[RE-wrenches] Reference PV System

[Jason Szumlanski]

One idea would be to put each microinverter on a separate A/C circuit
and measure the current using a device like an eGauge or a revenue grade
metering device. That would give you backup/redundancy for the Enphase
numbers. With 16 modules/circuits in your system, that's not too
difficult to monitor.

 

For the second system, what about putting the system on a tracking rack
that tilts to vertical once a day in the morning to dump snow. We don't
deal with much snow down here in Florida, so I'm not sure if that would
100% dump the snow off and how ice accumulation is dealt with... Born in
Winnipeg, but left the snow behind many years ago...

 

Jason Szumlanski

Fafco Solar

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Rob
Harlan
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 1:25 AM
To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Reference PV System

 


I am working with the City of Edmonton, Alberta to develop a reference
system.  The intent is to provide accurate data for owners of systems
within the city limits to use to verify their system performance.  It is
seen as a great way to insure quality installations under their
municipal grant program, as well as a way to provide some real life
performance data for system sizing and installation recommendations. The
City is considering tying the dispersal of system grants to  verified
performance.  (We are hoping to eventually have a municipal
performanced-based FIT,  but until then...)  

At this point the plan is to permanently install modules at eight
different orientations to imitate common installations:

True South 18.4 degrees ( Equivalent to a 4 in 12 pitch roof)
True South 26.6 degrees (Equivalent to a 6 in 12 pitch roof)
True South 45.0 degrees (Equivalent to a 12 in 12 pitch roof)
True South 53.0 degrees (Latitude)
True South 70.0 degree pitch (the estimated best angle for year round
performance in Edmonton when snow is not removed)
True south 90 degree pitch (Equivalent to a vertical wall installation)
SE 18.4 degrees ( Equivalent to a 4 in 12 pitch roof)
SW 18.4 degrees ( Equivalent to a 4 in 12 pitch roof)

We will probably install two modules at each orientation to provide
redundancy to back up possible equipment malfunction. Each module will
have its own micro-inverter uploading data to a website.  The system
will be installed on a municipal building, probably a firehouse.

We are also considering installing a second, identical system which
would have snow removed once a day (at daybreak).  This would provide
owners considering snow removal with comparative  data.  The challenge
here is how to consistently remove accumulated snow.  We probably will
not be able to get municipal staff to carry this out so we are looking
into automated systems.

So gentlemen I would love to get your thoughts:

Anybody familiar with PV reference systems developed by other
municipalities?   Have they been successful?
Have you found the Enphase Envoy to be consistently accurate?

Does anyone have a reliable automatic snow removal scheme with a track
record?  We are putting it out to the University of Alberta mechanical
engineering department to see what they come up with but I know this has
been grappled with many times before.

Thanks much in advance for your input.
Rob
Rob Harlan
Executive Director
Solar Energy Society of Alberta
www.solaralberta.ca
office at solaralberta.ca
(780) 439-5608






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