A monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property is disclosed. The monitoring system includes a sensor that is configured to generate sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property; a solar panel that is configured to generate and output power; and a monitor control unit. The monitor control unit is configured to: monitor the power outputted by the solar panel; determine that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from an expected power range; based on determining that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from the expected power range, access the sensor data; based on the power outputted by the solar panel and the sensor data, determine a likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range; and determine an action to perform to remediate the likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range.

Photovoltaic array performance monitoring systems and methods are described herein. One embodiment of a photovoltaic array monitoring system according to the present disclosure can include a reference photovoltaic panel and an ambient photovoltaic panel, as well as a rechargeable power source. The monitoring system can further include an electrical unit configured to charge the rechargeable power source using energy from one or both of the reference photovoltaic panel and the ambient photovoltaic panel. The monitoring system can also include a transmitter configured to transmit data from the reference photovoltaic panel and the ambient photovoltaic panel. Methods and full-size solar systems utilizing monitoring systems are also described.

A method for processing a direct current electric arc and an apparatus, includes: obtaining a first current which is a direct current input current of a direct current cable of a photovoltaic cell system; obtaining a second current, where the second current is a direct current common mode current of a direct current cable or an alternating current common mode current of an alternating current cable; calculating a correlation coefficient between a frequency domain component of the first current and a frequency domain component of the second current; and when determining that the first current meets an electric arc occurrence condition and the correlation coefficient is greater than or equal to a preset coefficient threshold, skipping sending a direct current electric arc fault alarm. The correlation coefficient is used to reflect a proportion of common mode noise generated by the second current, and the preset coefficient threshold is set.

A method for processing a direct current electric arc and an apparatus, includes: obtaining a first current which is a direct current input current of a direct current cable of a photovoltaic cell system; obtaining a second current, where the second current is a direct current common mode current of a direct current cable or an alternating current common mode current of an alternating current cable; calculating a correlation coefficient between a frequency domain component of the first current and a frequency domain component of the second current; and when determining that the first current meets an electric arc occurrence condition and the correlation coefficient is greater than or equal to a preset coefficient threshold, skipping sending a direct current electric arc fault alarm. The correlation coefficient is used to reflect a proportion of common mode noise generated by the second current, and the preset coefficient threshold is set.

The accuracy of photovoltaic simulation modeling is predicated upon the selection of a type of solar resource data appropriate to the form of simulation desired. Photovoltaic power simulation requires irradiance data. Photovoltaic energy simulation requires normalized irradiation data. Normalized irradiation is not always available, such as in photovoltaic plant installations where only point measurements of irradiance are sporadically collected or even entirely absent. Normalized irradiation can be estimated through several methodologies, including assuming that normalized irradiation simply equals irradiance, directly estimating normalized irradiation, applying linear interpolation to irradiance, applying linear interpolation to clearness index values, and empirically deriving irradiance weights. The normalized irradiation can then be used to forecast photovoltaic fleet energy production.

The accuracy of photovoltaic simulation modeling is predicated upon the selection of a type of solar resource data appropriate to the form of simulation desired. Photovoltaic power simulation requires irradiance data. Photovoltaic energy simulation requires normalized irradiation data. Normalized irradiation is not always available, such as in photovoltaic plant installations where only point measurements of irradiance are sporadically collected or even entirely absent. Normalized irradiation can be estimated through several methodologies, including assuming that normalized irradiation simply equals irradiance, directly estimating normalized irradiation, applying linear interpolation to irradiance, applying linear interpolation to clearness index values, and empirically deriving irradiance weights. The normalized irradiation can then be used to forecast photovoltaic fleet energy production.

An apparatus includes a rotating pole, a first set of photovoltaic modules; and a second set of photovoltaic modules. At least one of the first set of photovoltaic modules is perpendicular to at least one of the second set of photovoltaic modules.

According to one or more embodiments, an intelligent solar racking system is provided. The intelligent solar racking system includes a racking frame that receives and mechanically supports solar modules. The intelligent solar racking system includes sensors distributed throughout the racking frame. Each of the sensors detects and reports parameter data by generating output signals. The sensors include module sensors positioned to associate with each of the solar modules and detect a module presence as the parameter data for the solar modules. The intelligent solar racking system includes a computing device that receives, stores, and analyzes the output signals to determine and monitor operations of the intelligent solar racking system.

A ventilated solar panel system mounted on a roof of a building (1), comprising a plurality of joists (12, 112) arranged substantially normal to an upper ridge (14) of the roof, and extending from the upper ridge (14) to a lower region of the roof, and a set of rectangular solar panels (2, 13), arranged on and supported by the joists (12, 112). The system further comprises a set of electrical fans (25), each fan (25) being arranged in the lower region of the roof and being aligned with one of the joists (12, 112), wherein each fan (25) is configured to create a flow of air towards the ridge (14), and wherein each joist (12, 112), in an end facing one of the fans (25), is formed with a dividing edge (32, 132) configured to divide the flow of air into two sub-flows (26a, 26b), a first sub-flow (26a), directed to a first side of the joist (12, 112), and a second sub-flow (26b) directed to a second side of the joist (12, 112), opposite to the first side.

The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic system comprising a switching device for switching on and off at least one photovoltaic string, to an electronically controlled direct current hybrid switching device for switching on and off at least one photovoltaic string, in a user-controlled manner, to the use of a hybrid switch for switching a photovoltaic string, and to a method for switching off and back on at least one photovoltaic string of the photovoltaic system. The photovoltaic system comprises: at least one photovoltaic string, wherein the at least one photovoltaic string is formed by photovoltaic modules which are series-connected by means of a string line and thus generate a string voltage; a switching device which is installed in series in the string line to switch on and off the at least one photovoltaic string with the switching device, wherein the switching device comprises a hybrid switch with a relay and a semiconductor switching device which is connected in parallel to the relay and has at least one semiconductor switch.