Research
Large-scale industrial photovoltaic system monitoring, evaluation and optimisation
Investigators: Dr Ralph Gottschalg and Dr Thomas Betts
The economics of photovoltaic systems make an evaluation of the system yield paramount to ensure cost effective solutions. IKEA has contracted Perpetual Energy and Loughborough University to carry out a scientific study to evaluate different options in photovoltaic systems designs.
Engineers typically aim for an optimum performance, but this can often only be achieved through significant additional expenses. Thus this design approach might actually be detrimental to the end user. In the context of industrial systems different constraints become of importance, such as availability of space, structural issues and similar issues.
The project will deliver four photovoltaic systems installed on IKEA buildings utilising different photovoltaic technologies on each site. The sites are located in different environmental zones in four countries on two continents.
The scientific part of the project, which is carried out by the Applied Photovoltaics Research Group within the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST) of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering of Loughborough University, entails the development of a scientific measurement system resolving data to string level in second intervals, long term monitoring of the systems, yield analysis and prognosis and planning optimisation.
The systems are monitored in significant detail allowing, most likely beyond what would be practical in a full scale deployment. The aim is to also investigate the value of continued monitoring for operations and maintenance of the systems.
