THE MICRO-GRID ACADEMY

Module no. 3.2: O&M of renewable

energy systems

Lesson no. 3.2.2

Title: Monitoring, control and metering (Solar PV Hybrid

Micro-Grids)
 Contents
1. Introduction
2. Journey of a solar unit
3. Audits and routine monitoring
4. Sensors: pyranometers, reference cell, temperature sensors,
anemometers and meteo station
5. How to monitor a PV mini-grid system
6. Energy Management System, in DC and AC coupled systems
7. Monitoring system examples
8. Metering
9. Practical Workshop Activity

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Foundation. 2
 Glossary

AC Alternating current
DC Direct current
EMS Energy Management System
GPRS General Packet Radio Service
GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
ISO International Standards Organization
LAN Local Area Network
PV photovoltaic

3
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 Introduction

Robust evaluation of minigrids’ technical performance is periodically required to exploit their

full potential.

There is a growing availability of centralised data management platforms, remote sensing

technology, and efforts to build skill capital at the local level, opens the possibility of
constructing a thorough and quantitative understanding of mini -grid plants.

Source: Smart Power India 2020 - Technical Monitoring Guide for Solar Hybrid Mini-Grids. Image: https://www.energypartners.com.au/commercial-solar/ 4
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 Journey of a solar unit (1/3)

In each stage of converting solar energy into usable electricity for customers, some energy is
irrevocably lost

Radiant Energy to Demand Matching Battery Charging Cycle

Electricity Supply • Battery efficiency
• Solar panels with low • Low demand from degrades with use
efficiency and high customers limits • Electrochemical aging
mismatch generation hinders current flow
• Poor maintenance • Prematurely full • Uncontrolled currents
and installation limits batteries cannot cause heating and
generation accept more energy damage
• Uncompensated • Low charge-rate
ageing exacerbates batteries cannot
losses accept available
power
Source: Smart Power India 2020 - Technical Monitoring Guide for Solar Hybrid Mini-Grids 5
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 Journey of a solar unit (2/3)

In each stage of converting solar energy into usable electricity for customers, some energy is
irrevocably lost

Inverter DC-AC Auxiliary Losses Distribution Network

Conversion • Cable heating and Dissipation
• Inverters not bad connections • Dissipation depends
optimised for highly • Power electronics for on cable material and
variable and low plant operations gauge
loads • Control room • Sensitive to
• Technical faults consumption temperature and load
develop with age • High power factor
• High temperatures adds stress to
reduce efficiency network

Source: Smart Power India 2020 - Technical Monitoring Guide for Solar Hybrid Mini-Grids 6
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 Journey of a solar unit (3/3)

Illustrative
journey of a
unit from a
40kW solar
mini-grid
plant.

Monitoring
helps in the
detection of
malfunctions
and to
minimize
losses.
Source: Smart Power India 2020 - Technical Monitoring Guide for Solar Hybrid Mini-Grids. Image: freepik.com 7
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 Audits and routine monitoring

Some monitoring parameters to ensure a good and long -lasting duration of a mini-grid
require technical audits from specialized teams and routine monitoring by local mini-grid
personnel

E.g. taking thermal images of PV panels E.g. checking for corrosion in terminals
Image source: https://industrial -reviews.com/thermal - Image source: ENDEV 2021 - PV Mini-Grid Installation
imaging-camera-for-solar-panels/ Do's and Dont's
Source: Smart Power India 2020 - Technical Monitoring Guide for Solar Hybrid Mini-Grids 8
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 Irradiance Sensors (Pyranometers) (1/3)

Pyranometer absorbs all light between 310nm and

2800nm (CMP 3, Kipp & Zonen) and converts it
into heat (thermoelectric mechanism, not photovoltaic),
which is measured. With this the global irradiance is
measured.

180° field of view

Have to meet ISO 9060 standard

To measure diffuse irradiance an additional shadow

ring tool is necessary

Pyranometers are slow, but

very accurate (approx. +/- 0.8 %)

Source: n/a image: ElProCus What is Pyranometer : Construction, Types & Applications 9
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 Irradiance Sensors (Pyranometers) (2/3)

The pyranometer should be installed in the same plane as the

PV array to represents the actual irradiance received by the PV
array.

