Development Of Photovoltaic Power Plants Research Articles

Study on Fault Monitoring Technology of Photovoltaic Panel Based on Thermal Infrared and Optical Remote Sensing

Abstract. Rapid access to the operating status of Photovoltaic (PV) panels and troubleshooting can save management and maintenance costs for the development of PV power plants, which is important for PV power plant management and power generation capacity assurance. The use of remote sensing technology to identify the faults of photovoltaic panels has developed rapidly, however, current research usually relies only on a single optical data source to identify and count the area of PV panels in a PV electric field, although there are literature on PV panel fault detection, only the surface fault identification of PV panels is tested, while the internal faults (such as panel bad points or bad lines) cannot be identified because of the limitations of optical remote sensing. In this paper, a photovoltaic panel fault monitoring technology based on multi-source remote sensing is proposed. The optical and thermal infrared hybrid data combined with deep learning technology are used to achieve rapid and accurate fault identification and localization of PV panel arrays. It can not only automatically identify PV panels that are obscured by dust and foreign objects, but also locate PV panels that have bad dots or bad lines, which greatly improves the ability and effectiveness of remote sensing PV panel fault monitoring. The high-resolution unmanned air vehicle (UAV) optical image and thermal infrared image are applied in this experiment. The Mask RCNN algorithm is used to accurately locate and number the photovoltaic panel of the optical image. Then, the fault scene classification model is established for the multi-type fault characteristics of the optical image and thermal infrared image within the panel range, so as to identify five types of faults, such as dust cover, branch cover, bird droppings cover, internal bad points and bad lines of PV panel, which effectively solves the problem that the single optical remote sensing image cannot identify the internal component faults of the photovoltaic panel under normal conditions.

Fotovoltaické elektrárny ve víru veřejných zájmů

Europe is undergoing a massive transition to electricity generation from renewable energy sources. Photovoltaic power plants, representing one of the main renewable energy sources, require a lot of space, which is why agricultural land and building roofs are considered to be most suitable for such projects. However, performed analysis in the field of agricultural land, landscape or cultural heritage protection has shown that other public interests often constitute an important obstacle to the development of photovoltaic power plants, especially when the values represented by these interests are significantly affected by the project. The aim of this paper is to identify such cases, in addition to situations where the installation of photovoltaic power plants would be compatible with these public interests.

Development of a Photovoltaic Module Two-Diode Model for Studying Transients in the Solar Power Plant DC Network

The aim of the study is to develop and verify the analysis model of a photovoltaic module (PVM) based on a two-diode mathematical model in the MATLAB/Simulink software environment. The trends of and forecasts for the further development of photovoltaic power plants are considered. The PVM mathematical model is described, and a procedure for obtaining the parameters that are not included in the PVM datasheet but necessary for implementing the analysis model is described. The developed analysis model is verified based on the datasheet parameters of the PVM simulated and with reference to the values of PVM currents, voltages and power at the maximum power point (MPP) that were obtained on the test installation in the course of its operation. A classification of faults in the PVM arrays is given. The obtained results will subsequently be used in the development of a photovoltaic power plant analysis model for calculating transients in PVM arrays during faults with taking into account the MPP tracking device operation for correctly selecting the protection devices in the PVM circuits and developing algorithms for detecting and isolating these faults. Based on the obtained study results, a conclusion has been drawn about the need to take into account the influence of the insolation level, temperature, and PVM degradation in calculating transients in a photovoltaic array.

Ecological effects of preferential vegetation composition developed on sites with photovoltaic power plants

