Title:	Insolation Dependent Solar Module Performance Evaluation from PV Monitoring Data
Author(s):	V. Herbort, L. Brecht, H. te Heesen
Topic:	PV Systems
Subtopic:	Large PV Power Plants and Distributed PV: System Aspects and Grid Connection
Event:	27th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition
Session:	5AV.2.46
Pages:	4154 - 4157
ISBN:	3-936338-28-0
Paper DOI:	10.4229/27thEUPVSEC2012-5AV.2.46
Price:	0,00 EUR
Document(s):	paper

Abstract/Summary:

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The quality and performance of the components of a photovoltaic (PV) power plant has an effect on its energy yield. Therefore, it is sensible to select the best performing components in order to get maximized energy yield. But for example the performance of PV modules is often only known at standard test conditions (STC) which are most of the time artificially created in laboratories using only a few modules of a specific type. Therefore measurement data of over 24,000 PV plants deployed at sites located in Central Europe has been monitored. This data is analyzed by different algorithms in order to provide sufficient data quality. Then the data are transformed and normalized to STC in order to compare the empiric results of PV modules’ performance. This transformation includes a module temperature normalization using temperature data and also a normalization of the inverter efficiency using plant configuration data. Thereby influences on a module’s performance other than irradiance can filtered out. With this approach a quasi performance ratio can be calculated which allows comparing PV modules and module types under real-life conditions. For example a detailed analysis of a module’s performance under certain insolation levels can be carried out.