A fault identification may be triggered by a component of a power generation system (PGS), such as a hardware component, a controller of a hardware component, a device of the PGS, a computer connected to the PGS, a computer configured to monitor the PGS, and/or the like. The fault identification may be the result of a failure of a component of the PGS, a future failure of a component of the PGS, a routine maintenance of the PGS, and/or the like. The fault is converted to a notification on a user interface using a mapping of faults, root-causes, notification rules, and/or the like. The conversion may use one or more lookup tables and/or formulas for determining the impact of the fault on the PGS, and/or the like.

A solar tracking system includes a solar array, a support structure configured to support the solar array, a driveshaft coupled to the support structure, a base configured to rotatably support the driveshaft, and an articulation system coupled to the driveshaft and configured to articulate the driveshaft relative to the base. The articulation system includes a gearbox coupled to the driveshaft. The solar tracking system also includes a motor mechanically operably coupled to the gearbox to cause the driveshaft to rotate, and a controller that determines a fault caused by the winding up of the driveshaft, and, in response to determining the fault, shorting the windings of the motor and/or providing power, which is generated by the motor when the unwinding driveshaft drives the rotation of the motor, to a load, such as an energy storage device, a resistive load, and/or a heating element.

A solar tracking system includes a solar array, a support structure configured to support the solar array, a driveshaft coupled to the support structure, a base configured to rotatably support the driveshaft, and an articulation system coupled to the driveshaft and configured to articulate the driveshaft relative to the base. The articulation system includes a gearbox coupled to the driveshaft. The solar tracking system also includes a motor mechanically operably coupled to the gearbox to cause the driveshaft to rotate, and a controller that determines a fault caused by the winding up of the driveshaft, and, in response to determining the fault, shorting the windings of the motor and/or providing power, which is generated by the motor when the unwinding driveshaft drives the rotation of the motor, to a load, such as an energy storage device, a resistive load, and/or a heating element.

A method for testing a photovoltaic panel connected to an electronic module. The electronic module includes an input attached to the photovoltaic panel and a power output. The method activates a bypass to the electronic module. The bypass provides a low impedance path between the input and the output of the electronic module. A current is injected into the electronic module thereby compensating for the presence of the electronic module during the testing. The current may be previously determined by measuring a circuit parameter of the electronic module. The circuit parameter may be impedance, inductance, resistance or capacitance.

A method for testing a photovoltaic panel connected to an electronic module. The electronic module includes an input attached to the photovoltaic panel and a power output. The method activates a bypass to the electronic module. The bypass provides a low impedance path between the input and the output of the electronic module. A current is injected into the electronic module thereby compensating for the presence of the electronic module during the testing. The current may be previously determined by measuring a circuit parameter of the electronic module. The circuit parameter may be impedance, inductance, resistance or capacitance.

In one implementation, a method for a solar cell array is provided, the method includes emitting a communication message from the solar cell array by reverse biasing the solar cell array so as to cause at least a portion of the solar array to emit a detectable amount of radiation corresponding to the communication message. In one embodiment a solar cell array circuit is provided including a solar string comprising a plurality of solar cells coupled together, a charge storage device coupled to a power bus, and a bidirectional boost-buck converter having a first and second pair of MOSFETs connected in series between positive and negative rails of the power bus with an inductor coupled from between the first and second paired MOSFETs to a charging output of the solar string.

A photovoltaic power plant includes a photovoltaic inverter that converts direct current generated by solar cells to alternating current. The output of the photovoltaic inverter is provided to a point of interconnection to a power grid. A meter at the point of interconnection may be read to detect the output of the photovoltaic inverter at the power grid. The photovoltaic power plant includes a plant controller with a state machine. The plant controller is configured to adjust setpoints of the photovoltaic inverter to control the output of the photovoltaic power plant. The plant controller is also configured to soft start and soft stop automatic voltage regulation (AVR) of the photovoltaic power plant to prevent perturbing the AVR.

A method of measuring solar cells, wherein a voltage (U) or a current (I) is applied to a solar cell, and a current (I) and voltage (U), respectively, resulting therefrom is measured, and wherein prior to applying the voltage (U) or current (I) and during or after measuring the resulting current (I) and resulting voltage (U), respectively, a relative distribution of radiation emitted across the solar cell surface area is measured, wherein the voltage (U) or current (I) is applied as at least one pulse with a predeterminable, constant value for a predeterminable period of time, wherein an energy value is calculated from the resulting current (I) and resulting voltage (U), respectively, wherein a first relative distribution of radiation emitted across the solar cell surface area is measured prior to the pulse or each pulse and a second relative distribution of radiation emitted across the solar cell surface area is measured during or after the pulse or each pulse, and wherein a difference distribution is generated from the first and second relative distributions and scaled to the calculated energy value. An apparatus for performing the method. The method and the apparatus serve for the improved sorting of solar cells.

A method of measuring solar cells, wherein a voltage (U) or a current (I) is applied to a solar cell, and a current (I) and voltage (U), respectively, resulting therefrom is measured, and wherein prior to applying the voltage (U) or current (I) and during or after measuring the resulting current (I) and resulting voltage (U), respectively, a relative distribution of radiation emitted across the solar cell surface area is measured, wherein the voltage (U) or current (I) is applied as at least one pulse with a predeterminable, constant value for a predeterminable period of time, wherein an energy value is calculated from the resulting current (I) and resulting voltage (U), respectively, wherein a first relative distribution of radiation emitted across the solar cell surface area is measured prior to the pulse or each pulse and a second relative distribution of radiation emitted across the solar cell surface area is measured during or after the pulse or each pulse, and wherein a difference distribution is generated from the first and second relative distributions and scaled to the calculated energy value. An apparatus for performing the method. The method and the apparatus serve for the improved sorting of solar cells.

Embodiments of this application disclose a design of an inverter and a design of a combiner box, to reduce maintenance costs of a photovoltaic device. According to the inverter or the combiner box provided in the embodiments of this application, when electroluminescence (EL) defect detection is performed on the photovoltaic device, a reverse charging circuit integrated into the inverter or integrated into the combiner box is used to output a direct current to a to-be-tested photovoltaic string of the photovoltaic device. Whether the to-be-tested photovoltaic string has defects is determined based on a light emission status of the to-be-tested photovoltaic string. By using the foregoing designs, maintenance engineers do not need to modify wiring terminals of the photovoltaic device when performing EL defect tests on the photovoltaic device. This helps reduce maintenance costs of the photovoltaic device.