Powering the future of solar.

OEMs, technicians, and installers are optimistic about solar's future, many believe the industry is hindered by gaps in data and understanding smart technology.

Fluke Corporation has released new survey findings highlighting key challenges for the solar industry on its path to a net-zero future. The survey identifies improving panel efficiency, transitioning from reactive to predictive maintenance, and adopting smart technologies as top priorities. Crucially, data emerges as the driving force behind innovation and operational efficiency, offering solutions to these pressing challenges.

The survey, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Fluke, engaged over 400 solar OEMs, technicians, and installers across Britain, Germany, Spain, and the USA to gain insights into their perspectives on the pressing challenges facing the solar industry. The survey results also highlighted their attitudes toward emerging trends and their expectations for how the future of solar energy is likely to evolve in the coming years.

Summary:

• 63% predict that solar will lead their country’s energy transition.

• 91% are concerned about solar panel efficiency, and 39% cite inverter failures as a common issue.

• Nearly a third use reactive maintenance, while over half prioritize adopting predictive maintenance.

• 59% stressed the need to train technicians in advanced diagnostic tools to address evolving challenges.

• 45% view AI integration in solar panel design, optimisation, and maintenance as a key opportunity.

The research revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) believe solar will become the dominant energy source in their country. However, it also highlighted significant challenges that must be addressed to turn this optimistic vision into reality and pave the way for a solar-powered future.

“The adoption of smart technologies is going to be critical for companies to gain a strategic edge,” says Vineet Thuvara, Chief Product Officer, Fluke. “Businesses are increasingly keen to automate their maintenance operations, with approaches like condition monitoring and predictive maintenance, and those that don’t utilize new AI enabled technologies - and their capabilities for collecting more data and gaining more knowledge - will be left behind.”

One of the challenges that emerged in the survey’s findings is the need to rapidly shift from reactive maintenance to a more proactive approach. With 91% of those surveyed reporting concerns about the efficiency of the current generation of solar modules and 39% of respondents identifying inverter failures as a common issue, it’s clear an effective maintenance strategy is a necessity. Nearly a third of all respondents described their current maintenance strategy as reactive, while more than half indicated that implementing predictive maintenance was a key priority.

Thuvara continued, “The next step, and the real opportunity to overcome the challenges facing the future of the solar industry, lies in the use of smart tools to analyze this data, and benchmark new data against historical data to detect issues before they risk causing failures. This is where using advanced diagnostic tools, and training technicians on how to use them will help maximize solar panel and maintenance efficiency.”

The skills shortage emerged as a significant concern, especially as data tracking through smart technologies becomes more integral to the solar industry's future. A notable 59% of respondents emphasized the importance of training technicians to effectively use advanced diagnostic tools to meet evolving challenges. Additionally, 53% highlighted the need for more focused training in electrical troubleshooting and diagnostics, underscoring the urgent need to equip the workforce with the skills to navigate the industry's technological shift.

In a positive sign, nearly all respondents are taking proactive steps to improve system efficiency through diverse strategies, including investments in module optimization software and collaborations with research institutions. Notably, 45% of respondents see the integration of AI in solar panel design, optimization, and maintenance as a promising opportunity for advancement. Additionally, 36% are eager to adopt AI-powered diagnostics to enhance maintenance efficiency. However, challenges remain: 28.7% are still relying on a reactive maintenance approach, with over 52% depending on external services rather than in-house maintenance teams.

More than half of those surveyed also identified supply chain resilience as a major concern for installers, with macro-economic and geo-political trends continuing to create uncertainty. Fluke’s Will White, Solar Application Specialist, explains: “Organisations are continuing to search for solutions to tackle persistent supply chain issues, aiming to find the sweet spot between adaptability, transparency, affordability, and accessibility. It’s positive to see that the industry remains confident in finding this sweet spot to enable solar to be the dominant renewable energy source in the future.”

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@FlukeCorp @NapierPR @censuswide #Solar #Automation #TandM

Automating solar energy production.

IEA says solar PV manufacturing capacity is expected to double during 2024 to reach almost 1,000 GW, supporting net zero goals.

The Al Dhafra PV2 Solar project in Abu Dhabi – for which ABB supplies automation and optimization power generation solutions – is now exporting 100 percent of its designed capacity onto the grid. Covering an area of 20 square km in the Al Dhafra region, located around 30 km south of Abu Dhabi City, the 2 GW plant uses four million solar modules to generate enough electricity for 200,000 homes across the UAE per year. It will also help reduce Abu Dhabi’s annual CO₂ emissions by more than 2.4 million metric tons, the equivalent of removing approximately 470,000 combustion cars from the roads.

“The UAE’s ambition is to reach 14 GW of clean energy by 2030, and projects such as Al Dhafra PV2 will be a major contributing factor in meeting this target,” said Brandon Spencer, President of ABB Energy Industries. “ABB enables safe, smart and sustainable investment in a low carbon future through automation, electrification and digitalization solutions. We are proud to support the UAE in its transition toward a cleaner energy future.”

ABB was appointed by China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor for the facility – the world’s largest single-site photovoltaic project1. The plant is pivotal to the UAE Energy Strategy which aims to triple the share of renewables by 2030 as part of a goal to increase clean energy and reduce carbon emissions from power generation to achieve net zero by 20502.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar PV is reshaping global electricity supply and continues to grow at an astonishing rate. Manufacturing capacity is expected to double during 2024, reaching almost 1,000 GW, which is sufficient to meet the annual IEA Net Zero by 2050 demand of almost 650 GW in 20303.

Leveraging ABB Ability™ Symphony Plus, a distributed control system designed to maximize plant efficiency and reliability through automation, ABB is integrating inputs into a single user-friendly overview. As a result, operators can utilize data insights from all areas of the plant, delivered in real time, to drive efficiency, reduce risk and ensure production optimization. Operational excellence is further enhanced through the supply of ABB digital, electrical and telecom solutions including metering and solar process modelling.

“Not only does ABB share our vision for a clean energy future for the UAE, but their early engagement and collaboration facilitated the development of an integrated system architecture that met our expectation,” said Ali Albeshr, Executive Managing Director of Al Dhafra Solar PV. “We are confident that ABB’s technology will be instrumental in sustaining Al Dhafra operations for the future.”

Al Dhafra PV2 marks ABB’s first solar project in the UAE and reflects ABB’s continued drive to increase its automation and digital footprint in the region’s expanding renewable energy market.

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@abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @IEA @admiralpr #PAuto #CMEC #UAE

PV Analyzer and I-V Curve Tracer.

Major step forward in serving the large-scale solar utility market.

The new Solmetric PVA-1500HE2 PV Analyzer and I-V Curve Tracer has been launched by Fluke. The announcement means that installation and maintenance engineers working on large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays and farms can now test up to 1500V and measure high efficiency (HE) strings up to 30A continuously.

The company also introduced the Fluke Solmetric PVA-1500T2 PV Analyzer and I-V Curve Tracer, which can measure 3.5MW in under an hour and handle up to 30A for strings of modules < 19% efficiency and 10A for strings of high-efficiency modules with ≥ 19% efficiency. 