Efficient ecological evaluation is essential to understand fully the dynamics and development of photovoltaic power plants (PVPP) and to provide important support to the national development of clean energy and sustainable land use planning. There are still very few studies quantifying the direct and indirect impacts of photovoltaics (PV) on the biological diversity. The goal of the study was to assess the vegetation of PVPP and to determine the potential significance for the surrounding ecosystem. The vegetation was evaluated using the method of phytocoenological relevés. Two different sites were recorded: between PV panels and under them. Plant species were classified into groups according to their ecological effects. Sites with PVPP create conditions for species-rich plant communities. The vegetation creates preconditions for relationships and interactions with the surrounding ecosystems. From the perspective of PVPP operation, low growing plant species appear to have an ideal erosion control effect. They are plant species with no relation to agriculture, with limited spreading of seeds, native species, entomophilous species, and species with the limited production of allergenic pollen. Species recommended for the site between the PV panels include perennial grasses and perennial herbs while species recommended for the site under the PV panels are particularly perennial herbs. The vegetation has to be regularly maintained by mowing and even chemical control measures should be adopted. The site of PVPP has a potential to host native plant species that constitute a base for the functional ecosystem and provide a sufficient space for natural ecosystems, by which they can contribute to their stabilization.

Techno-economic comparative analysis of solar photovoltaic power systems with and without storage systems in three different climatic regions, Ghana

The techno-economic potential of two different photovoltaic power plants (PPP) (i.e. PV-only and PV-Battery) systems under three different climatic conditions in Ghana were presented in this paper. The System Advisor Model was used to model a 20 MW PPP at Wa, Sunyani and Nsawam to assess their technical and economic performances. The research took into consideration monthly energy generation, capacity factor (CF), sensitivity analysis, tracking systems and some financial parameters. Results from the analysis shows that the PV-only and PV-Battery systems with fixed-axis tracking (FT) technology generated an annual energy of 31 GWh at Wa and 28 GWh at Sunyani and Nsawam in the first year. CF ranging from 16% to 18% were obtained for both systems with FT technology for all sites. However, the integration of tracking systems (i.e. single-axis (SA) and double-axis (DA)) increased the annual energy to between 36 and 43 GWh with corresponding increases in CF ranging between 21% and 25%. The LCOE also decreased from 8 to 10 ¢/kWh for the FT system to 5–6 ¢/kWh for both SA and DA systems. In general, the northern section (Wa) was identified as the best location for the development of large-scale PPP in Ghana.

Photovoltaics – The Neglected Child of the Renewables

Upon decades of pompous talks about sustainable development EU finally decided to put it into practice by fostering renewable energy sources (RES). After roughly half decade of rocketing development of photovoltaics (PV) technology and photovoltaic power plants (PVP) the majority of EU states cut down subsidies drastically and blocked completely (or almost) the further development of PVP, thus jeopardizing the sustainable development – environmental as well as economic achievements. While doing so there was a sharp lack of argumentated debate. The presented study thus aims to set a clear and argumented basis on which we should found our decisions about PV. The study shows that PV can help us to achieve sustainable development by helping to resolve some of the most crucial problems of humanity. Furthermore it has some crucial advantages over other RES and non-RES (thus having the potential to gain an important role in future energy portfolio) and it has also the potential to become price-competitive (grid parity). Unfortunately the young PV technology with its still high costs can still not compete with the unreal low prices of conventional energy sources as they do not incorporate costs of negative externalities. Because of this market failure market alone cannot make good use of all the PV potentials. This is why at this point the state (and other institutions) intervenes – solving limitations caused by market failure, with the aim to help PV technology coming to maturity, when it will be able to face the “unfair” competition of conventional energy sources on its own and continue its march to conquer its position in the energy portfolio. In conclusion – the findings above should be taken as the primary basis when setting our reviewing PV incentives policy and therefore before changing this policy we absolutely must bring related arguments to make founded decisions in accordance with a sustainable development paradigm – longsighted (over the border of our generation) and broad viewed (environment-economy-society). DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p2482

Capacity of photovoltaic power plants in the Czech Republic

Over the last five years several European countries have experienced a rapid development of photovoltaic power plants. In the Czech Republic more than 20,000 new photovoltaic power plants have been built with the total nominal power capacity of 2100 MWp. The spatial distribution of these installations is very uneven. Built-up areas are dominated by a large number of small installations while large installations (over 1 MWp) are usually located in agricultural areas. To express a spatial distribution of these installations we have used a synthetic approach combining the spatial density of installations with the power plant capacities. The resulting map in the scale of 1:750,000 shows a continuous distribution of the installed power capacity.