PV Tech Power Papers

Module failure | Defective modules causing power losses in PV systems need to be easily detected with a rapid and cost-effective inspection method. UV fluorescence of module encapsulation polymers is used for the fast detection of module failures under daylight conditions without disconnection, allowing the inspection of up to 200 modules in an hour during daytime

Grid storage | The advent of grid-scale energy storage means a whole raft of new technical, safety and risk-mitigation requirements for the industry to understand.Guidance designed to help stakeholders get to grips with this fast-emerging sector is discussed.

Operations and maintenance | India’s solar industry has been focused on reaching a hugely ambitious target of 100GW of PV by 2022. There is a need to get smart on managing and maintaining solar assets is now becoming an overriding priority.

Grid | Solar generators in the UK have been facing the prospect of having large volumes of capacity temporarily shut down due to grid capacity constraints. The efforts being made to minimise the impacts of curtailment are discussed.

Cell and module technology | One of the defining trends to emerge so far in 2017 has been an explosion of interest in bifacial PV technology. Some of the key technologies vying for position at the vanguard of this fast-growing part of the market are discussed.

Construction | Automated systems to speed up the construction of PV power plants have become a key tool in building bigger and cheaper projects. Some of the state-of-art technologies helping the industry drive down system costs are discussed.

Forecasting | Predicting the power production of a PV plant offers a multitude of benefits to plant owners and grid operators. The challenges of accurate forecasting across different timescales and in different climate zones are discussed.

System design | Despite the decline of subsidies in the UK, well designed commercial PV systems still offer potentially attractive financial benefits to businesses. Some of the key considerations in designing and executing a commercial solar system that will deliver maximum return on investment are detailed.

Data | The collection of inaccurate data at any point in the life cycle of a solar plant will undermine almost every aspect of the investment accounting. The importance of precision data gathering in mitigating risk for builders, operators and financiers is discussed.

Quality | The speed of solar deployment in India has raised concerns that quality maybe sacrificed for expediency. Although there are warning signs of a potential quality problem, efforts are underway to nip it in the bud