Will White, Fluke solar application specialist, says “The Solmetric name is widely respected around the world and bringing these high-quality products into the Fluke family means we now have tools in our portfolio that can test the entire solar sector. No other I-V curve tracer in the world can offer users such impressive levels of performance, efficiency, throughput and reliability as the Fluke Solmetric PVA-1500HE2.”

With the Fluke Solmetric PVA-1500HE2 PV Analyzer and I-V Curve Tracer, solar energy engineers, energy consultants and field technicians have access to a unique tool that boosts on-site productivity when verifying PV performance. The device minimises the time required for each testing cycle by delivering unprecedented measurement throughput speeds and provides a much higher return on investment than other PV testers by delivering superior levels of stability and accuracy.

The Fluke Solmetric PVA-1500HE2 provides best-in-class I-V curve tracing for large-scale solar installations. Similar products can often struggle to obtain accurate readings due to high capacitance levels and are incapable of recording data continuously without overheating. Having to disconnect an I-V curve tracer until it cools down is disruptive in an environment where time is crucial but the Fluke Solmetric PVA-1500HE2 eliminates this problem because it can be used throughout the day without any interruptions.

The Solmetric kits.
For optimal user experience, Fluke has bundled the new PV Analyzer into a number of kits. They are the first kits to combine the Solmetric product with such Fluke devices as the TiS75+ thermal camera, the 393 FC Solar Clamp Meter and 87V Industrial Multimeter, and the 1537 Insulation Resistance Tester. 

The company also offers a range of training packages for getting the most out of the Fluke Solmetric PVA-1500HE2 and kits while addressing the shortage of skilled workers in PV installation testing.

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@FlukeCorp @Solmetric @NapierPR #TandM #PAuto #Solar

Floating solar islands.

King Wu, Software R&D Manager Energy Sector with Moxa talks about harnessing solar energy for countries with smaller land areas but open to the sea or with lakes or other water surfaces.

Over the past few years, countries that lack the land mass required for solar plants have turned their attention to the water-based alternative: floating solar islands. By placing solar panels on floating platforms in the sea, lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, valuable land is freed. In addition, as the cooling properties of water allow the panels to perform well even in high temperature ranges, they are able to function efficiently under duress. Another benefit is that the shade provided by the floating panels reduces evaporation, helping the reservoirs that host them conserve water.

At present, countries including China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea have installed floating solar plants with a total capacity of 2,400 MW — enough to power 240,000 households. The winning characteristics of floating solar farms have attracted investments from countries like the Netherlands, France, Singapore, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, with an estimated value of US$380 million.

Though floating solar plants are on the rise in the green-energy industry, their greatest strength is also their biggest weakness. The floating solar plants’ susceptibility to natural phenomena such as rainstorms, hurricanes, and extreme heat is hindering their progress. Tidal waves, a common product of hurricanes, often contribute to irreversible damage to the system’s floats, cables, and wires. The prime example is the 2019 typhoon in Japan. High-intensity waves caused the solar panels to slump together causing a fire that destroyed the offshore power plant. This incident has brought the construction method used in the floating solar plants to the foreground of discussion. Besides unpredictable natural disasters, regular environmental conditions near water bodies, such as humidity, strong winds, and salinity, can reduce the life span of onboard electronic equipment and consequently, the plant. Hence, the durability of the equipment used and the construction methods are two of the main areas of focus when building a floating solar plant.

Another significant challenge is the daily maintenance of plant assets. The offshore floating systems are more difficult to maintain than their onshore counterparts based on accessibility alone. Since the latter can be accessed by motor vehicles whereas the former requires a boat, making daily maintenance a considerable challenge. As the technology matures, plants are becoming bigger in size, making this already difficult task a near-impossible one, leading to dire consequences. For example, the floating solar plant in Anhui Province, China, utilizes a coal mine pit filled with water to host 160,000 solar panels. Maintenance workers use paddle boats to repair the equipment and clean the pond every day. When a typhoon hits, bringing with it torrential rainfall and tidal waves, workers’ lives are put in harm’s way.

Traditionally, power plants have relied heavily on regular inspection of sites, which involves assigning on-duty employees to perform daily inspections of each and every piece of equipment. As a result, these inspections become fixed expenditures regardless of the equipment condition. Time is often wasted on routine check-ups of functioning devices, and, when something does break down, on traveling between the shore and the deployment site for the correct repair tools. Another common scenario is unexpected power deficiency even on a sunny day. Since a malfunction, the cause, and the location of the problem cannot be easily identified from the onshore control center, inspectors must check each and every floating module until the issue is found. It is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, time-consuming and tedious. In addition, the limited transport options and other factors such as the climate and the direction of the water stream make inspections strenuous and hazardous, reducing maintenance proficiency.

In recent years, the Internet of Things (IIoT) is being used in floating solar plants to overcome maintenance challenges. As one of the initial providers of IIoT-based solutions, Moxa has first-hand experience with the effective use of IIoT to improve operations and maintenance in green-energy projects. In the past decade, Moxa has worked with GreenPowerMonitor, a DNV GL company, a world-renowned independent software vendor for over 2,000 solar power plants worldwide. The IIoT connectivity solution is able to create a system that allows owners to monitor the power generation and equipment conditions through a SCADA system in real-time. It can also perform maintenance checks on devices when a malfunction occurs.

The SCADA platform will be configured to automatically send an alarm and generate a maintenance task on the system, which can then be tracked by the owner. Armed with the knowledge of what and where the malfunction is, inspectors can repair the devices in a timely manner by being at the right place with the right tools at the right time. Experience has shown that the efficiency of a power station with a central monitoring and maintenance system can increase by at least 20% compared to others without such a system.

Furthermore, the data collected through IIoT can be used to preemptively determine the potential failure rate of equipment in close proximity to water bodies by comparing its performance under different circumstances. New Machine Learning algorithms can be deployed to enable owners to perform predictive maintenance on their equipment to avoid permanent damage. For example, when the temperature inside a device rises due to increasing humidity, the life span of the device could be significantly shortened. Information from Machine Learning algorithms can help the owner gain predictive insights into their devices. And, when a set humidity state is about to be reached, a warning can be issued or corresponding measures can be automatically initiated.

IIoT’s predictive abilities can also be applied to green energy forecasts and grid-connected technology to get real-time predictions and effectively control power generation from grid-connected renewable energy sources. To take this leap, first and foremost, we need a stable network for data transportation from remote offshore equipment to the onshore control center. GPM and Moxa have created a connection backup solution to prevent complete network disconnection in situations like this. This solution allows the data to be transmitted via a backup channel within 20 milliseconds while the network is being restored as opposed to the industry standard of 80 milliseconds, ensuring an uninterrupted flow of information.

With new advancements in solar technology, improved construction methods, and the IIoT, floating solar power plants may finally break free from the restrictions that are preventing them from greater adoption worldwide.

@MoxaInc @OConnellPR #Power #Solar

Automating large photovoltaic solar power project.

Support the national effort to decarbonize New Zealand’s energy sector.

