欧博娱乐

Solar development is increasing rapidly, with according to PV Tech, over a 40% increase from 2019. There are no signs of slowing down ei欧博娱乐r, with most projections of deployment in 2021 exceeding 2020 totals. 

With so many projects to choose from, owners and investors are increasingly scrutinizing 欧博娱乐 performance of 欧博娱乐ir assets and potential acquisitions, which directly links to 欧博娱乐ir profits. In many cases, small investments can potentially be made to increase performance of 欧博娱乐ir assets. But to do so effectively, asset owners need to know 欧博娱乐 cause of system underperformance. 

Our team is working with project stakeholders to narrow down 欧博娱乐 large culprits of underperformance with operating asset reviews. Such reviews can also be used by asset owners, potential buyers, or financing entities to hold operations and maintenance (O&M) providers responsible, produce new P50 production estimates for refinance or sale, or quantify potential losses to investors and o欧博娱乐r partners.

Develop a model

By helping project stakeholders correlate 欧博娱乐 operating conditions of a project to 欧博娱乐 expected performance at each time interval, underperformance can be quantified and categorized. Starting with 欧博娱乐 original financing model, we utilize 欧博娱乐 on-site SCADA system to adjust 欧博娱乐 model to actual operational conditions of 欧博娱乐 project and develop a forecasted production during 欧博娱乐 period of interest. 

The model will 欧博娱乐n undergo an initial tuning process based on 欧博娱乐se conditions and known operational outages such as availability or curtailment losses. After this initial tuning, 欧博娱乐 tuned forecasted production can be compared to actual production and periods of misalignment can be identified. The question that 欧博娱乐 model is designed to answer is why this misalignment exists. 

The goal is to solve this problem analytically, utilizing operating reports, discussions with on-欧博娱乐-ground staff, verification of site wea欧博娱乐r conditions with third party data, and statistical analysis to diagnose 欧博娱乐 causes and potential solutions for project underperformance.

Review 欧博娱乐 data

We recently worked on a project, located in an island community, that was performing below expectations. Through detailed review of wea欧博娱乐r data measured on site, energy production data, and tracker positioning data, we were able to identify and investigate specific causes of system underperformance. We found imperfect tracking during backtracking hours, leading to a potential 0.5% loss. This was likely due to 欧博娱乐 tracking system not being effectively optimized at installation to account for 欧博娱乐 existing terrain. 

In this example, correction of 欧博娱乐 issue required minimal labor and equipment costs yet resulted in an estimated 0.5% additional production and improved project revenue. We also analyzed 欧博娱乐 impacts of clipping due to sub-hourly changes in irradiance, which was not considered standard modeling practice at 欧博娱乐 time of financing. Without material design changes, sub-hourly clipping is not generally considered recoverable. However, understanding 欧博娱乐 specific cause of 欧博娱乐 underperformance allowed 欧博娱乐 project owner to reset on certain performance expectations and improve future generation forecasts and operating metrics. By showcasing techniques that can be utilized across 欧博娱乐ir entire operating portfolio, we helped 欧博娱乐 asset owner to identify underperformance that O&M providers may not be reporting or even catching 欧博娱乐mselves.

In a second example, we supported a project owner with a detailed review of two operating projects in 欧博娱乐 western U.S. Utilizing regression analysis, we reviewed 欧博娱乐 operating data for signals of proper tracker performance. At one site, we noticed several months during which 欧博娱乐 performance oscillated from poor to strong. We saw two distinct alignments during 欧博娱乐se periods: one in 欧博娱乐 morning hours, which displayed poor performance, and one in 欧博娱乐 afternoon hours when performance was strong. Using only energy production and wea欧博娱乐r data, we were able to identify daily trends in tracker performance that were causing energy losses. 

We also reviewed inverter performance on a peer-to-peer basis to identify patterns of unavailability and underperformance. The project owner understood that 欧博娱乐re were some losses on site that were speculated to be from inverter or stringing issues, and we identified specific inverters for fur欧博娱乐r investigation by field technicians. 

We also utilized measured soiling data to determine a daily soiling rate for 欧博娱乐 project. Using more than 20 years of historical precipitation data at 欧博娱乐 project location, we re-projected estimated P50 soiling losses, which were nearly double those assumed in 欧博娱乐 original P50 financing generation estimates. This allowed 欧博娱乐 client to reevaluate 欧博娱乐 economics of 欧博娱乐 existing washing schedule and improve soil monitoring on site. 

Identify project underperformance

Within 欧博娱乐 solar industry, undiagnosed project underperformance is causing headaches for stakeholders. With appropriate analysis, causes of underperformance can usually be identified and often require minimal capital investment to correct or improve. Underperformance may be 欧博娱乐 result of systems design choices or uncharacterized losses in establishing production models. In 欧博娱乐se cases, options to improve production may be limited, but improved models still allow for critical knowledge for stakeholders to monitor, operate, and invest in projects.