Model step
Row count
Rows the self-shading derates count
Inputs used: Number of rows, Modules per string, Strings per inverter, Number of inverters, Nameplate power
What it is
Deline's self-shading reduces the ground-reflected light each row receives by what the row in front hides. The first row of the field sees open ground. The ground factor is the mean over the rows of the first row's view and the view of the rows behind it, so it depends on the number of rows. This step sets that number. It acts only under Deline's self-shading.
Options
- Rows of the racking section: the number of rows of the racking section
- Square field from the DC nameplate: the rows of a square field of 300 W modules, from the DC nameplate
References
- Deline, Dobos, Janzou, Meydbray & Donovan 2013, A simplified model of uniform shading in large photovoltaic arrays, Solar Energy 96 274–282
- NREL SAM Simulation Core (SSC) source code, release 2026.7.3, github.com/NatLabRockies/ssc: shared/lib_pvshade.cpp, functions ss_exec(), diffuse_reduce() and sssky_diffuse_table::compute(); shared/lib_irradproc.cpp, function shadeFraction1x()
API
array.row_count = racking | square_field, array.n_rows