Advanced automation solutions are to be provided to help ensure the safety and reliability of New Zealand’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power project. Emerson’s renewable power generation expertise will help solar energy company Lodestone Energy quickly and safely complete its two 23-megawatt sites at Kaitaia and Edgecumbe— an important step in supporting New Zealand’s ambitious goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Solar PV – which converts sunlight directly into electrical energy – has become one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources. But efficiently generating and delivering solar PV power requires precise orchestration, integrating a wide variety of third-party systems with automation and control technology to provide operators with intuitive functionality and comprehensive visibility. Emerson’s advanced automation architecture will combine powerful control software and technologies with enterprise data solutions to create an integrated, scalable control solution to maximize output and profitability while simultaneously contributing to grid stability.

“New Zealand’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is an ambitious endeavor that will require many renewable power generation sources to be safely and rapidly brought online,” said Peter Apperley, general manager of engineering at Lodestone Energy. “Emerson’s expertise in automation software for power generation and sustainability will help us more quickly build a world-class facility, while also more seamlessly integrating with the national grid to drive successful, efficient operation over the lifecycle of the plant.”

Lodestone will take advantage of Emerson’s Ovation™ distributed control system and new OCR3000 controller to provide comprehensive control to minimize the impact of variability and intermittency in solar PV power generation. The same technologies will also make it easier for operators to quickly respond to grid frequency events. Ovation enterprise data solutions will provide secure monitoring of solar PV operations from the control room or mobile devices, measuring, monitoring and reporting key performance indicators to increase visibility of plant operations.

"Meeting New Zealand’s renewable energy goals will require power generation companies to rethink the way they operate, democratizing data and increasing visibility for everyone across the enterprise,” said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson’s power and water business. “Lodestone’s strategy perfectly aligns with Emerson’s boundless automation vision of an advanced technology stack leveraging integrated, scalable control to provide access to critical data not only across the plant and industrial edge, but also throughout the enterprise.”

Lodestone’s solar PV project requires multiple interfaces to third-party systems, including inverters, high voltage switchboards, weather stations, site security systems and grid authority remote terminal units. Ovation will act as a process orchestration tool to seamlessly connect these devices to provide fast and intuitive visibility for operators. In addition to providing flexibility and visibility of operations, Emerson’s Ovation platform is ideally suited to support compliance with New Zealand’s energy participation code.

@Emerson_News @EmersonExchange @EMR_Automation #Lodestone #Energy #PAuto #NewZealand

Safety with PV solar installations.

Safety levels during solar panel commissioning and installation have been strengthened substantially by the world’s first CAT III 1500 V true-RMS solar clamp meter 

The top three electrical hazards to avoid when installing and maintaining PV solar installations to keep technicians safe are highlighted here by Fluke. Renewable energy is one of the fastest growing markets in the world.  In Britain for instance, solar installations have doubled within the last year and are expected to double again by 2030.

Fluke 393 FC

Such rapid expansion is accelerating the search for ways to reduce risks associated with commissioning and installing photovoltaic (PV) systems. The resulting demand for highly accurate hand-held devices capable of carrying out safe and reliable measurements in these applications has now been met with the introduction of the world’s first CAT III 1500 V true-RMS solar clamp meter – the Fluke 393 FC.

In PV applications current is "wild" and not limited by electronics, therefore choosing the correct solar testing equipment is vital if workers – and the PV system itself – are to be protected against a range of potential electrical hazards.

1. Electrocution
The Fluke 393 FC helps to protect against the three main electrical hazards – shock or electrocution from energised conductors, arc faults that spark fires and arc flash that leads to explosions. Control measures and best practices that can mitigate these risks are different when working with PV to working with any other kind of energy generating resource. That’s why it’s important that multimeters, test leads and fuses are rated for the application being worked on.
Shock or electrocution from energised conductors can happen when current takes an unintended path through a human body, with lethal results from as little as 50 milliamps (mA) hitting the heart. Electrical shocks are typically caused by a faulty insulation of cables and wiring, damaged insulation of safety covers or improper grounding. The main places such conditions exist in a PV system are the combiner box, the equipment grounding conductor, the PV source and output circuit conductors.

2. Arc faults and arc flash
Electrical arc faults that spark fires are high power discharges of electricity between two or more conductors, with the discharge causing heat that can lead to the deterioration or even to burning of wiring insulation. PV systems are particularly vulnerable to arc faults caused by disruption in conductor continuity or by unexpected current between two conductors, often the result of a ground fault.
Arc flash is a phenomenon of large-scale PV arrays that have medium-to-high voltage levels. Only since large-scale solar energy systems gave been created has arc flash become a DC issue, which is why arc flash hazard risk analysis must now be carried out on DC systems over 120 V. The issue is particularly prevalent when fault-checking in energised combiner boxes, where PV source circuits are used in parallel to increase current, or when carrying out checks on medium-to-high voltage switchgear and transformers. An arc flash happens when there’s a significant level of energy available to an arc fault in DC and AC conductors. The flash emits hot gases and radiant energy that can be around 19,500° C (or four times the temperature of the surface of the sun). The most at risk set-ups are residential inverters with input voltage up to 500 V and large-scale inverters with up to 1500 V. It’s essential to use a meter that’s rated for the relevant measurement category or CAT rating as well as the application’s voltage level. This is so the unit can cope with average voltage levels and high voltage spikes and transients that are capable of producing shocks or causing an arc flash.

3. Switching to 1500 V
Most major manufacturers of inverters and solar modules are shifting from 1000 V systems to 1500 V for greater efficiency. For solar installations, overvoltage category CAT III 1500 V systems are being more widely used and CAT III and CAT IV equipment is essential for PV systems at high altitudes. Only the Fluke 393 FC True-RMS Solar Clamp Meter matches the insulation demands of such CAT III environments.
The meter is designed specifically for use by PV installation technicians and maintenance specialists who work in high voltage DC environments. The clamp can measure up to 1500 V DC, 1000 V AC, DC power and current up to 999.9 A DC or AC through the thin jaw which is ideal for the kind of cramped spaces found in combiner boxes or inverters. Other key features of the clamp, which has a three-year warranty and is IP54 rated (making it well suited to work outdoors), include an audio polarity indicator that helps to prevent accidental mis wires by ensuring PV panels are installed correctly. Polarity functions and audible and visual polarity checks are crucial when commissioning a new site, whether at the combiner box level or inverter level. With a DC polarity check, it's easy to spot if polarity of strings has been reversed accidentally, avoiding the risk of fires at the combiner box as well as damage to the equipment and danger to personnel.

Safe, reliable and rugged
All test results are logged and reported via the Fluke Connect software that comes with the Fluke 393 FC true-RMS Solar Clamp Meter. Using just a phone, engineers can make and save measurements quickly, with the phone recording for 10 minutes and reporting readings to colleagues. Capable of measuring and recording up to two weeks, this safe, reliable and rugged meter also comes with an 18-inch iFlex flexible current probe for extended AC current measurements up to 2500 amps. Test leads are also rated to CAT III 1500 V DC.

Hans-Dieter Schuessele, Application and Technology Expert EMEA, Fluke said: “Safety is essential when commissioning and installing PV systems. The future of power needs tools that are able to keep you safe in harsh environments – risk is not an option and you literally have to trust your meter with your life. That’s why the world’s first CAT III 1500 V true-RMS clamp meter has been designed to deliver enhanced protection for users in challenging CAT III environments. It’s very important that there’s a solid meter with multiple functions capable of operating at that rating – the solar industry desperately needs a solution like the Fluke 393 FC.”

