Intelligent Monitoring and Optimization for Large Scale Solar Arrays

Posted on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 12:06 AM by Bryan Nisperos

viewed 611 times

Lincoln Renewable Energy (LRE), a developer of U.S. solar and wind projects, and Solar Power Technologies (SPT), a leader in intelligent monitoring and optimization for large scale solar arrays, have announced their plans to install SPT’s Clarity(TM) monitoring and optimization system in one of the largest solar facilities in the country.

Solar Power Technologies will install the Clarity monitoring system along with its associated Intelligent Array(TM) management tools in LRE’s project, located in Fairfield Township in Cumberland. The New Jersey Oak Solar project will be the largest non-utility-owned solar project east of the Mississippi and one of the most advanced solar power plants in the US. The site is comprised of 55,000 solar panels constructed on a 100-acre site connected to Atlantic City Electric’s distribution system and is expected to be completed by year’s end.

“At LRE, our philosophy is to bring the very best technology to bear in building and operating our sites,” said Declan Flanagan, CEO of Lincoln Renewable Energy. “We are keen to explore the benefits of establishing intelligent site management processes with the Clarity system, and believe this will play a part in LRE maintaining its leadership edge.”

“We are proud to be working with LRE to help create one of the most advanced solar sites in the world,” commented Ray Burgess, CEO of Solar Power Technologies. “Our Clarity system provides the flexibility and scalability that will enable an unprecedented level of insight and control in the Oak Solar project, providing actionable O&M information based on user defined business rules without the unmanageable data overload associated with traditional string monitoring on this scale.”

The Clarity system includes optimization and monitoring hardware products that can be deployed at the string or panel level to maximize energy harvest and innovative wireless communications and infrastructure products that enable scaling to the largest utility sites. The Clarity system also includes a suite of cloud-based software management tools, the Intelligent Array(TM), that deliver clear and concise actionable information by analyzing array performance, diagnosing impairments and precisely identifying remedial action to improve financial performance of solar assets.

The combination of Clarity system hardware and the Intelligent Array management tools herald a new era in the management of large scale solar sites, providing the insight and intelligence to maintain these valuable assets at optimal performance for their full active life, improving ROI and reducing financial risk.

To get a look at the future of solar site management, visit Solar Power Technologies (Booth #114) at Solar Power International in Dallas, TX, October 17-20.

About Solar Power Technologies Based in Austin, Texas, Solar Power Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2009 and is focused on helping owners and developers maximize the financial performance of large scale solar assets. The company provides a range of compatible monitoring and optimization hardware products, supported by a suite of web based data management and analysis tools. The unprecedented level of insight provided by the Clarity(TM) hardware technology, coupled with the sophisticated data analysis and diagnostics of the Intelligent Array(TM) software system, enables next generation solutions for the operations and maintenance of large scale solar arrays. For more information on our solutions visit http://www.spowertech.com .

About Lincoln Renewable Energy Lincoln Renewable Energy is in the business of developing solar and wind power projects across the United States from Greenfield concept through to commercial operation. LRE’s management team has a proven track record in renewable energy development. Their efforts have led to the construction of more than 3,000 megawatts of renewable energy in North America and Europe over the past 10 years. For more information, please visit http://www.lincolnrenewableenergy.com .

Read Full Solar News Post
news courtesy of solar thermal magazine

MORE NEWS FROM SOLAR THERMAL MAGAZINE

SolarWorld States Anti-Dumping Duties Against ‘Big China Solar’ a Step Toward Restoring Industry Competition

As expected, there has been a flood of responses to the U.S. Commerce Department’s decision yesterday to levy tariffs on solar cells sourced from China. The U.S. Department of Commerce issued anti-dumping duties of 31.14 percent on imports of solar cells and panels from Suntech, 31.22 percent from Trina Solar, 31.18 percent from other companies that had requested but not received individual duty determinations and 249.96 percent from all other Chinese producers, including those controlled by the Chinese government.

California Votes to Advance Mini-Solar Plants and Other Distributed Generation

Commercial rooftop solar arrays and other small scale generation will find it easier to connect directly to local electricity grids. The California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) Board of Governors today voted to streamline the process for interconnecting distributed generation, which includes renewable projects.

First Solar Looking to Benefit from Saudi Arabia’s $109 Billion Plan

Solar stocks could get a boost as Saudi Arabia has announced a $109 billion plan to create a solar industry that will generate a third of the nation’s electricity within two decades. The Saudi Arabian Market would provide significant opportunities for solar panel manufacturers.

