> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.plantpredict.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Nodal Data Overview

> Introduction to PlantPredict Nodal Data exports for detailed prediction analysis

Nodal Data provides detailed, timestep-by-timestep results from PlantPredict energy predictions. These CSV-format exports contain the intermediate and final calculation results at each hierarchical level of a power plant, enabling users to verify, validate, and understand prediction results at different nodes in the calculation chain.

## Nodal Data Hierarchy

PlantPredict organizes power plant modeling in a hierarchical structure, and Nodal Data exports are available at each level:

1. **DC Field** - The most granular level containing module-level irradiance processing, temperature calculations, and DC power output for a group of modules with identical characteristics feeding a single inverter input.

2. **Inverter** - Aggregates DC Field outputs and calculates inverter behavior including efficiency, operating regions, voltage/current characteristics, and AC power output.

3. **Array** - Combines inverter outputs with AC collection system losses, auxiliary loads, degradation, and transformer losses at the array level.

4. **Block** - Aggregates array outputs to represent a logical grouping of arrays within the power plant.

5. **System** - The highest level containing site-wide meteorological data, solar geometry, horizontal irradiance processing, and plant-level losses including HV transformers and transmission lines.

6. **Storage** - When energy storage is included, provides battery state of charge, charge/discharge power, efficiency losses, and dispatch algorithm results.

## Enabling Nodal Data Export

Nodal Data must be enabled by the user before running a prediction. Once enabled, the detailed timestep data will be available for download after the prediction completes. Users can select which hierarchical levels to export based on their analysis needs.

## Using Nodal Data

Nodal Data exports are commonly used for:

* Validating prediction results against measured data
* Understanding loss contributions at each stage of the calculation
* Debugging unexpected prediction results
* Performing detailed technical due diligence
* Comparing model behavior across different configurations