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ASK THE EXPERTS extremely important to balance stability with be ground off to allow for racking assembly. widths between about 4 and 6 inches and so economy. It’s easy to oversize foundations to it’s more about the stiffness of the section, be safe. But in the solar industry, especially PES: What are the benefits of load testing width, depth, and thickness, than it is about the utility scale solar industry where you and why should all projects perform it? the width of the flange. But added width might have 40,000 foundations, an extra foot definitely helps. or two of steel and an extra pound or two per TB: Load testing is always beneficial in foot of foundation or post length adds up validating analytical designs, that is designs PES: Why should prospective clients choose very quickly. based mainly on math and soil mechanics our foundation and expertise, and what theory. Depending on the level of experience makes how you designed them different PES: Can you explain coating and how it and comfort of the designer, load tests may from competition? affects the foundations, and life expectancy? also result in reduced costs. If the designer is experienced, the load tests often show that TB: FTC’s in-house design team includes TB: That’s a great question. In solar, the analytical design was adequate. In some licensed, expert-level foundation designers especially in the United States, coatings cases, load tests may show that a longer or whose experience helps them to maintain the such as hot-dipped zinc are applied to driven heavier foundation is required. balance between economy and stability and steel foundations to help protect them from math and the theory. They also operate the effects of corrosion over time. PES: Does width affect the design? heavy equipment and have personally pulled on different steel sections in different Zinc is lost to corrosion at a slower rate than TB: The width of a wide flange section (e.g., geologies around the world. This balance of plain carbon steel and that can add at least 7 an I-beam), is related to its available surface skillsets gives FTC designers a competitive to 10 years to the life expectancy of a driven area, to resist vertical forces through side advantage when it comes to optimizing post in corrosive environments. In the most friction or adhesion and its stiffness, to resist foundation and structural design. corrosive environments, coatings may be horizontal bending forces. The flange is also nonmetal and may be a form of polymer or what is pressing against the subsurface PES: Customers are always asking for resin, but these can be sheared off during materials in front of it during loading. The suppliers to be flexible. How does FTC post installation, especially when posts are wider it is, the more soil is pressing against it provide flexibility in the foundation design? driven into dense sandy or gravelly soils. The to resist it. standard zinc coating is at least 3 mils, or TB: FTC encourages a culture of flexibility, about 0.003 inches. Thicker coatings are Think of it like a bulldozer blade. The wider and this culture permeates everything we possible but are difficult to reliably reproduce the blade, the bigger the CAT required to do. Many of our teammates work from home consistently. And thicker zinc coatings lead push the earth in front of it. Most wide flange and we’re able to maintain the work-life to other adverse impacts such as globs of sections used in solar, e.g. W6x7, W6x8.5, balance that allows us the freedom to be zinc here and there which sometimes must W6x9, W6x12, W6x15, W6x20, W8x10, W8x13, creative and expressive and to both work W8x15, W8x18, W8x21, have comparable and to think outside of the box. During WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 51

ASK THE EXPERTS predesign, FTC’s experienced engineering supply. We need alternatives to fossil fuels. In areas where ground conditions are very team value engineers practical, down-to- the short term, renewables can certainly take soft, like coastal plain settings. earth foundation solutions that draw on some of the pressure off of more decades of experience in every climate from conventional energy supplies. In the long PES: Is there anything you would like the arctic to the tropics on both sides of the term, with continued perseverance, people to know or understand about International Date Line. renewables may completely supplant other solar foundations? energy sources. During construction, it doesn’t matter how TB: I guess I’d like to close with a vanilla a site appears to be, there are very PES: Are there any future innovative philosophical statement about foundation nearly always issues that arise that require a things coming out in regards to engineering that comes from one of my old thoughtful approach to reduce or minimize tracker foundations? textbooks, Foundation Engineering by Peck, costly delays. During every stage of design Hanson, and Thornburn ©1984 John Wiley and through to finished construction, we TB: We are currently partnering with and Sons. I feel it really sums up the plight of work very hard to stay ahead or keep pace different EPCs to help them develop the the foundation engineer. with the project needs as they arise, to help capacity to install driven wide flange beam the project succeed. foundations where ground conditions are ‘In reality, soil mechanics is only one of the very hard, e.g. shallow bedrock or caliche, bodies of knowledge from which the PES: Do you have any personal thoughts especially in the Desert Southwest. We start foundation engineer must draw. If studied to about the solar and PV industry in general? by pre drilling a pilot bore into the rock that is the exclusion of all other aspects of the art, it slightly undersized relative to the dimensions leads to the erroneous and dangerous TB: Sure I do. I feel that as global demand for of the post. We then ram the wide flange impression that all problems in foundation energy continues to grow, a diversified energy section into the bore and that’s that. Square engineering are susceptible of direct scientific industry is in everyone’s best interest. Having peg, round hole. solution. Unfortunately, the vagaries of nature all of your eggs in one basket always invites and the demands of economy combine to risk and to this rule, energy eggs are no I personally call it a rock socket; others eliminate this possibility.’ exception. For this reason, I think most people probably have other names for it. The first expect solar to continue to evolve and to grow one I did was in 2016 at a shallow rock site in PES: Thank you for joining us today. in the years to come, at a rate that is the Pacific Northwest. It’s effectively the consistent with previous experience. same principle used to install ground TB: My pleasure, thanks for having me. screws, but it’s a single rammed post The current disruptions to commodities and instead of two turned screws. It is an The preceding/views/suggestions are those to the global supply chain will eventually calm alternative to a ground screw. We’re also of Thomas Berglin P.E., and may not reflect down, but the demand for energy will only working on offering foundation solutions for views of FTC Solar. continue to grow until it eventually outpaces www.ftcsolar.com 52 PES SOLAR



TALKING POINT A circular model for the PV value chain: from concept to field experience Increasing the sustainability of the PV market as it grows is crucial. PES takes a look at some of the research and development taking place to help make this a reality. PHOTORAMA is an EU funded project focusing on improving the recycling of PV panels and recovery of raw materials. Could this circularity model be a possible long-term solution? Solar energy has been deployed since the and sustainable PV industry. cost of products with an international 1990s, reaching an impressive global capacity competitiveness and LCOE perspectives, to of more than 770GW in 2020. As renewable Circular approach in photovoltaics the recycling sector which is about cost per energy, it has been clearly identified as the tons with a local business issue. The next best candidate to lead the energy transition, The circular economy as a visionary concept step is to collaboratively develop a system- heralded as the ‘king’ of the electricity market emerged about 50 years ago and has based opportunity for the dedicated sectors. by the International Energy Agency. developed extensively in many fields since then. It is based on three major principles: Aside from technological and market-based In the fight against climate change, solar preserving natural capital, circulating development, the model and its energy has a crucial role. It will help achieve resources and nurturing efficiency in a global sustainability performances are assessed the carbon neutrality target, something system, by minimising negative externalities. throughout the project. Based on economic, which is hopefully no longer a paradigm. As It includes economic, environmental and environmental and social analysis, the model such, solar energy and more globally the social considerations. design will be gradually adjusted to draw up photovoltaic (PV) industry should be and balance the guidance for circular exemplary and inclusive to set up good At this stage, implementing such a model development within the PV value chain. practices and leverage other sectors. requires moving forward to field experience, to develop new business perspectives and The field experience of PHOTORAMA Even though PV systems provide zero- incentivise the PV community to adhere highlights the hotspots in order to shift to emission green energy over their lifetime, collectively. This is the overall objective of new logistics and approaches in terms of the balance sheet should be carefully PHOTORAMA: PHOtovoltaic waste circularity for the PV industry. Implementing assessed over the life cycle to offer management, advanced Technologies for a circular model is a long-term job and sustainable alternatives regarding resource recOvery & recycling of secondary RAw PHOTORAMA as pioneer will demonstrate depletion, energy-intensive manufacturing MAterials from end-of-life modules, project. innovative solutions and nurture progress in and waste management. the field. By trading information, knowledge Funded under the European Union H2020 and showcasing effective solutions, it will Considering the upcoming widespread PV programme, the project gathers 13 key and reveal new prospects for a collective and energy production, it is important to start complementary partners from throughout systemic vision of the future of solar energy. thinking globally and circular. The perspective Europe. By including all stakeholders in the PV of a green recovery after the Covid-19 value chain, the project aims to implement a The challenge of photovoltaic waste pandemic calls for sound and resilient circular model from manufacturing to waste management solutions to develop sustainable industries management, to reinject secondary raw taking into account economic growth, materials into the economy. Waste management, including collection, environmental benefits and social acceptance. recycling, recovery and production of Looking at the PV value chain, many avenues secondary raw materials, is currently the weak Supporting such a package will require a have been investigated at the manufacturing link in the PV value chain. Both the average cooperative and united effort from PV stage in terms of sustainability efforts, while lifetime about 25-30 years ​and the manufacturers, developers, installers, energy waste management clearly lacks solutions as unpredictable volume of PV waste have​made producers, end-users, collectors, recyclers well as incentive. The challenge here is to it difficult to frame a long-term vision. and policy makers. It is time to reshape the connect and bridge two facing business system with a circular model, to develop a worlds that are completely different. However, the projections from IRENA show a credible and achievable strategy for a global massive cumulative volume of PV waste From PV manufacturing which focuses on expected by 2050: 60-78 million tons 54 PES SOLAR

