Power Generation

It is essential to understand the investment and operating costs of photovoltaic power plants in terms of economic parameter calculations such as levelized cost of electricity (LCoE). The dynamic behaviour of national and international markets requires a precise and detailed estimation of costs, and this knowledge is especially important to investors and policymakers. Only if the investment and operating costs of PV power plants are known can the price of electricity and the more detailed levelized cost of electricity be precisely calculated. High investment costs also require reliable investment policies and close cooperation between financial institutions (such as banks and investment funds) and power plant owners. Investment in large-scale PV power plants requires a detailed evaluation of solar radiation potential and grid availability, as well as a load analysis and a precise economic evaluation. When the investment cost based on the above-mentioned parameters is known, an estimation of the operating costs should be the next step. When all the costs of a PV power plant have been estimated, the price of electricity, or even a more detailed LCoE, can be calculated. This paper presents the trend of investment costs and some typical maintenance costs, and calculations of electricity price based on recent real data for large-scale PV power plants.

The new German BDEW MV guideline demands static and dynamic functionalities from distributed energy resource (DER) units in order to support network operation and stability. Initial indications show that, in general, photovoltaic (PV) inverters are able to fulfil both the static and the dynamic requirements. Besides the new requirements of the guideline, an extensive certification process for DER units and plants has also been introduced. During initial certification processes, a significant need for PV-specific test procedures and test equipment has been determined. This article describes the developments within this area from the perspective of a measurement institute.

Exceptional demand characterized the PV industry in 2010. Uncertainty regarding incentive schemes in a number of key markets drove global installations, and inverter shipments grew by over 160% as investors and developers rushed to complete projects, fearing that incentives would be reduced or removed altogether. IMS Research estimates that inverter shipments exceeded 20GW in 2010 and sales of small three-phase inverters, rated between 10-20kW, grew by around 200% in 2010. Inverters rated at over 500kW are estimated to have grown at a similar rate, but continue to represent a smaller share of revenues.

Recent industry analysis from NanoMarkets has suggested that although current business cases for PV are running out of steam, the building-integrated PV (BIPV) sector may be able to revive PV’s fortunes. The arrival of ‘true’ BIPV – not just flush-mounted BIPV panels, but PV-enabled glass, tiles, siding, etc. – renders possible new business cases that would otherwise simply not be an option with conventional PV. This paper puts forth a business analysis of the BIPV industry, providing case studies and data on the burgeoning sector.

As PV power generation adoption becomes more widely adopted globally, the grid-connected inverter market looks set to take its rightful role as a critically important element of solar installations. The grid-connected inverter market will deliver power quality and the stability of the electricity networks in order to ensure a stable and reliable grid operation. In order to keep up with these developments, network operators will release new grid codes to monitor the increased uptake, to which manufacturers must adhere. An additional obstacle for the inverter manufacturers is the wide range of requirements and norms that vary from country to country and, in many cases, even from utility to utility. This article presents a review of the new challenges facing grid-connected PV inverters in the light of these new developments.

As yet, procedures for long-term tests of photovoltaic modules in outdoor conditions have not been considered by international standardization committees. Although many laboratories perform long-term PV outdoor tests, a commonly agreed and standardized procedure has so far not been adopted. The European Distributed Energy Resources Laboratories’ (DERlab) approach to filling the gap of international standardization has led to the development of a basic protocol that complies with European and international standards, while providing specific common guidelines and procedures for measuring the energy yield of PV modules for at least one year in outdoor conditions. The DERlab procedures for long-term PV module testing are described in this paper, and the range of analyses that can be derived from the data, such as module degradation, are discussed. The paper also presents the DERlab approach to measuring module performance in outdoor conditions, which can be used to complement energy-rating methods suggested in international standards. DERlab has created consistent measuring procedures that allow the direct comparison of the energy yield of solar modules taking into account the site-specific factors of different locations and varying climatic conditions, as well as a maintenance guideline.

As it makes its way towards a non-subsidised market, the photovoltaic sector has to deal with decreasing margins. To ensure investment goals are met in spite of this, it is imperative that PV power plants generate optimal yields. Comprehensive quality assurance for PV power plants covers all phases of the completion process from the planning to system operation. This article explains the extent of standard quality assurance measures that include yield assessments, module measurements, system testing and yield monitoring. It outlines the potential of linking these quality assurance measures and stresses the importance of the measures themselves being of high quality. Up-to-date scientific findings from Fraunhofer ISE are presented in order to further optimise quality assurance measures.

PV industry module and component manufacturers have brought down costs significantly over the last four years. This trend is clearly evident as most publicly traded companies continue to grow revenue despite falling module and component prices. However, it is far less clear how downstream system integrators are handling the drop in system prices and contributing to value creation. System prices are generally higher in the U.S. than in Europe despite lower module prices in the U.S. This disparity often raises questions on the part of European PV professionals where these costs come from, and secondly, what have U.S. system integrators done to reduce costs. This article is the second of a two-part series shedding light on how U.S. integrators contribute to a decreasing installed-PV-system cost roadmap by championing value creation in the downstream segment. Focusing on the residential market segment, Part I delved into activity cost savings through innovation in engineering and construction [1]. Part II illustrates how changes in marketing and sales, rebates, interconnection, supply chain management and customer support have evolved considerably over the last several years to result in reduced costs.

PV industry module and component manufacturers have brought down costs significantly over the last four years. This trend is clearly evident as most publicly traded companies continue to grow revenue despite falling module and component prices. However, it is far less clear how downstream system integrators are handling the drop in system prices and contributing to value creation. System prices are generally higher in the U.S. than in Europe, despite lower module prices in the U.S. This disparity often raises questions on the part of European PV professionals where these costs come from, and secondly, what have U.S. system integrators done to reduce costs. This two-part series will shed light on how U.S. system integrators have undertaken tremendous efforts to decrease cost and add value through innovation by focussing on labour-intensive value creation in the downstream segment. Part I will focus on the residential market segment by delving into activity cost savings through innovation in engineering and construction, while Part II will illustrate how changes in sales, rebates, interconnection, and the supply-chain management over the last five years have reduced costs.

Despite the collapsed Spanish market and the general state of the world’s economy, the past year was not a bad year at all from the perspective of installed power capacity of large-scale PV power plants. Installed power capacity surpassed expectations while also bringing new markets into the spotlight, which means that the traditional market leaders of Spain, Germany and the U.S. are no longer the only ‘key’ markets. With the exception of Germany, the past year’s most noteworthy market boost was seen in the Czech Republic and Italy, with similar shake-ups seen in the Asian tiger countries of China and India. With many large-scale PV power plants recently brought into commission in these countries, China and India are brimming with potential for the near future.