A revamped planning tool has been launched by global solar mounting systems manufacturer Schletter Group.

The browser-based Schletter Creator allows users to design PV systems for any roof shape or type, with roof layouts created directly in Google Maps by marking the roof surface. Users input the roof pitch and actual building height, and the system calculates the available installation area and suggests the optimal panel layout based on the desired orientation.

“In practice, planning errors often arise because actual building heights are overlooked, leading to incorrect load calculations," explains Schletter Group CTO Dr Cedrik Zapfe. "With the Schletter Creator, those errors are eliminated."

Developed using the latest programming standards, the tool is designed to deliver a seamless and ultra-fast experience and enables professional users to design and finalise a standard rooftop system in under a minute.

Schletter Group CEO Florian Roos asserts that the tool is one of the fastest and most advanced PV planning tools in the world. The platform also includes commercially available PV modules and automatically applies region-specific wind and snow load calculations based on the entered postal code or city.

"Once the rollout is complete, we’ll cover approximately 97% of PV-compatible regions worldwide and integrate our entire Schletter product range," says Zapfe. "This means the Schletter Creator can be used to design systems for virtually any roof, at any time, from anywhere in the world."

Another feature of the tool is the incorporation of advanced aerodynamic calculations that account for the so-called ‘group effect’ among modules, which refers to how wind loads can vary within an array based on module positioning. Depending on the arrangement, wind forces may be lower on certain modules within a larger group compared to those in individual rows or along the edges – called the ‘cone effect’. This enables planning with reduced ballast requirements while maintaining structural integrity. The tool also features an application programming interface, allowing integration with all major inverter planning tools.

The Schletter Creator is free and compatible with most Web browsers.