Objective
The project has the aim both to investigate the electrical performances of a medium-sized PV subfield equipped with an active single axis tracking system vs. subfields of the same power with fixed structures already in operation, and to evaluate the real installation and maintenance costs. This PV system will be the first medium-sized tracking system in Itally and will allow the application of technical solutions that have reached the demonstration stage, and the promotion of similar projects which would improve PV energy production and diffuse the use of single-axis tracking systems.
It will allow to improve the technical experience in designing, managing and maintaining of grid-connected tracking system, thus contributing to better define standards in the field of renewable energy and to promote the diffusion of similar projects reducing the dependence from traditional source (fossil fuel).
The project consists in the design and installation of a 330 kWp subfield at the Serre 3.3 MWp photovoltaic power station, using monoaxial tracking system, connected to the medium voltage grid by means of an inverter equipped with MPPT system. The project is the first medium-scale application of production of electric energy by renewable source, to feed the energy into the Electric Utility network.
The total 330 kWp array is divided into two 165 kWp rated subfields and every DC cabinet connects 8 strings and is equipped with overvoltage protections and switches; the nominal voltage at the maximum power point of each PV string is about 330 V.
All the DC field cabinets from the two 165 kWp subfields are connected with a DC board located in a building with the DC/ AC converter with step-up transformer and the electrical equipment for medium voltage network interface. The movements of the PV rows are given by AC 6-poles asynchronous drive motor powered directly by the grid : a particular mechanical system allows proportional angular movements in respect of the motor rotations at every position of the supporting structures.
The movements of the PV row are controlled by a microprocessor unit equipped with dedicated software (especially developed) that can manage the drive motor using a time dependent control.
The DC/AC converters that will be installed for the power conditioning of the tracking system are line-commutated inverters rated at 550 kVa, equipped with thyristors and maximum power point tracker.
The electronic supervision subsystem is installed directly in the control room of the power station and is managed by a computer system, which can give all the operating information and faults diagnostic using touch-screen technology. A computer simulation of one typical year of operation of the tracking system vs. fixed solutions gives a 2045 equivalent hours per year which is 21% more than for a fixed 20° titled PV plant already installed.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
00198 ROMA
Italy