SERENDI-PV was a large European research project funded under Horizon 2020, addressing key challenges related to the performance, reliability and grid integration of photovoltaic systems. A significant part of the project focused on photovoltaic configurations that require more advanced modelling approaches than conventional ground-mounted PV systems, including bifacial PV, building-integrated photovoltaics and floating PV. 

Within SERENDI-PV, LuciSun played a leading role in the development and validation of advanced 3D PV simulation approaches for these system types. The project provided a comprehensive framework to further develop and test LuSim 3D for the accurate representation of complex shading environments, bifacial irradiation effects and geometry-dependent energy gains. Working within a large and diverse consortium allowed LuciSun to confront its modelling approaches with those of other partners and to validate them across a wide range of use cases and datasets. 

Beyond simulation itself, SERENDI-PV enabled LuciSun to strengthen its work on PV performance data analytics, by connecting modelling results with monitoring data from operating plants. This made it possible to better analyse the consistency between expected and measured performance, to explore the sensitivity of results to modelling assumptions, and to improve the interpretation of PV performance indicators for complex system configurations. 

The project also provided a structured context to deepen LuciSun’s approach to long-term solar resource assessment, including the analysis of variability and modelling assumptions that influence energy yield estimates over extended time horizons. These aspects were essential to better understand the robustness of performance predictions for non-standard PV systems and to support more informed engineering decisions. 

In addition, LuciSun led the development of a collaborative platform for simulation and monitoring, resulting in COPLASIMON, which was designed to facilitate consistent workflows between PV system design, performance assessment and operational analysis. SERENDI-PV also enabled the development and public release of Consolectiv, a tool dedicated to the simulation of collective self-consumption, self-sufficiency and energy communities. 

Overall, SERENDI-PV played an important role in consolidating LuciSun’s capabilities in advanced PV simulation and performance analysis for complex PV systems. The collaborative environment of the project provided valuable opportunities to exchange methodologies, challenge assumptions and learn from complementary expertise, and the lessons learned continue to inform LuciSun’s software development, technical advisory activities and training programmes.