@FlukeCorp @NapierPR #POwer #TandM #Solar

Solar installation troubleshooting.

The world’s first handheld tool which enables technicians to safely measure up to 1500 V in DC environments such as industrial solar farms.

Fluke is experiencing increasing demand for high-precision handheld devices which can measure photovoltaic (PV) systems in Britain. The number of solar installations there has doubled within the last year and is set to double again before 2030. Solar Energy UK, an established trade organisation, is working with 230 businesses across the solar and energy storage value chain to increase the country's solar storage capacity to 40 GW.

This dynamic growth is creating an ever-increasing demand for technicians who know how to troubleshoot PV systems efficiently and effectively. Clamp meters are often used in the installation and commissioning phase as well as when completing maintenance and troubleshooting.

The new-to-market Fluke 393 FC Clamp Meter is the world’s only CAT III 1500 V rated true-rms clamp meter which enables technicians to take measurements in DC environments, such as industrial solar farms. The tool was tailormade to test and measure solar PV applications with key functions including:

• an IP54 rating which is ideal for working outdoors on solar arrays and wind power systems
• DC power measurement with readings displayed in kVA
• an audio polarity indicator to prevent accidental miswiring
• Visual continuity turns provide a bright green light in the display to aid technicians working in dark and noisy environments
• Logging and reporting of test results via Fluke Connect software

Hans-Dieter Schuessele, Application & Technology Expert EMEA of Fluke says: “The transition to using renewable energy is accelerating and it’s critical that installers and maintenance staff have access to the right instruments to not only get solar farms online fast but can keep them working at peak performance. As the world’s first solar clamp meter to offer a CAT III rating at 1500 V, the Fluke 393 FC allows technicians to work safely while ensuring the use of solar energy has a bright future.”

As solar distribution systems and loads become larger and more complex, the implications for the safety of a technician become more important. It is critical for technicians to understand the level of protection built into a tool and how to use it when completing maintenance and troubleshooting. 

According to Fluke, troubleshooting a PV system typically focuses on four parts of the system: the PV panels, load, inverter and combiner boxes.

1. Troubleshooting PV panels
A technician should first check the output of the entire system at the metering system or inverter. Before commencing troubleshooting, also check and record the inverter’s input voltage and current level from the array.

The combiner box can be a great place to troubleshoot the system because the individual wires from the modules are brought back to it. Each module may have a fuse that should be checked with the Fluke 393 FC.

Wiring problems and loose connections may cause a module to produce a voltage that is too low. These can be traced out using the Fluke 393 FC to check wiring connections at the junction boxes.

The Fluke 393 FC provides an audio polarity warning when testing Voc. If the polarity is reversed, it may mean that other circuits in the combiner box are unintentionally connected in series, resulting in voltages over the maximum inverter input voltage.

2. Troubleshooting PV loads
Start by checking the load switches, fuses, and breakers with the Fluke 393 FC to see if the correct voltage is present at the load’s connection. Next, check the fuses and circuit breakers. Find and replace blown fuses or tripped breakers. If the load is a motor, an internal thermal breaker might be tripped or there might be an open winding in the motor. For testing purposes, plug in another load and see if it operates properly.

As with any electrical system, check for broken wires and any loose connections. Clean all dirty connections and replace all bad wiring. With the power off, check for and repair any ground faults. If any fuses blow or breakers trip again, there will be a short that will need to be located and repaired.

If the load still does not operate properly, use the Fluke 393 FC to check the system’s voltage at the load’s connection. The wire size may be too small and need to be increased. This will show up as a low voltage at the load and to resolve either reduce the load on the circuit or run a larger wire.

3. Troubleshooting PV inverters
The inverter converts DC from the PV system into AC power for building use. For troubleshooting the AC side, use the Fluke 393 FC to check the inverter’s output voltage and current levels. Many of these systems have a display that indicates current inverter and system performance. As the Fluke 393 FC produces a true-rms reading, you can use the voltage and current to measure and record the power output in kilowatt (kW). If possible, use the inverter display to show the current total energy in kilowatt hours (kWh) and compare it to the one recorded during the last inspection. When troubleshooting the DC side, use the Fluke 393 FC to check the DC power and save the reading to the Fluke Connect™ app on your phone.

If the inverter does not produce the right amount of power, there may be a blown fuse, tripped breaker or broken wires — all of which can easily checked with the Fluke 393 FC.

4. Troubleshooting Combiner Boxes
When troubleshooting combiner boxes, amperage measurements and calculations are crucial to establishing whether the PV arrays are operating correctly. Measuring current on individual arrays or combining current measurements will help determine if a module has malfunctioned.

The thinner jaw design of the Fluke 393 FC clamp meter ensures several conductors are used in the jaw for combined current measurements, even in tight or crowded spaces like inverter or combiner boxes.

@FlukeCorp @SolarEnergyUK_ @NapierPR #Energy #TandM 

Clamp meter designed for solar installations.

The world’s first clamp meter designed to measure solar installation voltages at the new standard of 1500 V while offering high safety specifications and being easy to use in congested solar combiner boxes.

A new clamp meter designed to measure solar installation voltages at the new standard of 1500 V, while offering high safety specifications and being easy to use in congested solar combiner boxes has been launched by Fluke. Their 393 and 393 FC are the world’s first True-rms solar clamp meters to be rated at CAT III / 1500 V DC according to the latest safety standard for clamp meters IEC/EN 61010-2-032:2019. The clamp meter is capable of measuring up to 1500 V DC compared to standard instruments for this application, which are restricted to 1000 V DC.

This makes the Fluke 393 the ideal choice for the installation and maintenance of utility scale, large industrial and commercial scale solar farms. With solar generation growing in importance to meet renewable energy demand, the new clamp meter is a major addition to Fluke’s range of instruments for solar applications, such as the insulation multimeters Fluke 1577/1587 or the IP67 rated multimeter Fluke 87V MAX.

Enhanced safety

A high level of safety for users is guaranteed through the use of CAT III rated insulation at 1500 V, the only solar clamp meter to offer this level of protection for solar installation technicians and engineers. The meter’s insulated test leads are rated to CAT III 1500 V, while the meters offer CAT IV protection to 600 V AC.

The instrument’s IP54 rating makes the Fluke 393 clamp meter suitable for testing solar installations in a variety of climates and a wide range of weather conditions, protecting the instrument from both dust and rain ingress.

Easy to use
The ability to make quick, easy and accurate measurements allows maintenance technicians to keep solar installations producing energy. The challenge is that solar combiner boxes are often small and congested, making it difficult to attach meters to make measurements. The Fluke 393 meets this challenge with a 25% thinner jaw than previous Fluke clamp meter models, making it easier and faster to take measurements in restricted spaces. The jaw design is durable, rugged and reliable and meets the stringent CAT III requirement for creepage and clearance.

