Technology Feature and Capability Requirements

This chapter explores the features and capabilities of an advanced technology that can mitigate shortcomings associated with large-scale solar photovoltaic power technologies. The main purpose of this document is to define a broad roadmap of the technology research and product development that will be necessary to develop a defined and organized hardware, firmware, and software solution.

Control and Communication Features

Cloud-Based Wireless Communication and Control Capability Requirements

1. Individual photovoltaic (PV) module ON/OFF control by hard-contact latching relay capable of interrupting short-circuit DC current

2. Capability to turn ON/OFF any solar power string within a solar power farm by operator command

3. Capability to turn ON/OFF an entire solar power farm, by operator control

4. Capability to turn OFF PV modules of an entire solar power system under an emergency situation

5. Capability to execute all of the above features simultaneously for an unlimited number of solar power farms located in various geographic locations worldwide 6. Execution of control via remote master server location or a field communication and control portable laptop or iPad

6. Capability of automatic total solar power shut down of roof or ground-mount solar power systems by auxiliary contact from a building fire control panel

7. Capability for secure emergency solar power system shut down by local fire department

8. Capability to dial or e-mail emergency messages to predesignated sources

9. Post emergency sequential controlled start-up of solar power subsystems by operator

10. Wireless monitoring of nodal inverter

Proposed Advanced PV Submetering Technology Communication Configuration and Solar Power Production Analytics

The following are some of the important requirements for an advanced solar power module submetering system:

1. Zigbee-based mesh networking communication

2. Dedicated individual PV module communication and control

3. Communication gateway monitoring of scalable solar power subarray systems

4. High-speed cable or cellular modem portal

5. Reception security encryption code and 128 data transmission

6. Virtually unlimited PV module addressing capability

7. Real-time measurement of current, voltage, and temperature of each individual PV module with a solar power system

8. Real-time power computation of each PV module

9. Wireless acquisition of field ambient environmental parameters, such as temperature, solar irradiance, and barometric pressure for analytical use to normalize and verify power output production of each and every PV module within a solar power system