TALKING POINT worldwide and about 10 million tons in recycling. The system-based PV waste of 98% at 1200 ton a year. The design of the Europe. The reality of the next decades is management maps out different steps to line includes the necessary steps to manage that PV waste management is going to preserve the purity of the materials, allowing the waste from the disassembling of the become a logistic priority. the recovery of high purity and high-quality external components, to the delamination materials. The main challenges are to and separation of the PV multi-layer Even though the regulatory framework in separate the layers without mixing materials sandwiches and the recovery of secondary Europe, WEEE directive 2012/19/EU, has and to recover the scarce and critical metals raw materials. made recycling of PV devices mandatory, by mitigating the environmental impacts. current practices are not satisfactory. The framework of PHOTORAMA includes the Research institutes, small and medium PV modules are made up of conventional recycling of both crystalline-silicon, c-Si enterprises and industrial companies are resources, Al, Cu, glass, critical and valuable based and CI(G)S thin film modules. working together to develop and scale-up metals, such as Si, Ag, In etc., and hazardous the technologies. From the early stage of materials, Pb, Cd, Se. The model is designed to manage and innovation at technology readiness level 4-5, monitor the combination of technologies to the maturity of the technology will reach TRL Most of the recycling practices are based on offer a full-package solution for developing 6 to 7 at the end of the project. shredding or crushing processes that are the capital infrastructure in the next identified as down-cycling approaches. The operational phase. By creating a strong team symbiosis, the external components such as the frame and collective approach enables a strategic junction box are easily isolated to be Advanced recycling and circular approach pooling of resources at the European level. recycled, while the glass fraction is usually on the field This allows the best innovative solutions to recovered for very low-value applications. be developed under the most optimal The polymers from the sealing layers and the Collection operational conditions. backsheet are at best recovered as energy fuel, but mostly landfilled and the metals are During the collection phase, SOREN and Enel The first step of the pilot line focuses on usually not recovered. Green Power deliver the different types of dismantling the aluminium frame and the waste required for the technological junction box by operating a fully automated Such schemes lead alarmingly to the development throughout the project. process developed by Mondragon and irreversible loss of valuable and critical SOREN is also developing a harmonised LuxChemtech. This fast operation, metals, as well as the dispersion of toxic characterisation methodology, built on eliminating manual labour, enables safer materials. The low amount of these regulatory standards, to monitor the handling without breaking the glass front materials embodied in PV modules as a very depollution and the environmental sheet, at a low cost. little share in percentage by mass should not performances of waste treatment. be an argument when talking about million A pre-unit using x-ray characterisation sorts tons of waste. Recycling and recovery out the panels to differentiate the c-Si based and the thin film for further treatment. The To tackle the challenge, the PHOTORAMA A full-management pilot line will be aluminium will be redirected to a metal project focuses on the development of implemented on an industrial site at refinery, whereas the junction box and technological solutions for efficient LuxChemtech in Germany for further electrical supply components will be sent for scale-up, to operate a global recovery ratio WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 55

TALKING POINT treatment with small domestic appliances. thin-film panels. LuxChemtech is developing By mixing virgin and secondary raw materials, this, based on light radiation that damages the new products will be developed and tested in The second step focuses on the delamination photoactive layer enabling the mechanical operational conditions. Enel Green Power will of the multi-layer sandwich, made of a glass separation of CI(G)S glass sheets. The trial and validate products dedicated to PV front sheet, solar cells layer and backsheet. It semiconductors and conductors thereby applications in an industrial environment is the most critical and challenging step, as the become accessible for wet-chemical treatment using an eco-design approach. purity of the secondary raw materials strongly and can be recovered hydrometallurgically. depends on its performance to avoid mixing Model assessment & development the materials layers. Therefore, several Finally, two technologies are being developed complementary technologies are in for metal recovery as the last and third step Bifa continuously carries out economic and development to manage all types of PV waste. of the pilot line. One using green solvent, environmental analysis while ZSI monitors so-called ionic liquid recyclable in the progress in terms of social acceptance by A technology based on diamond wire cutting closed-loop process, followed by an driving living Lab/co-creation workshops. enables the mechanical separation of the electrolysis process to recover Ag from the The dissemination and business exploitation layers for the recovery of intact glass sheets. leachate containing the silicon, CEA, Sintef, of the project’s results led by ENEA involves The technology, scaled-up by CEA and IDENER R&D. the whole consortium. Mondragon, will allow high-value recycling or direct reuse of glass, using polymers LuxChemtech scales-up the second Photorama refers to a photography process backsheet for energy fuel and solar cells for technology using biodegradable organic from the Lumières brothers to provide a further treatment in the line. sulfonic acid to extract the metals either panoramic view enabling the full from c-Si, such as heterojunction technology reproduction of the horizon. Looking at the CEA and DFD are currently developing or from CI(G)S residues. Both processes big picture, this is the approach of another technology based on a physical allow for a high recovery ratio and high purity PHOTORAMA: to implement a circular separation using CO2 supercritical fluid. The level of metals and are more environmentally strategy for a more sustainable PV industry. principle is to make the ethylene-vinyl acetate friendly than current processes. (EVA) inter-layer foam to smoothly open the * T his project has received funding sandwich. Clean, unbroken glass can be Re-use of secondary raw materials from the European Union’s recovered, as well as the polymer backsheet Horizon 2020 research and and the cells residues slightly attached to the As a multi-level approach integrating a innovation programme under foamed layer. Importantly, CO2 fluid is a green circular model, the recovered metals grant agreement No 958223. solvent non-toxic, non-flammable and so-called secondary raw materials are recyclable in the process loop. reinjected back into the industry, either in www.photorama-project.eu the market PV or in other value chains. RHP These two technologies are dedicated to the and LuxChemtech are working on the best LuxChemtech will be at c-Si-based panels’ treatment, while the third approach, depending on the purity and Intersolar Munich, May 11th to 13th, one is to operate the delamination of CI(G)S morphology of the recovered metals. booth A5.540 56 PES SOLAR

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TALKING POINT Reducing risk through testing The worldwide installed base of photovoltaic capacity currently is around 890 GW, generating 994 TWh solar energy in total. A growth of more than 200% is expected before the end of 2026, translating to an installed PV capacity of around 1,900 GW. But how can manufacturers ensure that PV modules perform to expectations, even after some time in operation? The key markets for photovoltaics are majority of all solar PV additions worldwide. providing the expected return on expected to be China, Europe, the United This means that a large number of new solar investment, from the first day and then for as States and India, but considerable growth power plants will be built in the next few years. long as the plant operates. potential is also visible in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. These PV power plants initially require a large Operating solar plants will require financial investment. One of the largest parts maintenance and observation in respect to From this overall installed PV base, utility- of this investment is the actual solar what they are able to produce after some scale projects continue to provide the modules. They are the key component in years of operation and to make sure that they 58 PES SOLAR

TALKING POINT operate within the expected power range. yet again when they arrive onsite. It is a timeframe is when the installation of a new An unexpected event, e.g. a natural severe question of ensuring that what has been solar park starts. A very efficient way to weather occurrence, might also force a closer promised has been delivered and can be avoid delay and extra work later in the look at the already installed module base. accepted with confidence. This testing project is an incoming goods inspection makes sure that no improper handling during directly onsite. Why is it recommended to test solar packaging, inadequate packing or any other modules again? event during solar module transport has This means the modules will be tested when interfered with the goods. they arrive onsite or even earlier, when These days a solar module is profoundly they arrive at port. A test lab can be right tested when leaving the factory. In nearly With this in mind, onsite module testing is not there with a clear advantage: no need to every factory, several quality assurance tests only beneficial when planning the transport hundreds of modules to an are applied, followed by a similarly high construction of a new solar power plant, but off-site test lab and thus, add further stress number of tests during the module it will also provide a more detailed inside view to the modules and cost for the transport to production process, for example into a running plant. the overall bill. And there are more electroluminescence tests and power advantages for the project. measurements. Most tests are performed Benefits of testing during installation of a inline, providing a 100% coverage over the new solar park The qualification of suppliers becomes much products leaving the factory. easier and more cost-effective and the When looking at the different scenarios of detection of hidden problems ensures yield However, it is a good idea to test the modules in-field module testing, one very useful WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 59

TALKING POINT Figure 1 Forecast of the total installed worldwide PV over the long module lifetime. Complaints It is meant to encourage the seller to uphold allowed in the random sample set of 500 can be directly addressed before module their product quality promise, while limiting pieces. In our example, the agreement with installation and any deficiencies in the the risk of the buyer and strengthening their the seller is to accept a quality level of zero transport chain can be detected and solved. trust in the continued product quality. This critical, safety related defects, 1.5% with Also, a documentation history of the procedure ensures that only an occasional major defects and 2.0% with minor defects. delivered module quality is created and only poorer quality product, out of a much larger ‘good modules’ are installed in the plant. good quality order, will occur in the delivery. The second table defines the exact number Employees are briefed how to handle the A simple example of an AQL based test for of modules creating a rejection of all modules modules and therefore an overall, higher incoming goods in a solar park could be to in the shipment: should one critical defect be security investment is achieved. randomly test 500 out of a total shipment of found in a solar module the inspector has the 20,000 modules arriving. This number is right to decline the shipment. According to A recommendation for incoming defined by the AQL sample size map in the the AQL table this is also true for 15 modules goods tests section ‘sample size Code letters’, at general found with a major defect or 22 modules inspection level III. found with a minor defect. The recommended minimum test for solar A second table, the acceptance quality limit, modules onsite should be a module power will now give feedback on the number of Instead of a direct refusal, it can also be measurement, but much better is an products with no, minor or major defects feasible to change the test procedure to a additional electroluminescence (EL) test. much higher sample number if an The EL test will show cracks and micro Figure 2 Installation of a PV power plant unacceptable number of defects occur, cracks that are not visible to the human eye and will show cracks that have not yet had an impact on the module’s power creation, but will have in the near future. These problems will not necessarily show in a solo module power measurement. Over the lifetime of the modules these cracks can lead to severe loss in module power, particularly through environmental influence, e.g. through heat and cold temperature cycles. When an infrared inspection for hot spot detection and a diode check is added, the most common module issues can be caught before installation. A 100% test of all modules arriving onsite is not feasible. A widely adopted approach is an AQL sample test according to ISO 2859-1. It describes a product sampling system in which a defined number of all products are tested for verification against certain product features. The small number of randomly chosen products, ideally chosen from several different lots or crates, are tested to gain confidence in the overall order. 60 PES SOLAR

TALKING POINT Figure 3 AQL decision matrix for product sampling plans depending on the agreement between seller Test during live time operation efficiency. It also means and buyer. complaints are reduced due to the In this example, 2.5% of all modules ordered Another important scenario to test in the continuous checks. With efficient damage will be inspected onsite to ensure the field and make sure that the investment is on detection and repair and insurance investment. Ideally, a detailed test report is tract is when the solar park’s power output is companies getting more information in the provided, including the results sorted by the not matching expectations. Ideally, the root case of damage, a deep assessment will help serial numbers of the tested modules and a cause should be found out quickly to avoid secure the investment when buying an statistical summary. This is best done by an losing money over time. This case might existing solar park. independent test service provider to avoid a happen after obvious events like bad conflict of interest and before installing the weather, but it could also be due to other What changes due to large module sizes modules into their final position in the solar causes. Some issues might not be obvious park. It will cost a fraction of the total cost of and directly visible to the human eye. Due to the new development in cell sizes and the park and it will provide confidence about the resulting new module sizes and types in the investment. The benefits of regular tests, or tests after module production, equipment an unexpected event during operation, manufacturers have been forced to develop Figure 4 MBJ Mobile Lab 5.0 include increased performance and matching production equipment. The larger modules have arrived in the market and naturally changes, to handle these modules during installation, have to follow. The change in module size is mainly due to the new cell sizes of M10, with a 182mm edge length and G12, with a 210mm edge length. When reading through the data sheets of the main module manufacturers, using these new cell sizes, the resulting module dimensions for modules with the highest power output are 2,465 mm x 1,134 mm, based on M10 cells, and up to 2,384 mm x 1,303 mm for G12 cell size based modules. Next to the change in dimension, further changes in the layout of solar modules take place, such as the number of cells in one string or the number of strings on a module. Most modules based on M10 or G12 cells are half cut or triple cut cells with multi-busbar layout. It also seems to turn out that the largest of the new module formats are mainly used for utility scale projects. The handling of larger WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 61

