News Release
For Immediate Release
09.06.2023
Morgan Solar’s IOT Sensors Validated for Assessing PV Project Snow Losses by Nergica
Toronto, Ontario. Morgan Solar is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the testing and validation of its IOT sensor, the PV DeepSweep, for measuring and analyzing PV project losses due to snow coverage. The assessment was undertaken by Nergica, a leading renewable energy research center based in Eastern Quebec, in response to increased concern about PV plant economics in cold climates.
“As solar becomes the most cost-effective way of generating electricity, projects are expanding beyond traditional Sun Belt regions like the US Southwest where snow is not a loss driver. Now solar is booming in markets like Alberta, Minnesota and New England, where snow losses account for a significant source of energy loss,” said Paul Kealey, Senior Marketing Manager at Morgan Solar. “Being based in Gaspé, Quebec, Nergica was the ideal partner to assess the quality and effectiveness of the PV DeepSweep, given their expertise in cold climates.”
The PV DeepSweep is a sensor that scans PV modules, providing unique insights into the health of the modules and the system as a whole. The units deployed at Nergica’s test site tracked snow losses through winter 2023. A study produced by Nergica’s analysis team validated the PV DeepSweep’s market-ready ability to:
Identify drivers of improved cold weather performance, including bifacial contribution and panel temperature coefficients.
Quantify performance losses and subsequent revenue reductions resulting from variable snow shading across the plant.
Operate efficiently in cold climates, with the ability to withstand temperatures as low as -35 degrees Celsius (-31 degrees Fahrenheit).
Northern sites have suffered from unexpected performance variation in winter. The PV DeepSweep’s real-time longitudinal measurements will help site managers isolate each of the factors contributing to variation and inform mitigation and future site planning.
“The PV DeepSweep continuous real time PV monitoring allows for isolation of snow losses from other factors, allowing for faster, more precise, and accurate reporting, compared to traditional methods,” says Antoine Amossé, Supervisor, Operation and Maintenance at Nergica. “For example, tracing an I-V curve typically involves cutting-off the PV system and relying on an I-V curve tracer, which causes a production loss while being labor intensive. Approaches using cameras to detect snow coverage rely on post-facto analysis and require significant image processing time. With the PV DeepSweep you have access to real-time I-V Curves and performance tracking, allowing the direct assessment of any performance loss.”
About Morgan Solar
Morgan Solar has been developing technology solutions serving the Utility-Scale and Urban solar markets since 2007. Our Utility-solar solutions are driven by in situ Iot sensors that enable a live digital twin of solar plants. The company’s deep datasets unlock unprecedented analysis and insights that bring value to stakeholders across the solar sector.
For more information on Morgan Solar, visit www.morgansolar.com/diagnostic-pv-deepsweep
Contact: Paul Kealey, Senior Marketing Manager
info@morgansolar.com
About Nergica
Active for over 20 years, Nergica is a Canadian center of applied research that stimulates innovation in the renewable energy industry through research, technical assistance, technology transfer and technical support for businesses and communities. Nergica is a non-profit organization driven by an accomplished team of experts with access to research infrastructure operating in a unique natural environment. Nergica collaborates closely with industry players towards accelerating the adoption and development of renewable energy in the context of the energy transition.
For more information on Nergica, visit Nergica.com/en/
Contact: Charles Godreau, Supervisor, Research and Innovation, cgodreau@nergica.com