Performance Results from the Best Performing Grid-Connected PV System in Sweden

• Main Authors: Kleven, O., Persson, H.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: WIP 2015
• Subjects: OPERATIONS, PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY OF PHOTOVOLTAICS FROM CELLS TO SYSTEMS; Operation of PV Systems and Plants; Northern Sweden; Piteå
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.4229/eupvsec20152015-5bv.2.39; http://www.eupvsec-proceedings.com/proceedings?paper=34110

31st European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 2284-2289 : This paper describes the results and experiences from a little over three years of operation of a solar park with dual axis solar tracking in Piteå in Northern Sweden. The solar park has proven to be the best performing gridconnected PV system in Sweden. The PV system was installed as a part of a research project called “Northsol”. The goal with the project was to investigate if solar power plants can be technically and economically feasible at high latitudes and in cold climates, and therefore the 20 kWp PV system comprises different commercial solar tracking- and module technologies that can analyzed and compared. The combination of low temperature, long-term ground coverage of snow and sunny weather give this installation high potential for power production, but the location also give rise to a number of challenges related to cold climate. The installation in Piteå was the first larger sized PV system in the region. In addition it is using the not so common solar tracking technology which makes it even more unique. During the years of operation the system has rendered a solid data basis for analyses which makes it possible to make comparisons between different module- and tracker technologies evaluated from a cold climate point of view. The full potential of an optimal designed solar park with tracking systems is here discussed based on the experience gained from this project. The performance data from the system shows large differences between individual modules and modules types. Currently the best performing modules outperforms the worst performing module by over 9 %. We have also identified other areas which add on to the improvement potential of at least 4-5 %. This shows that there is still room for significant improvements of the system performance.