I was looking for a photovoltaic system configuration simulator to better understand how PV systems actually work in practice. Most of the tools I found were either too technical or focused on system sizing and financial analysis, which didn’t help me build an intuitive understanding of how everything connects and interacts.
What I really wanted was an ELI5-style solar panel simulator—something similar to Tinkercad. A simple, visual tool where I could experiment freely, without needing advanced knowledge, and quickly grasp concepts like energy flow, component roles, and system behavior.
Ideally, this simulator would include a drag-and-drop interface with components like solar panels, hybrid inverters, batteries, and grid connections. It would visually demonstrate how a microgrid system works, showing in real time how energy is generated, stored, and distributed across the system.
- Solar Simulator – DIY simulator for solar system | Design Before You Buy
- Community gallery – Tinkercad
- JRC Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS) – European Commission
- PV*SOL online – a free tool for solar power (PV) systems.
- 8 cool FREE design tools for solar energy systems – Clean Energy 4 Africa
- Parametric and Statistical Analysis – System Advisor Model – SAM
- Design and Simulation of a Microgrid System Based on Energy Storage Battery – Volt Coffer
- Megarevo – Industry-Leading Hybrid Inverter Manufacturer
- Solarithm Microgrid Simulator – Advanced Energy System Modeling | Solarithm