What are open standards for solar monitoring systems?

As it relates to the quality of the solar monitoring system, open standards are applied at four levels: Information access to the data store from applications. High-quality monitoring systems can be built with proprietary methods that encourage lock-in to a single vendor.

How much of a PV module can be recycled?

Demonstration projects at SolarWorld and commercial-scale recycling operations at First Solar have shown that 84% to 90% by weight of a PV module can be recycled (Larsen 2009). If a system transfers ownership, it is important to consider how warranties are handled.

Why do solar plant operators need monitored data?

Solar plant operators require monitored data to analyze and identify the root cause of performance issues observed by the operator. It is critical to identify the root cause of failure to reduce maintenance costs when dispatching service providers.

How much data storage is needed During a communication network outage?

Onsite data storage is required to prevent data loss during communication network outages. The amount of storage needed depends on the expected mean time to repair should an outage occur. An amount of storage that is equal to two times the highest-recorded communications outage is recommended.

Why does a PV plant need a monitoring system?

Advanced operation of a PV plant such as modulating output or power factor can confound the drawing of conclusions from monitored data. A monitoring system should account for clipping of output due to high DC-to-AC ratio, interconnect limits, and called-for curtailment or any other reason.

Which inverter is required for a combined PV and storage system?

Combined PV and storage system topologies will generally require a bi-directional inverter, either as the primary inverter solution (DC-coupled) or in addition to the unidirectional PV inverters (AC-coupled).