TALKING POINT and heavier modules is easier in the open system in your container or onsite housing or capacitive effects, like HJT cells, is no field than on a rooftop. This all leads to a need it can be integrated into your transporter, problem. Other cell material e.g. in thin film for new onsite test equipment, to be able to truck, trailer or shipping container. Due to nodules can also be measured. measure the larger module formats. the new reduced size, the system does fit into many standard size transport trucks. While several manual steps are involved when New MBJ Mobile Lab 5.0 handles all large Another benefit is that this system has less operating the system, a module to module modules size movable internal parts, making it a lot simpler measurement duration of down to just 60 and more robust. seconds per module can be achieved. The MBJ Solutions has followed the market and workflow of the system follows these steps: updated the existing mobile lab for onsite While reduced in size, the Mobile Lab 5.0 still read the barcode of the module with a measurements. The new MBJ Mobile Lab 5.0 provides all the latest test technologies handheld barcode reader, load the module supports all of the upcoming larger module required in the solar industry. This includes sunny side up into the module drawer, and sizes, up to a max size of 1,400 mm x 2,750 mm. the full spectrum long pulse A+A+A+ LED sun electrically connect the module to the Additionally, the whole system has undergone simulator according to IEC60904-9 Ed.3 system. The measurement is started a face lift and is now more compact while standard, the high-resolution automatically when the drawer is closed. All keeping all the high quality measurements electroluminescence tester with up to measurements are done without the need to available in the previous versions. 30MPixel resolution, an electrical connection move the module during measurements. test and an innovative diode test. With the latest innovation of an integrated Problems in a solar park should be solved electroluminescence, the full system, in width The LED sun simulator is suitable for the quickly. This is also true when it comes to and length, is not much larger than the size of I/V-curve measurement of framed and warranty cases, or when a claim to an the modules to be tested. The system has a frameless glass-glass or glass-foil modules insurance company needs backup. This is a total size of 1,700mm x 2,995mm with a height and bifacial modules. With its extended huge help in being successful with any claims. of 850mm. spectrum into the infrared region, the measurement performs accurately on PERC All measurement results taken with the This allows completely new use cases. The modules. With the stepwise measurement system will be stored in detail in a local system can be placed as a standalone lab function the measurement of modules with database. After finishing the job, a detailed report including statistical graphs, I/V measurement curves and EL images can be created and shared with all sides. The MBJ Mobile Lab can be used as an independent module tester, it is already proven and well known in the market, and will bring additional credibility into a warranty case or insurance claim. About MBJ Solutions MBJ Solutions GmbH specializes in the development and sale of test and measurement systems for the photovoltaic industry. MBJ offers sun simulators, electroluminescence test systems and test systems for insulation and grounding tests for the solar module production. Through the acquisition of the MBJ Services GmbH in 2021, MBJ Solutions GmbH now also offers mobile test and measurement systems for the onsite testing of solar modules. The company has sold more than 450 test systems worldwide since it was founded in 2009. The headquarters of the MBJ Group is in Ahrensburg, Germany. We develop and produce all our products in Germany. Since many of our customers are based in Asia, and a service office in Taiwan. Innovative solutions and customer orientation are a matter of course, with customers including well-known institutes and manufacturers of the PV industry. Many years of experience and a motivated team make MBJ the perfect partner for PV projects. www.mbj-solutions.com Figure 5 MBJ Mobile EL_4.0 62 PES SOLAR

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TALKING POINT Powering the future with smart monitoring Words: Ian Humphery-Smith, CEO & Founder of LanneSolaire Can the Internet of Things (IoT) help provide preventative maintenance to allow for the timely replacement of faulty modules and enhance the efficiency and performance of long-term power production? PES looks at how this technology can help improve return on investment. 66 PES SOLAR

TALKING POINT Inverter outages at commercial and degrees of the quality of after-sales support, Single or Central Point of failure. utility-scale solar installations are the cause access to suitably-qualified service of 81% of call-out service tickets requiring technicians locally, or indeed the Delivery of such results in what is termed costly field-based technical interventions. disappearance of an inverter manufacturer operational systems resilience and thereby This data is based on greater than one-third from the marketplace. To this, one must add affords a capacity for dependable of all non-residential US solar facilities during the serious issue of panel under- continuity of solar power generation, a 2020. The latter resulted in interruptions to performance, which continues to go process underwritten and assured by significant portions of power-generating largely under-diagnosed. micro-inverter redundancy. capacity at each affected site. The DuPont 2021 Field Analysis reported an To some extent, this trend has already been This phenomenon is measured in terms of analysis of some 13 million solar panels during adopted across the solar industry through annual Gross Availability. Notably, these 2020 observed at 630 different sites around the widespread replacement of Central service interventions vary in duration from the world. Here, visual examination showed an inverters with String inverters, but has yet to days to weeks and even months as a function alarming 35.2% presenting advanced defects be extended to the level of individual solar of the time to correctly diagnose and locate for panels aged at less than 10 years. And this panels using increasingly affordable the cause of inverter shut-down, or ‘tripping’. for what is effectively a highly insensitive multi-module micro-inverters (MMMIs). This may include faults at the level of the assay of the problem at hand. inverter, one or more solar panels, combiner Operational systems resilience means that if boxes, cabling and or racking defects. Can this situation be remedied? one micro-inverter fails then this has negligible impact on overall power In turn, this figure is influenced by the The answer is yes. However, the solution generating capacity, nor is there any urgency availability of replacement parts and their depends on implementation of the same to instigate repair or replacement of these associated delivery times. These delays can approach as deployed in data centers and lower-cost items. More importantly, the be further negatively impacted by varying cloud computing, namely, avoidance of latter can be knowingly accessed with WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 67

TALKING POINT respect to the cost effectiveness of mis-match currents. being connected in String Series, such deploying field-based interventions. As such, discontinuities result in the creation of predetermined intervention thresholds for As such, operational systems resilience can mismatch currents between solar modules the number of panels and or micro-inverter contribute meaningfully to extending the and cells that can lead to overheating and a malfunctions can allow for deployment of durability and economic viability of solar higher risk of fire generation. Therefore, the technical teams in a fully-automated manner. installations, but not that of individual solar durability of solar installations is currently panels. In the absence of individual panel limited by the lifespan of individual panels. Using high-granularity performance monitoring, it remains difficult and expensive monitoring in a data center, for example, to activate panel manufacturer and/or Elsewhere, significant costs are associated individual central processing units (CPUs) are installation guarantees and warranties. with repowering, or revamping, the bulk of subject to preventative maintenance and not Micro-inverters can contribute positively to power generating infrastructure. This allowed to degrade to a point whereby this process. usually occurs in advance of the guaranteed under-performance beyond strict limits or lifespan of solar panels and due to their indeed failure become an issue. Here, Not all solar panels will attain their guaranteed collective under-performance. On the other avoidance of unpredicted failure is mission lifespan performance, which is generally 25 to hand, Continuous Performance Up-grading critical to computational service provision 30 years. Traditionally, panel replacement has with some of the associated costs being and it should be considered of equal depended on the pre-purchase of identical offset by panel manufacturer guarantees importance for achieving efficiencies in solar make and model panels to cover future becomes a feasible option once string power generation. decades of panel replacements. This is both series are replaced by micro-inverter excessively costly and impractical, nor does it redundancy. The ensuing operational A major advantage regarding the use of allow for the insertion of cheaper and higher systems resilience has major benefits in micro-inverters and multi-module micro- performance solar panels, i.e., as they become terms of collective management of one or inverters (MMMIs) is their ability to facilitate available in the future. more solar energy facilities, or indeed mixing and matching of solar panel makes distributed power generation, and models without giving rise to debilitating Because of today’s omnipresent system’s encompassing potentially hundreds of architecture at utility scale of solar panels 68 PES SOLAR

