News Article
The wireless advantage
Solar technology cannot afford to stand still as the industry moves closer to a subsidy free and competitive global market. PV installations are financial assets and monitoring installations are expected to do more than fault detection. Craig Goodwin, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Synapse Wireless discusses how innovations in monitoring are meeting the need for insight and efficiency.
Even as total solar generation moves toward a projected 75GW in North America alone by 2015, market realities are forcing operators to redouble their efforts to create new efficiencies in their technology and processes. As subsidies decline, renewables portfolio standards-driven demand weakens in areas, and customers negotiate lower power purchasing agreements, the solar industry is looking for opportunities to reduce operations and maintenance (O&M) costs and, where possible, extend the life of plant assets.
For most operators, smarter O&M starts with continuous system monitoring, with real-time data driving critical decision-making and analytics. While new plants are monitored from day one, there has also been an increase in retrofits of older plants, both to comply with new regulations or to get one or more data streams flowing to developers, operators, and investors.
Traditionally, operators relied on wired monitoring systems installed during construction. These systems require infrastructure (cabling and power) and, like all other assets, create their own O&M challenges. As plants get both larger and more distributed, the cost of this monitoring becomes a larger and larger cost centre.
The wireless advantage
As a pioneer in M2M connectivity, Synapse Wireless was able to approach PV monitoring differently from the start, building a wireless monitoring solution based on our SNAP technology. The lessons we learned in solve solar operator challenges would also inform the meaningful M2M innovation we were also bringing to global leaders in manufacturing, lighting, healthcare, and other verticals.
The autonomous mesh network design of the SNAP OS, combined with the long range and low power requirements of the SNAP modules, made it an ideal choice for a PV monitoring solution. Working with Shoals Technologies, Synapse began to build a portfolio of specialized SNAP solutions targeted directly at the needs of PV operators, owners, and EPC partners.
Synapse leveraged expertise gained through experience in diversified market verticals to develop solutions that optimize operations costs and performance by providing real-time performance information to the owner, EPC, or O&M manager. Synapse products are uniquely suited to provide life cycle management capabilities for managing solar assets from construction to cash flow, delivering key benefits during install and going forward.
Smarter, faster commissioning
The renewed focus on efficiency makes it increasingly important to optimize all aspects of the solar plant lifecycle. Real-time granular data provided to the developer and EPC drives faster time to resolution of critical issues discovered during site commissioning. Solving problems quickly reduces operational and contingency costs, and real-time data acquisition improves project oversight and ensures efficient use of construction and commissioning hours to maximize the velocity to revenue.
Simpler, more reliable support
Once sites have been commissioned, Synapse solutions provide O&M and asset management teams with the information needed to make intelligent decisions that optimize allocation of repair and maintenance hours, ensuring peak production of the solar asset. Intelligent management of the velocity of installation and operational efficiency helps create sustainable margins as the market matures and energy pricing competition increases.
Longer distances, lower costs
Wireless monitoring also helps reduce the cost of managing the commission of large plants as well as the trend towards smaller distributed sites located strategically closer to customers or to lessen environmental impact, making a powerful stream of 24/7 data easier to build and cheaper to maintain.
Lower costs and disruptions
The cabling and trenching required to install traditional wired monitoring is no small expense. Eliminating the time and labor required to get this monitoring up before and during commissioning, simplifies processes, and lets you focus closely on the task at hand: careful, precise, efficient commissioning and operations.
SNAPshot partnership
Synapse's solar solutions include SNAPshot, a velocity monitoring tool that can be used during commissioning to provide early warning on faults and errors. Developed in partnership with Shoals Technologies, SNAPshot is installed with Shoals Smart Combiner and Recombiner boxes.
The choice of Shoals Technologies as a strategic partner was important for both Synapse and Shoals Technologies, giving operators and EPC instant access to critical real-time data and the advantages it brings.
"Snapshot's Velocity Monitoring tool is connected from the initial order of solar field installation. SNAPshot enables the Shoals optimized field layout to upload information to a software package so that, from the first day of construction until the solar field is complete, we have the ability to monitor the velocity of the installation. From there SNAPshot becomes an OEM tool." Dean Solon, CEO of Shoals Technologies.
