Design with Aurora: A to Z guide

Speed meets accuracy when you design with Aurora. You can remotely design a 3D site model with accurate measurements and model a PV system with reliable energy production values- no truck roll needed!

 

Table of Contents

1. Configure Database

2. Configure Settings

3. Energy Consumption

4. Site Model

5. System Model

6. Performance Simulation

 

1. Configure Database

a. Add your system components

Start by selecting and adding the system components that you use. These include modules, inverters, and DC optimizers.

To add your system components:

1. Go to Database in the left-hand navigation bar
2. Turn on Specify component availability
3. Search for and turn on your modules
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for Inverters and DC optimizers

Note: Default database settings apply to both Sales Mode and Design Mode

 

b. Add your setbacks

It's important to add any setbacks you need for your project. This will help ensure accurate system models.

To add setbacks:

1. Go to Database in the left-hand navigation bar
2. Click on Jurisdictions
3. Select + Add jurisdiction
4. Fill in preferred setback defaults
5. Click Save at the bottom right

Note: Default database settings apply to both Sales Mode and Design Mode

 

2. Configure Settings

a. Adjust your pricing

Pricing in Aurora is set using either a base price per watt or a flat price which will apply to all projects. Then, you can use adders and discounts to fine-tune your pricing.

To add pricing:

1. Go to Settings in the left-hand navigation bar
2. Click on General
3. Choose your pricing method
4. Click Add default to add your price per watt or flat price. You can also decide to switch between the two options and add both.

 

b. Confirm your utility escalation rate

Adding a utility escalation rate will help with accuracy by determining how much a homeowner will save by going solar.

To set a utility escalation rate:

1. Go to Settings in the left-hand navigation bar
2. Click on Utility and tax rates
3. Select Edit
4. Then select a default rate for all projects or set a rate based on location
5. Click Save

 

3. Energy Consumption

To further increase the accuracy of your design and simulation, input your project's utility information in the project dashboard.

To add energy consumption:

1. Go into your desired project and select Dashboard
2. Go to the section called Energy consumption and click the pencil icon
3. Input the Utility provider
4. Input Energy usage
5. Lastly, click on Design mode on the top right of the screen next to Sales mode to select your design and begin designing

Note: Default database settings apply to both Sales Mode and Design Mode

 

4. Site model

a. Expert design services

Next, you'll need to model your roof before placing panels or designing your system. The simplest way to model a roof and a popular option is to have us model your project's roof for you.

To have us model your project's roof:

1. Go to the Projects tab in the left-hand navigation bar
2. Click + Project to start a new project
3. Enter the address of your project
4. Ensure the pin is located on the project
5. Click Create
6. Scroll down to Expert Model and click Send request
7. Select Send request

 

Note: Although this will be an additional charge, it will help speed up your designs.

 

b. Create your own site model

If you'd rather model your project's roof yourself, Aurora makes it easy. Simply follow the steps below.

To manually model a roof:

1. Follow steps 1-5 above to create a new project
2. Scroll down to the Designs box and click on + New design
3. Select Site
4. Hover over Roof
5. Click SmartRoof pitched/flat or Roof face
6. Model your roof

Note: With SmartRoof pitched/flat you'll outline your entire roof. For every point you place SmartRoof pitched/flat will create a roof face. With Roof face you can decide if you want to model several roof planes or just a single roof plane.

 

5. System model

a. Firepathways

Fire pathways are required for most photovoltaic projects in the United States. The Aurora application allows you to easily place fire pathways that meet the code requirements of your design's jurisdiction.

To add fire pathways

1. Go to the project design and select System
2. Hover over Fire pathways
3. Click Auto place fire pathways
4. Next, review that the AHJ for the location is accurate
5. Click on Place fire pathways

 

Note: You can choose to toggle on Fire sprinklers and Aurora will place the fire pathways in a less conservative manner allowing for more roof space for designing your project's system.

 

b. Place panels

Users can choose from a variety of methods when placing panels. "Fill roof face" and "manually place" allow the user to choose where to place panels by filling selected roof faces or by placing panels individually. We'll show you the quickest way in this guide which is to use our AutoDesigner feature.

To place panels using AutoDesigner:

1. In the design go to System
2. Click AutoDesigner
3. Choose Max Fit to fill the roof with panels. You can also choose to set a Target Energy
4. Fill in the information on the pop-up screen like your components and irradiance.
5. Lastly, select Run AutoDesigner on the bottom right of the screen.

 

c. Stringing

After placing modules in your Aurora project, pressing the simulate button will give an accurate estimate of the power that the system will produce. In order to do this accurately, your system must be strung properly.

If you used Auto Designer to place panels:

• The panels were automatically strung. No further action is needed

If you placed panels manually with string inverters:

1. Go to system
2. Select String / connect
3. Click AutoStringer
4. Add your String inverters and DC optimizers
5. Click Run AutoStringer

 

 

6. Performance simulation

The last step is simulating the performance of your project's system. This will allow you to see what your PV system will produce.

To simulate performance

1.  In your project under design mode select Simulate system in the top right of the application
2. You'll see Production and Utility Bill Savings in the graph view to easily view pre and post-solar rates.