Our solar services go beyond thermal inspections of your array. LaSen offers several services beneficial for your farm, starting from pre-construction to the O&M of your facility; we've got it covered.
Pre-Construction
During the pre-construction phase of your solar farm, our LiDAR mapping service can provide our clients with survey-grade data, generating map layers such as Digital Surface Models (DSMs), Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) that work directly with GIS and CAD software. The models generated help with vegetation management and route planning. In addition, they can be used in identifying erosion, slippage, and encroachments.
During construction, we provide photogrammetry services that generate a digital twin of your site. Data in the images collected create informational 2D map layers regarding elevation and vegetation health and 3D map layers that support measurements such as volumetrics, perimeter, area, and counts, along with cut and fill analysis. Another powerful tool in photogrammetry is change detection. Change detection will allow us to compare maps of the exact location over different periods used for monitoring the site's progress.
Construction
Operations and Manitenance
When construction is completed, and your solar farm is producing, ongoing operations and maintenance will occur. We provide several services that can help. Our Photogrammetry service helps keep vegetation encroachment at bay, and our IR service will help by identifying bad cells and panels within your array. Routine inspections gives an added value by establishing a data set for change detection to determine which panels are not tracking correctly. All of these factors affect your overall production.
The derate factor represents the amount of electricity you can realistically expect to genterate after considering all losses. Like, thermal coefficient, shading, soiling, weather, mismatch, age, LID, and inverter losses, to name a few. But some factors are not readily seen, like bad cells that can derate a string of cells by up to 50%. Quarterly IR inspections can have a significant impact on alleviating your production losses.
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Also consider bad cells in your array. Bad cells in a panel can affect the production of the entire panel, adding up to considerable losses across the system. Mitigate these losses by having LaSen UAS conduct an IR inspection of your array.
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Components of the Derating Factor
Whether you are the owner of a 1,000 acre solar farm or had panels installed on your home, all owners of solar panels should be aware of what is called the Derating Factor.
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Simply, the Derating Factor is all your losses calculated together. Once you know your potential losses you can either figure for potential revenue lost or if you are a home owner, the loss of potential power production. Bottom line is that no system has 100% power production, so there is always a Derating Factor.
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Here are the components that create
the derating factor.
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1) Inverter Losses: Inverter losses can account for up to 3% of your total loss. Check the product datasheet to see how your panels are rated.
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2) Soiling: This is the dust and pollen on your panels. This can account for up to 2% of loss. Have your panels cleaned reguarly.
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3) Snow: Snow like dust and pollen can accumulate on the panels also affecting power production.
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4) Horizon Shading: These are the obstructions that block the light from reaching the panels, such as buildings, trees and the natural topography of the land. This can account for 3% loss.
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5) Cell Mismatch: This is when the lowest output cell can reduce the power output of neighboring cells. So the lowest output cell can dictate the power output for the entire panel. Add another another 2%.
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6) Panel Age: Consider that your panels will not produce as well as they get older. The power warranty for your panels should outline power losses as the panel ages.
7) LID: Light induced degredation is a chemical process that affects the panels the first time they are exposed to light. This can account for a little over 1% of loss.
8) Thermal Coefficient: As your panels heat up they become less efficient. This is called Thermal Coefficient. By taking 20% off what the panels power rating is should account for the thermal coefficient.
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This information was obtained from www.TheSolarNerd.com. Visit their website for a better description of the components of the derating factor.
www.thesolarnerd.com/blog/what-is-solar-panel-derate-factor/