Similar to PV module, the pyranometer should be free of

shade and with no potential shading in the future.

The dome or glass surface of pyranometer should always be

cleaned and free of cracks to improve the light transmission
into the sensing element.

A shadow ring can be added in case we want to measure

diffuse radiation only

Source: ENDEV 2021 - PV Mini-Grid Installation Do's and Dont’s. Image: https://www.hukseflux.com/products/solar-radiation-sensors/pyranometers/shr02-shadow-ring 10
All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa Foundation.
 Irradiance Sensors (Pyranometers) (3/3)

Pyranometer installed correctly: The pyranometer has probablity of

straightly hit by the sunlight and in the being shaded and thus providing
same plane as the PV array. unreliable global irradiance data.

Source: ENDEV 2021 - PV Mini-Grid Installation Do's and Dont's 11

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 Radiation Measurement – Silicon Radiation Sensor

Generates a specific voltages at specific radiation

levels, data logger records the voltage

Should be made of the same cell material as the PV

array (spectral sensibility) and calibrated for reliable
measurements

Mount reference cells at same orientation and

inclination as the modules

Can estimate PV production data and compare them

with actual performances

Source: ENDEV 2021 - PV Mini-Grid Installation Do's and Dont’s. Image: https://www.solaris-shop.com/sma-sunny-sensorbox-sunny-sensor-box/, SMA Solar Technology AG. 12
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 Temperature sensors

Ambient temperature sensors have metal Module temperature sensors are

plates that allow air to pass freely and important cause, e.g. in the summer, for
protect the sensor from any source of an ambient temp of 35° the module can
solar radiation. reach 60-65°. Efficiency of panels
decreases with temperature

Source: Seven Sensor 2021 - Temperature Sensors for PV Plant 13

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 Meteorological station

PV plants usually mount a small meteo station (like

the one on the right), in which, alongside
temperatures and irradiance, also relative humidity
and wind direction and speed are measured

3-cup anemometer for wind Wind Direction

speed measurement Sensor
Source: Seven Sensor – Wind Sensors

Source: Met One Instruments - Photovoltaic Station Weather System 14

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 How to monitor a PV mini-grid system (1/3)

Manual check: as part of the daily operator duties, the AC distribution panel the system’s
control panel will be checked. According to a predefined O&M scheduling, data such as
energy output, battery voltage, input energy from the PV, etc will be taken and sent to the
developer

Source: ENDEV 2021 - PV Mini-Grid Installation Do's and Dont’s 15

All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa Foundation.
 How to monitor a PV mini-grid system (2/3)

Data loggers: Data is collected by the

monitoring device and stored in an SD
card with defined interval. All the
required parameters for the analysis
should be registered during the
www.meteocontrol.de
installation of the monitoring system. www.solare-datensysteme.eu

When reporting is needed, SD card should

be sent to the owner

www.fronius.com
ttps://www.sma-america.com/

Source: ENDEV 2021 - PV Mini-Grid Installation Do's and Dont’s 16

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 How to monitor a PV mini-grid system (3/3)

GSM/GPRS
network: Data is
are transmitted
and are remotely
accessed by the
owner

In case there is
mobile network
availability, this
should always be
the standard
option

Source: ENDEV 2021 - PV Mini-Grid Installation Do's and Dont’s. Image: Odyssey Energy Solutions Case Study: One Renewable 17
All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa Foundation.
 Energy Management System (EMS 1/2)

Energy Management Systems (EMSs) not only perform in -plant monitoring, but can also
control and optimise the operation of a mini-grid plant in response to available data

4 Calculate
1 Gather detailed 2 Synthesise data 3 Data checks and
optimum use of
plant data from multiple alerts
plant assets
sources

5 Control individual 6 Wireless data 8 Respond to

equipment transmission to 7 Local data backup commands from
behaviour centralised servers plant operators

Source: Smart Power India 2020 - Technical Monitoring Guide for Solar Hybrid Mini-Grids. Image: freepik.com 18
All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa Foundation.
 Energy Management System (EMS 2/2)

Monitoring is not only

about possessing and
maintaining the
components but also
establishing data
processing and
evaluation methods
for further use of the
data.

