Polysun
Pros
- Provides high accuracy through dynamic time-step simulation instead of relying only on monthly or annual averages.
- Supports numerous renewable energy technologies and complex hybrid configurations.
- Includes an extensive database of manufacturer-verified components.
- Produces professional reports suitable for customers, banks, and government subsidy programs.
- Offers different user levels, from guided templates for beginners to programmable controllers for experts.
- Provides advanced hydronic and thermal modeling that many pure photovoltaic design tools lack.
Cons
- Advanced Designer and Enterprise functionality has a significant learning curve.
- The first-year cost of the Standard edition may be high for small installers.
- The interface can feel complex compared with simpler browser-based photovoltaic design tools.
- Accurate simulations require a strong understanding of energy engineering and technical parameters.
- Advanced hydraulic system modeling is limited to higher-priced editions.
Designing an efficient energy system requires navigating numerous variables, from local weather patterns to the technical compatibility of different hardware components. Engineers and planners often struggle to accurately predict the performance and economic viability of hybrid systems that combine solar power, heat pumps, and thermal storage. Polysun addresses these challenges by providing a comprehensive simulation environment that models the physical behavior of these components over time.
By using Polysun, professionals in the HVAC, solar, and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) sectors can move beyond simplified calculations to dynamic, high-resolution simulations. This enables precise equipment sizing and helps avoid both the high costs of oversized systems and the performance problems of undersized equipment.
What Is Polysun?
Polysun is a specialized desktop and cloud-enabled simulation platform developed by Vela Solaris. It belongs to the category of energy modeling and solar design software. The platform assists with the planning, optimization, and yield prediction of renewable energy systems for buildings and districts.
Polysun serves a diverse user base that includes MEP engineers, HVAC specialists, solar installers, energy consultants, planners, and researchers.
The software allows users to create a digital model of an energy system using an extensive library of predefined components. These include photovoltaic modules, solar thermal collectors, heat pumps, battery systems, thermal storage, boilers, and complex hydraulic controllers.
Polysun then performs a dynamic simulation using local meteorological data, often with one-minute or 15-minute time steps. The results provide detailed information about energy yields, thermal performance, system behavior, and financial returns.
Polysun Features
Dynamic System Simulation
Models the interaction between different energy components at a high temporal resolution to reproduce realistic energy production and consumption patterns.
Heat Pump Sizing
Simulates building heating demand and load profiles to determine an appropriate heat pump configuration, helping improve system efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
PV System Design and String Planning
Includes tools for photovoltaic roof layouts and advanced string planning to improve system configuration and maximize solar energy yield.
Hydronic and Thermal Analysis
Models the physical behavior of heating systems, including radiators, underfloor heating, pumps, boilers, and thermal storage tanks, to evaluate system stability and thermal comfort.
Extensive Component Database
Provides access to thousands of verified components from major manufacturers, allowing simulations to reflect the real-world performance of specific hardware.
Shading Analysis
Includes integrated horizon and shading tools for evaluating how surrounding buildings, vegetation, and terrain affect the energy yield of solar components.
Economic Efficiency Calculations
Generates detailed calculations covering investment costs, Net Present Value (NPV), payback periods, operating costs, energy prices, and available subsidies.
Automated PDF Reports
Creates professional reports for customer presentations, engineering documentation, financial evaluations, and subsidy applications.
Screenshots
Polysun Pricing
Polysun offers several pricing tiers based on the required functionality and type of energy system. Customized Enterprise solutions and API access require a direct quote.
30-Day Free Trial
A 30-day trial is available to new users who want to evaluate the software before purchasing a subscription.
Polysun Standard
Polysun Standard has been listed at €169 per month during the first year and €29 per month in subsequent years. This plan covers common systems involving photovoltaic modules, heat pumps, and solar thermal technologies.
Polysun Designer
Polysun Designer is an advanced version that supports custom thermohydraulic system modeling and freely programmable controllers.
Polysun SPT
Polysun SPT is a specialized edition focused on photovoltaic systems. It includes advanced energy yield forecasting and self-consumption optimization tools.
Polysun Enterprise and API
Custom pricing is available for organizations that require cloud-based simulation kernels, API access, enterprise deployment, or integration with proprietary software products.