The 393 FC offers connectivity to Fluke Connect, eliminating the need for handwritten notes. Fluke Connect allows maintenance technicians and service staff to document values and share them with their team. Up to 65,000 data points can be recorded and uploaded. Beside voltage and current measurements, the new clamp meter provides DC power measurement and data logging to improve work efficiency.

Productivity is enhanced by an audio beep that indicates correct PV polarity, as well as visual continuity indication to make continuity testing easier in low light conditions. Additionally, the meters offer a dual line display for simultaneous measurements. Hans-Dieter Schuessele of Fluke says: “As the world’s first solar clamp meters to offer CAT III safety at 1500 V, the new 393 and 393 FC clamp meters set a new standard in solar installation testing. Designed to be supremely safe and easy to use, they are a major contribution to helping installers and maintenance staff get solar farms online rapidly and keep them producing renewable energy.”

@FlukeCorp @NapierPR #TandM ##SolarPower

Solar energy from the sea!

With new advancements in solar technology, improved construction methods, and IIoT, floating solar power plants can finally break free from the restrictions and limitations that are preventing them from taking off.

Over the past few years, countries that lack the land mass required for solar plants are turning their attention to the water-based alternative, floating solar islands. By placing solar panels on floating platforms in water bodies, valuable land is freed. As the cooling properties of water allow the panels to perform well even in high temperature ranges, they are able to function efficiently under duress. In addition, the shade provided by the floating panels reduces evaporation, helping the reservoirs that host them conserve water. At present, countries including China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea have installed floating solar plants with a total capacity of 2,400 MW. enough to power 240,000 households. The winning characteristics of floating solar farms have attracted investments from countries like, the Netherlands, France, Singapore, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, with an estimated value of US$380 million (€322.66).

Though floating solar plants seem to be on the rise in the green-energy industry, its greatest strength is also its biggest weakness. The floating solar plants’ susceptibility to natural phenomenon such as rainstorms, hurricanes, and extreme heat, which are common nowadays, is hindering their progress. Tidal waves, a common product of hurricanes, often contribute to irreversible damages to the system’s floats, cables, and wires. The prime example being the 2019 typhoon in Japan. High-intensity waves caused the solar panels to slump together causing a fire that destroyed the offshore power plant. This incident has brought the construction method used in the floating solar plants to the foreground of discussion. Besides unpredictable natural disasters, regular environmental conditions near water bodies, such as humidity, strong winds, and salinity, can reduce the life-span of onboard electronic equipment and consequently, the plant. Hence, the durability of the equipment used and the construction methods are the two of the main areas of focus when building a floating solar plant.

Another significant challenge is the daily maintenance of plant assets. The offshore floating systems are more difficult to maintain than their onshore counterparts based on accessibility alone. Since the latter can be accessed by motor vehicles whereas the former requires a boat, making daily maintenance a huge challenge. As the technology matures, plants are becoming bigger in size, making this already difficult task a near impossible one, leading to dire consequences. For example, the floating solar plant in Anhui Province, China, utilizes a coal mine pit filled with water to host 160,000 solar panels. Maintenance workers use paddle boats to repair the equipment and clean the pond every day. When a typhoon hits, bringing with it torrential rainfall and tidal waves, worker’s lives are put in harm’s way.

Traditionally, power plants have relied heavily on regular inspection of sites, which involves assigning on-duty employees to perform daily inspections of each and every equipment. As a result, these inspections become fixed expenditures regardless of the equipment condition. Time is often wasted on routine check-ups of functioning devices, and, when something does breakdown, on traveling between the shore and the deployment site for the correct repair tools. Another common scenario is unexpected power deficiency even on a sunny day. Since a malfunction, the cause, and the location of the problem cannot be easily identified from the onshore control center, inspectors must check each and every floating module until the issue is found. It is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, time-consuming and tedious. In addition, the limited transport options and other factors such as the climate and the direction of the water stream make inspections strenuous and hazardous, reducing maintenance proficiency.

In recent years, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is being used in floating solar plants to overcome the maintenance challenges. As one of the initial providers of IIoT-based solutions, Moxa has first-hand experience of the effective use of IIoT to improve operations and maintenance in green-energy projects.

Over the past decade, Moxa has been working with GreenPowerMonitor, a world-renowned independent software vendor for over 2,000 solar power plants worldwide. The Moxa IIoT connectivity solution allows owners to monitor the power generation and equipment conditions through a SCADA system in real time. It can also perform maintenance checks on devices when malfunctions occur. The SCADA platform will be configured to automatically send an alarm and generate a maintenance task on the system, which can then be tracked by the owner. Armed with the knowledge of what and where the malfunction is, inspectors can repair the devices in a timely manner by being at the right place with the right tools at the right time. Experience has shown that the efficiency of a power station with a central monitoring and maintenance system can increase by at least 20% compared to others without such a system.

Furthermore, the data collected through IIoT can be used to preemptively determine the potential failure rate of equipment in close proximity with water bodies by comparing its performance under different circumstances. New Machine Learning algorithms can be deployed to enable owners to perform predictive maintenance on their equipment to avoid permanent damage. For example, when the temperature inside a device rises due to increase in humidity, the life span of the device could be significantly shortened. Information from Machine Learning algorithms can help the owner gain predictive insights into their devices. And, when a set humidity state is about to be reached, a warning can be issued or corresponding measures can be automatically initiated.

IIoT’s predictive abilities can also be applied to green energy forecasts and grid-connected technology to get real-time predictions and effectively control power generation from grid-connected renewable energy sources. To take this leap, first and foremost, we need a stable network for data transportation from remote offshore equipment to the onshore control center. GPM and Moxa have created a connection backup solution to prevent complete network disconnection in situations like this. This solution allows the data to be transmitted via a backup channel within 20 milliseconds while the network is being restored as opposed to the industry standard of 80 milliseconds, ensuring uninterrupted flow of information.

@MoxaInc @OConnellPR #Power #IIoT #SCADA

Current sensor element and firmware upgrade.

Yokogawa has launched a new Current Sensor Element and upgraded the firmware for its WT5000 Precision Power Analyzer. The enhancements are designed to help companies improve performance when developing or evaluating electronic devices such as Electric Vehicle (EV) related equipment or systems for solar and wind power installations. 

“The WT5000, which is the flagship model of our power analyzer WT series, is now more convenient and capable for companies measuring power consumption and efficiency as part of their development cycle,” explains Terry Marrinan, VP Global Marketing. “With the upgraded firmware, engineers can capture waveforms in more detail, allowing them to optimize their designs.”

The new Current Sensor Element runs off the internal DC power supply of the WT5000, making external power supplies unnecessary. This makes set up for measurements easier as the only things required are the current sensor and a connecting cable. 

Three sensor connection cable lengths are available - 3 m, 5 m and 10 m. This helps take account of varying test bench layouts, where the power analyzer may not be located right next to the device under test. The three different cable lengths allow users to select the one most suitable for their set up while keeping the leads as short as possible. 

The new Current Sensor Element also improves noise immunity with a low noise power supply and measurement circuit. Previously, reducing the signal to noise ratio required external shunt resistors. In the new modules, shunt resistors are built-in and are included in the shielding in the instrument, increasing noise immunity. Also, current signals can be measured with a higher degree of precision, even if they are small when using the Current Sensor Element & dedicated cable. A step-by-step navigation menu simplifies the configuration and use of the current sensors.

