Simulation in PV, is always as good as the real thing…

A PV plan made of 450-polycrystalline modules, 220 Wp each with a final anticipated capacity of 99 kWp in location 40 km away from Lamia, Fthiotis Greece. We performed more detailed simulation with one of the most popular simulation software for PV, Pvsyst and we are going to present our results compare to the real PV plan’s performance.

But first lets say a few words about this project constructed by Alfa Energy.

PV Plan info:

Module type: 450 x Conergy Power Plus 220 P – 220 Wp
Inverter type: 9 x SMA SMC 11000TL
Monitoring:    SMA Webbox
Pane tilt: 28o
Azimuth: 0

Simulations info:

Meteo data: PVGIS Climate SAF

Module type: 450 x Conergy Power Plus 220 P – 220 Wp
Inverter type: 11 x SMA SMC 11000TL
Pane tilt: 28o
Azimuth: 0
Const. Loss factor Uc: 29 W/m2k
Wind loss factor Uv: 0 W/m2k/m/s
NOCT coefficient: 45 C
Ohmic losses: 1%
Mismatch losses Power loss at MPP: 2%
Near Shading: According to Module Strings

Results

PV real production was  4,73 % more than simulations results. With a performance ratio 0.822. We also noticed that from February till May real production was 7%-11% less than simulation’s results and from June till January 5%-20% more than simulation’s results. Engineers suggest that PVGIS classic is more reliable, through our point of view is just safer! Also very important parameter is NOCT coefficient, for 56 C NOCT (default from Pvsyst) real production was bigger 8,59 % almost 4%.

PV planning with PVsyst

PVsyst is designed to be used by architects, engineer and researchers, and it is also a very useful pedagogical tool. Is one of the most popular pv planning software in the market.

It includes a detailed contextual Help, which explains in detail procedures and models used, and offers an ergonomic approach with guide in development of a project. PVsyst is able to import meteo data from many different sources, as well as personal data.

http://www.pvsyst.com/

Today's Example is a roof planning of 9.87 kWp using polycrystalline pv modules and 1 (one) triphased string inverter.

Step 1 Create sketch of the roof.

• Measure everything that can reduce system's performance

• Use the techical datasheets of the pv modules (Dimensions) and place the modules on your design. 
• Choose the angle of the modules accoring your geographical place
• Make notes of the azimuth, around buildings (etc)

Step 2 Go to PVsyst - Import Meteo Data

• Import Meteo Data. Go to PVGIS Choose:

• Continent (Europe - Africa)
• Find Place (Coordinates GPS, Manually)
• Monthly Radiation
• Radiation Database: Climate SAF-PVGIS
• Calculate - From Browser ctrl+a and then ctrl+c

• Tools
• Meteo Database - import meteo data
• PV GIS (Europe - Africa) Monthly
• Location - Import
• Fix - Time Zone
• Save site
• Create Meteo

• Project design Grid Connected
• Project-Write plans info
• Site and Meteo - Country - Site Meteo file - Next
• Albedo - Monthly Values (Expert users) 
• Common Values 0.2 (Urban) usual values from the table on the right
• Set high and low temprature - OK 

Step 3 Near Shadings - Construct 3D Model

•  Near Shading - Construction / Perspective
• Object - New - Elementary Shading Object
• Construct the 3D model based on the Sketch
• Object - PV plane in Sheds - Width - Length (Datasheet of the PV module) Place them - Pick them and Choose Partition in Module Chains and make your planning portrait or landscape
•  Rotate whole scene (oriantation of the plan)
• Check your modules by performing Shadow animation over a day( Choose day of year - else relocate - When donne save and exit

  

• Update Oriantation Parameters 
• Use in Simulation - According to Module Strings - Module String Shading Factor - Table - OK

Step 4 PV System Planning

• System - Presizing Enter Planne Power
• Select Modules and Inverter
• Number of Modules and Strings
• Detailed Losses
• Field Thermal Loss factor
• Constant Loss Factor Uc (Roof - free Field)
• (Reocommended Free filed 29 W/m2/K and roof 15 W/m2/K)
• Wind loss factor 1,2 free and roof 0
• NOCT Factor 
• Free field 45 C
• Roof 68 C
• Ohmic losses has to do with cablings (recommended 1%)
• Missmatch losses 2% and 4% (Without Flash report)
• OK
• OK

Step 5 Simulation - Report

•  Simulation
• OK Results
• Save
• Report
• See your iso-Shaing diagramm
• Produced Energy
• Performance Ratio

Good Luck! Please your comment is very important for us. If you know a better way for more reliable results please comment.

Renewable Energy

Hi! This blog is our attempt to examine renewable energy, combining theoretical approaches (papers, soft wares, simulation) with empirical notes and performances of several renewable energy's plans. 

Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished). 

About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from hydroelectricity.

New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) accounted for another 3% and are growing very rapidly. The share of renewables in electricity generation is around 19%, with 16% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3% from new renewables. 

Wind power is growing at the rate of 30% annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 198 gigawatts (GW) in 2010, and is widely used in Europe, Asia, and the United States. At the end of 2010, cumulative global photovoltaic (PV) installations surpassed 40 GW and PV power stations are popular in Germany and Spain. Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354 megawatt (MW) SEGS power plant in the Mojave Desert. 

The world's largest geothermal power installation is the Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW. Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugarcane, and ethanol now provides 18% of the country's automotive fuel. Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the USA. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy