Skelion: A Solar Energy Design Plugin For SketchUp

Concept about the Skelion Plugin of the SketchUp Software

The Skelion is the SketchUp plugin which enables the users to insert thermal components and solar photovoltaics in the design surface. Solars panels can be inserted into the SketchUp design models within a shorter period of time with the help of the Skelion plugin of the SketchUp software which helps to make fast renewable solar energy studies. The Skelion plugin also includes shadow projection features in the SketchUp software which is compatible with MAC OS and Windows.

Through the use of the Skelion plugin:

1. Users are able to insert 3D models in their SketchUp designs during the solar installation process.
2. Users are also able to use the PV modules database with the help of the Skelion plugin. In addition, users can also aff their own mode into their SketchUp designs.
3. By using this plugin, users can also load the current location from Google Earth which helps to achieve more innovative designs.

With the features of the Skelion plugin of the SketchUp software, the designing of the residential installation process or designing ground mount power plants has become easier. This can be done with just a few clicks by using the SketchUp software and Google Earth. The goal of the Skelion plugin is to help engineers, architects, solar PV designers, and other SketchUp software users in designing solar photovoltaic systems in a more effective and fastest way. Apart from the creation of 3D design models, users are also able to import those designs into their design models by using the Skelion plugin. In addition, users can also customize the existing database of solar panels with the help of the Skelion plugin of the SketchUp software.

The Skelion plugin has been created for the insertion of solar panels in any kind of roof design. As an example, whether a design model has been set up already, but in the meantime, it is decided to add the photovoltaic systems, users can use the Skelion plugin through which the users can load the original sketches as well as they can add solar panels into that design.

Features of the Skelion plugin of the SketchUp software

There are lots of design features in the Skelion plugin of the SketchUp software which are as follows:

Residential system

This feature of the Skelion plugin has been developed to insert solar panels in any kind of roof.

Design components

Users are able to create their own 3D design components as well as insert them directly into the 3D models. With the help of the design components of the Skelion plugin, users can customize the existing database of solar panels.

The criteria for shading

With the help of the Skelion plugin, the solar obstructions have been projected over the roof along with two different criteria which helps to determine the area that accomplishes the design criteria.

Exporting 3D models

Users are also able to export their solar system or ground power plant models into PVSYST with the help of the Skelion plugin of the SketchUp software.

Array series

With this feature of the Skelion plugin, users can change the normal texture of the designs to the colour texture in the draw array series of the power system and this entire process can be done by using the paint tool of the SketchUp software.

Ground Mount Power Plants

Through this feature, user can import their 3D mesh as well as insert their solar component in the terrain.

Curved roof features

Users are able to insert solar panels in the curved roofs by using the Skelion plugin.

Tracking and backtracking features

With the help of this design feature of the Skelion plugin, users can view the movement of any 1-axis or 2-axis solar components.

Dome components

Users are also able to insert dome components into the designs and can also obtain the design report of both boundaries.

Importance of the Skelion plugin

The Skelion plugin has been developed to automate the design of solar systems along with the help of Google SketchUp software. With the help of the Skelion plugin, users can make a design with just a few clicks with less time thus reducing the average time that has been expended while doing the design layouts and creating the energy production reports of the solar systems.

Working process of the Skelion plugin

Users can select a surface on which they want to insert the solar panels and click on the solar cell logo. After that, a menu appeared, which asked the users about the design orientations for the solar panel, the type of the solar panel, as well as the shading ranges for a day. Users can select the photovoltaic panels from the database which can be placed on the landscape or portrait orientation. After that, the solar panels can be inserted automatically into the selected design surface.

To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.

Video Source: SkelionSolar

Download Skelion Plugin

How can SketchUp modellers use the Skelion plugin?

Users can download the free version of the Skelion plugin of the SketchUp software which includes the most powerful design features such as the automatic insertion of the solar panels. By downloading the pro version of the Skelion plugin, some useful and interesting features including energy reports can also be obtained by the users.