A SketchUp Workflow for Clear, Realistic Rooftop PV Layouts
Date Published
A useful 3D photovoltaic model is more than an attractive image. It should make the roof geometry, excluded areas, access paths, module zones and design assumptions understandable to the engineering team and the client.
Start with reliable geometry
Use drawings, measurements and photographs to build the main roof planes and relevant obstacles. Separate existing geometry, safety zones and photovoltaic components into a clear model structure.
Model each roof typology deliberately
Mono-pitch and dual-pitch metal roofs require attention to slopes, seams, edges and structural zones. Flat roofs require row spacing, setbacks and a reasoned comparison between south-facing and East–West configurations.
Keep engineering outside the picture
The 3D model does not replace structural verification, detailed electrical design or an energy-yield simulation. It should provide controlled geometry and communicate assumptions to those specialist studies.
Use the model to accelerate decisions
Clear views help stakeholders understand why capacity changes, where access is preserved and how the proposed system relates to production and self-consumption objectives.