Accurate photovoltaic (PV) performance modelling is a cornerstone of reliable project development, bankability assessments, and long-term asset management. To support transparency and continuous improvement in the industry, Sandia National Laboratories regularly conducts independent benchmarking initiatives that evaluate how different PV modelling approaches perform against real-world data.
One of these initiatives is the report “Feature Review of Photovoltaic Modeling Software Utilizing Blind Performance Assessment”, in which 3E actively participated.
A rigorous and independent benchmarking of photovoltaic performance modelling
Sandia National Laboratories is the owner and maintainer of PVLIB, the open-source library that has become a global reference for photovoltaic performance modelling in research and industry applications.
Building on this ecosystem, 3E develops its solar performance analytics of its asset performance management platform, SynaptiQ, using PVLIB as a core foundation, complemented by proprietary methodologies, data handling, and quality controls tailored to utility-scale solar projects.
Each year, Sandia invites organisations and professionals involved in solar energy modelling to take part in a blind performance assessment designed to objectively evaluate modelling approaches under identical conditions.
The process is deliberately structured to ensure fairness and independence:
- All participants receive the same set of input parameters
- Each organisation runs its simulations independently
- Participants submit their results to Sandia without access to the plant’s actual production data
- Sandia then compares the submitted results with the measured production data of a real PV power plant, which serves as the reference “ground truth”
This methodology allows Sandia to assess modelling performance without bias, tuning, or hindsight.
The results allow each organisation, and the wider industry, to evaluate modelling approaches against real-world operational performance and identify strengths, limitations, and areas for improvement.
For 3E, participation in this initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to:
- Transparency in modelling practices
- Continuous validation of our methodologies against real data
- Alignment with internationally recognised, open-source standards
- Delivering robust and credible solar performance assessments to our clients
3E was appointed with the best overall modelling accuracy for both small and utility scale solar plants
The full report provides detailed insights into:
- The modelling tools and features assessed
- The blind comparison methodology
- How simulated results compare to measured plant performance
- Key observations relevant for developers, asset owners, and financial stakeholders
Download the full report “Feature Review of Photovoltaic Modeling Software Utilizing Blind Performance Assessment” to learn more about the results and methodology behind this blind performance assessment.
