New Products Ease Operation and Maintenance of Photovoltaic Plants

At the Intersolar Europe, Papendorf Software Engineering GmbH will be presenting two new solutions that allow photovoltaic plants to be tested and controlled: the mobile measuring meter SOL.Connect PV-Module Meter and the monitoring and control system SOL.Connect Smart Park Control. The world’s largest specialist trade fair for solar engineering will take place in Munich from 4 to 6 June 2014. Both products will be available when Intersolar Europe opens its doors.

Mobile Measuring System for Quick Module Tests on Location

The measuring meter SOL.Connect PV-Module Meter tests the power output of photovoltaic modules before they are installed and makes it easy to sort them out directly on the construction site. It can also be used on location to test modules that clearly show lower power output. “The SOL.Connect PV-Module Meter is convincing, above all, by the way it works: it is easy to operate and can be transported and used anywhere”, explains managing director Peter Papendorf. If it was formerly necessary to send the modules to the manufacturer or a testing laboratory, electricians can now check them on the spot. And this is now possible in daylight and at low irradiation conditions. In addition, the measuring meter compares the electrical power output of the modules tested with that of a reference module. A measuring facility calibrated at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology delivers the needed measurements. :INSEL algorithms from doppelintegral GmbH enable the data to be precisely assessed and all test modules to be quickly managed via a laptop.

Comprehensive Control, Monitoring and Communication

SOL.Connect Smart Park Control from Papendorf SE monitors larger photovoltaic plants and power plants as well as controlling them in conformity to the German Association of Energy and Water Industries. While doing so, it fulfils many communication requirements. “The SOL.Connect Smart Park Control unifies the most differing of requirements in one device, thus reducing costly single installations”, says Peter Papendorf. The system integrates specifications, among others, from telecontrol or directly from network control rooms per IC 60870-5-101/104. The SOL.Connect Smart Park Control also communicates with SCADA operating control rooms and monitoring portals via standardised interfaces. Moreover, it makes it possible to integrate the generated electrical energy into virtual power plants for direct marketing.