From the Solar-Log® WEB-4U Command Center
Can your free solar monitoring do this….
Solar-Log® WEB-4U experts help solar installers and O&M providers by performing routine monitoring checks to ensure that solar plants are running free and clear of errors. We analyze drops in power production to pinpoint possible causes. Our job is to make the solar installer’s job easier and to protect the solar investment for plant owners.
In example 1, the solar installer was unaware that this plant was underperforming. Once the Solar-Log® WEB-4U team got involved we uncovered an issue that had been ongoing for 3 months. The team analyzed the plant data and determined that a suspected string outage was causing a loss of 375kWh. We notified the O&M provider so that the issue could be fixed to resume optimal power production at the plant.
The Solar-Log® WEB-4U team helped this next customer by discovering that 1 of the 4 inverters was not meeting the rated output. A shading impact was also observed in the morning hours through mid-day. The shading was causing a loss of approximately 5-6kWh daily.
Resolving Solar Plant Issues
Once the Solar-Log® WEB-4U team detects an issue and possible causes, we immediately notify the O&M provider. The installer of the solar plant in example 2 may have been unaware of the shading impact when the plant was designed. It is also possible that this issue can not be resolved now that the plant is installed. However, it is also possible that the shading impact is new and only caused by a nearby tree. A simple tree-trimming may be the answer to getting this plant up and running at optimal performance again.
The Solar-Log® WEB-4U team not only checks for performance issues but also for configuration problems. Correct plant configuration in the Solar-Log® software will reduce the number of false alarms and alerts sent by the monitoring platform. In example 3, a higher AC power was observed when compared to the DC power. Firmware or configuration could be possible causes in addition to several other reasons. Resolving configuration issues remotely can eliminate truck rolls.
According to a recent article in GTM research, although a significant portion of solar PV projects currently have a monitoring system in place, few are synced in real time with diagnostics tools. Even fewer conduct basic periodical performance assessments. Many factors cause solar plant underperformance. Basic, free solar monitoring may not detect all issues. Detailed performance insight that includes data from all onsite components can make the difference between making money and losing it. The Solar-Log® WEB-4U team was created to help bridge the gap between basic-level monitoring and professional monitoring services.
