Irradiance losses:
Shading & mismatch

Modelling recommendations

For systems with prominent shading objects, or ground mounted systems with varying topography, simulation software capable of explicitly modelling these effects is preferable to simplified standardized approaches. Within FME Solar WP1, a benchmark of different commercial simulation tools is currently ongoing to evaluate how various tools handle complex shading and topography.

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Background: State of the art & knowledge gaps

In Norway, the combination of complex topography and low solar elevation can lead to a larger share of shading compared to many other regions. The resulting irradiance variability can cause mismatch losses in PV systems. Mismatch and shading losses may vary substantially between installations. Within FME Solar WP2, there is ongoing work to develop a toolset for modelling complex irradiance conditions using ray-tracing and Rhino 3D [1].

ReFERENCES

[1] A.J. Petersen, I. Frimannslund, A fast and accurate raytracing approach for assessing photovoltaic performance of mono- and bifacial panels in complex irradiance conditions, E3S Web of Conferences, 2024.

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Last update: 27.4.2026