Monitoring Solar Trackers for Optimal Performance
At two of these solar sites, Bitbloom has implemented analytics in its Sift platform to monitor the behaviour of over 6,000 single-axis trackers. The primary objective is to detect tracking failures, which can significantly impact the energy output of solar installations. The deployed pipeline consists of the following steps:
1. Deviation Calculation: For each independent tracker, Bitbloom calculates the deviation from the site’s median tracking profile. This calculation is performed on 10-minute intervals.
2. Aggregate to Daily Deviation: The absolute tracker deviation within each block is aggregated by day. This produces a clear daily overview to highlight tracker issues needing attention.
3. Site Division: The solar site is divided into blocks based on the central inverters. This segmentation enables a more condensed and accessible view of tracker performance.
Identifying Hidden Tracker Failures
The methodology employed by Bitbloom has proven to be effective in identifying tracker failures quickly.
Starting with a significant amount of tracker data, Bitbloom’s software was able to swiftly set up a dedicated analysis processing deviation patterns and generate automated alerts for defective trackers. This enabled the Mainstream team to efficiently pinpoint trackers that were not performing optimally and intervene in a timely manner.
The identification and rectification of tracker failures have directly contributed to maximising the energy yield of the two solar sites. By ensuring that all trackers are functioning optimally, Mainstream Renewable Power has been able to enhance the overall performance of their solar assets, leading to increased energy production and reduced downtime.
Automating Analysis - Increasing Profitability
Bitbloom’s collaboration with Mainstream Renewable Power shows the potential of automated deep-analysis of operational renewable assets.
Leveraging Bitbloom’s Sift platform for developing and deploying analytics at scale, A new analysis was quickly deployed and now automatically raises alerts on tracker issues of the solar assets in a simple, actionable way. As the size of renewable energy fleets continue to grow, such highly adaptive technologies will play a crucial role in ensuring the optimal operation and profitability of renewable energy projects.
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