TALKING POINT thousands of rooftops or C&I installations APsystems for example are sold with 20 year Intermittent under-performance is equally located across distinct geographies. guarantees, unlike the majority of their very difficult to detect when diluted by time central and string cousins. As project of day, fluctuating light conditions over years Thus, operational systems resilience allows durations are extended, a bonus is that the and decades and or for panels located on for discretionary upgrading and repowering Levelised Cost of Energy is reduced. different aspects of a rooftop or hillside. of under-performing solar panels at any time. Indeed, solar energy facilities can potentially In this area, LanneSolaire defends intellectual LanneSolaire’s methodology produces be managed without a predetermined property. It is focused on computational irrefutable statistical evidence associated end-of-use date. Programmed panel methods designed to enable solar with exquisite sensitivity based on potentially replacement becomes possible for a portion performance monitoring totally divorced billions of control observations as a function of the worst-performing panels annually, or from fluctuations in the levels of solar of the size of a solar installation and the after one or two decades. irradiation during the day, over seasons and passage of time. As a direct consequence, or due to weather fluctuations. fault prediction becomes a valuable Directing service teams to specific panels by-product of high-resolution, high- instead of lengthy field-based fault searches The bulk of solar performance monitoring sensitivity, continuous performance can further reduce the costs of this tools currently available are overly influenced monitoring of solar energy production. continuous performance up-grading. To by variations that reflect predominantly these significant savings, one can add no weather or the time of day. Our methodology https://en.lannesolaire.com/ need for biennial, infra-red, heat-sensing features data segregation and sequential drones flights for detection of hot spots; treatment to reduce dimensionality and Biography field-based IV-curve monitoring of individual computational intensity of the complex panels and field-based electro-luminescence data-sets being analyzed. Ian Humphery-Smith is CEO and assays one panel at a time. Founder of LanneSolaire a French As anyone who has examined DC/DC start-up that intends to modernise the It is important to note that no amount of optimiser or micro-inverter data for just a way solar energy facilities (SEFs) are extreme reliability testing can replace few dozen or more solar panels would have managed. In 2001, Ian featured in TIME effectively continuous monitoring of immediately noted, different solar panels Magazine’s ‘Top Digital 25’ for his work individual solar panels in the field. Notably, under-perform at different times of the day. on the next phase of the Human continuous monitoring facilitates informed For example, early-morning dew, wind, and Genome Project, namely, the decision making by project owners, solar rain can reveal under-performance linked to contribution of each gene and its various developers, and investors at all times. cabling and moisture infiltration thereof. protein products in health and disease. Like the arrangement of solar panels, To summarise, operational systems resilience However, the latter are most frequently this work focused on large numbers of can overcome the two most significant observed under lower light conditions and recombinant proteins immobilised in short-comings of solar power generation are thus heavily obscured by observations rows and columns located on biochips. today: an inherent lack of reliability and recorded at midday on sunny days. durability. Operational systems resilience LanneSolaire has protected intellectual functions by de-risking and better protecting About APsystems property covering computational solar energy investments. The latter are procedures designed to resolve increasingly linked to higher project costs due APsystems, the global leader in multi- highly-complex datasets derived from to their increased size and density of power modules microinverters for the solar potentially millions of individual solar generation, which is a higher Wp per solar industry, announced earlier this year that it panels. The approach allows for panel per unit area, plus the associated costs has surpassed 2 gigawatts (GW) of installed exquisitely-sensitive parallel detection of large-scale energy storage and or capacity to date in 2022. APsystems now of constant or intermittent levels of solar-tracking solutions. As a direct has more than 150,000 solar installation under-performance at utility-scale SEFs consequence, any short-falls in the level of sites in over 100 countries utilizing its or across hundreds of thousands of energy generation will in absolute terms cost groundbreaking microinverters and rapid roof-top installations. This process increasingly more per project. shutdown devices (RSDs). works independently of constantly- varying levels of solar irradiation during Elsewhere, silicon-based technologies are The company is now working on the launch the day, over seasons or due to weather. nearing their physical performance threshold of its 2nd Generation of native 3-phase It is based on the Internet of Things, due to the Shockley-Queisse black-body QUAD microinverter called the QT2. The more affordable Multi-Module Micro- limit of semiconductor band gaps, while the QT2 which will be available globally this Inverters, and data segmentation to price per Wp has plateaued at close to a summer is reaching unprecedented power reduce computational intensity. near-term bottom limit. Thus, reliability and outputs of 2000VA to adapt to today’s durability will take-on more importance as larger power PV module. the solar industry evolves. With balancing 3-phase output, encrypted Avoidance of down-time helps assure revenue ZigBee signals, the new QT2 is interactive generation and therefore can be justified as with power grids through a feature part of initial project CAPEX. Furthermore, the referred to as RPC (Reactive Power long-sought-after Holy Grail of avoidance of Control) to better manage photovoltaic unforeseen failure can become a reality for power spikes in the grid. In addition, it solar power generation through adoption of provides 97% peak efficiency with 20% operational systems resilience. Such a less components compared to the last deliverable should allow for lower insurance generation product. A 24/7 energy access premiums to protect, for example, 90% of through apps or web-based portal annual projected power generation. facilitate remote diagnosis and maintenance. at the module level. The QT2 Elimination of central and or string inverters benefits from an entirely new architecture overcomes the cost of their initial purchase and will be particularly adapted to and regular replacement. Multi-modules commercial PV rooftop projects. micro-inverters such as the one offered by WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 69

cetisPV- Celltest4-BF Two for one – true bifacial IV measurement in triple AAA+ quality • Applicable for all cell technologies, e.g. PERC, heterojunction, TOPcon, busbarless, bifacial cells • User-optimized contact station for solar cells up to 220 mm x 220 mm • Additional measurement options include integrated electroluminescence, hot-spot, grid resistance • Optionally available with thermal control for automated temperature-dependent measurements www.halm.de



TALKING POINT Off-grid: the dream, the reality, the plan Many of us dream of an idyllic lifestyle, far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. A place where your nearest neighbour could be miles away and you awaken each morning with clear skies and an awe-inspiring vista. Fully self-sufficient, you live off the earth, fully aware of the delicate balance of mother nature. Your ode to a healthier, naturalistic way of life, with little waste or negative impact on the planet. Whilst the former may be a little far- existence. Using less resource and having lifestyles are notoriously hectic and stressful. fetched for some, living off-grid is full control of your home, lifestyle, energy Throw in social media and the constant daily becoming very popular, especially so for and of course, no ties to corporates such as workload or consumer pressures and those who want to lower their carbon power and energy companies. suddenly the need to step out of the rat race footprint and lead a much more sustainable sounds like the perfect escape. Another reason is stress. Modern day 72 PES SOLAR

TALKING POINT Such is the drive to lessen these ties and get Of course, for many who have always lived in different way and this lends itself to reduced more connected to nature. Generating your remote or rural spots, it’s merely a way of life waste. The fast pace of modern life and the own electricity, pumping water, gathering that they have adapted to over decades. over consumption of resources must be wood, and even foraging. Of course, in this Living life, utilising the best in nature and scaled down to meet the supply of self- modern age of going off-grid, there are no combining it with modern day technology to generation and precious commodities if you set rules. You can choose how you want to further enhance the experience. live in an inaccessible or remote location. live and which modern luxuries you want to incorporate into your new life. The key benefits of going off the grid Enabling yourself to learn new skills and adopting a ‘repair’ rather than ‘replace’ The challenge of going off-grid, and it is a Sustainability mentality, alongside renewable sources for challenge, often leaves newcomers a little electricity and heating. Every aspect of the overwhelmed with the reality of their The amount of waste we generate, from environment benefits, from less landfill to situation. There is serious need to research coffee cups and packaging through to energy, the very air we breathe. and plan before ever taking a step into the are seriously excessive for so many of us. wilderness. Getting into the right headspace Being off-grid encourages a natural way to Wellbeing is essential as the change can simply be too reduce our carbon footprint and air pollution, much if you haven’t got the right knowledge supporting a much healthier lifestyle. Mental health and wellbeing are well or plan. supported and discussed, with huge By learning to become more self-sufficient, advancements in the everyday struggles that we appreciate consumables in a completely so many of us have. Busy schedules, pressures of social media and juggling that all important work/life balance. Even dealing with the isolation and stress of Covid-19 and the subsequent pandemic lockdowns has taken its toll in recent years. By re-connecting with nature and enjoying the great outdoors, you’ll reap the rewards for your mind, body and soul. Living off-grid brings health benefits through diet too. Organic, fresh produce that you’ve grown yourself is a truly wonderful way to sustain your family and eating alfresco takes on a whole new meaning. Community Of course, living off-grid doesn’t have to mean you are completely isolated. It’s a personal choice about where and how you live. Close neighbours and sustainable thriving communities can make off-grid living a joy, with deep friendships created. Bonds formed through a collective ethos and way of life, supporting your family and that of the community around you by working together. Money A major benefit is cost. If you live in a rural or remote location, it may simply be more cost effective to live off-grid as the financial outlay of connecting to the grid, can be so high. With off-grid, once you’ve made your initial investment and set up, it’s free energy with no bills or ties to the power grid. For most, ‘energy independence’ is something to aspire to. Of course, living in a rural or remote location often comes with fabulous scenery or views and the ‘clean air’ that we all crave so much. Around 1 million homes lived off-grid in 2010. This has risen to over 99 million in 2020. Forbes magazine has predicted over half of new electricity connections will be off-grid or mini grid by 2030. What about the basics? Location Choosing the right location is such an important part of grid planning. Consider the WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 73

TALKING POINT proximity to a natural water source you can Once you’ve worked out how much energy you to store the excess daytime solar power. tap into, or woodland if you are planning to you need, you’ll then need to plan how to So when the sun is shining, you are powering have a wood burner. The acreage or fertility of generate it. Location is a factor, as weather your home, but you’re also charging your the land can be crucial if you want to plant and and climate can make a big difference to battery. And when the sun goes in, the stored grow your own vegetables or raise animals. the type of energy generation methods energy in your battery gets to work powering you choose. your home. Insulation Often, a combination of energy sources such Soltaro’s ‘All In One’ combined energy Often overlooked, insulation is so important. as solar and a small wind turbine is a good storage system, the AIO2 is perfect for on- Plan your home so that you make the most of balance. If you are completely off-grid, you’re or off-grid living. Batteries work harder when southern facing windows to let natural light on your own. Any maintenance or repairs may completely off-grid, and many and heat in, whilst minimising colder, north mean you’re without power, so a backup is a manufacturers’ systems simply aren’t up to facing windows. truly sensible consideration. the task. The number, or size of batteries needed to power your home depends on Heat loss and planning your property to Solar PV is a very popular choice. But what factors like that of Solar PV. maximise heat retention is key. The more heat happens when the sun stops shining? Long, you can retain, the less you need to generate. dark winter days may see your electric needs Heating fall short. As solar only provides energy on a Power ‘use it or lose it’ platform, your generated Utilising electric heating certainly makes power stops when the sun goes in. sense if you’re going with Solar PV. However, Powering an off-grid home, depending on many homes choose to also utilise biomass where you live in the world, can vary. Solar PV with the addition of a storage or wood burners. Renewable options such as solar and wind are battery is a very efficient method. With the the front runners, with other popular choices right solar and battery storage option you Water & waste such as generators, geothermal or even can power an off-grid home comfortably. micro hydro. Accessing water should be your first point of The battery is fast becoming an essential call. Is there a natural water source? Can you Consider how much energy you are likely to part of your off-grid kit. Utilising it to store drill down and create a borehole? What need for everyday life. What about when excess generated energy allows you the about a rainwater collector? Whatever you friends stay? What devices do you need to freedom to enjoy additional luxuries. choose, don’t forget to calculate the extra operate the fundamentals such as heating, power needed to pump the water around lighting, water pumps etc. Adding a battery storage to your solar allows your home. 74 PES SOLAR

TALKING POINT You will need to purify your water source through tablets or boiling. Dealing with wastewater may not be the most attractive of challenges, but it’s an important one. If you aren’t connected to mains services, it’s an essential part of living off-grid. Final thoughts Generating and using power are one of the biggest challenges when living off-grid. Create a plan, and ensure you have the right equipment to make life comfortable. Battery storage with the Soltaro AIO2 is a flexible way to store your power, think of it as an isolated grid, and you can always expand it by adding another module if you need to. Maybe you’re not ready to take the plunge into off-grid completely? Many like the idea and benefits, but choose to go halfway with partial self-reliance, utilising the grid as their back up. This can only be considered where mains services are available, but it does give that all important flexibility if you don’t want to go the full way. For more information about going off-grid with battery storage, please visit www.soltaro.com WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 75

ASK THE EXPERTS Making sense of new energy opportunities An EKO engineer at the Ami Solar Park inspects an MS-80SH test unit With the economics of solar power looking increasingly favourable, there is a rush to invest and expand. PES was delighted to have a conversation with Kees Hoogendijk, Managing Director, EKO Instruments Europe. We discussed how sensor technology could help improve ROI and mitigate any potential imbalance in the supply and demand of experienced or qualified experts at a time of such rapid growth. 76 PES SOLAR

ASK THE EXPERTS PES: Thank you for taking the time to speak One of our most famous products is the features as the MS-80S, plus an integrated with me, Kees. You are a familiar name to MS-80 pyranometer. We launched it in 2016 high-efficiency solid-state dome heater, PES of course, but for the benefit of new and at the time it was the only ISO 9060:2018 continuing to build on our legacy of class and readers could you start with a brief Class A solar sensor on the market, in the top industry-leading solar sensors. introduction to EKO and what you do? tier fast-response and spectrally flat sub-categories. We’ve since launched the PES: We’re a few months into 2022 now, how Kees Hoogendijk: EKO Instruments was MS-80S, part of our S-Series range of elite have you been finding things recently? The founded in Japan 95 years ago and sensors with internal diagnostics and, solar industry is evolving fast isn’t it? develops industry-leading solar energy coming soon, the MS-80SH. sensors and scientific instruments for KH: The climate crisis, the pandemic, environmental research. The MS-80SH has all of the same S-Series Ukraine, the world is changing. Now is a time of significant risk and opportunity, with unclear outcomes. One thing, however, is clear; there is no going back. The solar industry is a fundamental part of the new energy balance that must be achieved globally and, despite the challenges, there is a lot to be optimistic about. Now more than ever, maximising yield, boosting or speeding up ROI on new and existing solar plants is crucial, and EKO has the solutions to help our customers achieve those goals. PES: Are there any particular changes and developments you are seeing? KH: We’ve used the last two years to study the needs and requirements of our customers, to analyse the market and available solutions. Pre-pandemic, and since, the single most industry-defining development is almost certainly the rapid proliferation of new solar applications, driven by, amongst other things, increased government support, falling costs, and improved efficiencies. Solar power has essentially proven itself. The economics of it are increasingly favourable, and this, in turn, has fuelled a new gold rush. While complicating global logistics, more recent events further strengthen the case for solar as a secure and independent energy source. PES: What does this mean for you as a manufacturer of solar energy sensors? KH: Rapid growth in any industry can lead to an imbalance in the supply and demand of experienced or even qualified experts. Our response to this challenge has been to make our products more accessible, more user-friendly, and easier to set up. Our STR sun trackers align themselves. Many of our S-Series sensors, including the MS-80S, feature a 4-channel digital and analog interface. The MS-90 Plus+, meanwhile, a top-rated product over the last year, is a compact, robust, total solar irradiance measurement solution and a cost-effective alternative to larger sun tracker-based options. PES: How has EKO been responding to these changes and new demands in terms of product development? KH: We looked again at what our customers need or may need in the near future. We looked at the available solutions and asked WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 77

ASK THE EXPERTS ourselves, how can we improve on them and easy to manage, install and part of the Kees Hoogendijk make this easier to use or more efficient? S-Series family of products with the same benefits and features. Our S-Series sensors, for example, all come Quality has always been a critical ingredient with Level A EMI/EMC electronic surge filters for EKO. Our designers and engineers take The MS-80SH is another example, adding an and protection and internal sensors, helping the idea of ‘Made in Japan’ and everything integrated, high-efficiency, solid-state dome to reduce the need for physical checks and that it means very seriously. heater to the already industry-leading maintenance. While the MS-80, MS-80S and features and characteristics of the fast- MS-80SH pyranometers all come with an The result is a new product like the MS-21 response and spectrally flat Class A MS-80S. industry-leading 5-year warranty and Pyrgeometer, designed for climate research The improved dew and frost resistance of the re-calibration period. applications, meteorology and scientific MS-80SH make it the standout choice for IEC studies, it employs a new thermal coupling 61724-1:2021 Class A monitoring and any Our products save our customers time and construction and has outstanding low thermal application relying on value, accuracy, speed money, speeding up ROI with unbeatable resistance. It measures in the IR range, beyond and reliability. accuracy and reliability. the Solar spectrum, and can be exposed to direct sunlight without any problems. PES: Cost is always an important factor of PES: How do you ensure that the course, so is there a particular demand for diagnostics and overall performance are not Or the MS-10S and MS-11S, our next- accurate, cost-saving alternatives to larger compromised though? generation UVA and UVB radiometers with solar monitoring stations? long-term UV stability that’s far superior to KH: The simple answer is hard work. Our past technologies. Part of our S-Series range KH: Of course. Higher costs increase the engineers are constantly refining the designs of solar monitoring solutions the MS-10S and amount of time needed to achieve positive of our products throughout development. MS-11S also come with internal diagnostics ROI. Every project or application, whether We spend time with our partners and for remote visibility over internal commercial or academic, public or private, suppliers to ensure that the parts we use are temperature, humidity, tilt and roll angle, plus must be conscious of cost. That’s why we the best they can be, that our construction the same 4-channel smart interface as the have developed solutions like the MS-90 methods are the best they can be; nothing is Class A MS-80S pyranometer, making them Plus+, for example, ideal for solar resource left to chance. compatible with 99% of data loggers, DAQ assessment or PV monitoring applications and SCADA systems. where a larger solar sensor monitoring In 2013, EKO became the first ISO/IEC 17025 station may not be possible. certified solar sensor manufacturer in the We’ve also re-invented the EKO sunshine world, helping to validate and maintain the duration sensor, with the MS-09S now based But it’s not just about alternatives. We’ve highest standards in calibration and testing. on EKO’s universal sensor design; it doesn’t prioritised build quality and accuracy to offer Today, we are still the only solar sensor need to be calibrated and has no orientation, our customers the best solution for their manufacturer to own and operate our own angular or detector temperature needs. Sensors that are built to last. solar parks, an invaluable test-bed for dependency. It is, however, compact, light, research and product development. STR-22G Sun Tracker & MS-57 Pyrheliometers at IPC 2021 in Davos, Switzerland PES: Is sensor technology evolving at a similar pace to the solar industry, or perhaps it’s even faster? KH: I think we are in a period of refinement now. When we launched the MS-80 in 2016, that really was a revolution in pyranometer design and construction. Six years later, and we are only now starting to see the lessons of that leap forward across the industry in the use of single domes and quartz diffusers on Class A sensors, for example. EKO, however, won’t rest on its laurels. The solar industry’s rapid growth is throwing up new challenges and requirements and our 78 PES SOLAR

ASK THE EXPERTS goal, as always, is to continue producing is something even more sleek, intelligent continue to make more of our products industry-leading solutions to meet them. and cost-effective likely? based on this design. PES: What are some of the main KH: I mentioned the MS-09S earlier and our PES: What do you anticipate the main developments you have been involved new universal sensor design. Besides clever requests from your customers will be as the with and have seen since the last time optical solutions, and smarter features, this demand for solar grows? we spoke in 2021? really is the best answer or example that I can offer, because we are doing it already. KH: Accessibility, connectivity, and improved KH: Besides the products I’ve already data visualisation. That is to say, apps, mentioned, we’ve also developed a range In 2019 we pledged to reduce our plastic use. software, and even greater ease of use; of IV measurement instruments and The pledge was mainly targeted at helping our customers to access, see and recently introduced the PV-Blocks PV packaging, and we have made big changes, make use of the data from their sensors. Evaluation System. introducing a completely plastic-free design for our pyranometer boxes. I also expect increasing demand for data as a PV-Blocks is a unique, customisable solution service, automation and AI-based features in for testing experimental PV technologies like However, we also asked ourselves how we the next 5 to 10 years, particularly for site Perovskite, Hybrid, Organic, and high- could be more efficient and if we could make management and maintenance. capacity Bi-Facial modules out in the field. It cost savings that we could, in turn, pass on to connects pyranometers, sun trackers, customers. This is where the universal PES: Are you optimistic that you will be able pyrheliometers, spectroradiometers and sensor design idea came from. to match these needs? other meteorological products to maximise PV research applications and can scale to The MS-09S Sunshine Duration Sensor, the KH: That’s the mission. test multiple modules in parallel. MS-10S and MS-11S UVA and UVB radiometers, the MS-40S Class C eko-eu.com I’m always excited to offer or bring a solution Pyranometer, the Class B MS-60S, and Class A to the market that takes advantage of the MS-80S all employ the same universal design. * The MS-80SH Class A Pyranometer with synergy between our different products to They all use the same sunshield design and fit integrated dome heater, the MS-09S solve a clear challenge for our customers or in the same plastic-free packaging. Sunshine Duration Sensor, and the MS-10S do something new for them. UVA and MS-11S UVB Radiometers are EKO’s universal sensor design is modelled on currently in development, due to release PES: Looking to the future then, what do our flagship, elite, Class A MS-80 in 2022. you think that looks like for sensor design, pyranometer, and we have made and will WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 79

CORPORATE FOCUS Prevention is better than cure Video surveillance provides an excellent deterrent against intruders on solar farms. Just as the technology never switches off, neither does the research and production of the systems themselves, particularly when it’s in such high demand. Providing remote video monitoring for solar so it’s a busy business, where any downtime coverage over a widespread area, are now farms is a 24/7 operation so it’s perhaps is most often spent researching, developing quite commonly used. Monitoring these only fitting that the production of the and refining ideas to make such systems cameras is, of course, just as important as monitoring systems themselves should be even better. having them there at all and this is where the just as seamless. round-the-clock remote surveillance really As the popularity of green energy has comes into its own. The development of these systems requires increased significantly in recent years, so a distinct level of expertise and innovation, solar farm security is becoming increasingly The growing demand for such surveillance so keeping the entire process from initial more important as time goes on. Often systems for solar and wind farms has ideas phase through to final manufacture and located in remote areas, where there are no certainly been witnessed by Kooi, which in even rental under one roof makes sense. This passers-by that can spot unwanted guests the last decade has assembled and is a market that is already in demand and or act as a deterrent, solar farm security configured over 2,300 remote video likely to become even more so in the future, camera towers, with a good and clear monitoring systems at its Netherlands headquarters. Here, everything is contained under one roof, with a research and development department, an own EN50518- certified alarm centre and production department all operating side by side. Anyone visiting the Drachten base will be met with row upon row of camera systems in front of the building, packaged up and ready to be sent off into the world, to play their part in making sure the risk of theft from and vandalism of solar parks is minimised. All in the planning Before they get here though, an awful lot of planning will have already taken place. All the systems are assembled and configured in the Production department without which the UFO (Unit For Observation) of Kooi would be nothing more than a frame with empty control boxes. The planning always needs to be on spot, day by day and week after week. Where necessary, adjustments are made by upscaling or downscaling the production capacity and these decisions are all ultimately in the hands of Production Planner Sido Kiestra. He not only takes care of the purchasing of the materials, he also makes 80 PES SOLAR

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CORPORATE FOCUS movement, immediately sending a notification to the emergency room to keep sure the work that has to be done is prepared, solar farms safe and sound day and night, before passing the baton on to workshop whatever the location. manager Wieger Paulus and his team, to assemble all the different systems ready Year-round productivity for configuration. While the company is now active in lots of The Production department produces new sectors, it remains true to its roots. ‘Kooi systems almost all year round, but in any originally started out with the rental of productivity dips, staff are still kept busy, camera units to secure windmill construction helping with maintenance and service. sites and securing solar parks is still an ‘Customers who rent a UFO can trust on important industry for the company,’ our reliable service and support. That is explains Sido. why 24 hours a day, seven days a week our ‘That’s why we developed the UFO Medium. people are active in making sure the This type of UFO is specifically produced to systems work properly.’ secure solar parks. It has a detection angle up to 360 degrees, a detection length of 40 And what about recent world events? How to 100 meters and needs a power supply.’ has the pandemic affected production The solar farm security cameras are levels? According to Sido, despite Covid-19 connected to an Alarm Center that is Kooi’s fleet of camera systems grew. ‘At the manned by security specialists 24/7 and the Production Department we did notice the observation units are designed to detect consequences of the pandemic and the supply of parts from China is often faltering,’ 82 PES SOLAR he admits. ‘But at the same time, we benefit from extra systems that we now rent out.’ Adapt to grow So what does the future hold for this market and how important is it to keep that fluid relationship between research, development and production? It’s yet to be seen whether demand remains as strong as it currently is, or whether it will peak and trough. That’s why it pays to always be prepared. ‘The fact that the Production department can quickly anticipate changing market demands is valuable,’ comments Wieger. ‘It saves stock, which saves space. However, when the demand for a specific product suddenly increases, production can quickly switch to a new mode and focus on that product. ‘Anticipation is absolutely the major strength of our department.’ www.kooi.com

PES ESSENTIAL Five ways to reduce truck rolls While installing a solar system is the first step in going solar, maintenance is also a big part of keeping the system running well. That’s where the concept of truck roll comes in. But these instances in which a technician needs to be dispatched can be expensive endeavours. Hoymiles has microinverter distributors across truck rolls are those that require hands-on Opportunity costs the globe, helping to reach local installers before troubleshooting, like electrical repairs or the products safely arrive and are securely physical installations that are best handled by a The aforementioned labour costs are installed for the end-user. Reducing truck rolls professional. For PV installations, truck rolls compounded by the fact technicians are often and ensuring efficiency is therefore of great can happen when any of the components in a pulled away from other tasks to complete a importance. Generally speaking, there are ways system malfunction or break down. truck roll. If the organisation is small or has to to reduce truck rolls in the first place. Though make do with limited manpower, this can be a some are unavoidable, most organisations can What are the hidden costs of a truck roll? great concern. Every hour a technician spends significantly reduce the number of times truck traveling to and from a customer location is an rolls are necessary, and in turn, improve the Truck rolls are, in general, extremely hour they’re not available to work on profitability and efficiency of their field service. inefficient. While they can certainly solve a something else, and these costs can add up. customer’s problem, they also result in What is a truck roll? wasted time and money for the organisation. Vehicle costs Simply put, a truck roll is when a technician is In particular, truck rolls result in added labour, Vehicle costs are another hidden expense dispatched to a customer’s location to carry customer churn and vehicle costs. They also associated with truck rolls. Cars, vans, and out a service. This could be anything from increase customer churn while decreasing trucks require gas, maintenance and insurance, troubleshooting a minor issue to completing customer satisfaction. all of which can add up over time. And if a a repair. technician is using their personal vehicle for a Labour costs truck roll, which is common in smaller Most customer support queries can be companies, this can result in added inefficiency handled over the phone or via online chat, The time the technician spends traveling to and because of time spent writing rebate requests and indeed, these are often the preferred from customer locations represents a and completing other paperwork. methods of contact, both for customer significant added cost of labour. This is convenience and for company profitability. especially true if they need to make multiple Customer churn However, there are times when phone or trips in order to resolve an issue. In addition, in internet assistance isn’t enough. In these contrast to telephone or online support, there is Lastly, poor customer satisfaction outcomes instances, a technician needs to be physically also a higher cost associated with the time staff often associated with truck rolls can lead to sent to site to help. spend at the job site. Technicians, as opposed to higher customer churn. support specialists, are often professionals with The most common technical issues demanding years of experience in their field, and expect to In the real world, customers are often less be compensated accordingly. forgiving than when using telephone or chat WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 83

PES ESSENTIAL support; scheduling, delays, and logistical so technicians visit customers in the same availability, and location. issues can lead to delayed service for geographic areas. This will minimise the customers. And unfortunately, even a small amount of time they need to spend traveling, This, of course, helps ensure that tickets are delay increases the odds that a customer will which can make up the lion’s share of expenses. routed to the most appropriate technician, take their business elsewhere. which can significantly reduce the number of There are several ways to reduce truck roll truck rolls and their associated expenses. Five ways to reduce truck rolls costs. One popular method is bundling Rather than bloating truck roll costs with long customers together into ‘clusters,’ which are onsite visits, the technician can get it done Fortunately, truck rolls can be minimised in groups of customers located within 50 or right and in a shorter period of time. just a few simple steps. perhaps 100 miles of each other. Empower customers with self-service tools Take the system to module-level The cluster distance can be tailored to suit monitoring the nature of the company. For example, a Self-service tools allow customers to retailer might have clusters that are much troubleshoot and resolve common issues on For PV systems, it can be quite annoying if smaller than a manufacturer. their own, without needing to contact a the underperforming module can’t be support team. Whether through help articles, identified, especially with string systems, Use a comprehensive knowledge base to FAQs, or instructional videos, the idea behind where each string of PV modules shares consolidate information self-service is to give customers the one inverter and centralized systems, information they need to help themselves. where one inverter is installed for the A comprehensive knowledge base is an Though not every problem is solvable without whole array of modules. essential tool for any technician. It should dedicated technical support, the burden on include not only step-by-step instructions service staff can be significantly reduce by Hoymiles specialises in module-level power for resolving common issues, but also letting customers help themselves. electronics (MLPE), so its microinverter can information on that customer’s particular easily break the whole system down to device or system, including model numbers, How much can be saved by reducing truck rolls? module level. This is extremely efficient software versions, and past service calls. because, with the help of its S-Miles Cloud The exact savings to be made by reducing platform, users are able to review how each It’s an unfortunate reality that many truck rolls truck rolls will vary depending on the specific PV module is performing. By accessing data require repeated visits to the customer’s organisation and the services it provides. in a secure and user-friendly way, valuable location, as the technician attempts to resolve However, if truck rolls can be reduced by even insights can be generated for support teams the issue. A comprehensive knowledge base 20% across the entire field service operation, and technicians, so owners can make can help reduce this need, as it allows the the savings can be significant. informed decisions about their solar technician to troubleshoot and resolve system’s operation and management. common issues from afar. Assuming an average cost of a truck roll is around $250, and the number of service calls This way, either the technical issue can be Depending on the size of the company, this per week in a given region is 10, a 20% detected at an early stage and solved may take the form of enterprise resource reduction in truck roll frequency translates to immediately or the wealth of information can planning (ERP) software, a self-service portal, over $26,000 annually. That’s a significant help technicians analyse any problems or a cloud-based knowledge management chunk of change that can be reinvested back efficiently and thus one visit to the location system. Whatever the method, a into the business, or used to improve will do. With enough information on hand, comprehensive knowledge base is an customer service and satisfaction in that area. data can be collected to identify what is essential part of any technician’s toolkit. wrong, without having to visit the site. One final note; considering the time and Automate ticket routing and assignment money invested in problem-solving on the Remote visual support as an alternative user’s part, when all signs show that the If technicians are still being assigned manually, problem cannot be solved remotely, Hoymiles Remote visual support (RVS) refers to the use it’s time for an upgrade. Automating ticket would arrange a product replacement based of technology to provide a technician with a routing and service call delegation is faster, on the warranty policy, as it always wants the view of the customer’s device or system, more cost-efficient, and scalable. It means best cost-effectiveness for its customers. without needing to be onsite. This can be using technology to automatically determine done in a number of ways, including using which technician should be assigned to a www.hoymiles.com video chat, screen-sharing software, or even particular service call, based on their skills, just photographing the issue. RVS is often an excellent alternative to dispatching a technician, as it removes the majority of travel expenses and ensures the technician’s time is spent solving the issue. This also benefits the customer, as they’re able to resolve the problem without having to wait for a technician to physically arrive. At Hoymiles, when PV microinverters are not functioning well, users need to do small tests, and the results will be carefully diagnosed so that any problems can be solved on a remote basis, instead of sending technicians to the location. Optimise scheduling Instead of eliminating truck rolls altogether, pre-existing ones can be optimised to reduce both labour and vehicle costs in truck rolls. A rule of thumb, try to schedule appointments 84 PES SOLAR

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CORPORATE FOCUS The sun plays architect Austrian-based company my-PV has been successfully developing smart technology for the intelligent use of solar energy for over a decade. Now the company has moved into its new headquarters in Sierning, the design of which was unmistakably inspired by the sun. The PIKO CI commercial inverter from KOSTAL forms part of this pioneering project, demonstrating its capabilities on large scale projects. If form follows function, the my-PV GmbH surfaces. Light-coloured window frames and himself sized the wooden studs of the building can be described as stylistically covers for the blinds contrast with black PV low-energy building in a way that would allow successful and yet uncompromisingly and deep brown façade timbers. photovoltaics to be perfectly integrated. oriented towards self-sufficiency. Photovoltaics were installed as a style- The south-facing pitch roof with an average What does my-PV do? defining element on all façades, including the incline is covered with four large and four north side. They divide the façade surface in smaller photovoltaic panels parallel to the my-PV is dedicated to indoor heating a strict geometric fashion, alternating with roof. In total, the building envelope provides generated with solar electricity and so is vertical wooden cladding and window 100 kilowatt-peak PV power for self- taking a step beyond hot water preparation. sufficiency. The founder of the company The idea is becoming increasingly important 86 PES SOLAR

