Later this year, a new set of industry guidelines will for the first time codify a set of best practices for EPC contractors. Ahead of publication, members of Solar Power Europe’s O&M task force look at some of the critical areas of PV system integration where high-quality EPC work can most effectively influence a project’s lifetime performance
By Dirk C. Jordan, Chris Deline, Bill Marion and Teresa Barnes, NREL. Mark Bolinger, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Despite the importance of reliability to the cost competitiveness of PV, large data sets enabling high-level investigation of the technology’s performance in the field are relatively scarce. Dirk C. Jordan, Chris Deline, Bill Marion and Teresa Barnes of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Mark Bolinger of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study a unique data set of 100,000 PV systems in the US, drawing out tips for better reliability that have relevance to other parts of the world.
Travel restrictions imposed by countries in response to the coronavirus pandemic have contribution to a slowdown in investment in rural electrification projects. Thomas Hillig examines the extent of the investment freeze and possible solutions to get capital flowing into much needed projects again
By Vicente Parra, Ruperto J. Gómez, José C. Vázquez and Francisco Álvarez, Enertis
A comprehensive understanding of the performance gain offered by a bifacial module remains an elusive goal for PV owners and EPCs due to variations arising from different design, manufacturing and testing methods. Vicente Parra, Ruperto J. Gómez, José C. Vázquez and Francisco Álvarez of Enertis review the main sources of variability and outstanding uncertainties that must be addressed as the industry seeks to define standard rules for reliably selecting, purchasing and deploying bifacial PV modules
By Joseph C. Johnson, technology and quality senior analyst, Clean Energy Associates
In the second part of a two-part blog series, Clean Energy Associates’ Joseph C. Johnson examines just how long volatility in polysilicon pricing can continue.
By Joseph C. Johnson, technology and quality senior analyst, Clean Energy Associates
In the first of a two-part feature Joseph C. Johnson, technology and quality senior analyst at Clean Energy Associates, explores recent polysilicon price volatility and its impact on the upstream solar sector.
By Jemma Green, executive chairman and co-founder, Power Ledger
Our ability to generate renewable energy is scaling up fast, and solutions to integrate that energy will rely on technologies like blockchain to help keep new solutions on track. Power Ledger’s executive chairman and co-founder, Dr Jemma Green, looks at the role blockchain plays within her company’s platform to integrate and automate solar energy trading and balancing
By Friederike Kersten, Matthias Pander, Max Koentopp, Marko Turek, Werner Bergholz and Thomas Pernau, The LeTID Norm consortium.
Understanding of LeTID remains incomplete, although its effects on PV power plant performance are recognised as being potentially significant. Friederike Kersten, Matthias Pander, Max Koentopp, Marko Turek, Werner Bergholz and Thomas Pernau of the LeTID Norm consortium outline progress towards developing a standardised test for the defect, a key step inw minimising its impact
By Kai Sporleder, Volker Naumann, Stephan Großer, Marko Turek and Christian Hagendorf of Fraunhofer CSP.
Many of the bifacial modules now offered by PV manufacturers employing bifacial passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC+) technology, making them vulnerable to rear-side potential-induced degradation, in addition to the conventional front-side shunting type (PID-s). Kai Sporleder, Volker Naumann, Stephan Großer, Marko Turek and Christian Hagendorf of the Fraunhofer Centre for Silicon Photovoltaics report on new testing methods designed to quantify the expected power losses of bifacial PERC+ modules in the field
Commissioning should be as integral to the installation of a PV plant as a pre-flight checklist is to an aeroplane journey. Sara Verbruggen reports on the latest tools and technologies being deployed to ensure a smooth commissioning process and a project that operates safely and optimally
