PV on noise barriers

PV on noise barriers has been around for 14 years. During this time considerable progress has been achieved not only on the PV module technology, but also in the construction of photovoltaic noise barriers (PVNB). The first plant was built in Switzerland in 1989; at present there are numerous plants with a total documented power of about 850 kW_p in operation in Europe. This paper gives a short overview on the progress and state of the art of PVNB in Europe. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Progress in markets for grid‐connected PV systems in the built environment

In the last decade of the 20th century a wide variety of promotion strategies increased the market penetration of small grid‐connected PV systems world‐wide. The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of these promotion strategies on the market for and on the economic performance of small grid‐connected PV systems. The most important conclusions of this analysis are: Pure cost‐effectiveness is not crucial for private customers. Affordability is rather what counts. Non‐monetary issues play an important role for a substantial increase in market deployment. Comprehensive accompanied information and education activities are also important along with financial incentives. There are still considerable barriers in the market: on the one hand transparent and competitive markets exist in only a few countries; on the other hand non‐monetary transaction costs still represent a major barrier. Progress with respect to cost reduction has been achieved, but mainly for non‐module components. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Operational performance of grid‐connected PV systems on buildings in Germany

This paper presents operational performance results of grid‐connected PV systems in Germany, as collected and elaborated for the Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) of the International Energy Agency (IEA). Performance ratios obtained from 235 PV installations in Germany and from 133 PV plants in other countries are compared and discussed. For Germany, a significant rise in PV system performance and reliability was observed for new PV installations due to higher component efficiencies (e.g., inverter) and increased availabilities. There is a lack of long‐term experience in performance and reliability of PV systems, owing to the absence of monitoring programmes. As an outcome of IEA PVPS collaborative work, Task 2 provides reliable and worldwide monitoring performance data and results (www.task2.org). Technical and operational data is available for system planning and comparison, for teaching and training purposes as well as for future developments of financing schemes (e.g., feed‐in‐tariffs) in order to stimulate the PV market. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Energy payback time of grid connected PV systems: Comparison between tracking and fixed systems

A review of existing studies about life cycle assessment (LCA) of PV systems has been carried out. The data from this review have been completed with our own figures in order to calculate the energy payback time (EPBT) of double and horizontal axis tracking and fixed systems. The results of this metric span from 2 to 5 years for the latitude and global irradiation ranges of the geographical area comprised between –10° to 10° of longitude, and 30° to 45° of latitude. With the caution due to the uncertainty of the sources of information, these results mean that a grid connected PV system (GCPVS) is able to produce back the energy required for its existence from 6 to 15 times during a life cycle of 30 years. When comparing tracking and fixed systems, the great importance of the PV generator makes advisable to dedicate more energy to some components of the system in order to increase the productivity and to obtain a higher performance of the component with the highest energy requirement. Both double axis and horizontal axis trackers follow this way, requiring more energy in metallic structure, foundations and wiring, but this higher contribution is widely compensated by the improved productivity of the system. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the calculation of energy produced by a PV grid‐connected system

This study develops a proposal of method of calculation useful to estimate the energy produced by a PV grid‐connected system making use of irradiance‐domain integrals and definition of statistical moment. Validation against database of real PV plants performance data shows that acceptable energy estimation can be obtained with first to fourth statistical moments and some basic system parameters. This way, only simple calculations at the reach of pocket calculators, are enough to estimate AC energy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solar‐tracking PV plants in Navarra: A 10 MW assessment

Currently, the know‐how and experience concerning the behavior and reliability of large tracking photovoltaic (PV) plants is scarce. Information such as the availability rate is rarely known. Acciona Solar PV plants installed in Navarra (Spain) in the frame of the Spanish utility grid constitute a representative source of information. The scope of this study is to analyze in detail the behavior along 2006 of six of these plants, located in Arguedas (two plants of a rated nominal power of 940 kWp and 2·1 MWp, respectively), Sesma (1·12 MWp), Cintruénigo (1·44 MWp), Rada (1·78 MWp), and Castejón (2·64 MWp). In our analysis, the influence of each type of energy loss affecting the plants has been quantified; and the advantages of dedicating human resources to the surveillance and maintenance of a limited number of generators have been stated. Thanks to the work of the operators, the plants registered mean availability rates above 99·7%. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soiling and other optical losses in solar‐tracking PV plants in navarra

