Germany-based voltwerk electronics GmbH has launched Voltapp, a monitoring application for iPhones and iPads. Designed for solar technology experts and PV system owners, the app provides users with information on energy output, the amount of money generated by any applicable local feed-in-tariff programs and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions avoided by the system.
Information displayed can reflect the past day, week, month or year, or the total lifetime of the PV system. The readings displayed and time period are freely configurable, and the user can select the information he or she would like to see and display it easily in a single graph, the company says. Error reports from the system are kept in a logbook.
The application can be downloaded free from the Apple AppStore.
SOURCE: voltwerk electronics GmbH
Showing posts with label PV Estimation Tools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PV Estimation Tools. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Argonne National Laboratory Develops New Approach To Solar Cost Calculations
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, in partnership with an analyst at Gartner Inc., have developed a new approach to calculate the lifetime cost for a solar-generated energy system for comparison to other energy systems.
The dollars-per-watt metric, which is typically used, represents only a measure of the initial capital cost and the solar panel vendor's performance specification, according to Argonne. This measurement does not take into account the actual energy obtained from the system or other cost factors, such as maintenance. A far more informative metric is the levelized cost of energy (LCOE).
"In typical LCOE projections for solar energy, many assumptions are swept under the rug, and we wanted to make a small step toward lifting up that rug and showing how you can truly get a handle on those assumptions to develop a more accurate picture of the potential costs," explains Argonne solar researcher Seth Darling, who led the development of the new approach.
"Specifically, the Argonne approach uses a Monte Carlo simulation that statistically selects from probability distributions to account for the uncertainty associated with various cost and production parameters," Darling says. A Monte Carlo simulation can produce millions of possible performance outcomes that might occur in the future, [and weight them] to reflect their likelihood.
A variety of stakeholders, including investors and policymakers, are tracking the generational development and commercialization of solar technologies and require greater insight into the projected costs of a solar energy project to aid in decision making, Argonne notes.
SOURCE: Argonne National Laboratory
The dollars-per-watt metric, which is typically used, represents only a measure of the initial capital cost and the solar panel vendor's performance specification, according to Argonne. This measurement does not take into account the actual energy obtained from the system or other cost factors, such as maintenance. A far more informative metric is the levelized cost of energy (LCOE).
"In typical LCOE projections for solar energy, many assumptions are swept under the rug, and we wanted to make a small step toward lifting up that rug and showing how you can truly get a handle on those assumptions to develop a more accurate picture of the potential costs," explains Argonne solar researcher Seth Darling, who led the development of the new approach.
"Specifically, the Argonne approach uses a Monte Carlo simulation that statistically selects from probability distributions to account for the uncertainty associated with various cost and production parameters," Darling says. A Monte Carlo simulation can produce millions of possible performance outcomes that might occur in the future, [and weight them] to reflect their likelihood.
A variety of stakeholders, including investors and policymakers, are tracking the generational development and commercialization of solar technologies and require greater insight into the projected costs of a solar energy project to aid in decision making, Argonne notes.
SOURCE: Argonne National Laboratory
Monday, July 19, 2010
SolarTech Releases Study Of Public Solar PV Estimation Tools
SolarTech, a nonprofit solar collaborative, has released a new report on publicly available solar financial calculators. This report is part of SolarTech's efforts to drive down financial transaction costs for solar PV with a comprehensive survey.
Financial calculators often do not agree on the electrical production and financial payback claims of PV systems, SolarTech says. "When customers receive conflicting quotes from different project sponsors, this causes confusion in the buying process," notes Todd Grenich, managing partner at Grenich Capital LLC and SolarTech's Finance Committee Chair. "The industry needs tools and methods that are predictable and build customer confidence in what is still a nascent, growing industry."
The study was sponsored by SolarTech Finance Committee in partnership with the Gary J. Sbona Honors Program at San Jose State University (SJSU) School of Business, and a California Energy Commission PIER Grant. SolarTech engaged the accounting and finance department at SJSU to study the various financial calculators available in the public domain.
A team of three students in the Sbona Honors Program agreed to conduct a survey and analysis as part of their senior class project requirement. After considerable research, including interviews with industry experts, the leading contender was NREL's Solar Advisor Model, SolarTech says. The Clean Power Estimator, RETScreen and the NCSC Solar PV Financial Calculator were close seconds.
SOURCE: SolarTech
Financial calculators often do not agree on the electrical production and financial payback claims of PV systems, SolarTech says. "When customers receive conflicting quotes from different project sponsors, this causes confusion in the buying process," notes Todd Grenich, managing partner at Grenich Capital LLC and SolarTech's Finance Committee Chair. "The industry needs tools and methods that are predictable and build customer confidence in what is still a nascent, growing industry."
The study was sponsored by SolarTech Finance Committee in partnership with the Gary J. Sbona Honors Program at San Jose State University (SJSU) School of Business, and a California Energy Commission PIER Grant. SolarTech engaged the accounting and finance department at SJSU to study the various financial calculators available in the public domain.
A team of three students in the Sbona Honors Program agreed to conduct a survey and analysis as part of their senior class project requirement. After considerable research, including interviews with industry experts, the leading contender was NREL's Solar Advisor Model, SolarTech says. The Clean Power Estimator, RETScreen and the NCSC Solar PV Financial Calculator were close seconds.
SOURCE: SolarTech
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