CORPORATE FOCUS and confirms my-PV’s strap line ‘cables links my-PV GmbH with KOSTAL Solar very successfully with many inverter and rather than pipes’. With growth rates of 50% Electric GmbH. electricity storage manufacturers. For many per year and international sales, including years now, we have also established close some outside Europe, my-PV is enjoying When deployed in a single-family home, personal ties with KOSTAL, during training huge success in the market. my-PV is happy to use information on the courses and presentations. It was clear to us surplus power provided by KOSTAL inverters. that these inverters would work in our new Faith in technology ‘This presents real added value and benefit to premises,’ explains Hofstätter. our customers,’ explains product manager For many years, my-PV has relied on open Reinhard Hofstätter. Performance and efficiency for interfaces and collaborations based on commercial applications partnerships with many component So it is not surprising that new commercial manufacturers in the PV industry. A inverters handle DC conversion in the In 2020, KOSTAL Solar Electric GmbH particularly long and strong partnership company’s new premises. ‘We collaborate presented its new inverter series for commercial applications, available in two sizes: with 30 and 50/60 kW. In 2021, these were integrated into the energy concept of my-PV low-energy commercial building, which is trend-setting both in terms of its architecture and energy sourcing. The above-average range of functions, great intelligence, extensive communication options, reliability and ergonomics won the company over. Thomas Garber, Product Manager at KOSTAL Industrie Elektrik and the person responsible for the new inverter, says, ‘The PIKO CI is the first commercial inverter from KOSTAL in this power class. It is in great demand throughout Europe. So it is of course all the nicer that my-PV chose it when planning its new premises.’ Thanks to their protective class IP65 and a tested temperature range of -25°C to +60°C, the inverters could be installed outside the building. ‘Space-saving for the interior and accessible at all times,’ Thomas Garber emphasises. ‘PIKO CI devices are designed WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 87

CORPORATE FOCUS for 50% overcrowding on the DC side. If more Independent, even in transitional periods even when the sun is low, apart from the PV power is needed in the company’s new north side, where the photovoltaics take on premises in the future, the setup can be The 100 kilowatt-peak photovoltaic capacity more of a representative character. easily expanded.’ is allocated over the floor space of more than 800 m² in the low-energy building, so the The south-facing pitch roof was covered with Integrated circuit breakers that can be company headquarters can itself generate photovoltaics parallel to the roof, which is controlled externally are also integrated into enough electricity for consumption and heat, very conducive to the overall impression of every inverter, so expensive external circuit even in the transitional period. the building structure and PV maintenance. breakers no longer have to be installed. An The total electricity generation is enough to efficiency of 98% rounds off the performance The photovoltaics integrated into the façade also supply electric vehicles for employees. package of the inverters, an important aspect in all orientations deliver good performance for my-PV GmbH as an expert in storing 12 AC•THOR devices for maximum photovoltaic surplus electricity in the form of self-sufficiency heat in order to achieve a maximum degree of self-sufficiency. The anticipated self-sufficiency in the new headquarters should be around 52% thanks to Keeping energy in the building the photovoltaics and AC•THOR control. This is a good value considering that there is no The my-PV technology focuses on efficiency electricity storage installed in the building. through high self-consumption and use of A total of 12 AC•THOR devices manage the surplus energy through storage in the form efficient use of self-generated solar power. of heat. As little as possible of the self- generated solar power should be fed into the ‘Electricity storage systems are regularly grid. ‘Our philosophy is to keep as much integrated into the building network, but only self-generated electricity in the building as for test purposes. my-PV systems store possible. Self-generated green electricity is surplus electricity from photovoltaic valuable and, in our opinion, should be kept in systems in the form of heat. This brings the the building under all circumstances. benefit of much lower costs compared with electricity storage systems,’ explains ‘This is the principle of our AC•THOR and Reinhard Hofstätter. our heating rod technology. Feeding electricity into the public grid can only be The my-PV premises show how the energy the very last option for buildings, if only to transition can succeed both in terms of avoid overloading the grids,’ explains architecture and energy. The use of KOSTAL Reinhard Hofstätter. inverters underlines the desire for efficiency and high functionality. In the company’s new premises, the floor slab functions as a heat reservoir. Surplus kostal-solar-electric.com electricity is fed via electric heating loops into the concrete, which is charged with heat, my-pv.com slowly releasing it again at night. ‘The system is an energy storage system for surplus electricity. It is low-maintenance and highly efficient. This energy is now reliably supplied by the inverter.’ 88 PES SOLAR

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ASK THE EXPERTS Vegetation management now occurs anytime, day or night Renu Robotics, based in San Antonio, Texas, has developed innovative autonomous technology for the solar and energy industries, including an all-electric vehicle that can mow during the day or night, cutting vegetation management costs and carbon emissions. PES spoke to CEO Tim Matus to find out more. 92 PES SOLAR

ASK THE EXPERTS Tim Matus PES: Tim, it’s good to talk to you again. Last of year. Even before the pandemic, labor time we interviewed you was late last shortages, reliability issues, damages, safety Summer, 2021, so we’re eager to hear about and environmental concerns were constant how Renu Robotics has been growing and problems, so the Renubot has become the the latest on the company. preferred solution. Tim Matus: Thank you and it’s great to talk to Our Generation-3 all-electric fully PES again. Yes, we’ve been growing at an autonomous vehicle is designed specifically accelerated rate since we last spoke and have for precision vegetation management on been busy fulfilling orders for existing solar plants and other energy facilities. customers and talking to new ones. We’re Real-time Kinematic GPS provides horizontal now four years old, have more than doubled accuracy within one centimeter or less than in size and our primary core market remains an inch. The Renubot is safe, reliable, can US utility-scale solar power plants. We’re mow during the day or night and significantly operating in 14 states and will be in 17 by cuts vegetation management costs and autumn. When we talk to new customers, one carbon emissions. of the first things they say to us is ‘We wish you guys had been around years ago.’ The fact the Renubot can mow at night has been a game changer for some O&M As the solar industry continues to grow and managers, since it has never been done expand, so do the annual problems of before. They like the fact the grass can be vegetation management, especially this time mown at night in a certain sector of the facility, before crews arrive in the morning for maintenance or repairs. These are all major performance points new customers are interested in learning more about initially. We’ve developed artificial intelligence for autonomous navigation and multiple sensors for situational awareness. There are a number of other technological and communications capabilities that make it an autonomous vehicle unlike anything on the market today. PES: So with your current growth, what has Renu learned collectively from its experiences in the field and how has that translated into the bot’s performance and capability? TM: We like to say Renu Robotics has an end-to-end understanding of vegetation management and how to meet utility solar plants’ various needs, while increasing safety. As you know, every solar site is different in its design and specifications, so Renubot’s ability to navigate precisely is a prerequisite, especially on utility-scale solar power plants, considering the limited space between the rows of panels and the wiring underneath. The Renubot has a streamlined body frame that is only 28 inches high, to safely mow under panels and solar site infrastructure. It’s powered by a sizeable lithium battery, so its weight is optimized by utilizing the latest battery storage techniques and rapid- charging capabilities, extending performance through seasonal changes and cutting requirements. It can mow an estimated 100 acres or more per month. Each day the bot can mow six to seven acres during a six-hour cycle on a full charge. A couple of other notable features include when its lidar detects something in its path, whether it’s a ladder or equipment workers may have left behind, the bot stops, can go around it as well as wait for the object to be removed. It can mow a 15-degree incline easily, go through ditches and has a self- WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 93

ASK THE EXPERTS adjusting mowing deck, from 1.5 inches to period and when it completes its cycle, it for charging. A customer can add 9.5 inches for rocky or uneven terrain. returns to its Recharge Pod to replenish its converters for a quicker charging cycle, up battery and can receive software updates to six, in fact. But a pod with three Its innovative features include artificial there or in the field from Mission Control. converters is typical and its electrical setup intelligence and machine learning that can be either standard AC or DC or both, controls energy usage optimization, Mission Control is at Renu’s corporate depending on the electrical availability. self-diagnostics and operational area setup. offices, where technicians continuously The bot’s enhanced environmental monitor, control and update the bots in the If that’s a problem, Renu has also designed assessment capability will allow it to utilize field. From a sales standpoint, we offer either and built its own solar skid that can be data so it can learn and assess the ownership or a lease model, giving customers deployed anywhere, regardless of how topography it travels. flexibility. But when they compare what remote the facility is in a carbon-free and they’re currently paying for vegetation stand-alone configuration. That’s another As we like to say, as the world’s use of management, owning a fleet of Renubot environmentally friendly point, because renewable energy increases toward a makes fiscal sense. owners and operators will never have to carbon-free economy, the Renubot is great worry about fuel spills again. for the environment and certainly helps in the So that’s the overview of the RaaS model, but fight against climate change. allow me to explain some components in The other critical piece we’ve built in the more detail. RaaS model is Mission Control. The operation PES: We noticed on your website that continuously monitors, controls and updates you’ve also expanded the company’s The Recharge Pod is 11 feet long and 7.5 feet the bots in the field. System access can allow capabilities. Your Recharge Pod and Mission wide. It’s five feet in height, so the bot has for security checks, software updates and Control rounds out a complete system for plenty of room and it’s tall enough that if adjusting maintenance schedules. the bot, is that correct? someone needs to get in for some reason they can crouch and enter the pod. It weighs Mission Control gives owners and operators TM: Yes, that’s right. It’s like an ecosystem about 1,200 pounds and we coordinate with peace of mind with a secure and encrypted for the autonomous vehicle. We’ve customers so there’s a flat level surface data flow, allowing for a high-level overview responded to customers’ requests on how where the pod will sit, preferably on concrete of their facilities’ maintenance plan. Renubot can be a turn-key solution for their or a gravel base. Whenever it’s convenient, asset owners and solar or energy facility and, at the same time, O&M providers can monitor performance, have continuous oversight and data When the bot approaches the pod the doors location and schedules with computers, collection that benefits their facility. are open and the bot slowly enters, tablets or cell phones. connecting the charge contacts on the back Think about it this way: you’ve heard of a of the bot and near the base of the pod to This center also allows for automatic SaaS model for software, but we’ve built a recharge in an eight-hour period or less reporting, triggering of alerts and allowing RaaS model, Robot As A Service. until the next cycle. The pod provides for text or email messages to be sent to any protection in all climates and is normally device. Mission Control is also linked to a Our system is complete with the Renubot equipped with three individual converters Service Management System, allowing for a mowing in the field anytime in a 24-hour 94 PES SOLAR

