Near Shading of Objects Bug - PVsyst 8

[Evan Westphal]

Hello,

In PVsyst 8 (replicated in 8.08, 8.10, 8.11 on multiple computers), there is a near shading bug when only some objects (not all) are selected to cast shadows, shading drops to zero when there should still be shading from the objects selected to cast shadows.

I've attached screenshots from an example project demonstrating the bug.

Shade scene:

Shading loss (zero):

 

Edited April 29, 2025 by Evan Westphal
formatting

[Eric Poirrier]

Hi Evan,

Thanks for posting on the PVsyst forum. Can you check you don't have the "partial shading calculations" turned ON ? 

https://www.pvsyst.com/help/project-design/shadings/partial-shadings-and-calculations.html?h=partial#shadow-casting

Alternatively, if you can export your project and send it to : support@pvsyst.com , I will be happy to take a look.

Best regards,
Eric

 

[Evan Westphal]

Hi Eric,

I checked and the partial shading calculations is not on.

 

I have emailed the example project file as a follow-up.

Thank you for your help,

Evan

[Eric Poirrier]

Hi Evan,

Thanks for the project file. Indeed, PVsyst has a problem with the "Shadow Casting" setting on PV fields. According to the documentation (https://www.pvsyst.com/help/project-design/shadings/partial-shadings-and-calculations.html?h=casting#shadow-casting) this setting should not prevent PV fields to receive shadows from surrounding “shadow casting” objects.

I have raised a software change request to address this issue. In the meantime, please turn the shadow casting for all your PV objects ON (setting by default). Cannot really think about a scenario requiring the shadow casting of PV trackers field tuned OFF anyway.

As far as I can see non-PV Objects behave as expected, they cast shadow on PV fields according to their settings.

Best regards,

Eric

 

 

[Evan Westphal]

Hi Eric,

Thank you for your help! I need to run a comparison where shading is isolated to surrounding objects only but I will revert to PVsyst 7.4.8 for now until the issue is addressed in an update.

Best regards,

Evan

[Vamsee]

Is this resolved I am also facing the same issue. Object shadings are being considered and the adjacent tracker shading is not being considered. is there any work around.

[Eric Poirrier]

Hi Vamsee,

Unfortunately, the issue with PV Fields not receiving shadow when they are set as non-casting object is still present in the latest version of PVsyst. For the PV fields to receive Shadow the PV itself need to cast Shadow (Shadow casting ON). Can you set your PVs to cast shadow?

Regards,
Eric