Abstract:
In one example, a method of monitoring a photovoltaic (PV) system located at a first location includes receiving, by a gateway device at the first location, data concerning a plurality of components of the PV system, determining, by the gateway device, if the received data satisfies at least one alert condition, and transmitting, by the gateway device, an alert notification to a computing device located at a second location when the received data satisfies at least one alert condition.
Abstract:
A method for scheduling cleaning of a photovoltaic (“PV”) system is implemented by a soiling monitoring computer system. The method includes determining a soiling level and a soiling rate for a photovoltaic (PV) system, calculating a cost associated with cleaning the PV system at each of a plurality of possible cleaning times, determining an expected energy output gain associated with cleaning the PV system at each of the plurality of possible times based on the soiling level and the soiling rate, calculating an expected benefit associated with cleaning the PV system at each of the plurality of possible cleaning times based on the expected energy output gain associated with each possible cleaning time, determining a first time of the plurality of possible times when the expected benefit exceeds the cost, and scheduling a cleaning time based on at least the determined first time.
Abstract:
A method for scheduling cleaning of a photovoltaic (“PV”) system is implemented by a soiling monitoring computer system. The method includes determining a soiling level and a soiling rate for a photovoltaic (PV) system, calculating a cost associated with cleaning the PV system at each of a plurality of possible cleaning times, determining an expected energy output gain associated with cleaning the PV system at each of the plurality of possible times based on the soiling level and the soiling rate, calculating an expected benefit associated with cleaning the PV system at each of the plurality of possible cleaning times based on the expected energy output gain associated with each possible cleaning time, determining a first time of the plurality of possible times when the expected benefit exceeds the cost, and scheduling a cleaning time based on at least the determined first time.
Abstract:
A method for performance ratio-based scheduling of solar system maintenance is implemented by a monitoring computing device. The monitoring computer device includes a processor in communication with a memory. The method includes receiving a plurality of production data associated with a solar system, determining at least one performance ratio based upon at least a portion of the plurality of production data wherein each performance ratio is associated with a range of expected performance values, validating the at least one performance ratio, determining that the at least one performance ratio is outside the range of expected performance values, and adjusting a maintenance schedule associated with the solar system based upon the at least one performance ratio.