ASK THE EXPERTS ‘Think about it this way: you’ve heard of a SaaS model for software, but we’ve built a RaaS model, Robot As A Service.’ seamless transition for ‘trouble tickets’ 2018, the boom in interest in autonomous and measures, cleaning, inspection or security. and maintenance repair documentation. electric cars was rapidly rising and the cost of When we’re talking to customers we’re also the technology had dropped dramatically. asking, ‘what do you need a bot to do for your You could say our RaaS model is taking Lidar and battery technology, though still facility?’ Sometimes the discussion is similar vegetation management to an entirely costly, had reached a point where it made the to the concepts I’ve mentioned and new level. opportunity and new business feasible. sometimes they’re not, but in the end, we’ll make market-driven decisions. PES: It certainly sounds like it. And with the We’re fortunate to be a part of it and are growth of the solar industry in North working hard to maintain our growth trajectory. As far as the Recharge Pod is concerned, America and worldwide, your market is future development may center around exponentially expanding, isn’t it? PES: So as busy as you’ve been since we last anything from standardizing AC/DC charging spoke, what’s next for Renu Robotics and capabilities to aesthetic design changes. TM: No doubt about that. The US solar what’s on the horizon? industry alone has a million acres of fields to Mission Control will have the most extensive maintain right now. Depending on the TM: As we work hard to serve our existing future expansion, from enhanced reporting projection, the growth of the solar industry in customer base and fulfill new orders, we’re and mapping to video and image capture North and South America, Europe and always looking ahead. All areas of the RaaS from the Renubot. There will also be far more worldwide is expanding rapidly. model I’ve described will continue to evolve. data collection possibilities to help O&M managers. Another aspect will be more We have been so fortunate in that the timing There are several ideas being discussed real-time communications and chat for Renu Robotics was perfect, in retrospect. about the future of Renubot. Most ideas capabilities between operators and a It’s as if the solar wave continues to gather range from possible tracks to concepts facility’s O&M staff. momentum. About the time we started in dealing with other vegetation management So as you can tell, we’re not only solving problems in the field, but Mission Control is giving owners and operators more confidence with a secured and encrypted data flow about their facilities’ maintenance. Overall, more and more asset owners and O&M managers are realizing that Renubot can cut maintenance costs significantly and give them an invaluable carbon-free solution to their annual maintenance issues. A couple other points about Renu’s future. We have already entered other market verticals that we’ll be happy to discuss with anyone or company interested once we have non-disclosure agreements in place. On the investment front, we are considering a Series A investment sometime in the future to serve the expanding utility-scale solar power industry and other verticals as well. PES: Tim, thank you again for your time and telling us about Renu Robotics and the Robot As A Service model. You and your team really are putting innovation to work in solar and other industries. Good luck to you and Renu in the future. TM: Thank you for the opportunity to discuss our recent growth and where Renu Robotics is headed. We believe our future’s bright and we’re looking forward to helping solar, energy and various other industries grow and prosper. I look forward to catching up again in the future. www.renubot.com WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 95

THINK TANK Cutting through with cell technology Despite the promising market outlook for solar energy due to the increasing global demand for alternative energy, PV manufacturers face numerous challenges. They must strive to lower their production costs while enhancing the efficiency and quality of their solutions. To keep ahead of the stiff competition, market players are poised to adapt their technology to constantly changing needs. Both silicon raw materials and wafers are 166mm and 182mm silicon wafers became a component solder stacking techniques in affected by exploding costs, with silicon common size in the market. 182mm and recent years. By applying this technology, the wafer prices in particular a key factor for PV 210mm-sized cells are expected to become currently common values for spacing modules. Rising costs for their raw materials the major segments in the near future. between the cells have been reduced from are the driving force behind the trend 2-5mm to 2-0.5 mm. towards large-sized silicon wafers, which Improving module efficiency is an effective allow for lower production costs. In 2021, tool for reducing module prices. Many This change decreases the redundant area manufacturers have introduced different of the cells while improving the efficiency of Fig. 1: Illustration of TLS principle the modules as the gaps between the cells in the modules are enabled to generate electricity, and reduce the power density and electricity costs. Cell cutting fueling recent advances in PV manufacturing In recent years, cutting solar cells into half cells has become a key strategy for PV manufacturing by enabling remarkable gains in power output and mechanical strength at the module level. This trend has been accompanied by the switch to larger full-cell formats and the related increase in module power ratings1. Cutting cells into half and third-cells or even shingles compensates for the increased power loss associated with the higher cell currents from larger wafer areas. Thus, ensuring that cell cutting remains at the heart of PV manufacturing for the foreseeable future. Cutting layouts ranging from half- to shingled cells without compromising throughput or yield TLS is a well-known process that came from the micro-electronics industry. The process 96 PES SOLAR

THINK TANK Fig. 2: Comparison of separation edges: left a laser-processed edge with subsequent breaking, right a TLS edge is well established in cutting half-cells, There, a fissure can be introduced that is coatings or depositions. working with leading manufacturers for independent of any possible grain boundaries many years. or preferred breakage directions. Current industry-standard modules with cut cells are produced with a half-cell layout which The TLS process is a damage-free laser Advantages of TLS for cell separation requires a cut in the middle of the cell. In this dicing technique for brittle materials such as layout the modules benefit from a higher silicon, silicon carbide, and gallium arsenide. Compared to conventional separation efficiency. By using TLS the electrical It relies on the application of a defined and technologies, TLS impresses with its clean, characteristics are further optimized. The controlled stress field imposed by a micro-crack-free edges. No crystal damage separated cells have up to 40 percent higher laser-based heating and subsequent cooling. occurs on the separation edge, damage mechanical strength compared to ablative Thus, a crack is guided through the entire cell which is otherwise common to date due to laser processes and enable a lower power and two half-cells are obtained. the displacement of re-solidified silicon in degradation over the solar module’s life cycle. the ablation region. Because TLS is a cleaving process, an initial With the next generation of modules, the scribe, or I-scribe, is required to give the As opposed to laser cutting, no bulging and so-called shingling modules, the benefits of separation a well-defined starting point. no formation of particles occur, because the TLS cut cells are gaining momentum. However, this I-scribe is significantly smaller substrate is merely heated and not Shingling modules not only guarantee an compared to conventional scribes for vaporized. The mechanical stability of TLS even higher efficiency and module power subsequent mechanical breaking. In fact, it is processed solar cells is significantly greater output compared to half-cell modules, but only a few micrometers deep, wide and long. than conventionally processed solar cells. are especially interesting for rooftop The process leaves no residue. applications due to their aesthetic look. After this initial scribe, the substrate is However, a shingling module architecture heated locally by a laser and subsequently This leads to a significant higher module power requires the cells to be cut in multiple strips. cooled down by a mist of DI water. A stress gain of at least 2W and less module power field comprised of tensile and compressive degradation. The innovative cooling process One cut is needed for half-cell modules and stresses is generated by skillfully enables a faster temperature take-out than any up to five cuts for shingling modules. By superimposing the heated and cooled area. other process which leads to best results on increasing the number of cuts, the contour- silicon layers and further temperature sensitive to-area-ratio is enhanced at the same time. This affects both the mechanical and Fig. 3: The enhanced contour-to-area-ratio of ever-smaller cell strips makes the edge quality a crucial factor in electrical characteristics of the separated choosing the right cutting technology cell stripes. In general, this results in higher recombination losses at the cutting edge of the solar cell. Therefore, the effects of the cutting technology are more significant when the number of cell cuts rise. Due to the perfect edge quality resulting from the TLS process, the edge recombination is significantly reduced compared to laser scribe and break processes2. In addition, applying a post-metallization process, also referred to as ‘edge passivation’, can further reduce the recombination losses at the cutting edge and may therefore be an ideal solution for the shingling concept for highest performance increase. Results from Fraunhofer ISE’s patented Passivated Edge Technology (PET) on TLS cut cells show that TLS separated shingle strips can regain half the loss that is induced WWW.PESSOLAR.COM 97

THINK TANK Fig 4: The new microcell MCS laser cutting system by 3D-Micromac. The new tool enables highest throughputs of more than 6,000 wafers per hour by using TLS due to separation with an increase in pFF of Two major advantages of the TLS process requirements alter the landscape of the PV up to +0.7%abs. This gives TLS a clear are the flexibility and reproducibility when it industry. Especially with the shift to larger advantage in comparison to the laser scribe comes to switching between different cell cell sizes such as M10 and M12 and the and break approach. types. The system is especially suitable for subsequent need to cut the cells in 2 or solar cells with temperature-sensitive more pieces, the requirement for a high Furthermore, it proves that a low damage coatings or depositions such as quality cell cutting process has become separation process with smooth edges such heterojunction technology (HJT) cells, even more important. as TLS is required to completely benefit from TOPCon cells as well as perovskite tandem the advanced edge passivation process. The cells, which are expected for commercial use 3D-Micromac has cemented its technology Fraunhofer ISE Passivated Edge Technology in three to four years. leadership by adapting its innovative TLS cell consists of aluminium oxide deposition with a cutting equipment to full flexibility, being subsequent annealing process3. The transition from one cell type to another able to cover 1/2-1/6 cut cells at the highest only requires some parameter changes to the possible throughput and edge cutting quality. Advanced laser machines and services cutting process itself. These changes are minor TLS has become the technology of choice and mainly recipe-driven, affecting only within the industry and with the outlook of A few months ago, 3D-Micromac completely parameter settings such as laser power applied new tandem cell technologies emerging in redesigned its existing cell cutting system, and cutting speed. Additional hardware or the future, a non-destructive and low which had been introduced to the market as product upgrades are not required. temperature TLS process will be of even far back as 2016 and has been a major success higher importance. story since then. However, the tool was 3D-Micromac operates its own fully limited to doing one single cut on PV cells. Due equipped application lab staffed with www.3d-micromac.com to the changing market requirements, experienced application and process customers are longing for more flexibility: the engineers to provide support to customers in References option to cut cells into three or more pieces the development of new processes. without compromising throughput is Feasibility studies and the cutting of cells as 1 SolarPower Europe: Global Market Outlook becoming a major requirement. contract manufacturing service are offered for Solar Power, 2021 – 2025 / International as well. This way, 3D-Micromac can show the Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic With this in mind, 3D-Micromacs engineers potential of the TLS process for any cell (ITRPV), 2020 have developed a future proven machine that technology. The company is able to support was introduced by the company as customers with contract manufacturing as a 2 N ico Wöhrle, Fraunhofer ISE: ‘Solar Cell microCELL MCS in autumn 2021. The first step, and has been doing so successfully Demand for Bifacial and Singulated-Cell microcell MCS is a very flexible platform, for many years. Module Architectures’ in PV International allowing customers to perform half-cell, third-cell, even shingled cell cutting while In summary, increasing supply chain issues 3 Puzant Baliozian et. Al, Fraunhofer ISE: keeping throughput at more than 6,000 wph, such as higher cost of raw materials in ‘Postmetallization ‚Passivated Edge independently of host wafer sizes. combination with changing market Technology‘ for Separated Silicon Solar Cells’ in IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics 98 PES SOLAR

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THINK TANK Exploring the failure of solar PV assets Words: Richard Gledhill, Head of Section, Project Engineering and Due Diligence, Australia, Energy Systems, DNV Even a small failure can have serious and wide-ranging consequences for the ongoing operation of a solar project. However, by understanding what caused the failure, steps can be taken to prevent it from happening again. But with the rapid expansion of the solar industry, introduction of new technologies, and projects often deployed in challenging and sometimes extreme conditions, pinning down the cause of a failure can be a major challenge. 100 PES SOLAR