Polysun 5.5: Renewable Energy Simulation Software Upgrade Speeds Up Planning and Bidding Process

Cogenra taps new PV-thermal hybrid model to quickly draw up HPPAs for solar cogen arrays, new release includes compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) collectors, simplified user wizard

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – November 29, 2010 – Vela Solaris, a leading provider of simulation software for the renewable energy sector, today announced the release of Polysun 5.5. The new Polysun 5.5 release is entirely focused on improved user friendliness. A fresh user wizard and a new range of automations enable planners to draw-up an initial offer including comprehensive information on solar fractions, the seasonal performance factor of heat pumps, etc, in less than 5 minutes. Both the graphics and the content of the Polysun design wizard have been completely overhauled. In addition, Polysun system diagrams are now offered also in an on-line version for companies.

The new version also gives the user the opportunity to simulate CPC collectors (Compound Parabolic Concentrator) and PVT hybrid collectors as well as including an improved design wizard for multiple inverter combinations.

As for heat pump systems, with or without a solar system, the new release enables the user to display dynamically-simulated seasonal performance factors. Actual seasonal performance factors depend, in fact, on a variety of factors including type of building, house-insulation, heat gain, type of heating system, hot water consumption, user behavior and weather. In Polysun, these factors are shown in a realistic, individual way and duly taken into account in the calculation of seasonal performance factors.

Cogenra Solar, a provider of distributed solar cogeneration systems and renewable energy service solutions, will be among the first to tap into the simulation capabilities of the new thermal and PV-thermal hybrid concentrating-collector models of the latest version of Polysun. Cogenra will use Polysun 5.5 in the on-going analysis and output optimization of the recently announced Sonoma Wine Company installation, while enabling quick HPPAs (heat and power purchase agreements), as well as the design of their planned solar cogen installations in California and beyond.


“We were pleased that an industry-standard solution like Polysun can now be used to design and predict the output of solar cogeneration systems, enabling HPPAs and other long term financing solutions," said Dr. Gilad Almogy, CEO of Cogenra. “The solution is easy to use and provides us with the accuracy, speed and flexibility we’ve been looking for in order to run sophisticated system simulations for solar cogen projects.”

For more information on Vela Solaris and the Polysun product range, please visit www.velasolaris.com.

About Cogenra Solar
Cogenra Solar is a distributed solar cogeneration company that combines photovoltaic and hot water collection to deliver low cost electricity and heat generation for commercial, industrial and institutional facilities. With the industry’s first Heat & Power Purchase Agreement (HPPA), Cogenra offers clean, renewable energy below utility rates while reducing natural gas and grid-fed electricity consumption. Cogenra is located in Mountain View, California. Please visit www.cogenra.com for more information.

Vela Solaris AG is a privately-held Swiss corporation providing software solutions for the renewable energy sector. Founded in 2007 as a spin-off of the Institute for Solar Technology SPF at the University of Applied Science Rapperswil (HSR) in Switzerland, Vela Solaris is one of the leaders in the European market, combining software innovation with expertise in renewable energy.

Vela Solaris
730 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
USA
Phone (415) 671 6292

Media Contact:
Simon Geisshüsler
usa@velasolaris.com

This release was published on openPR.