Any Device. Any Network. Any Protocol.
Case Study Assessing the impact of SolarPulseTM on performance of utility scale PV plants
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The challenge for any solar plant is to maintain
an effective and robust monitoring solution -
its operational efficiency and thereby its
SolarPulseTM. It has allowed the company to
profitability. The large number of variables
maintain comprehensive control of the solar
involved, both controllable and non controllable,
plant by providing detailed information on every
make this a particularly challenging task. The
component of the plant and subsequently
operation and maintenance (O&M) of a solar
identifying any malfunction, failure, or defect.
plant, therefore, constitutes the most important service after plant commissioning. In this case study, we have assessed the impact We have considered a real example of a large
of SolarPulseTM on the performance ratio, power
organization who wanted a dynamic monitoring
generation, revenue and costs of the solar plant
solution for their upcoming solar plant. The
from the perspective of the plant owner and
solution was required to be able to identify,
O&M operator. A real life event at the plant has
predict and rectify performance issues to help
also been analyzed to provide an example of the
them optimize O&M and maximize revenue.
problem solving capabilities of SolarPulseTM.
They partnered with MachinePulseTM to provide
INTRODUCTION The plant in question is a 6.12 MW solar power in Phalodi, Jodhpur area of Rajasthan.
For any queries contact us at: sales@machinepulse.com | 022-61741608/09
Page no.: 1/5
POWER PLANT DETAILS
Date of commissioning:
January 2014
Location:
Phalodi, Rajasthan
Installed Capacity:
6.12 MW
System Specs: Inverters:
28,176 Poly crystalline modules of 250Wp and 255Wp
9 X 680 kW
BENEFITS FOR EPC/O&M OPERATOR Reduced field expenses The real time remote monitoring solution
done once every month by two O&M professionals,
provided by SolarPulseTM coupled with accurate
as compared to a weekly inspection without a
predictions of plant efficiency and maintenance
robust monitoring solution.
issues has enabled the O&M team at the solar
SolarPulseTM has helped our customer to:
plant to be proactive rather reactive in their work. This has resulted in reduction in labor costs due to lower requirement of field visits, inspections and on-site troubleshooting.
• Save 640 man-hours per year from field visits. • INR 3.84 Lakhs per year in field expenses.
Currently the full inspection of the solar plant is
For any queries contact us at: sales@machinepulse.com | 022-61741608/09
Page no.: 2/5
Reduced Reporting time • SolarPulseTM has helped the O&M company to
It provides quick access and analysis of complex
reduce the routine reporting time by 60%,
sets of current and historical performance data
which approximately amounts to 500 man
and allows creation of custom reports.
hours per year.
BENEFITS FOR PLANT OWNER Increased uptime • The early identification and rectification of performance and maintenance issues by
has helped to increase the plant up-time from 99.00% to 99.98%.
SolarPulseTM along with accurate forecasting
Increased production and Revenue Preventive
maintenance
scheduling
by
SolarPulseTM has helped to keep the modules in
Guaranteed average Performance Ratio (PR)
excellent condition which has improved the efficiency of the plant.
Actual PR achieved
Power generation increased from
75.51%
11,490MW to 11,743MW
74.16%
The yearly average PR increased over guaranteed PR by
Increase in power generation
1.35%
2.20%
Increase in revenue
Rs. 15.18 Lakhs
For any queries contact us at: sales@machinepulse.com | 022-61741608/09
Page no.: 3/5
640 Rs.
3.84
500
Field visits:
Plant Uptime:
Man-Hours saved/ year
0.98%
Field expenses:
Increase in Plant Uptime
Power Genration:
Lakhs saved/ year
2.20%
Routine reporting:
Increase in Power Generation
Actual PR over Guaranteed PR:
Man-Hours saved/ year
1.35%
Increase in Actual PR over Guaranteed PR
PAYBACK PERIOD The above mentioned instances are just a
savings achieved due to SolarPulseTM.
glimpse of the wide range of benefits and The cumulative benefit just from reduced field expenses, increase in plant uptime and PR was approximately Rs. 19 Lakhs for one year which in itself covers the cost of SolarPulseTM and makes its payback period less than even a year.
AN EXAMPLE OF PROBLEM SOLVING WITH SOLARPULSE Problem Identification In April 2015, SolarPulseTM detected a loss of
The plant was immediately notified and upon
output in one of the strings which had a capacity
inspection it was found that the string was
of
completely damaged due to module failure
approximately
6.12
kW.
SolarPulseTM this
and had to be replaced. The problem was
underperforming string with other strings within
solved within 6 hours. This proactive response
the inverter and also with strings across the
and problem solving would not have been
plant and found that PV modules are problem
possible without the real time string level
was present only in this particular string.
monitoring provided by SolarPulseTM.
compared
the
performance
of
For any queries contact us at: sales@machinepulse.com | 022-61741608/09
Page no.: 4/5
Why String Level Monitoring is an advantage • The loss of output caused by this string failure
output would represent only 0.76% of the 680
represented only 0.085% of total plant capacity
kW inverter's capacity, which is virtually
which is undetectable by traditional monitoring
impossible to detect, considering that solar
methods.
irradiance at utility scale PV plants is generally
• Even if the monitoring solution tracked
measured with +/- 2 percent uncertainty.
production at the inverter level, the loss of
Savings It can be argued that such a string failure could
strings remain unnoticed for 6 months (until the
have gone unnoticed until the next scheduled
next inspection), the loss of production would
inspection and possibly even beyond that
amount to 35,251 kWh per year. This represents
resulting in considerable loss of revenue.
1.35% of total annual production and translates into revenue loss of Rs. 2.11 lakhs. The amount is
At the solar plant, SolarPulseTM notifies around
significant considering the thin margins on
four such string faults or failures in a year.
which solar power plants run.
Assuming that without SolarPulseTM, the faulty
35,251
Estimated Loss of production
kWh
4
Minimum String failures
2.11
Rs. Lakhs
Estimated Loss of revenue
CONCLUSION A well designed and effective monitoring
time, verify their potential consequences and
platform is essential for a solar plant to prevent
communicate them immediately to the O&M
risks of component malfunctions and failures.
team at plant to rectify them. Thus, SolarPulseTM
Such events can lead to financial losses by
plays an important role in ensuring that the solar
affecting plant availability and causing damage
plant performs at the highest efficiency and
to the equipment. SolarPulseTM has the ability to
generates maximum returns for the investors.
detect any source of faults or failures in real For any queries contact us at: sales@machinepulse.com | 022-61741608/09
Page no.: 5/5