Synapse Wireless is an exclusive technology partner with Shoals Technologies balance of systems (BOS) solutions, working with leading solar developers and EPC organizations to understand their business and technical challenges and creating solutions that match. The SNAPshot solution represents an important step forward for both companies and the industry, making the Internet of Things a very real advantage for solar stakeholders.
SNAP-built solar innovation
Built on the SNAP operating system, the SNAPshot monitoring system is designed for scalability and range, bringing M2M communication and real-time data from the string level up. The bus-powered solution provides data from the time PV is turned on through final installation and configuration.
The system delivers up to 1200V capability and up toto 30 amps per string. Powered directly from the DC busbar it also supports external plug-ins for additional features. SNAPshot is FCC certified on all 16 channels with maximum ranges exceeding
3 miles. The system has instant-on capacity, self-detecting and self healing capability.
SNAPshot is also recognized for its best-in-class accuracy, delivering information that is 98% accurate in real-time. This information allows customers to generate faster, more informed decisions and take more responsive action in real-time.
The Synapse SNAPshot Arc Fault solution provides early detection and interruption of arcing faults, reducing the damage to plant assets and power generating capacity while ensuring compliance with regulations like NEC 690.11.
Installation opportunities
In addition to the benefits of cable and trench-free installation, both SNAP OS and SNAPshot are built to integrate with existing infrastructure, across a wide range of communication protocols, and plugs easily into existing SCADA solutions.
In addition to the monitoring solution, the Synapse SNAPshot installation tool provides an immediate link to the SNAPshot system for installers in the field. Like the rest of the SNAPshot solution, information can be shared onsite or around the world when paired with Internet or cloud gateway. The system only requires 30MB of HD space and 25MB of RAM and can tracks assets by ID number, cross-checking with a MAC address.
Real-time insight and intelligence
SNAPshot insight and efficiency has distinct advantages for all PV stakeholders. Synapse and Shoals worked to ensure that the tool was reliable and easy to use, producing relevant data in real-time. "Using the SNAPshot system we are able to analyze and predict, real time, string-by-string fields as they go live. The system provides the ability to watch the performance of the strings before they've been commissioned and then monitor the speed at which the contractors are getting work done. Each contractor, crew, and person can be monitored for their performance as they install the field.
So, while SNAPshot is an EPC tool, it is primarily a field owner's tool that will provide independent data that can be used to track the progress of field installation. This benefit keeps everyone honest through the construction phase. Ultimately, SNAPshot adds value through operational efficiency which benefits everyone because efficiency drives ROI," said Dean Solon, CEO Shoals Technologies.
Cloud-powered velocity monitoring
Synapse and Shoals have recently taken wireless monitoring to its next and logical conclusion, offering a cloud-based monitoring solution built on the SNAPshot platform. In addition to monitoring output from the string level up, the cloud platform makes accessing this critical information easier and provides easy backup and recovery, robust analytics, lifetime traceability, and integrated work order management. The tool's intuitive GUI is optimized for easy usability across multiple devices, including smart phones. This means that no matter where you are or what device you're using, you get fast access to the information and answers you need about plant efficiency and output.
Success stories
Based on its proven success helping reduce commissioning and O&M costs, SNAPshot continues to find customers and advocates across the industry, anxious for proven methods for reducing the time to commission while improving long-term O&M. As of August 2014, the product has provided over 1.5 gigawatts of energy monitoring for customers worldwide, with more installs planned throughout the year.
"With access to cost-effective string-level information, this technology has major implications for improving efficiency and ultimately, return on investment. We're looking forward to working with Shoals and Synapse to push the boundaries of solar innovation," remarked Nick de Vries, VP Plan Operations and Engineering, Phoenix Solar
Ready today, ready for tomorrow
As the solar market matures, protecting revenue and market share will become critical to the success of operators and developers, and it starts with faster, more efficient commissioning and more effective, data-driven O&M decisions.
Synapse SNAPshot provides a future-ready platform for simple, robust management, maintenance, and analytics that transform the Internet of Things from big idea to even bigger business advantage.
