As the solar PV industry evolves, the need for reliable and accurate performance measurement is critical - especially in distributed rooftop systems where operational efficiency and uptime are paramount. Traditional on-site weather sensors, while valuable, come with challenges: added infrastructure costs, frequent maintenance and calibration requirement and potential for breakdown. Satellite based Remote Sensing techniques have provided an of alternative, but with a significant compromise on accuracy. This is where Soltell's Sensorless solar performance measurement technology is gaining traction, offering a cost-effective, low-maintenance alternative without compromising on accuracy.
In this article, we’ll explore how Sensorless performance technology stacks up against traditional methods, particularly through a recent case study of commercial and industrial-scale PV plants in Europe, which highlights the impressive accuracy that Sensorless metrics can achieve.
Understanding Sensorless Technology for Solar PV Performance Measurement
Sensorless measurement leverages already existing PV plant's electrical sensors combined with intelligent algorithms to estimate essential weather metrics like irradiance, panel temperature, and environmental conditions. By using this electrical data and some PV system specifications, Sensorless technology enables to closely approximate real-time conditions, making it possible to analyze PV plant performance without deploying physical sensors on-site or relaying on inaccurate Remote Sensing.
For decentralized rooftop solar PV installations, the advantages of Sensorless technology are obvious:
No dditional Physical Sensors: .No need to install any more hardware at the site.
Reduced Maintenance: Fewer physical components mean less wear-and-tear and lower maintenance costs.
Lower Operational Costs: Sensorless technology eliminates the expenses associated with installing and maintaining sensor arrays, wiring, and more data storage.
Enhanced Scalability: Sensorless technology makes it easier to expand or duplicate measurement systems across multiple sites without needing a physical overhaul.
Case Study: Sensorless Measurement Accuracy of Commercial and Industrial PV Plants in Europe
To showcase the efficacy of Sensorless technology, let’s examine a case study from commercial and industrial-scale PV plants in Europe, which were evaluated from July to October 2024. During this period, key performance indicators (KPIs) such as Energy Performance Index (EPI), Power Performance Index (PPI), Availability (Avail), and Soiling Ratio (SR) were tracked and analyzed.
The accuracy of assessed key performance indicators (KPIs) via Soltell's SysMap solution were as following:
Energy Performance Index (EPI): ± 0.0571
Power Performance Index (PPI): ± 0.0453
Availability (Avail): ± 0.0056
Soiling Ratio (SR): 0.0208 ± 0.0283
These metrics closely align with our anticipated measurement accuracy of ±0.02–0.06. The EPI—a key metric for evaluating energy output against expectations—demonstrated remarkable consistency within a narrow range, indicating that the plant's performance was highly predictable and aligned with energy targets. Similarly, the PPI highlighted the plant’s ability to sustain efficient power generation, with only slight fluctuations within expected limits. The SR metric provided an accurate assessment of soiling’s external influence on the plant’s performance, as noted above.
Accuracy Prospects with Sensorless Technology
Although the limited measurement period has provided strong evidence of the accuracy of Sensorless performance measurement technology, we anticipate even more precise results after completing a 12-month data record. Indeed, the data collected since mid-September 2024 has shown signs of further improvement in accuracy of key performance indicators, reinforcing the potential of Sensorless technology to adapt and refine solar performance measurement with ongoing data input.
Once completing 12-month record per system, this will account for seasonal shifts, extreme weather patterns, and long-term system behaviors, enabling an even more comprehensive calibration of the Sensorless technology-based assessment. With continuous data accumulation, Sensorless-based performance metrics are expected to narrow their accuracy margins even further towards 0.02 (2%), setting a new standard for precision in PV performance measurement.
The Case for Sensorless Performance Measurement in Commercial and Industrial PV Systems
For operators of commercial and industrial-scale solar PV systems, Sensorless measurement technology represents a powerful tool for maintaining high accuracy in performance analysis while minimizing infrastructure and maintenance costs. This recent case study of European PV plants demonstrates that Sensorless technology can meet, and even exceed, traditional accuracy benchmarks, delivering results that align with high-accuracy PV measurement goals of ± 0.02–0.06.
This approach to Sensorless solar PV performance analysis not only marks a shift toward smarter measurement but also empowers energy management systems and operators with reliable, low-maintenance technology that keeps their focus on what matters most: optimizing energy production and ensuring continuous uptime.
Interested in high-accuracy solar PV system performance measurement to optimize energy management without installing on-site weather sensors? Fill details for a demo or reach out to us.
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