Subscription Renewal
Continued access to software updates and technical support may require an annual service subscription. The renewal cost depends on the selected Polysun edition and licensing arrangement.
Polysun Integrations
Polysun is designed to operate within broader engineering, planning, research, and software development environments through several technical interfaces.
API and Cloud Services
The Polysun Simulation Performance API allows developers to create custom web applications, calculation tools, and business models using the Polysun simulation kernel.
Engineering Software
- Lesosai: Uses Polysun simulation functionality for building and energy planning.
- DDS-CAD: Integrates energy simulation capabilities into building services design workflows.
- BKI Energieplaner: Uses the Polysun Inside interface for renewable energy calculations.
Research Tools
Polysun provides command-line access and compatibility with MATLAB for advanced statistical evaluations, automated simulations, and academic research.
Meteorological Data
The software connects to global weather databases to provide localized climate and solar irradiation data for projects around the world.
How to Set Up Polysun
- Visit the Vela Solaris website and request a 30-day free trial or purchase a subscription.
- Download the installation package for the compatible desktop client.
- Install Polysun and activate the license using the credentials provided by email.
- Download the latest component catalogs and meteorological data during the initial setup.
- Use the setup wizard to configure your default region, units, language, and currency.
- Create your first project by selecting an appropriate template from the system library.
How to Use Polysun
A typical Polysun workflow begins by defining the project location so that the software can retrieve the relevant weather and solar irradiation data. The user then selects a system template that closely matches the intended energy design.
The setup wizard guides the user through the required building information, including heating demand, consumption profiles, roof orientation, system capacity, and other technical parameters.
Inside the project workspace, users can add, remove, and connect components or replace generic equipment with specific manufacturer products from the component catalog.
After defining the system, the user runs a dynamic simulation. Polysun calculates the flow of energy for every time step over an entire year, accounting for changing weather, consumption, storage levels, and component behavior.
Once the simulation is complete, users can review graphical evaluations and tabular data to identify system bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or sizing problems. A PDF report can then be generated to summarize the technical results, energy yield, and economic performance.
What You Can Manage with Polysun
- Energy Yield Forecasts: Produce detailed predictions of annual electricity and heat generation.
- System Sizing Reports: Document that heat pumps, boilers, storage tanks, and other components are correctly sized.
- Financial Proposals: Generate ROI calculations that include maintenance costs, energy prices, investment expenses, and subsidies.
- Component Comparisons: Compare different hardware brands and configurations under the same climate and operating conditions.
- Consumption Profiles: Model how buildings use electricity and thermal energy throughout the day and year.
- Technical Documentation: Create hydronic and electrical schematics for simulated renewable energy systems.
Polysun FAQs
What does Polysun do?
Polysun is simulation software used to design and optimize renewable energy systems involving photovoltaic modules, solar thermal collectors, heat pumps, batteries, and thermal storage. It uses dynamic modeling to predict system performance under real-world weather and consumption conditions.
Who is Polysun best for?
Polysun is best suited to MEP engineers, HVAC planners, solar professionals, researchers, and energy consultants working with complex integrated energy systems. It is particularly useful when high-accuracy yield predictions and detailed thermal analysis are required.
Is Polysun free?
Polysun is not permanently free. Vela Solaris offers a 30-day trial that allows prospective users to test the software. Continued professional use requires a paid subscription or license.
How much does Polysun cost?
Polysun Standard has been listed at €169 per month for the first year and €29 per month in subsequent years. Pricing for Designer, SPT, Enterprise, and API access depends on the required features and licensing arrangement.
What are the main limitations of Polysun?
The primary limitation is its technical complexity. Although guided templates and wizards are available, mastering custom hydraulic systems and programmable controllers can require substantial time and engineering knowledge. The desktop interface may also feel less modern than newer web-based platforms.
What are the best alternatives to Polysun?
Common Polysun alternatives include PVsyst for photovoltaic performance analysis, T*SOL for solar thermal systems, and PV*SOL for detailed photovoltaic design. DesignBuilder and TRNSYS may be considered for broader building energy and dynamic system modeling.