North American Roofing to Install Third Largest Solar Roof in U.S.

Asheville, N.C. based North American Roofing today announced it has commenced installation of the third largest solar roofing project in the United States. More than 1.7 million square feet of roofing and 730,000 square feet of solar laminate panels will be installed on the IKEA distribution center located in Perryville, Md. Three North American Roofing crews will complete the re-roofing and solar project in approximately 5 months.

Storage is Missing Link in Modern CSP According to CSPToday Webinar

Bob Stojanovic was part of the ‘Myth busting webinar’ held in the run up to CSP Today USA (taking place in Las Vegas, June 27-28). The following is an excerpt:

RELATED SOLAR NEWS

Apple to Power 3 Data Centers with 100 Percent Renewable Energy

Greenpeace advocates gathered outside of Apple's Cupertino headquarters early this week dressed as iPhones and iPods, declaring their outrage about the company's lack of clean energy use. They projected social media messages from supporters on the side of the building:

Solar Industry Reacts to Anti-Dumping Ruling

The US has imposed higher-than-expected tariffs of around 31% on Chinese PV imports, drawing support from some US manufacturers and sharp criticism from Chinese officials and companies.

In its preliminary ruling May 17, the US Commerce Department issued anti-dumping duties of 31.14% on imports of solar cells and panels from Suntech, 31.22% from Trina Solar, 31.18 percent from other companies that had requested but not received individual duty determinations and 249.96 percent from all other Chinese producers, including those controlled by the Chinese government.

NREL Director Named Chair of National Science Board

Dan Arvizu, director of the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has been elected Chairman of the National Science Board.

The 25-member body advises the president and Congress on science and engineering issues, and is the policy-setting and budget-approving body for the National Science Foundation. With an annual budget of $6.9 billion, the foundation funds about 20% of all federally supported basic scientific research at U.S. colleges and universities. Arvizu will serve a two-year term as chairman.

Are IT Data Centers Emerging as a 'Killer App' for Green Power? Part 1

Last month, Greenpeace launched a series of coordinated protests at Amazon, Apple and Microsoft locations to draw attention to the companies’ use of GHG intensive fuels in powering their data centers. The protests were a follow up to their recently released report, “How Clean is Your Cloud,” which criticized the companies fo

Solar stocks likely to remain at record lows

With fundamental issues in the solar industry, including oversupply and consolidation, solar stocks are likely to remain at record lows through the end of 2012 and into 2013.

SOLAR ENERGY ARTICLES

Components: The Solar Panel is Only the Beginning

There's a lot to know when it comes to building and installing a solar power system. The components that go into a system are like the parts on a car in that they all work together for the same ultimate goal, but the quality of each component can make a big difference in performance.
Guide to Choosing the Right Solar Installer

A solar power system is one of the biggest investments a homeowner will make, so it's important to make sure that everything is installed properly and built to last. Components vary quite a bit in terms of electrical output, form factor and weight, but most panels will come with a 20-25 year warranty, making solar a long term investment, dependent on a strong foundation of a quality install.
Why Professional Solar Installation Matters

The age of the internet has also ushered in a new wave of DIY thinking. Where in the past, information was a precious resource, today you can learn how to do just about anything with a couple strategic Google searches. Just because you can learn how to do something, however, doesn't mean you should, and when it comes to installing a solar power system, or anything heavy you plan on putting on your roof, it's a good idea to always use the services of a professional installer.
What to Expect From a Solar Site Installation Visit

As you get a little closer to pulling the trigger on a solar power system, one of the final steps before actually purchasing a product is to have a professional installer come out to your home and do a site visit. The purpose of this visit is to make sure your roof is appropriate for solar power, determine what kind and size of system you will need and then put together a quote that will show you the pricing and details of your new system. While a good installer will walk you through this process, being a good consumer means having some solid information going into your site visit, so here’s a look at what you need to know before the installer arrives.
About Solar Shingles

Green energy is a growing trend that helps the environment and can save you a lot of money over time. Nearly every neighborhood in America will have at least one or two homes with solar panels on the roof, but some homeowners will resist adopting solar power simply because of the look of the panels. Furthermore, although your homeowners insurance will cover your solar panels, installing anything onto your roof can often void your roof's warranty, discouraging some would-be solar converts. This is where solar shingles come into play, and this new spin on a well-established technology makes a lot of sense for any homeowner considering the switch to solar.