Solar in the Cloud: Cloud Computing and the Virtual Power Plant
Today’s guest post is authored by Benjamin Compton, COO & VP Commercial Operations at meteocontrol North America. For more information, visit www.meteocontrol.com.
Solar system owners typically scorn clouds. Clouds threaten system performance by blocking the sun. But there is one Cloud on the horizon that holds great promise for the solar industry.
Few terms are hotter than Cloud Computing. Although the Cloud's origin dates back to the 1960s and runs deep through the IT and Web technology landscape, the solar industry is now warming to the Cloud's ability to help maximize solar yield from any Internet-connected device.
Today, the solar industry, like nearly every other industry, requires data and information to be mobile, transferable, and immediately accessible. This information increases productivity, provides real-time performance analysis, and allows teams to communicate and collaborate, regardless of physical proximity.
For those unfamiliar with Cloud Computing, you're almost certainly already using Cloud services - be it Gmail, Facebook, Salesforce, or any other program where data are stored somewhere other than a local hard drive, ranging from social networks to banks.
But what does this have to do with the solar industry and how is this shift to virtualization increasing solar performance and bankability?
The Cloud's Impact on Solar Yield
Virtualization - using a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, including software, memory, data, etc. - is quickly becoming a highly valued asset for the entire solar industry, and the benefits are big.
For example, meteocontrol's sophisticated safer'Sun monitoring platform delivers all key performance indicators to system operators, including power purchase agreement (PPA) providers, energy service companies (ESCOs), utilities, and construction and EPC firms, from any device with Internet connection.
These organizations are using the Cloud to achieve greater profitability from solar performance than ever before. Decision makers are tapping virtualization services to read relevant yield values from their PV systems, benchmark them against simulated values, based on current local meteorological conditions, enabling them to act to boost system efficiency.
The Cloud's Impact on Investors
Remote or Cloud-based performance monitoring with built-in analytical algorithms and automated alarm management allows for prompt responses to any operational issues, increasing overall system availability and yield over time.
Investors and owners of PV systems demand reliable system management, with ongoing yield assurance as the most important goal to support their investment and increase ROI. The Cloud allows beneficiaries of investor dollars access to early failure detection and quick troubleshooting.
As another example, meteocontrol's Virtual Control Room portal helps minimize the operational costs of PV systems, allowing the operator to select various key performance indicators and directly compare individual components and long-term trends across a large fleet. Customized reports on yield trends can be sent to investors via email directly from the Cloud.
Can the Cloud Scale for Solar Capacity? How about 3 gigawatts?
Fortunately for developers, ESCOs, utilities and other companies tapping solar technologies, the Cloud's storage capacity is nearly limitless. At meteocontrol, we're currently monitoring more than 3 GW in over 20,000 PV systems! These are HUGE numbers that will continue to increase as more states and provinces pass legislation requiring utilities to increase renewable energy production.
While Cloud Computing is still in its infancy across the solar industry, this Cloud definitely has a silver lining for both solar providers and investors. For more information about solar virtualization, visit www.meteocontrol.com.
