Created by M.L., OST, on 19.03.2025
- Description: Remote access and real-time monitoring and logging of the inverter’s input and output values, including power, voltage, current.
- Equipment: Data logger.
- Requirements: On-site data connection.
- Gained insights: Indicates if the system is running as expected, or if there are issues to be inspected. Depending on the evolution of power, voltage and current, some further information on the issue at hand can be deducted (for example soiling, module failure, current leakage) [1].
- Recommended frequency: Continuous power monitoring is a must-have.
- Advantages: Remote access to data, low effort/cost, real time information and possibility to set up alarms (automated monitoring).
- Disadvantages: –
- Effort:
- Global: low
- Costs: low; mainly costs of hardware acquisition
- Time: low, thanks to remote access and automation potential
- Providers: Most inverter manufacturers have their own monitoring soft- and hardware included. Another option is to use a manufacturer independent datalogger like Solar-Log, allowing to monitor and control most common inverters, or dedicated solutions provided by specialists, such as Gantner instruments, for example.
- Links:
- Guideline of the IEA-PVPS Task 13 for monitoring and performance analysis [1].
- Example of a monitoring solution in alpine environment by Gantner instruments: https://www.gantner-instruments.com/de/blog/innovation-in-alpine-solar-winterliche-energieherausforderungen-meistern/
- Example of feed-in management with Solar-Log: https://www.solar-log.com/en/products-solutions/feed-in-management
- Additional notes:
- Many tools automatically generate reports on the power plant’s performance, and allow the setting of alarms, informing the operator upon anormal behavior. Moreover, many settings and operations on the inverters can be remotely controlled too. Since alpine PV plants are often built in isolated locations, remote information and control is even more crucial, avoiding time-consuming and costly trips on site.
- In addition, these communication interfaces with the inverters allow for additional power control, such as smart injection limitation or peak shaving, taking into account the self-consumption and grid requirements.
- The main challenge within an alpine environment is the need to protect the hardware from the severe weather, and to set up a stable data connection in mostly remote areas. Common solutions are to set up the hardware in a nearby building (for example in the case of PV installations on infrastructure such as damns or cable car stations) or to shelter them in a container placed on site. For ZHAW’s test site in Davos, 15 cm of insulation are enough to keep the temperature within the container above -5 °C at all times relying solely on the waste heat of the installed equipment [2]. A further option that was explored is to build an underground shelter. The later has the advantage of good thermal insulation; however, when covered by snow, access becomes even more difficult [3].
References
- Woyte A, Richter M, Moser D, Reich N, Green M, Mau S, et al. Analytical monitoring of grid-connected photovoltaic systems: good practices for monitoring and performance analysis. International Energy Agency (IEA); 2014. https://doi.org/10.2314/GBV:856977039.
- Strebel S. Interview about alpine PV: Test installations of ZHAW (in Davos) 2025.
- Schmidhalter F. PV-Anlagen an Lawinenverbauungen: Ein erster Erfahrungsbericht aus Bellwald. Ee-Newsch 2013. https://www.ee-news.ch/de/article/26196/pv-anlagen-an-lawinenverbauungen-ein-erster-erfahrungsbericht-aus-bellwald (accessed February 19, 2025).
