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Photovoltaic systems monitoring - features and applications

Local monitoring

Most simple way to perform local monitoring is display available on inverter or on inverter control unit. Other possibilities of local monitoring includes monitoring by local PC via RS232 connection and/or remote display located in living room for example (connection between inverter and display is usually wireless). The following parameters can usually be monitored, datalogged and stored in inverter's memory or external data logger for particular time (up to 1 year usually). Sometimes additional sensor related units (external or internal) are also required:
 

Array voltage - V_DC (V)
Grid voltage - V_AC (V)
Array current - I_DC (A)
Grid (injected) current - I_AC (A)
Array power - P_DC (W)
Grid (injected) power - P_AC (W)

Module temperature - T_module (°C)
Ambient temperature - T_amb (°C)
Solar radiation - G (W/m²)
Daily/monthly solar insolation - H (J/m²)
Wind speed - v

 

Personal Display Unit, Fronius
(copyright: Fronius)

Public displays

Public displays are widely used not only as public monitoring tool they are used as promotional or educational purposes as well. Communication between photovoltaic system and public display is usually realized via RS232 port, some producers offer also wireless connection. Most common display types are LCD displays, numbers can clearly be read from distances up to 40 m, depends on number sizes.
 

Public Display Unit
(copyright: Fronius)

Satellite based monitoring

SPYCE (Satellite Photovoltaic Yield Control & Evaluation) is based on more than ten years of research by well-known European institutions. The SPYCE methodology was developed by the EU project PVSAT. Some of SPYCE's features are: Automatic failure detection and alarm dramatically minimizes any down time. Failures may be detected before expiry of warranty. No on-site radiation measurements are required. The SPYCE website allows access to the system's yields, reference values and analyses at any time. SPYCE is based on the latest EU research results. Data from the latest generation of weather satellites is employed. Data flow and the web portal are adaptable to the requirements of different manufacturers of PV systems and inverters. SPYCE is a service designed and provided by METEOTEST, a Swiss company, internationally known for its meteorological expertise. METEOTEST is independent of PV system manufacturers.

More about SPYCE...

Remote monitoring & communication

Remote control and communication between inverters can be realized with RS485 connection or via grid (powerline connection). Distances up to 1200 m represents no problem, several tenth inverters can be connected in chain and monitored at the same time. For remote monitoring different ways of communication can be used: Ethernet, Internet, dial up access, GSM etc. System can send alerts and status messages to the control center or user. Alerts and system messages can be send by SMS service, GSM, fax machine etc.  

Compatibility

Please note that different monitoring equipment and communication possibilities of different producers are not compatible. For system monitoring inverters and control equipment of the same producer must be used.
 

Web control piggy back module and remote control unit produced by SMA
(copyright: SMA Solar technology AG)




Sunny Boy Control - hardware control unit - backside view - connection for local monitoring (serial ports) and remote control are visible
(copyright: SMA Solar technology AG)
 

Data logging

Data can be stored in inverters memory or in external units (data loggers). Different solutions are available on the market. Some producers offer also additional memory increase or upgrade. Better data loggers offer monitoring functions (data logging) for various environmental and additional system related parameters what can give the user detailed overview about the whole system. Additional parameters that can be monitored are module- and ambient temperature, solar radiation, solar irradiation, wind speed (hybrid systems), in some cases also air pressure and air humidity (sophisticated electronic weather station) etc. Temperature sensors are usually PT100 or PT1000 sensors. Solar radiation is measured with reference solar cells (Si-mono), analog inputs of the control equipment are usually standard 4-20 mA or 0-10 V inputs. Digital inputs are also available and can be used for net-meter/control equipment interconnection.
 

Internal data-logger card
(copyright: Fronius)


 

Photovoltaic systems - control & monitoring

Monitoring of complex photovoltaic and/or hybrid systems
(copyright: SMA Solar Technology AG)

Monitoring options - overview

Photovoltaic systems - monitoring options and features

 

Data-Loggers

INTERLiNK Solar - Der INTERLiNK Solar misst die erzeugte Energie mit Hilfe von Zählimpulsen des Wechselrichters oder Einspeisezählers, die Modultemperatur und die Sonneneinstrahlung. Die Standardausführung besitzt zwei digitale Eingänge die sich wahlweise als Impusleingang und/oder als Statuseingang für zusätzliche Fehler- oder Alarmmeldungen konfigurieren lassen.

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Public displays

Rico Electronic GmbH - Rico supplies standardized and individual large displays for many applications as for example for solar plants, climatic values, numbers of items, industrial need, paper industry, accident-free days, commissioning or date/time.

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HvG Engineering - german Company HvG is working in the field of classical hard- and software-engineering. On the hard- and software market you will mainly find special products under the name of HvG , for example display units and software for solar applications

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Remote monitoring services & telemetry

GreenPowerMonitor - GreenPowerMonitor is the all-in-one monitoring solution for grid-connected installations and for off-grid installations.

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Logic Energy Ltd. - Logic Energy Ltd. specialises in providing monitoring and reporting services via the Internet, principally for the renewable energy industry. Our systems allow remote monitoring of energy systems, reporting and control of failures all via a web browser. Our graphical interface is easy to use and understand and can be accessed from any web-enabled device, such as a mobile phone, from anywhere in the world.

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skytron energy - Our systems allow remote monitoring of energy systems, reporting and control of failures all via a web browser. Our graphical interface is easy to use and understand and can be accessed from any web-enabled device, such as a mobile phone, from anywhere in the world.

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Heliotronics Inc. - SunViewer.net™ is a powerful, interactive tool that enables you to view the performance of your distributed generation systems over the Internet. In addition to graphing a variety of quantities of interest, SunViewer.net™ allows users to download data in a spreadsheet compatible format for further analysis.

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Fat Spaniel technologies - Critical Monitoring and Reporting Services for Renewable Energy Systems.

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Remote monitoring & control - monitoring portals

Sunny Portal - Sunny Portal is a web service from SMA Solar Technology AG which enables you to set up personal Sunny Portal web pages, on which you can visualize the data pertaining to your photovoltaic system. The Sunny Portal also archives this data. This means that you can access your system data via the Internet from any location worldwide. Sunny Portal offers a wide range of functions for monitoring and visualizing of your photovoltaic system.

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IBC SOLAR AG - Here you will find a selection of IBC solar power plants. For each system, a current performance analysis is shown, which will enable you to get an impression of monthly yield on plant.

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SolarMax Portal - Monitoing portal of Sputnik Engineering - Solar Max inverters.

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PV Labor der HTI Bern - PV laboratory monitors several grid connected photovoltaic power plants located in swiss Alps on high altitudes.

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Walter Grotkasten Portal - private owned PV monitoring portal.

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PV Log - PV monitoring portal for PV systems equiped with InterLink-solar Solardatalogger.

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