gotchas.md

A List of Common Problems When Configuring and Running reV

1) Unneeded commas in the json configuration

{
    "this": [
        "will",
        "not",
        "work",  # Because of this comma
    ]
}

2) SAM config parameter name spelling

"fixed_operating_costs": 1404000.0,  # This extra "s" on "_costs" caused an hour of confusion
"fixed_charge_rate": 0.051,
"system_capacity": 18000,

3) Percentage units

{
  "array_type": 2,
  "azimuth": 180,
  "capital_cost": 39767200,
  "clearsky": false,
  "dc_ac_ratio": 1.3,
  "fixed_charge_rate": 0.096,       # This is 9.6%
  "fixed_operating_cost": 260000,
  "gcr": 0.4,                       # This is 40%
  "inv_eff": 96,                    # This is 96% 
  "losses": 14.07566,               # And this is 14.08%
  "module_type": 0,
  "system_capacity": 20000,
  "tilt": 0,
  "variable_operating_cost": 0
}

4) Tilt parameter with tracking for solar

{
  "array_type": 2,                  # This refers to 1-axis tracking
  "azimuth": 180,
  "capital_cost": 39767200,
  "clearsky": false,
  "dc_ac_ratio": 1.3,
  "fixed_charge_rate": 0.096,
  "fixed_operating_cost": 260000,
  "gcr": 0.4,
  "inv_eff": 96, 
  "losses": 14.07566,
  "module_type": 0,
  "system_capacity": 20000,
  "tilt": 0,                        # Tracking has no single tilt value, set to 0
  "variable_operating_cost": 0
}

5) Removing the correct files when rerunning

Make sure to remove the xx_status.json and the logs folder before rerunning