Source: ENDEV 2021 - PV Mini-Grid Installation Do's and Dont’s 19

All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa Foundation.
 Monitoring in DC-coupling systems

Parameter Symbol Unit

Irradiance G W/m2
PV module temperature TPV °C
PV array output voltage UPV V
PV array output current IPV A
SCC output voltage USCC V
SCC output current ISCC A
Battery temperature TBATT °C
Battery voltage UBATT V
Battery current IBATT A
Battery room temperature TROOM_BAT °C
Battery inverter input voltage UBATT_INV_IN V
Battery inverter input current IBATT_INV_IN A
Battery state of charge SOC %
U
Battery inverter output voltage BATT_INV_OUT V
Battery inverter output current IBATT_INV_OUT A

Source: ENDEV 2021 - PV Mini-Grid Installation Do's and Dont’s 20

All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa Foundation.
 Monitoring in AC-coupling systems

Parameter Symbol Unit

Irradiance G W/m2
PV module temperature TPV °C
PV array output voltage UPV V
PV array output current IPV A
Grid Inverter output voltage UGRID_INV V
Grid Inverter output current IGRID_INV A
Battery temperature TBATT °C
Battery voltage UBATT V
Battery current IBATT A
Battery room temperature TROOM_BAT °C
Battery inverter input voltage UBATT_INV_IN V
Battery inverter input current IBATT_INV_IN A
Battery state of charge SOC %
Battery inverter output voltage U BATT_INV_OUT V
Battery inverter output current IBATT_INV_OUT A

Source: ENDEV 2021 - PV Mini-Grid Installation Do's and Dont’s 21

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 This video shows a demand-side management platform for grid-
connected mini-grids

22
Source: EcoStruxure™ Microgrid Advisor Demo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is6lxguwgQk
All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa Foundation.
 Monitoring system examples (1/12)

Single-phase on-grid
system using Sunny
Island Battery
Inverter and
connection to Sunny
Portal from SMA

Source: SMA SUNNY ISLAND 4.4M / 6.0H / 8.0H Manual

23
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 Monitoring system examples (2/12)

The Sunny Island inverter regulates the

balance between the energy that is fed
in and the energy that is used and
features a battery, PV array and load
management system

Source: SMA Quick Reference Guide for Off-Grid Systems with SUNNY ISLAND

24
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 Monitoring system examples (3/12)

Three-phase off-grid
system using Sunny
Island Battery
Inverter and
connection to Sunny
Portal from SMA

Source: SMA SUNNY ISLAND 4.4M / 6.0H / 8.0H Manual

25
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 Monitoring system examples (4/12)

Residential photovoltaic system with

Sunny Boy Storage system and
connection to Sunny Portal from SMA

Source: SMA Sunny Boy Storage & remote monitoring system- SMA

26
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 Monitoring system examples (5/12)

A more complex monitoring system

from SMA

Source: n/a

27
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 Monitoring system examples (6/12)

A more complex monitoring system

from SMA

Source: n/a

28
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 Monitoring system examples (7/12)

Large PV-Diesel Hybrid

System with no storage

Source: n/a

29
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 Monitoring system examples (8/12)

Large PV-Diesel Hybrid

System with storage

Source: n/a

30
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 Monitoring system examples (9/12)

Passive control scheme:

PV controller does only
receives data from diesel
gensets

Source: n/a

31
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 Monitoring system examples (10/12)

Active control scheme:

Main hybrid controller
controls diesel gensets
and PV system output

Source: n/a

32
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 Monitoring system examples (11/12)

Simplified
Generator
Dispatch
Algorithm
(left)

System
operation
example
(right)

Source: When PV output is high enough, the diesel generators can be switched off and their runtimes reduced Source: OneShore, 2015

33
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 Monitoring system examples (12/12)

Power Plant Control Room

Source: Strathmore Energy Research Center

34
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 Metering (1/5)

Electrical meters are devices used to

measure and register the cumulative
value of electrical quantities with respect
to time.

