Satellite-based performance check of PV system
The PVSAT-2 project has enabled a remote performance check of photovoltaic systems to be made cheaply, based on Internet communication structures. This allows the system's reliability and efficiency to be significantly increased. The procedure employs irradiation data from a satellite to simulate the energy yield of a PV system. A low cost hardware device was added and integrated into the PV system. It provides automated measurements and two-way communication to a central client-server decision-making system. The device records energy production, transferring the information to the central server once a day. It is also able to detect system failures and their possible causes. The fully automatic procedure means that the measurements are extremely reliable because human error such as incorrect meter readings have been avoided. The PVSAT application is also easy to use. There are also benefits for the development of the communication infrastructure. This includes PVSAT-2 contributing to the integration of PV systems into future energy distribution structures by increasing energy efficiency. It can deliver solar resource data to the server, with the two-way communication being used for new applications in grid management. This makes the operational management of photovoltaic solar energy systems much easier.
