Solar PV Toolset

Engineering tools

Free browser-based calculators for preliminary solar PV design and analysis. All tools run client-side — no account required, no data transmitted.

PV Snow Loss
Snow Loss Calculator

Estimates annual energy losses from snow accumulation on rooftop photovoltaic arrays. Uses the Townsend loss model with Canadian climate data from Environment Canada and ERA5 reanalysis sources. Supports editable monthly inputs, multiple weather stations, and exportable results.

Snow loss Townsend model Climate data Canada Annual yield
Suitable for: preliminary feasibility, yield modelling, owner reporting
How to use
  1. Enter site coordinates (decimal degrees). Paste a Google Maps coordinate pair directly — the tool splits lat/lon automatically.
  2. Click Find Nearby EC Stations and select the best Environment Canada station. If the nearest station has partial data, you may also select a supplementary station for the missing variables.
  3. Set ERA5 study period (5–10 years recommended) then click Fetch Climate Data. EC Climate Normals and ERA5 reanalysis values are merged and loaded into the editable climate table.
  4. Review and adjust climate values as needed on the Climate Data tab. Individual cells can be overridden.
  5. Set array geometry and model on the Array & Model Inputs tab.
  6. View monthly and annual snow loss results on the Results tab. Export to CSV.
Open tool → Documentation
PV Shade Profile
Shade Block Coordinate Generator

Generates solar shade block coordinate sets for AutoCAD and design documentation. Calculates the shading profile of an obstruction based on solar geometry (altitude and azimuth) for a given location, tilt, row spacing, and obstruction dimensions. Outputs a downloadable AutoCAD-ready coordinate script.

Shading Solar geometry AutoCAD Coordinates Obstruction analysis
Suitable for: roof layout planning, setback analysis, drawing packages
How to use
  1. Enter site Latitude and Longitude. Paste a Google Maps coordinate pair (e.g. 43.778, -79.0) directly into the latitude field — the longitude populates automatically.
  2. Set UTC Offset (standard time, no DST adjustment), obstruction Height, and sample interval.
  3. Choose a date preset or enter custom analysis dates. Each date can have its own time window (± hours around solar noon).
  4. Click Calculate. The SVG plot shows shadow coordinate footprints and the outer envelope for each date.
  5. Review the solar position table, then export the AutoCAD Script (.scr) or DXF. Layer names include a TSC suffix for traceability.
  6. Run the .scr file in AutoCAD (SCRIPT command) to draw all shade blocks with correct layers and colours.
Open tool → Documentation
Engineering disclaimer: All results are estimates for preliminary analysis only. Not a substitute for professional engineering review, site-specific assessment, or verified design calculations. Outputs should be independently verified before use in any design, proposal, or decision-making context. See the full disclaimer for details.