STC power for 15 MW of PV comparing nameplate, initial power and power after 4 years

Abstract

To date, the majority of quality controls performed at PV plants are based on the measurement of a small sample of individual modules. Consequently, there is very little representative data on the real Standard Test Conditions (STC) power output values for PV generators. This paper presents the power output values for more than 1300 PV generators having a total installed power capacity of almost 15.3 MW. The values were obtained by the INGEPER-UPNA group, in collaboration with the IES-UPM, through a study to monitor the power output of a number of PV plants from 2006 to 2009. This work has made it possible to determine, amongst other things, the power dispersion that can be expected amongst generators made by different manufacturers, amongst generators made by the same manufacturer but comprising modules of different nameplate ratings and also amongst generators formed by modules with the same characteristics. The work also analyses the STC power output evolution over time in the course of this 4-year study. The values presented here could be considered to be representative of generators with fault-free modules. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. To date, there is very little representative data on the real Standard Test Conditions (STC) power output values for PV generators. This paper presents the power output values for more than 1300 PV generators (15.3 MW in total). The study shows the power dispersion that can be expected amongst generators of the same manufacturer and amongst generators of different manufacturers. The work also analyses the STC power output evolution over time in the course of this 4-year study. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.