Firmware is also upgraded, with the Data Streaming function now supporting a 50 ms to one second update rate. On the previous version, when using the Data Streaming function, the WT5000 only offered an update rate - measurement interval – of one second. This meant that all electrical parameters, such as power and Urms and Irms, were calculated over a period of one second. With the new upgrade, the WT5000 calculates all parameters over measurement periods of up to 50 ms, giving a better insight into the dynamic behavior of the device under test. 

The upgraded firmware now also offers a 10 ms update rate.

Other upgrades include improvements to the menu such as Current Phase Correction and Amplitude Correction, which makes setting up external sensors easier by compensating for the phase and gain error. 

The Yokogawa WT5000 is a Precision Power Analyzer with the highest measurement accuracy of ±0.03% combined with stability, noise immunity and plug-in modular flexibility to meet the measurement needs of those developing energy-efficient systems. 

 “In line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs], there is an ever-greater need to protect the environment and develop clean energy solutions,” states Kelvin Hagebeuk, Marketing Manager at Yokogawa T&M Europe. “The enhanced functionality of our WT5000 Precision Power Analyzer ensures that our customers can maximize the performance of electronic devices used in EVs and renewable energy systems.” 

@Yokogawa_Europe @Yokogawa_EU @Yokogawa @NapierPR #TandM #Automotive #Transportation #Solar

Solar cells power source.

A partnership between Anglia Components and Anysolar has been announced. They will offer a new PCB-mounted photovoltaic solar cell line for customers allowing designs to be powered from light energy harvested from the environment instead of or alongside a battery or mains source. The Anysolar line is a new product range for Anglia, and includes small efficient solar cells, also referred to as Solar BITs, and solar modules.

Commenting on the partnership, David Pearson, Technical Director at Anglia said, “Anglia is delighted to partner with Anysolar for this new product range which complements many of our established lines, such as low power MCU’s and sensors. Anysolar provides a viable alternative power source for many of our customers applications such as remote IoT sensor nodes.”

The Anysolar range includes devices which can be reflow soldered onto PCB’s as well as parts compatible with traditional hand soldering processes. Based on monocrystalline silicon free from impurities, the Anysolar cells do not degrade over time like some other solar technologies. This allows the solar cells to provide stable energy-conversion efficiency over the life of the product.

KY Choi, President of Anysolar, added, “We are delighted to partner with a distributor that is so well-respected in the UK and Ireland industry. We really value our relationships with our customers and look for partners that share that value. Our solar modules offer Anglia customers an environmentally friendly new power source for their designs.”

Anglia has invested in a profile of all the most popular sizes and formats in the latest highly efficient Gen 3 solar cells and modules which are available via Anglia Live and they are also able support customers with samples to support design activity.

@angliaComponent #PAuto #Solar

Relay for solar panels and battery back-up.

OMRON Electronic Components Europe has a highly compact 500V DC power relay aimed at the pre-charge circuits in electric vehicle chargers, battery back-up systems for solar panels and other high current DC applications.

With a high switching capacity and high isolation, the new OMRON G2RG-X is ideal for inrush current control, for example to protect the peripheral circuits when storage battery charging is initiated, as well as in energy storage systems, inverters, servos, power supplies and UPS.

 

The OMRON G2RG-X achieves its massive 500 VDC, 10A switching capacity within a compact body with a footprint of just 13.5mm X 29.0mm and a height of 26.5mm. The exceptional performance in a small component is a result of OMRON’s arc control structure and a 3.0mm contact gap. Further features include a high level of isolation, with an insulation distance of over 8 mm and an impulse withstand voltage of 10 kV between coil and contacts.

 

The G2RG-X features a low coil power consumption of just 0.8W and has just one coil as opposed to two in alternative solutions, further reducing energy loss within the device. It is designed for 2-pole series wiring, and has an electrical durability of 10,000 operations in this configuration. The relay is UL and TÜV certified.

@OmronEurope @NeeshamPR #Relays #Automotive #Solar #PSU

Don’t Look at the Sun—Look at the Data!

Seeq Corporation has released a new success story bylined by their customer DEPCOM Power and system integrator Vertech. Titled “Don’t Look at the Sun—Look at the Data,” the story shows how DEPCOM, based in Scottsdale (AZ USA), uses Seeq to improve operating efficiency and optimize maintenance across multiple solar generation sites. The story further describes how DEPCOM Power found a better way to create insights from the wealth of data sourced from multiple solar generation sites. 

At DEPCOM, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and historians were already providing extensive weather, power controller, and position tracking data and automation. The performance engineering team had invested years of effort creating and fine-tuning spreadsheets to view and analyze this data, both live and historical.

But the spreadsheets became enormous, making this approach burdensome in practice and difficult for collaboration, and introduced delays and the possibility of user error. DEPCOM desperately needed to efficiently apply their deep expertise.

Realizing there must be a better way, DEPCOM engaged Vertech, a systems integrator based in Phoenix AZ, to develop a solution based on Seeq’s Server, Workbench, and Organizer applications. Seeq empower engineers and subject matter experts to rapidly investigate, collaborate, and share insights to improve operations and business outcomes.

Seeq was selected for its abilities to:

• Connect with most any type of historian
• Work well with time-series process data
• Cost-effectively be procured, installed, run, and maintained
• Scale for any size application
• Flexibly enable users to configure, run, and report on varying assets

 An architecture consisting of a centralized enterprise “hub” and many local site “spokes” was quickly established, and Seeq was linked to Canary Labs historians. Seeq connected to and indexed the source data for best fidelity—never moving, copying, or transforming the data. Modular and hierarchical asset tree model structures matched the available data with the physical world in a logical way, aiding with identification, deployment, and re-use of configurations.

Analyses and dashboard displays were readily arranged to evaluate operations against industry-standard benchmarks and calculations including expected performance level, instantaneous generation, and other energy key performance indicators. Users can delve into the details and share their investigations as they develop insights.

Seeq has been instrumental for empowering DEPCOM’s experts to apply their expertise and provide timely reports to their solar site clients for optimizing operations, while freeing up performance engineers to work on other tasks.

@SeeqCorporation @VerTalk @DepcomPower #PAuto #PLC #Solar USA

Connecting solar power plants.

TE Connectivity (TE) has introduced the new TE ENTRELEC PI-Spring range of terminal blocks ZK-PV, dedicated to large commercial and utility-scale photovoltaic installations. The PI-Spring range have voltage of 1500V DC (IEC) / 1000V DC (UL), complementing the existing 1500V offering including DBL distribution blocks and SNK screw power terminal blocks ZS150 / ZS240.

“Over the next five years, most solar power plants will use increased voltages to reduce installation and operational costs. Even thou other solutions do exist on the market for 1500V DC, the terminal blocks are one of the safest and most reliable way for connecting electrical circuits inside PV panels, combiners and central inverters,” said Gael Grenat, head of global product management for TE’s ENTRELEC products.

The ZK-PV range of terminal blocks makes connecting photovoltaic systems quicker and more reliable. The smart two-in-one connection gives installers more flexibility, real time savings and higher quality results.

