INDUSTRY I BALANCE OF SYSTEM
done to improve ROI and/or to stay in compliance with contractual commitments. To enable this, the stakeholders input site specific financial criteria, set thresholds for acceptable performance and rules regarding the triggering and communications of alerts and recommendations. These can include the cost of materials, such as panels, the cost of labor for each common repair, the warranty conditions for all major assets in the array, the time-based value of energy production and contractual commitments, such as minimum performance ratio or normalized energy output levels.
Conclusion A screenshot highlighting panel issues user interface
the Clarity system. The activation of the shutdown can be from any internet-connected device, or from on-site disconnect buttons that can be strategically placed around the site.
By providing options for monitoring and optimization that can be flexibly deployed in varying levels of granularity, or selectively to specific areas of an array, the Clarity system can add as little as 0.6 percent to the capital cost of an array for string monitoring, and just over five percent for dynamic optimization of the full array. Based on the numerous ways this type of technology improves yield and reduces operating costs in all arrays, and reduces BOS costs in new arrays, the system delivers payback in time periods ranging from a few months to less than five years, depending on specific site conditions. Note that this is based on energy harvest and reduced operating costs alone and does not take into account the possible benefits in lower financing or insurance costs that can come by demonstrating a superior lifetime O&M capability, safety regime, anti-theft detection and reduction in lifetime financial risk.
Solutions in the Cloud
A concern expressed regarding panel-level monitoring is the ability to deal with an overwhelming amount of data that becomes available to an array owner or O&M provider. The challenge is to convert this wealth of data into valuable information to improve ROI. This is where Cloud-based computing comes into place and the ability to build a customizable intelligent analysis and diagnostics system that eliminates the data overload fear and empowers O&M teams— turning large-scale arrays into “Intelligent” arrays.
The Clarity optimization and monitoring hardware feeds a Cloud- based analysis and diagnostics system with a constantly evolving suite of intelligence-based applications. This Intelligent Array management system constantly analyses the data coming from every part of the array, recognizes and diagnoses issues, then tells owners what needs to be done to improve the array output. The intelligence comes from the diagnostics capability, and the ability to make informed decisions based on business rules set by the array stakeholders (investors, owners, O&M teams, etc.) that lead to a determination of what needs to be
References 1 Study from Solar Sentry with data from the IEA PVPS Database (21-Aug, 2007).
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www.solar-international.net I Issue III 2012
Utilizing a performance enhancement system that combines accuracy, insight and intelligence is a quadruple win for solar industry participants. The owner gets significantly improved ROI and financial risk reduction throughout the life of the array, as well as tools to monitor O&M effectiveness. O&M companies receive new tools that can dramatically improve the efficiency of their service, possibly enabling higher contractual thresholds and opportunities for revenue sharing. Panel makers now have a way to access accurate field data on a massive scale without intrusive procedures. This will help drive improvements in quality and reliability, enable the leaders in these attributes to demonstrate their advantage and so drive higher quality levels across the industry.
Lastly, installers have significantly enhanced flexibility in terms of site design, an accelerated high quality commissioning system and the ability to prove delivery of a high-performing asset at site handover. Panel-level monitoring and optimization is a new and valuable weapon for array owners and O&M companies to improve financial performance and reduce risk in owning and operating large-scale solar arrays. The accuracy and insight from this new technology, coupled with intelligent Cloud-based analysis and diagnostics, bring many opportunities to improve energy output and improve efficiency in O&M activities. These systems pay for themselves very rapidly and will provide many operational benefits that can improve ROI.
© 2012 Angel Business Communications. Permission required.
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