Product news: Soiling losses calculation now available in Solargis Evaluate

We’ve just added another layer of precision to Solargis Evaluate. Following the recent launch of snow loss calculations, soiling losses are now also part of our PV simulation toolkit – helping developers, investors, and technical advisors model real-world PV performance more accurately.

Why calculating soiling losses matters

Soiling occurs when dust, sand, pollen, pollution, or other particles accumulate on PV modules, reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches the cells and thereby lowering energy production. In some regions, soiling can cause substantial energy losses if not properly monitored and managed.

Understanding soiling losses is especially critical in arid and semi-arid locations, but also in areas with high agricultural or industrial activity. As these losses directly impact PV output, accounting for them is key to realistic performance estimates and better-informed decisions.

A transparent, flexible approach to soiling loss modeling

Solargis Evaluate allows you to incorporate monthly soiling loss factors into your PV simulations. These values are configurable, meaning users can input their own assumptions based on site knowledge, cleaning schedules, or available field data.

By default, the soiling losses are set to zero – ensuring full control over how and when they are applied. Once defined, the losses are factored directly into the energy yield calculations, providing a more accurate PVOUT (net AC output) and giving you a better understanding of how soiling affects your project’s performance over time.

This functionality is available in the Energy Simulation section of Solargis Evaluate, where soiling losses can be applied on a monthly basis.

Why soiling losses matter for bankability

Incorporating soiling losses into energy yield simulations ensures that financial models reflect the true variability of PV performance. It helps you:

• Avoid overestimation of annual energy yield
• Better reflect cleaning strategy and maintenance planning
• Improve accuracy in energy assessments submitted for due diligence

As with snow losses, our aim is to equip you with tools that reflect the realities of PV operations in different environments and climatic zones.

Solargis Evaluate offers the most precise PV simulation on the market

Solargis Evaluate is designed to bring a new level of precision to PV project evaluation. Leveraging 15-minute time series data, proprietary albedo data, ray tracing technology for bifacial PV simulations, and now snow and soiling loss modeling, you can capture more variables that affect PV performance – all in one cloud-based platform.

Want to learn more about how to apply soiling loss assumptions in your project? Explore the documentation here.