Download New Solar Homes Partnership Calculator
CECPV Calculator Version 3.0
Updated: January 12, 2012
This is a detailed hourly calculation tool based on the 5-parameter model developed by the Solar Energy Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin. The CECPV Calculator incorporates detailed inverter performance modeling and uses weather data from the 16 climate zones in California (as used by the Title 24 compliance calculations).
The MS Excel interface to the calculation engine is provided by the Energy Commission for download and allows the user to select PV modules and inverters from a library of eligible equipment. Please check this website periodically for updates as new equipment may be added to the NSHP eligibility lists. The CECPV Calculator generates the estimated monthly kWh production and annual TDV (kWh) production for the specified system. It also determines the appropriate incentive amount as calculated by the Expected Performance Based Incentive approach outlined in the NSHP Guidebook.
Note: To qualify for an incentive, residential buildings must receive electricity distribution service at the site of installation from one of four investor-owned utilities (IOUs) in California. The IOUs are: Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, and Southern California Water Company - doing business as Bear Valley Electric Service. On the list within the calculator, there are cities that are not served by the above utilities. You can determine what utility serves your project by going to the page called Finding Your Utility Company.
Download the Energy Commission CECPV Calculator
Version 3.0 Automated Installation
(MSI file, 8.2 megabytes) Internet Explorer Users: Left-Click the Link to download. Choose "Open" or "Run" at the first prompt. If you receive a security warning, choose "Run" or "OK." The program will be automatically installed in the C:\CECPV3x directory, where x is the version number. If you require a different directory, please use a manual installation with the zip file below.
Mozilla Firefox Users: Left-Click the Link to download. Choose "Save File" at the first prompt. Once the download completes, double-click the file. The file may be located in either the Firefox "Downloads" window or at your computer's default save location (often the desktop). If you receive a "Open Executable File?" prompt, choose "OK". The program will be automatically installed in the C:\CECPV3x directory, where x is the version number. If you require a different directory, please use a manual installation with the zip file below.
Version 3.0 Manual Installation
(ZIP file, 7.8 megabytes) Left-Click the Link to download. Choose "Save" to store the file on your hard disk. Un-zip to C:\ to install in C:\CECPV3x directory, where x is the version number.
Version Change Details
(Acrobat file, 18 kilobytes)
- Version 3.0 Archive Page
- Version 2.6 Archive Page
- Version 2.5 Archive Page
- Version 2.4 Archive Page
- Version 2.3 Archive Page
Calculator Support
List of Calculator Versions applicable to Different Incentive Steps
CECPV Calculator Version 2 Examples
(pdf document, 1.2 MB)CECPV Calculator Version 3 Examples
(pdf document, 1.1 MB)How to Set the Correct Excel 2007 Security Level
(pdf document, 252 kilobytes)How to Find the EMF File step-by-step guide
(PowerPoint Show, 417 kilobytes)
NSHP applications must use a version of the NSHP CECPV Calculator that is listed as "certified" on the date the NSHP application is postmarked (or date of submission for electronic NSHP applications).
| Version Number | Release Date | Libraries | Decertified Date | Currently Certified |
v3.0 |
January 12, 2012 |
Mod3.0a/Inv3.0a |
None Scheduled |
Yes |
v2.6 Update 4 |
January 10, 2012 |
Mode.6e/Inv2.6e |
January 12, 2012 |
No |
v2.6 Update 3 |
December 2, 2011 |
Mod2.6d/Inv2.6d |
January 12, 2012 |
No |
v2.6 Update 2 |
November 7, 2011 |
Mod2.6c/Inv2.6c |
January 12, 2012 |
No |
v2.6 Update 1 |
October 10, 2011 |
Mod2.6b/Inv2.6b |
January 12, 2012 |
No |
v2.6 |
August 12, 2011 |
Mod2.6a/Inv2.6a |
January 12, 2012 |
No |
v2.5 Update 2 |
August 10, 2011 |
Mod2.5c/Inv2.5c |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.5 Update 1 |
June 22, 2011 |
Mod2.5b/Inv2.5b |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.5 |
May 16, 2011 |
Mod2.5a/Inv2.5a |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.4 Update 9 |
November 15, 2010 |
Mod2.4j/Inv2.4j |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.4 Update 8 |
October 12, 2010 |
Mod2.4i/Inv2.4i |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.4 Update 7 |
September 9, 2010 |
Mod2.4h/Inv2.4h |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.4 Update 6 |
August 17, 2010 |
Mod2.4g/Inv2.4g |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.4 Update 5 |
July 15, 2010 |
Mod2.4f/Inv2.4f |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.4 Update 4 |
June 17, 2010 |
Mod2.4e/Inv2.4e |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.4 Update 3 |
April 21, 2010 |
Mod2.4d/Inv2.4 d |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.4 Update 2 |
March 15, 2010 |
Mod2.4c/Inv2.4c |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.4 Update 1 |
February 24, 2010 |
Mod2.4b/Inv2.4b |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.4 |
January 29, 2010 |
