierarchy process and performance analysis |
| topic | Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) PV simulation software Renewable energy Software evaluation Decision making |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X25000264 |
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