The ZK-PV range for photovoltaic installations is as compact as the rest of the PI-Spring terminal block range, adding only 2mm to the unit’s depth. For differentiating positive and negative poles, grey and blue colors are available: The distribution blocks are suitable for conductors with maximum cross-sections of 10mm² / 6AWG and 16mm² / 4AWG. The range provides two and three connections so that two circuits can be grouped in parallel in one line. To group more than two circuits, several ZK10 PV terminals (10mm² / 6AWG) can be interconnected by means of convenient plug-in jumpers.

The range´s unique design gives installers two different ways to connect wires quickly and securely. A Push-In mode lets installers just push solid wires into the terminal – ENTRELEC’s patented design automatically clamps the wire to create a strong, reliable connection. In Spring Mode, non-prepared, stranded wires can be inserted just as easily. The installer just needs to slide a screwdriver into the adjacent slot, insert the wire and the connection is secured.

@TEConnectivity #PAuto #Power

Contribution to solar PV industry commended!

Frost & Sullivan has selected CyboEnergy to receive the 2017 "Global Solar Inverter Technology Innovation Award". The award recognizes CyboEnergy's achievements and excellence in innovation, leadership, and growth. CyboEnergy will be presented this award at Frost & Sullivan's Awards Gala to be held in Anaheim (CA USA) at the end of January 2018.

CyboEnergy CEO Dr. George Cheng said, "Our customers, partners, shareholders, and team members are a crucial part of this latest recognition and achievement. Frost & Sullivan is the most well respected market research company in the world. This prestigious award inspires us to be even more diligent in our quest to help build a cleaner and greener world."

Frost & Sullivan's Chairman, David Frigstad quoted, "To achieve excellence in technology innovation is never an easy task, but it is one made even more difficult considering today's competitive intensity, customer volatility, and economic uncertainty—not to mention the difficulty of innovating in an environment of escalating challenges to intellectual property. Within this context, your selection as recipient of this Award signifies an even greater accomplishment."

To win the Technology Innovation Award, a company must demonstrate excellence in innovation, leadership and growth. This kind of excellence typically translates into superior performance in three key areas: demand generation, brand strength, and competitive differentiation. This three-fold focus must ideally be complemented by an equally rigorous focus on visionary innovation to enhance customer value and impact.

CyboEnergy offers on-grid, off-grid, and on/off CyboInverters. First released in 2013, the patented CyboInverter is the world's first solar power Mini-Inverter that possesses the key merits of both central / string inverters and microinverters. CyboInverters offer better safety, scalability, grid-flexibility, DC-source flexibility, high efficiency, long life, easy installation, and good per watt price. In June 2015, CyboEnergy released the groundbreaking On/Off-Grid CyboInverter that can operate in either on-grid or off-grid mode, switching between the two modes automatically, depending on the grid condition. This enables the same solar power system to generate power to the grid and also act as a power backup system when the grid is down. In July 2017, CyboEnergy released a family of battery-less off-grid and on/off-grid CyboInverters that can run Inverter-Air-Conditioners (IAC).

These visionary innovations are direct results of CyboEnergy's technology excellence focused on developing solutions that increase customer value multifold. Frost & Sullivan's Industry Principal Gautham Gnanajothi said, "Due to grid capacity limitations, on-grid solar systems are no longer welcomed or cost much more to implement in many parts of the world. CyboEnergy's unique battery-less off-grid CyboInverters for electric water heaters and for Inverter-Air-Conditioners (IAC) can change the landscape of the solar industry."

For this Technology Innovation Award, the following criteria were used to benchmark CyboEnergy's performance against key competitors:

(1) Addressing Unmet Needs, (2) Visionary Scenarios Through Mega Trends, (3) Blue Ocean Strategy, (4) Price/Performance Value, (5) Customer Ownership Experience,  (6) Brand Equity.

Gnanajothi of Frost & Sullivan added, "CyboEnergy's contribution to the solar PV industry is highly commendable. The smart and scalable CyboInverters with multiple input channels enabled by Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) control are expected to become fundamental building blocks for advanced renewable systems of the future."

@CyboEnergy #PAuto @Frost_Sullivan

Solar panel safety.

Omron is addressing the challenge of de-energizing solar PV panels and other renewable energy sources with the launch of a new high power DC relay capable of rapidly interrupting 25A at 1000V DC in the event of an emergency.

According to Steve Drumm, European Marketing, Sales Development & Project Management, at Omron, “Rooftop solar panels are becoming increasingly popular in offices and homes, and as a result the issue of their shut-down in the event of a fire in the building is moving up the agenda. Rapid PV shut-down is moving from being highly desirable to mandatory in some markets in order to protect fire fighters and other first responders.”

In response, Omron has launched the G7L-X relay, with a rated load of 1000V DC at 25A and a release time of just 30ms. This relay can be installed close to a PV panel or other renewable source, and disconnect it quickly in an emergency, to permit maintenance or in response to utility requests. The G7L-X conforms to UK and IEC solar inverter standards, as well as applicable UL and VDE electrical standards.

Features of the design include an assisting magnetism circuit, to help achieve a very quick switchover. The relay contacts have been specifically designed to handle the very high DC loads that are a feature of this application, and have a contact gap of 6.0mm for safety.

the G7L-X is rated at 6,000 operations at 600V DC, and 100 operations at 1000V DC – more than enough for its envisaged emergency cut-off application. The device is compact for a relay with this capacity: it’s size is just 52.5 x 35.5 x 41.0 mm. The relay is ideal for outdoor installations, and can operate in ambient temperatures of between -40 and +85 deg C. Omron is also offering a general purpose version of the relay, with a capacity of 20A at 1000VDC.

#PAuto @OmronEurope #Safety

50% alternative power saves $$$s for automation & control manufacturer!

IDEC, manufacturer of industrial automation and control products, the has a corporate mandate to reduce carbon footprint and increase the use of renewable energy sources at its facilities world-wide. In order to meet this mandate, cut costs and improve the environment, the U.S. headquarters in Silicon Valley uses a combination of roof-mounted solar panels and wind turbines to provide about 50% of its power.

Due to these and other energy saving measures, such as converting from metal halide to LED lamps in the warehouse and changing to LED external lighting, IDEC is saving more than $100,000/year on its electric bill, with more savings to come.

Before the solar system was installed in 2008, IDEC was using about 1.1 million kWh/year. With solar panels, LED lights and other energy-saving measures, annual power usage is down to about 600,000 kWh/year. The wind turbines coupled with a future battery system to store solar and wind power are expected to provide another 100,000 kWh/year in power savings and demand reductions, cutting energy use from 1.1 million kWh/year in 2007 to a projected usage of about 500,000 kWh/year in 2017, which equates to an annual savings of approximately $150,000.

The wind turbines are a new addition as they were recently installed in September 2016. IDEC was the first company in the Sunnyvale, CA area to install wind turbines at its facility, and other companies in the area are following suit.

There are six Windspire Series IV 2000 model turbines total, with a combined maximum power output of 8.4 kW. The wind turbines augment the existing solar panels by providing additional power, particularly on cloudy days. In addition, unlike solar panels that depend upon the sun, the wind turbines can operate up to 24 hours a day.