Mod2.4a/Inv2.4a |
September 11, 2011 |
No |
v2.3 Update 16 |
January 12, 2010 |
Mod2.3q/Inv2.3p |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 15 |
October 27, 2009 |
Mod2.3p/Inv2.3o |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 14 |
October 15, 2009 |
Mod2.3o/Inv2.3n |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 13 |
September 8, 2009 |
Mod2.3n/Inv2.3m |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 12 |
July 16, 2009 |
Mod2.3m/Inv2.3l |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 11 |
May 11, 2009 |
Mod2.3l/Inv2.3k |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 10 |
March 11, 2009 |
Mod2.3k/Inv2.3j |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 9 |
February 11, 2009 |
Mod2.3j/Inv2.3i |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 8 |
December 11, 2008 |
Mod2.3i/Inv2.3h |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 7 |
October 23, 2008 |
Mod2.3h/Inv2.3g |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 6 |
September 9, 2008 |
Mod2.3g/Inv2.3f |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 5 |
June 3, 2008 |
Mod2.3f/Inv2.3e |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 4 |
April 30, 2008 |
Mod2.3e/Inv2.3d |
March 1, 2010 |
No |
v2.3 Update 3 |
April 4, 2008 |
Mod2.3d/Inv2.3c |
June 1, 2008 |
No |
v2.3 Update 2 |
March 20, 2008 |
Mod2.3c/Inv2.3c |
June 1, 2008 |
No |
v2.3 Update 1 |
January 18, 2008 |
Mod2.3b/Inv2.3b |
June 1, 2008 |
No |
v2.3 |
December 6, 2007 |
Mod2.3a/Inv2.3a |
June 1, 2008 |
No |
v2.2 Update 1 |
December 6, 2007 |
Mod2.2b/Inv2.2b |
January 7, 2008 |
No |
v2.2 |
October 22, 2007 |
Mod2.2a/Inv2.2a |
January 7, 2008 |
No |
v2.1 Update 3 |
December 6, 2007 |
Mod2.1d/Inv2.1d |
January 7, 2008 |
No |
v2.1 Update 2 |
September 7, 2007 |
Mod2.1c/Inv2.1c |
January 7, 2008 |
No |
v2.1 Update 1 |
August 24, 2007 |
Mod2.1b/Inv2.1b |
January 7, 2008 |
No |
v2.1 |
July 30, 2007 |
Mod2.1a/Inv2.1a |
January 7, 2008 |
No |
v2.0 Update 2 |
June 8, 2007 |
Mod2.0c/Inv2.0b |
January 7, 2008 |
No |
v2.0 Update 1 |
May 18, 2007 |
Mod2.0b/Inv2.0a |
January 7, 2008 |
No |
v2.0 |
April 27, 2007 |
Mod2.0a/Inv2.0a |
January 7, 2008 |
No |
v1.3 |
April 6, 2007 |
N/A |
No longer certified |
No |
v1.2 |
March 16, 2007 |
N/A |
No longer certified |
No |
v1.1 |
February 23, 2007 |
N/A |
No longer certified |
No |
v1.0 |
January 1, 2007 |
N/A |
No longer certified |
No |
Software requirements
- PC platform with MS Windows OS (Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7)
(Sorry a Macintosh version is not available, nor is it anticipated.) - Microsoft Excel (2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 32 bit Excel 2010)
(Compatibility with 64 bit Excel 2010 has not been tested; however version 2.6 is believed to be compatible.)
Installation Instructions
- For automated installation, left-click and install the CECPV3_x.msi file. The program will be placed in the C:\CECPV3x directory. A shortcut icon named "v3.x NSHP CECPV Calculator" will be placed on the desktop.
- If you desire the program to be installed in a different directory, download the CECPV3_x.zip file. Extract the contents of the zip file into a new folder on your hard disk.
- When available above, download and install the most recent Module/Inverter Update to the same directory where the calculator is installed.
Operating Instructions
-
Using the CECPV Calculator desktop icon (automatic installation option), open the Excel spreadsheet titled CECPV3_x.xls. If you used the manual installation option, you will need to locate and open the CECPV3_x.xls file from your hard disk. Be sure to enable Macros when asked in the opening window. Also set your Macro Security (menu Tools>Macro>Security) level to medium or lower to allow the program to run (depending on your Excel options).
-
Once the "Run" button has initiated the calculations, the CECPV tool will run in the background and show up as a minimized program. Please DO NOT close the CECPV window or quit the program. The screen may go blank or all white while the simulation is running. The simulation without compliance forms can take up to 1 minute to complete. The simulation with compliance forms can take up to 3 minutes to complete.
At the end of the simulation the "Results" tab is shown with the monthly and annual kWh production values, the annual TDV and the estimate of the incentive ($).
If the simulation was run with compliance forms, the "View Compliance Form" button will take you to the CF-1R-PV form which can then be printed for submission with your NSHP application.
Additional information
- Manufacturers interested in adding their equipment to the NSHP eligible equipment should refer to the documents available at http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/equipment/add.php.
- The detailed hourly output from the tool is saved in the CECPV_output.csv file found in the C:\CECPV3x directory. Rename this file to save the results from a run, since it will get overwritten every time a new run is initiated. Similarly the field verification table output can be found in the FVT.csv file which is also overwritten with every run.
For more information contact:
Farakh Nasim
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS-37
Sacramento, CA 95814-5512
Telephone: 916-654-4689
E-mail: FNasim@energy.state.ca.us