Development of a GIS Tool for High Precision PV Degradation Monitoring and Supervision: Feasibility Analysis in Large and Small PV Plants

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy generation will be one of the main energy generation technologies in the inner future thanks to the recent and significant reduction of involved costs. One of the most promising and lowest cost technologies is the thin-film PV modules technology. Their currently lower performance than single-Si PV modules is compensated by their lower costs and more aesthetical display, which make them especially attractive for building integration. However, because of the novelty of this technology, very few studies have been conducted to analyse its aging and degradation, which has a significant impact on the operation and maintenance needs and, in the end, in its Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). Thus, in this work, a systematic review on this technology and on its more frequent faults and degradation effects is conducted first. Then, a set of Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) PV modules has been tested under real outdoor conditions and its degradation has been analysed after 3 years operation. A new procedure for faults location and quantification has been established for this sort of PV modules; and early degradation and aging data are presented and analysed. Results show a significant early degradation of this technology and a fast expansion of the PV faults.

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“…The inspection methodology is based in four main steps, according to previous works and that are detailed in the following paragraphs [8]:…”

Section: Case Study and Inspection Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Thin-film PV modules early degradation analysis: a case study on CIGS

Diez-Suárez¹,

Calzada-Lorenzo²,

González-Martínez³

et al. 2019

REPQJ

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“…For this reason, the knowledge of recurring degradation causes and their effects is crucial, since it can help to reduce the extraordinary maintenance cost, due for instance to the substitution of broken/nonworking panels. To partially solve the problem, several monitoring systems have been conceived [40,41]. Such systems allow to intervene before breakage and damages, but entail maintenance costs.…”

Section: Sensors For Peer Review 5 Of 21mentioning

confidence: 99%

On Field Infrared Thermography Sensing for PV System Efficiency Assessment: Results and Comparison with Electrical Models

Muttillo

Nardi

Stornelli

et al. 2020

Sensors

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The evaluation of photovoltaic (PV) system’s efficiency loss, due to the onset of faults that reduce the output power, is crucial. The challenge is to speed up the evaluation of electric efficiency by coupling the electric characterization of panels with information gathered from module diagnosis, amongst which the most commonly employed technique is thermographic inspection. The aim of this work is to correlate panels’ thermal images with their efficiency: a “thermal signature” of panels can be of help in identifying the fault typology and, moreover, for assessing efficiency loss. This allows to identify electrical power output losses without interrupting the PV system operation thanks to an advanced PV thermography characterization. In this paper, 12 faulted working panels were investigated. Their electrical models were implemented in MATLAB environment and developed to retrieve the ideal I-V characteristic (from ratings), the actual (operative) I-V characteristics and electric efficiency. Given the curves shape and relative difference, based on three reference points (namely, open circuit, short circuit, and maximum power points), faults’ typology has been evidenced. Information gathered from infrared thermography imaging, simultaneously carried out on panels during operation, were matched with those from electrical characterization. Panels’ “thermal signature” has been coupled with the “electrical signature”, to obtain an overall depiction of panels’ health status.

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“…Rural areas throughout the world are mostly powered by diesel, and although diesel generation provides the required energy, the inhabitants of these areas suffer carbon pollution, noise pollution, diesel price fluctuation, diesel transportation/delivery costs, and lack of diesel supply reliability [37]. GIS proves to be a vital tool to support rural community energy planning [38,39] and PV system fault detection and monitoring [40].…”

Section: Review and Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Upper Limit of Distributed Solar PV Capacity in Riyadh: A GIS-Assisted Study

Elshurafa

Muhsen

2019

Sustainability

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Rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, commonly referred to as distributed generation (DG) solar systems, are deemed important contenders in future sustainable cities. Because deploying DG systems is associated with technical, financial, policy, and market implications that impact utilities, governments, and businesses, quantifying the potential of DG systems that could be deployed in a certain jurisdiction ex ante helps inform the decision-making process for all stakeholders. To that end, the upper limit of rooftop PV systems that could be deployed in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, was assessed with the aid of geographic information systems (GIS). By relying on urban land lot data for different categories, i.e., zones, and the maximum allowable area that could be built within a certain lot using prevailing building codes and regulations, the rooftop area suitable for PV deployment within Riyadh Metro was quantified. The analysis was restricted to rooftops in residential, mosque, shopping mall, and health care buildings only. Following the quantification of the rooftop area, the upper limit of rooftop solar PV capacity that can be deployed in the city of Riyadh was found to be 4.34 GW. This capacity represents nearly 22% of the peak load and can satisfy approximately 9% of the energy requirement in the central region, the region in which Riyadh resides. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4301 2 of 20Akin to any technology, both DG and utility-scale PV bring about strengths and weaknesses. Utility-scale solar farms, for example, benefit from economies of scale and are easier for electricity companies to manage from a central planning perspective [14]. However, land availability makes utility-scale deployment difficult within cities and even more so in city centers.On the other side of the spectrum, DG scale solar systems surmount the large land area requirements, and empower the consumer [15]. As the homeowner (or industrial facility, for example) self-consumes whatever is generated, this reduces the electricity bill. Further, if exporting energy back to the grid is possible and is compensated for, then the homeowner, depending on his consumption level [16], can receive credit for the exported energy [17]. This consumer empowerment [18], which transforms him/her to a prosumer (i.e., a consumer and a producer simultaneously), is of particular appeal especially in countries where the prevailing electricity prices are high. On the other hand, DG systems could cause instabilities in the distribution network [19], and hence, the electric utility has to adopt new operational procedures to avoid such incidents.Governments that have promoted renewable energy deployment were generally propelled by three main drivers: Reducing carbon emissions, boosting the economy by creating a renewable energy industry and creating jobs, and achieving higher energy security levels [20]. These objectives would be achieved by tying them to a renewable energy target installation capacity, and this target would have stemmed from a grand strateg...

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Development of a GIS Tool for High Precision PV Degradation Monitoring and Supervision: Feasibility Analysis in Large and Small PV Plants

Cited by 21 publications

References 24 publications

Thin-film PV modules early degradation analysis: a case study on CIGS

Thin-film PV modules early degradation analysis: a case study on CIGS

On Field Infrared Thermography Sensing for PV System Efficiency Assessment: Results and Comparison with Electrical Models

The Upper Limit of Distributed Solar PV Capacity in Riyadh: A GIS-Assisted Study

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