What is a ground mount solar project?

This presentation provides an overview of key concepts related to the planning, design and construction of ground mount solar projects intended for a non-technical audience. Voltage is either AC (Alternating Current) or DC (Direct Current). In a solar project, the inverters convert from the DC output of the solar panels to AC for use by the grid.

Why is battery energy storage important for PV industry?

It will serve as input to PV industry certification and compliance approaches and practices. Combining PV with storage brings additional financial considerations. Battery energy storage can resolve technical barriers to grid integration of PV and increase total penetration and market for PV.

Which inverter is required for a combined PV and storage system?

Combined PV and storage system topologies will generally require a bi-directional inverter, either as the primary inverter solution (DC-coupled) or in addition to the unidirectional PV inverters (AC-coupled).

How much of a PV module can be recycled?

Demonstration projects at SolarWorld and commercial-scale recycling operations at First Solar have shown that 84% to 90% by weight of a PV module can be recycled (Larsen 2009). If a system transfers ownership, it is important to consider how warranties are handled.

How are topologies determined for PV plus storage systems?

Topologies for PV plus storage systems are typically determined by a combination of regulatory constraints and technical inputs paired with anticipated system behavior and associated system efficiency and cost.

Why does a PV plant need a monitoring system?

Advanced operation of a PV plant such as modulating output or power factor can confound the drawing of conclusions from monitored data. A monitoring system should account for clipping of output due to high DC-to-AC ratio, interconnect limits, and called-for curtailment or any other reason.