Forum: Solar Potential - Solares Direktgewinnhaus | IDA teaching and learning platform

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on a project where I plan to use non-standard solar modules. I’m wondering how I can accurately estimate the potential energy yield when most tools are designed for standard modules.

Additionally, part of my building’s façade is shaded by a tree. I would like to understand how to take this shading into account when calculating solar output.

Are there any tools, for non-standard modules and partial shading?

Re: Solar Potential - Solares Direktgewinnhaus

von Samuel Kummer - Freitag, 05. Dezember 2025, 13:41

Hi,

for estimating the potential energy yield with non-standard modules, you could try the Solarrechner from EnergieSchweiz or PVGIS. In the Solarrechner, under “weitere Einstellungen,” you can enter the module efficiency manually, so it works for non-standard modules. In PVGIS, you enter the installed peak PV power (kWp), which already takes efficiency into account.

Shading is a bit trickier. If the façade is strongly shaded, it’s worth considering whether PV modules make sense there. For more detailed analysis, you could use tools like Hive or Ladybug, or Sunpath 3D for shading studies (https://platform.idaida.ch/course/view.php?id=89). Sunpath 3D shows solar paths and shadow projections in 3D, letting you see how trees, neighboring buildings, or other obstructions affect sunlight exposure.

Anhang Bildschirmfoto 2025-12-04 um 16.14.02.png