Early SAM Versions Microsoft Excel Visual Basic for Applications

Dear SAM users;

I learnt that the early versions of SAM were on the Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet program. It run with the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

Please see Price, H. (2003). Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plant Simulation Model. Proceedings of the ISEC 2003: International Solar Energy Conference, 15-18 March 2003, Kohala Coast, Hawaii. New York: American Society of Mechanical Engineers. 665-673 pp.; NREL Report No. CP-550-34742 www.nrel.gov/docs/fy03osti/33209.pdf

I would like to study all of the SAM versions (from the earliest MS Excel VBA to the latest one).

I have the latest versions and use it (learn/study/use/present). I like it. I have one or two previous versions too, but I do not have all of the versions.

Can you tell me how I can find all of the SAM versions (from the earliest MS Excel VBA to the latest one).

Your consideration and help will be very much appreciated.

Best Regards
Burak Omer Saracoglu

Dear Burak,

You are correct that SAM's Empirical Trough model was originally a spreadsheet model developed in Excel called Excelergy. SAM itself has always been a compiled application rather than a spreadsheet model.

The spreadsheet model was developed by NREL for internal use. Its implementation in SAM is the only publicly available version.

Best regards,
Paul.

Dear Paul;

Thank you very much for your very informative reply.

Does NREL have an intention to publish all of the versions (including or excluding the Excel versions Excelergy for NREL internal use) on a specific webpage?
Will NREL present a webpage for this purpose?
Will NREL publish a document like the other documents that presents the historical development process of the SAM?

I am also interested in the development activities and ideas of SAM, not only interested designing CSP, PV, CPV, etc. power plants with SAM, but also development activities and also developing some Macros for optimization.

My research activities for designing the best CSP, PV, CPV, etc. power plants on world with SAM, are very positively affected or influenced by the tools when I learn and understand the development process of the tools.

Have a nice day.

Best Regards
Burak Omer Saracoglu

Dear Burak,

I am not aware of any plans to make the spreadsheet version of Excelergy available to the public, or to publish a document describing the historical development of SAM.

Best regards,
Paul.

Dear Paul;

Thank you very much for your informative reply.
I will follow the SAM website for all updates and also for the conference calls to submit some of my SAM studies.

Best Regards
Burak Omer Saracoglu

Dear Jake;
Thank you very much for your interest, but I do not understand your reply.
Do you have the previous versions of SAM?
Do you have the Excelergy?
Do you have any detailed documents or reports of the Excelergy and the previous versions of SAM?
CD, DVD or USB flash drive?
Best Regards
Burak Omer Saracoglu