Routine maintenance tests are required

annually and to cover the following:

Cleanliness, connections, calibration;

Multipliers;

Alignment, damage, freedom of

movement;

Contacts

Source: Grid-connected Solar Electric Systems by Geoff Stapleton & Susan Neil, Earthscan Expert 35
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 Metering (2/5)

Schematic of an Existing Utility

Connection

1 2 3 4 ,5

Entry Main fuse C1: Utility meter Main distribution board

Source: Grid-connected Solar Electric Systems by Geoff Stapleton & Susan Neil, Earthscan Expert 36
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 Metering (3/5)

Where to Connect a Grid-Tied

System:

1 2 3 4 ,5

Entry Main fuse C1: Utility meter Main distribution board

Source: Grid-connected Solar Electric Systems by Geoff Stapleton & Susan Neil, Earthscan Expert 37
All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa Foundation.
 Metering (4/5)

Gross-Metering
(Full Feed-in)

=
~

1 23 4 ,5
C2: PV
meter

1 2 3 4 ,5

Entry Main fuse C1: Utility meter Main distribution board

Source: Grid-connected Solar Electric Systems by Geoff Stapleton & Susan Neil, Earthscan Expert 38
All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa Foundation.
 Metering (5/5)

Net-Metering

PV generation meter C2 is optional.

PV grid-injected energy could be =

determined with a bidirectional utility ~
meter C1.
1 23 4 ,5
For „full“ net-metering C1 needs to C2: PV
meter
spin & count backward.

1 2 3 4 ,5

Entry Main fuse C1: Utility meter Main distribution board

Source: Grid-connected Solar Electric Systems by Geoff Stapleton & Susan Neil, Earthscan Expert 39
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 Practical Exercise - Workshop Activity

This session shall be undertaken in a laboratory

The instructor to give students an schematic drawing of the SMA system installed in the Strathmore University
Workshop

Students shall physically identify monitoring system components in the installed system

Using SMA monitoring portal, the instructor shall present portal screen to the class and lead a discussion on the PV
system monitoring

A summary of the lesson shall be discussed and reflective questions posed to learners

Source: When PV output is high enough, the diesel generators can be switched off and their runtimes reduced Source: OneShore, 2015

40
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 Q&A Session

Let ’s take some time to answer your doubts and

curiosities about the topics of this lecture

Image: freepik.com 41
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 Bibliography

Smart Power India 2020 - Technical Monitoring Guide

for Solar Hybrid Mini-Grids
ENDEV 2021 - PV Mini-Grid Installation Do's and
Dont’s.
ElProCus What is Pyranometer : Construction, Types
& Applications
Met One Instruments - Photovoltaic Station Weather
System
Seven Sensor 2021 - Temperature Sensors for PV
Plant
SMA user manuals
Grid-connected Solar Electric Systems by Geoff
Stapleton & Susan Neil, Earthscan Expert

42
All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa
Foundation.
 Recommended reading/sources of information​
IEA PVPS 2011 - Communication between components in mini-grids,
Recommendations for communication system needs for PV hybrid
mini-grid systems

IEA PVPS 2015 - A user guide to simple monitoring and sustainable

operation of PV-diesel hybrid systems Handbook for system users and
operators

All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa
Foundation. 43
 Thank You for Your Kind Attention

RES4Africa Foundation
Renewable Energy Solutions
for Africa Foundation
Rome, via Ticino 14
www.res4med.org
www.resafrica.org

Contacts
Micro-Grid Academy
Email: info@microgridacademy.org
Website: www.microgridacademy.org

All rights, including translation, reserved. No part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, for purposes other than the original, without written consent of RES4Africa Foundation.