Field data of soiling energy losses on PV plants are scarce. Furthermore, since dirt type and accumulation vary with the location characteristics (climate, surroundings, etc.), the available data on optical losses are, necessarily, site dependent. This paper presents field measurements of dirt energy losses (dust) and irradiance incidence angle losses along 2005 on a solar‐tracking PV plant located south of Navarre (Spain). The paper proposes a method to calculate these losses based on the difference between irradiance measured by calibrated cells on several trackers of the PV plant and irradiance calculated from measurements by two pyranometers (one of them incorporating a shadow ring) regularly cleaned. The equivalent optical energy losses of an installation incorporating fixed horizontal modules at the same location have been calculated as well. The effect of dirt on both types of installations will accordingly be compared. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于DSP的光伏并网技术的研究与实现

在光伏并网发电系统中,为了避免所发电能并入电网后造成电网污染,必须使用锁相环（PLL--Phase-Locked Loop）技术,保证并网电流和电网电压严格同频同相。文中针对软件锁相环技术,提出了一种基于电网电压过零检测硬件电路的新方法,并在CCS3.3软件中编写程序,以DSP芯片TMS320F2812为控制芯片进行了实验验证。实验结果表明此锁相环方案可以快速准确地使并网电流跟踪电网电压。     

STC power for 15 MW of PV comparing nameplate,initial power and power after 4 years

To date, the majority of quality controls performed at PV plants are based on the measurement of a small sample of individual modules. Consequently, there is very little representative data on the real Standard Test Conditions (STC) power output values for PV generators. This paper presents the power output values for more than 1300 PV generators having a total installed power capacity of almost 15.3 MW. The values were obtained by the INGEPER‐UPNA group, in collaboration with the IES‐UPM, through a study to monitor the power output of a number of PV plants from 2006 to 2009. This work has made it possible to determine, amongst other things, the power dispersion that can be expected amongst generators made by different manufacturers, amongst generators made by the same manufacturer but comprising modules of different nameplate ratings and also amongst generators formed by modules with the same characteristics. The work also analyses the STC power output evolution over time in the course of this 4‐year study. The values presented here could be considered to be representative of generators with fault‐free modules. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Smoothing of PV power fluctuations by geographical dispersion

The quality and the reliability of the power generated by large grid‐connected photovoltaic (PV) plants are negatively affected by the source characteristic variability. This paper deals with the smoothing of power fluctuations because of geographical dispersion of PV systems. The fluctuation frequency and the maximum fluctuation registered at a PV plant ensemble are analyzed to study these effects. We propose an empirical expression to compare the fluctuation attenuation because of both the size and the number of PV plants grouped. The convolution of single PV plants frequency distribution functions has turned out to be a successful tool to statistically describe the behavior of an ensemble of PV plants and determine their maximum output fluctuation. Our work is based on experimental 1‐s data collected throughout 2009 from seven PV plants, 20 MWp in total, separated between 6 and 360 km. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The character of power output from utility‐scale photovoltaic systems

Power produced by utility‐scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has fluctuations on both short and long time scales. Power spectral density (PSD) analysis provides information on the character of these power fluctuations. Examination of the correlation and step size of the power output between several PV sites within a multi‐site system allows assessment of geographic diversification for addressing intermittency. Both techniques provide insight into the characteristics of firm power and/or demand response required to accommodate large‐scale PV deployment. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the necessity of joint adoption of both Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking and Central Maximum Power Point Tracking in PV systems

In this paper, the main causes that are able to limit the efficiency of Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking (DMPPT) are analyzed in detail. It will be shown that, to get full profit from DMPPT, it is necessary that the bulk inverter voltage belongs to an optimal range whose position and amplitude are functions of the following factors: the number of PV modules and dedicated DC/DC converters in a string, the atmospheric operating conditions characterizing each PV module (irradiance and temperature values), the voltage and current ratings of the physical devices the DC/DC converters are made of, and the adopted DC/DC converter topology. Moreover, it will be given proof of the necessity to couple the DMPPT function with a suitable centralized MPPT function carried out by the inverter through the proper control of its own DC input voltage. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

From irradiance to output power fluctuations: the PV plant as a low pass filter

The power generated by large grid‐connected photovoltaic (PV) plants depends greatly on the solar irradiance. This paper studies the effects of the solar irradiance variability analyzing experimental 1‐s data collected throughout a year at six PV plants, totaling 18 MWp. Each PV plant was modeled as a first order filter function based on an analysis in the frequency domain of the irradiance data and the output power signals. An empiric expression which relates the filter parameters and the PV plant size has been proposed. This simple model has been successfully validated precisely determining the daily maximum output power fluctuation from incident irradiance measurements. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

