Hi everybody!

After a welcoming meeting I had with this year GSoC mentors, @kandersolar and @AdamRJensen, and the other two participants, @RDaxini and @IoannisSifnaios, we were recommended to have a tracking issue of the milestones for each one of us. Here's mine.

Objectives

The proposed changes in this roadmap expect to improve the availability of models so users can include and improve their PV systems simulations. Topics are:

• Shade calculation and impact
• Spectra analysis utilities
• Bifacial modelling of non-uniform irradiance
• Agrivoltaics useful radiation calculations

Roadmap

• Martinez shading losses model

  • Depends on merging Shaded Fraction on Sloped Terrains - PR1725 partial continuation #1962
  • Shading model that takes into account the bypass diodes and layout of modules #2063
  • Martinez shading factor #2070

• Spectra analysis

  • Extend standard spectra database
    • Add full ASTM G-173-03 tables #1963
    • Add extraterrestrial and direct spectra of ASTM G173-03 standard spectrum (AM1.5) #2039
  • Add Spectral response <> Quantum Efficiency conversion functions
    • Spectral responsivity and quantum efficiency conversion functions #2040
    • Quantum efficiency & spectral response conversion funcs #2041
  • Add spectral responses of materials
    • Spectral response of other materials #2037
    • [DRAFT] Add more spectral responses #2038

• Non-uniform irradiance mismatch losses model

  • Reduced order electrical mismatch model #1541
  • NREL non-uniform irradiance mismatch loss for bifacial modules #2046
  • NREL mismatch loss addendum #2147

• Photosynthetically Active Radiation models

  • Decomposition: fraction of diffuse (Spitters relationship)
    • Photosynthetically active radiation decomposition model #2047
    • Agrivoltaics - PAR diffuse fraction model #2048
  • Diffuse and direct shading factors - 3D geometry calculation of shades via geometry and integration.
    I'm afraid this one is doing PVsyst-like calculations all over the 3D and 2D space, so it's gonna take some time to sort out all the difficulties and integrate it here in pvlib.
    Here is the paper meanwhile.
    • Direct and diffuse shading factors - spatial approach (for Photosynthetically Active Radiation) #2069
    • [Feature Preview] Shadow casting on and by flat surfaces #2106

I want to open issues and PRs as I work on them. If I can manage so many things at the same time is something I have to figure out, not you - so don't hesitate to give as much feedback as you want! 😆

I'm looking forward to use my knowledge to improve this package, but as the inexperienced student I am, I can't do it without y'all, so I want to hear from you in either issues or PRs 🤙

Other PRs that I have worked on during this GSoC period

• Fix silently ignoring file path in pvsystem.retrieve_sam when name is provided #2020
  Opened on May 1st, may be considered part of the bonding period.
• More docs build fixes #2030
• Remove read_srml_month_from_solardat #2061 (closed as duplicate)
• Fix port of old-precision-decimal to present-atol in tests #2082
• No more default nones #2084
• Bump docs infraestructure #2112
• Remove warnings in docs #2128
• [MAINT]: Remove deprecated pvlib.atmosphere.first_solar_spectral_correction #2131
• On other repos
  • Solarfactors notebook openpvtools/pv-foss-engagement#9
  • Fix mismatch fit3, add mismatch fit2 NREL/bifacial_radiance#520

Cross-referencing:

• My GSoC mail thread
• Personal blog
• GSoC project page