Recording of Tuesday, June 18, 2024 | The smarter E Europe 2024 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 15:50 .

Introduction to the Necessity of Digitalization in the Rapidly Growing and Diversifying PV Sector

The talk provides a general introduction to the necessity of digitalization in the photovoltaic (PV) sector. The PV industry has been growing steadily and diversifying, with various types of installations like ground-mounted systems, rooftop panels, agrivoltaics, floating PVs, and bifacial units with or without trackers. This diversity necessitates sophisticated modeling and monitoring solutions. Additionally, advancements in PV technologies such as heterojunctions and perovskites further complicate the landscape. One significant challenge is that the rapid market growth outpaces the availability of experts who can handle these complexities. Digitalization offers a solution by embedding expert knowledge into tools and procedures that can be used across different project phases—from preliminary design to operation and maintenance. Leloux addresses this need by providing technical guidance for various stages of PV projects including multi-parameter design optimization, energy yield assessments during financing phases, performance testing during commissioning, quality control during acceptance phases, and ongoing analytics for operations management. Digitalization streamlines processes such as topography integration for ground-mounted systems or building information modeling for other setups using software like AutoCAD or SketchUp combined with simulation tools like PVSyst or PVSOL. By digitizing these workflows—especially interfacing between different tools—the potential loss of information can be minimized significantly while enhancing reliability through integrated data handling methods involving meteorological data and component specifications. In essence: leveraging digital solutions ensures more efficient project execution in an increasingly complex environment characterized by high growth rates but insufficient human expertise capacity.

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Speaker

Jonathan Leloux
Managing Director
LuciSun
Belgium

Talk of session: Utility-scale Solar Power II: Digitalization in PV Power Plants - Enhancing O&M through Digital Twinning, Data and Process Integration

The utility-scale segment is being digitized at a rapid pace. New digital tools make workflows along the PV power plant value chain more cost-effective: from development to operations and maintenance. A key concept in PV digitalization is the so-called digital twin, a digital representation of the physical PV plant that accurately simulates the performance of a solar system. A digital twin enables better failure detection and support of the O&M decision-making process. This session will discuss: The role of digitalization and digital twins in the solar power plant sector How digitalization can enhance O&M activities Need for full integration of data along the value chain of PV power plants Benefits, drawbacks and hurdles for digitalization in the utility-scale segment (panel debate).

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome and Introduction

Speaker

Ulrike Jahn
Senior Scientist
Fraunhofer Center for Silicon-Photovoltaics CSP
Germany

To Talk

Why Digitalization Is the Right Choice for Your Lifetime Asset Operation

Speaker

Dr. Julián Ascencio-Vásquez
Head of Solar Advanced Analytics
Univers
France

To Talk

Use Cases for a Digital Twin Within an Integrated EPC and O&M Company

Speaker

Dr. Björn Müller
CEO
Enmova GmbH

To Talk

IEA PVPS Task 13 Activity 2.4: Digitalisation in the PV Sector

Speaker

To Talk

Panel Discussion

Speaker

David Daßler
Team Leader for PV System Assessment & Diagnostics
Fraunhofer Center for Silicon-Photovoltaics CSP
Germany

To Talk

Wrap-up

Speaker

Ulrike Jahn
Senior Scientist
Fraunhofer Center for Silicon-Photovoltaics CSP
Germany

To Talk