PV thermal systems: PV panels supplying renewable electricity and heat

With PV Thermal panels sunlight is converted into electricity and heat simultaneously. Per unit area the total efficiency of a PVT panel is higher than the sum of the efficiencies of separate PV panels and solar thermal collectors. During the last 20 years research into PVT techniques and concepts has been widespread, but rather scattered. This reflects the number of possible PVT concepts and the accompanying research and development problems, for which it is the general goal to optimise both electrical and thermal efficiency of a device simultaneously. The aspects that can be optimised are, amongst others, the spectral characteristics of the PV cell, its solar absorption and the internal heat transfer between cells and heat‐collecting system. Another important level of optimisation is for the PVT device geometry and the integration into a system. The electricity and heat demand and the temperature level of the heat determine the choice for a certain system set‐up. With an optimal design, PVT systems can supply buildings with 100% renewable electricity and heat in a more cost‐effective manner than separate PV and solar thermal systems and thus contribute to the long‐term international targets on implementation of renewable energy in the built environment. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new analog MPPT technique: TEODI

A new analog maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique is presented and discussed. Its main advantages are simplicity of implementation, absence of memory and multiplication operations, and the high MPPT efficiency obtainable under both stationary and time‐varying atmospheric conditions. A numerical analysis, carried out by using the Perturb and Observe MPPT technique as a benchmark reference, confirms the validity of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tracking and ground cover ratio

Energy yield and occupation of land are two parameters that must be optimized when designing a large PV plant. This paper presents the results of simulating the energy yield of flat panels for some locations and different tracking strategies as a function of the ground cover ratio. Some interesting results for design purposes, such as the optimal solar trackers depending on the land availability or the energy gains of every tracking strategy, are shown. For example, the energy gains associated to one north–south axis tracking, referenced to static surfaces, ranges from 18 to 25%, and from 37 to 45% for the two‐axes tracker for reasonable ground cover ratios. To achieve these results, a simulation tool with appropriate models to calculate the energy yield for different solar trackers has been developed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of household grid‐connected PV system in Thailand

This paper presents the performance of a 2·88 kW_p household grid‐connected PV system installed in a house at Bangkok. This was one of the 10 houses identified for a household rooftop PV grid‐connected demonstration project by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand in 1997. Data measured over 12 months was used to estimate the PV array output, inverter output, inverter efficiency, system efficiency, yields (reference yield, array yield, final yield) performance ratio (PR) and the losses. The variations of these parameters over time indicate that the yields are high during June and July in Bangkok. The annual final yield and the average performance ratio were found to be 1166 kW h/kW_p and 0ċ73 respectively. The monthly highest final yield was 129 kW h/kW_p during June and July. The inverter efficiency was greater than 80% throughout the study period and the maximum system efficiency was 5·4%. The result of the study indicates that the system installed in Bangkok worked satisfactorily. Following the success of the demonstration project, a second phase of 50 households has recently been initiated. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulating the variability of dispersed large PV plants

A model to simulate the fluctuations generated by a fleet of dispersed photovoltaic (PV) plants solely based on irradiance data measured at one single location is proposed. This simple model has been satisfactorily tested to quantify the power variability of a generic PV fleet, simply by defining two parameters: mean PV plant size and the number of plants in the PV fleet. Specifically, the model provides series of simulated power outputs that may be used in the grid operator simulation programmes, reproducing critical parameters, such as daily maximum fluctuation or the reserves required to offset these fluctuations. The model is created and validated against experimental 1‐s data collected throughout 2013 at six PV plants in Spain dispersed over 1100 km², totaling 17 MWp. Likewise, the model has been succesfully tested against another irradiance dataset, four sites across the state of Colorado, USA, and spread over 2400 km². Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On‐site characterisation and energy efficiency of grid‐connected PV inverters

The size of inverters in large grid‐connected photovoltaic (PV) systems is increasing. At present, the largest installed inverters have nominal powers of several hundreds of kW, which makes their characterisation in the laboratory difficult. As an alternative, on‐site characterisation requires only measurement equipment and has the advantage that the inverter is tested in its own PV system under real operating conditions. This paper describes an on‐site testing procedure for assessing the power efficiency of an inverter and the results obtained for 13 inverters with nominal powers between 3.3 and 350 kW. The inverters were tested in PV grid‐connected systems whose aggregate power capacity is nearly 150 MW. The energy efficiency of the inverters tested was also calculated yearly, and the results were compared with both European and Californian energy efficiency parameters, which are widely used in the current PV market. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photovoltaic power plant experience at Arizona Public Service: a 5‐year assessment

Arizona Public Service (APS) currently has over 4·9 MW_dc of grid‐connected photovoltaic systems that have been installed in its service territory over the past five years. Most of this installed PV capacity is in support of the Arizona Corporation Commission Environmental Portfolio Standard goal that encourages APS to generate 1·1% of its energy generation through renewable resources by 2007, with 60% of that amount from solar. During this time, much has been learned regarding performance, cost, maintenance, installation and design. This paper presents an assessment of these topics and a perspective associated with this PV experience. Published in 2005 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.