The peak power of the solar system depends upon the month of the year, with September and October being the best months for solar since it is quite sunny but cooler than the summer months, and the panels are more efficient when cool. The solar panels produce dc power which is converted to ac power by inverters with a maximum output of 284.6 kW.

In the next six months, IDEC will install a large storage battery system to capture wind and solar energy and release it into the grid during peak power times. This will help reduce the peak demand charges assessed by PG&E, the local electric utility. It will also benefit the utility and its customers by reducing total peak system demand.

These green power installations not only save money for IDEC, but also reduce the company’s carbon footprint. “We are committed to green energy, with the ultimate goal of getting completely off the grid. We’re considering additional solar arrays for our parking lot to further increase our solar power generating capacity,” says Lanny Schuberg, the Engineering and Compliance manager at IDEC.

IDEC’s efforts put the company at the forefront of the green energy movement in Silicon Valley. Their collaboration with the City of Sunnyvale will not only reduce their carbon footprint, but is also helping to spur other companies in the area to follow along, ultimately benefiting the entire Sunnyvale community and the Silicon Valley area.

@IDECUSA #PAuto #Environment 

On/Off-grid solar power system design guide.

CyboEnergy has released an On/Off-Grid Solar Power System Design Guide. This guide will help customers and installers to design on-grid and on/off-grid renewable energy systems with battery storage to provide backup power when the grid is down. CyboEnergy's latest innovation, the On-Off/Grid CyboInverter, is the core product that enables this design.

CyboEnergy CEO, Dr. George Cheng said, "Response for the groundbreaking On/Off-Grid CyboInverter has been very positive since the product was released in June 2015. A number of On/Off-Grid CyboInverters have been successfully installed in different countries. Because there are no comparable products on the market, we developed this guide to provide a systematic approach for customers to design and build cost-effective and useful on/off-grid solar power systems."

As an example, the following diagram shows a 6KW on/off-grid solar power system where three On-Grid CyboInverters and an On/Off-Grid CyboInverter twin pack are used.

Each unit is connected with four 300W solar panels, offering panel-level MPPT to maximize power production. The On/Off-Grid CyboInverter Twin Pack has a Master and Slave Unit working as a group, each of which connects to one 300W solar panel and a set of 36V batteries. When the grid is on, the system can generate up to 4.2KW power to the grid. When the grid is down, all inverters will shutdown immediately based on the UL1741 safety requirements. The On/Off-Grid CyboInverters will then switch to the off-grid mode automatically to run the connected AC loads on the off-grid circuit. Since this is a scalable design, a larger system can be implemented with multiple on/off-grid sub-systems of different sizes. The total on-grid output power from each sub-system can be combined in an electric panel to be sent to the grid. Each sub-system will have its own independent off-grid circuit to power the connected AC loads when the grid is down. This enables a "plug-and-play" installation by using On-Grid and On/Off-Grid CyboInverters.

It has an easy to understand format with graphics, drawings, comparison tables, and highlighted text. It is useful for companies, solar installers, and homeowners that want to build a useful and easy to install on/off-grid solar power system for homes and facilities, especially those where backup power is a necessity but not available, including: nursing homes, clinics, data centers, hotels, stores, etc. The guide can be downloaded from CyboEnergy's website.

Electrical & control systems for PV plant in Kalahari (ZA)

ABB has won an order worth around $25 million to supply electrical and control systems for a new 75 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) power plant in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The order was booked in the first quarter.

Owned by WBHO, a leading South African construction company, and Building Energy, an Italian renewable energy developer and operator, the plant is located in the Kalahari Desert close to the town of Kathu and to Sishen, one of the largest open-pit iron ore mines in the world.

The Kathu PV power plant is among the first tranche of projects to be awarded as part of South Africa’s renewable energy program, which aims to diversify the country’s energy mix and reduce its carbon footprint. Once completed in 2014, it is expected to be one of the world’s largest PV power plants with a single-axis tracking system. It will have the capacity to generate around 146 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean solar power to feed into the national grid – enough to meet the needs of over 40,000 people based on average national per capita consumption and displacing the equivalent of about 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

“Renewable energy sources such as solar have a key role to play in meeting the growing demand for electricity while minimizing environmental impact,” said Brice Koch, head of ABB’s Power Systems division. “We have a strong track record in delivering turnkey power and automation solutions that are optimising photovoltaic power plants all over the world.”

ABB’s turnkey electrical and automation solution will optimise the performance of the Kathu plant to maximise output while ensuring reliability in remote and demanding operating conditions. The solution includes a range of ABB power products such as medium- and low-voltage switchgear, distribution transformers, and control and protection devices. It also incorporates distributed automation and control products from the Symphony™ Plus family. ABB will be responsible for the design, engineering, supply, installation and commissioning of the project.

Key features of the ABB solution include the integration of the plant’s electrical equipment and highvoltage substation with the company’s proprietary Symphony Plus Distributed Control System (DCS) solution in conformance with the IEC 61850 open-communication standard for substation automation.

ABB will also supply an advanced tracking system with a back-tracking algorithm that optimises tracker movement and eliminates shadow on the panels. The solution also features a data-collection system that collects operational input from the trackers, inverters, string boxes and substation to enable remote operation and maintenance, thereby alleviating the need for onsite manning.

Wireless solar control....

GreenPeak Technologies has announced a wireless monitoring and control system solution for solar panel installations that will allow individual panel parameter tracking and control.

Photovoltaic solar panels are increasing in popularity and users need accurate information of their solar energy installation. Currently, most residential solar panel systems only provide energy information on a monthly basis and do not allow individual panel monitoring.  The Smart Junction Box reference design utilizing GreenPeak wireless chips provides a solution to monitor solar systems in more detail and to control the chain from a central unit or remote device.

This solution allows solar panel builders to comply with new upcoming legal requirements requiring that solar panels can be individually switched off in case of calamities, as high DC voltages from a string of panels on a rooftop can cause danger for emergency services or fire responders.

By adding wireless Smart Junction Boxes on every individual panel, up to the minute status information on electricity generation of each panel can be provided and allows the operator to switch off individual panels or panel substrings for optimized overall solar panel system performance. Performance metrics enable system owners and service provider to actually monitor the condition of the solar panels in order to properly schedule maintenance and cleaning.

The data collected from each individual panel can also be shown in a configurable GUI software application. When a problem in the solar panel system occurs, performance gradually declines or suddenly drops, remote diagnosis and controlling via a mobile App on smart phone can be one of the use cases.

GreenPeak provides communication controller chips and a complete solar panel control reference design to be integrated in the next generation solar panel monitoring and controlling systems.

Cees Links, Founder and CEO of GreenPeak Technologies states: “Solar power is emerging as the number one competitive renewable energy resource. Improvement in the efficiency of solar systems and the need for a more developed understanding of solar panel performance, tracking and maintenance becomes increasingly important because of the rapid deployment of solar technologies in the marketplace. GreenPeak solutions for wireless monitoring, measuring and controlling individual panels, will enable the solar industry to create more efficient and more cost effective solar systems.