Module File

A PlantPredict module file contains all electrical, physical, and optical parameters required to model PV module performance. Module files are organized across eight tabs, each containing related parameters.

Tab Overview

Tab	Description
Physical & Nameplate	General information, physical dimensions, and STC ratings
1-Diode	Single-diode model parameters for I-V curve generation
Charts	Relative efficiency curves at multiple temperatures
Spectral	Spectral response coefficients
Metastability	Metastability parameters (experimental — Terabase Energy only)
Shading	Module shading response configuration
IAM	Incidence Angle Modifier coefficients
Modeling Defaults	Default loss factors, thermal parameters, and degradation settings

Physical & Nameplate Tab

The Physical & Nameplate tab contains general module information, physical characteristics, and Standard Test Conditions (STC) ratings.

Module File Physical & Nameplate — Module File - Physical & Nameplate Tab

General

Parameter	Units	Description
Name	—	Display name for the module in the library
Manufacturer	—	Module manufacturer name
Model	—	Manufacturer’s model number

Characteristics

Parameter	Units	Description
Faciality	—	Module front/rear configuration. Options: Monofacial, Bifacial
Bifaciality Factor	%	Ratio of rear-side efficiency to front-side efficiency (bifacial modules only)
Module Construction	—	Construction type. Options: Glass-Backsheet, Glass-Glass
Length	cm / in	Module length
Width	cm / in	Module width
Area	m² / ft²	Total module area (calculated)
Weight	kg / lb	Module weight
Cell Technology	—	Cell type. Options: n-type mono c-Si, p-type mono c-Si PERC, p-type mono c-Si BSF, poly c-Si PERC, poly c-Si BSF, CdTe, CIGS, Mixed
Transmission Factor	%	Optical transmission factor
Data Source	—	Source of module data. Options: Manufacturer, PVsyst, University of Geneva, Photon, Sandia Database, Custom, PlantPredict
Number of Parallel Strings of Cells	—	Cell strings wired in parallel
Number of Cells in Series	—	Cells wired in series per string
Cell Design Type	—	Cell design configuration. Options: Full Cell Technology, Half-Cell Technology, N/A, None Specified

STC Ratings

Parameter	Units	Description
Maximum Power	W	Rated power at STC (1000 W/m², 25°C, AM1.5)
Efficiency	%	Module efficiency at STC
Short Circuit Current	A	Short circuit current (Isc) at STC
Open Circuit Voltage	V	Open circuit voltage (Voc) at STC
MPP Current	A	Maximum power point current (Imp) at STC
MPP Voltage	V	Maximum power point voltage (Vmp) at STC
Power Temperature Coefficient	%/°C	Temperature coefficient of power (negative value)
Short Circuit Current Temp. Coefficient	%/°C	Temperature coefficient of Isc (typically positive)
Open Circuit Voltage Temp. Coefficient	%/°C	Temperature coefficient of Voc (negative value)
Power Tolerances	%	Manufacturing power tolerance range (−/+)

Notes

Parameter	Units	Description
Created Date	—	Date the module file was created
Module Notes	—	Free-form notes about the module
Status Change Notes	—	Notes added when module status was changed (read-only)

1-Diode Tab

The 1-Diode tab contains parameters for the single-diode equivalent circuit model used to generate I-V curves at any irradiance and temperature condition.

Module File 1-Diode — Module File - 1-Diode Tab

Single-Diode Parameters

Parameter	Units	Description
Dark Shunt Resistance	Ω	Shunt resistance in the dark
Short Circuit Current At STC	A	Photogenerated current at STC
Recombination Parameter	—	Recombination loss parameter
Saturation Current At STC	A	Diode saturation current at STC
Reference Irradiance	W/m²	Reference irradiance for STC (typically 1000)
Reference Temperature	°C / °F	Reference temperature for STC (typically 25°C / 77°F)
Bandgap Voltage	eV	Semiconductor bandgap voltage
Shunt Resistance at STC	Ω	Shunt resistance at STC
Linear Temp. Dependence of Gamma	%/°C	Temperature dependence of ideality factor
Linear Temp Dependence of ISC	%/°C	Temperature dependence of short circuit current
Built-In Voltage	V	Built-in junction voltage
Series Resistance at STC	Ω	Series resistance at STC
Exp Dependence of Shunt Resistance	—	Exponential dependence of shunt resistance on irradiance
Diode Ideality Factor at STC	—	Diode ideality factor at STC
Heat Absorption Coefficient Alpha T	—	Heat absorption coefficient
Model Type	—	Diode model type (1-Diode)

Non-Linear Temperature Coefficient

Parameter	Units	Description
γ1, γ2, γ3, γ4	%/°C	Polynomial coefficients for non-linear temperature dependence

The single-diode model parameters are typically generated automatically when creating a module from datasheet values or I-V curves. Manual editing is available for advanced users.

See Single Diode Model for detailed algorithm documentation.

Charts Tab

The Charts tab displays relative efficiency curves showing module performance across a range of irradiance levels at different temperatures.

Module File Charts — Module File - Charts Tab

Relative Efficiency Data

Parameter	Units	Description
Temperature	°C / °F	Temperature for the displayed curve (selectable: 25°C / 77°F, 50°C / 122°F)
Irradiance	W/m²	Irradiance level (typically 100-1200 W/m²)
Rel. Efficiency	%	Relative efficiency at each irradiance level (100% = STC efficiency)

The chart visualizes how module efficiency varies with irradiance, with separate curves for each temperature condition. Low-light performance (below 200 W/m²) typically shows reduced relative efficiency.

Spectral Tab

The Spectral tab contains coefficients for modeling the spectral response of the module under varying atmospheric conditions.

