Positive power prediction

When developing a utility-scale solar PV project, accurately projecting the site’s power output is crucial. For its 33 MW Kumenan PV project in Japan, Pacifico Energy experimented with publically available data before seeking a more precise measurement solution. After implementing SRA Systems from Renewable NRG Systems (RNRG) – a leading designer and manufacturer of decision support tools for the global renewable energy industry – Pacifico Energy increased the accuracy of power output projections at the Kumenan PV project by up to 14 per cent. The gain allowed the company to secure more competitive financing terms to build the PV plant.

Pacifico Energy opted for RNRG’s solution because of its exemplary quality, reasonable cost, and its ease of installation and maintenance. The SRA Systems were installed at the Kumenan PV site in 2013 and collected real-time irradiance data for one year. The monitoring station was equipped with best-inclass meteorological sensors that integrated seamlessly with RNRG’s much-lauded SymphoniePLUS3 data logger, providing measured data directly to Pacifico Energy’s control room. The long-term satellite data were later corrected with the records collected by the SRA Systems, providing the most accurate irradiance input to energy production simulation model. “The SRA System configuration that is used here is recommended for utility-scale resource assessment campaigns and solar monitoring applications when measurement accuracy is the top priority,” said Dave Hurwitt, VP Marketing & Product Management at RNRG.