Module File Spectral — Module File - Spectral Tab

Spectral Shift Coefficients

Parameter	Units	Description
1-Param Spectral Response	—	Spectral shift model selection. Options: No Spectral Shift, FS Series 4 & Earlier, FS Series 4-2 & Earlier, Sandia

2-Param Pwat and AM

Parameter	Units	Description
B0 – B5	—	Polynomial coefficients for 2-parameter spectral model using precipitable water and air mass

Sandia Spectral

Parameter	Units	Description
A0 – A4	—	Sandia spectral correction coefficients

See Spectral Models for detailed algorithm documentation.

Metastability Tab

Experimental Feature — Terabase Energy OnlyThe Metastability tab is an experimental feature currently accessible only to Terabase Energy users. This tab contains parameters for modeling metastability effects in certain module technologies (e.g., HJT modules with light-induced annealing behavior).

Shading Tab

The Shading tab configures how the module responds to partial shading conditions.

Module File Shading — Module File - Shading Tab

Shading Response

Parameter	Units	Description
Module Shading Response	—	Shading model selection. Options: None, Linear, Fractional Electrical Shading
Fractional Shading %	%	Fractional electrical impact per unit of shaded area (100% = fully proportional)

See Electrical Shading for detailed algorithm documentation.

IAM Tab

The IAM (Incidence Angle Modifier) tab contains coefficients for modeling optical losses at non-normal angles of incidence.

ASHRAE Coefficients

Parameter	Units	Description
Ashrae B0	—	ASHRAE incidence angle modifier coefficient

Physical

Parameter	Units	Description
Use Anti-Reflective Coating (ARC)	—	Enable physical IAM model with ARC
Refractive Index Of ARC	—	Refractive index of anti-reflective coating
Refractive Index	—	Refractive index of cover glass
Glazing Extinction Coefficient	m⁻¹	Extinction coefficient of cover glass
Glazing Thickness	m / ft	Thickness of cover glass

Tabular Coefficients

Parameter	Units	Description
Match ASHRAE IAM	—	Generate tabular values from ASHRAE coefficient
Incident Angle / IAM Table	°, —	User-defined angle-IAM pairs

Sandia Coefficients

Parameter	Units	Description
Match ASHRAE IAM	—	Generate Sandia coefficients from ASHRAE
B0 – B5	—	Sandia polynomial IAM coefficients

See Incidence Angle Modifier for detailed algorithm documentation.

Modeling Defaults Tab

The Modeling Defaults tab contains default values for loss factors, thermal parameters, and degradation that are applied when this module is used in a prediction.

Module File Modeling Defaults — Module File - Modeling Defaults Tab

Orientation

Parameter	Units	Description
Default Orientation	—	Default module orientation when added to a prediction. Options: Portrait, Landscape

Loss Factors

Parameter	Units	Description
Module Quality	%	Power loss due to module quality variance from nameplate
Mismatch	%	Power loss due to current mismatch between modules
LID	%	Light-Induced Degradation loss (first-year)
Backside Mismatch	%	Mismatch loss for rear-side irradiance (bifacial only)

Thermal Parameters

Parameter	Units	Description
Heat Balance Convective Coef.	—	Convective heat transfer coefficient for heat balance model
Sandia Convective Coef.	—	Convective coefficient for Sandia thermal model
Cell to Module Temp. Difference	°C / °F	Temperature difference between cell and module back surface
Heat Balance Conductive Coef.	—	Conductive heat transfer coefficient for heat balance model
Sandia Conductive Coef.	—	Conductive coefficient for Sandia thermal model

Degradation

Parameter	Units	Description
Degradation Shape	—	Degradation curve shape over time. Options: Unspecified, Linear, Non-Linear
Degradation Rate	%/year	Annual degradation rate

Modeling Defaults can be overridden at the DC Field level within a prediction. These values serve as starting defaults when the module is first added to a design.

See Module Temperature Models for thermal parameter documentation.

Introduction

User Interface

Prediction Results

Resources

Typical Workflows

Knowledge Base

Tab Overview

Physical & Nameplate Tab

General

Characteristics

STC Ratings

Notes

1-Diode Tab

Single-Diode Parameters

Non-Linear Temperature Coefficient

Charts Tab

Relative Efficiency Data

Spectral Tab

Spectral Shift Coefficients

2-Param Pwat and AM

Sandia Spectral

Metastability Tab

Shading Tab

Shading Response

IAM Tab

ASHRAE Coefficients

Physical

Tabular Coefficients

Sandia Coefficients

Modeling Defaults Tab

Orientation

Loss Factors

Thermal Parameters

Degradation

​Tab Overview

​Physical & Nameplate Tab

​General

​Characteristics

​STC Ratings

​Notes

​1-Diode Tab

​Single-Diode Parameters

​Non-Linear Temperature Coefficient

​Charts Tab

​Relative Efficiency Data

​Spectral Tab

​Spectral Shift Coefficients

​2-Param Pwat and AM

​Sandia Spectral

​Metastability Tab

​Shading Tab

​Shading Response

​IAM Tab

​ASHRAE Coefficients

​Physical

​Tabular Coefficients

​Sandia Coefficients

​Modeling Defaults Tab

​Orientation

​Loss Factors

​Thermal Parameters

​Degradation

Tab Overview

Physical & Nameplate Tab

General

Characteristics

STC Ratings

Notes

1-Diode Tab

Single-Diode Parameters

Non-Linear Temperature Coefficient

Charts Tab

Relative Efficiency Data

Spectral Tab

Spectral Shift Coefficients

2-Param Pwat and AM

Sandia Spectral

Metastability Tab

Shading Tab

Shading Response

IAM Tab

ASHRAE Coefficients

Physical

Tabular Coefficients

Sandia Coefficients

Modeling Defaults Tab

Orientation

Loss Factors

Thermal Parameters

Degradation