| Manufacturer | NovoPolymers |
|---|---|
| Array Rating | 5.2kW |
| PV Technology | poly-Si |
| Array Structure | Fixed: Ground Mount |
| Installed | 2016 |
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Current Output
NovoVellum® your key to powerful modules
NovoPolymers manufactures encapsulants (EVA), a crucial component in modules and supplies to module manufacturers cutting-edge encapsulating solutions. By combining the best module sealing capabilities with added power output optimizations, the highest possible yield can be achieved across all aspects. NovoVellum® encapsulants are designed to improve module efficiency and bring undeniable added value to modules, quantifiable in higher sales margins for module manufacturers.
Fixed ground mounted polycrystalline silicon array
NovoPolymers incorporated their ultra-performant encapsulant NovoVellum® LEF01 with NovoVellum® HFW01 into a polycrystalline silicon array.
The most unique encapsulants to date
Module manufacturers are always on the lookout for new ways to increase the efficiency of their modules. Encapsulants are no longer solely protecting cells and modules, they can do a lot more than what they used to do and are becoming an active, power increasing indispensable component.
NovoPolymers’ latest patented innovation, NovoVellum® LEF01, manipulates light with different wavelengths and optimizes the light transmission to the solar cells to put all harvested sunlight to maximal use.
A strategy to maximize the energy conversion efficiency to its fullest potential on the encapsulant level: In this module array NovoPolymers paired NovoVellum® LEF01, the novel light optimizing front encapsulant with a highly reflective back encapsulant, NovoVellum® HFW01. This encapsulation combination is the ultimate solution to module manufacturers for bringing more power to the modules and increasing to higher power classes.
This means by simply switching out standard EVA encapsulants with NovoVellum® encapsulants, leaving all other components the same, can significantly improve the efficiency.
The above technology description has been supplied by the manufacturer. The Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre is pleased to provide a platform for information sharing while not endorsing specific claims made about technologies installed at the site.
| Array Rating | 5.2kW |
|---|---|
| Panel Rating | 260W |
| Number Of Panels | 20 |
| Panel Type | Si Classic P260 |
| Inverter Size / Type | 250W, Enphase M250- 72 Microinverter (20 units) |
| Installation Completed | Thu, 9 Jun 2016 |
| Array Tilt/Azimuth | Tilt = 20, Azi = 0 (Solar North) |
Notes on the Data
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Metering failure
Circuit breaker supplying the metering equipment for sites 23-38 tripped off on Aug 19th and was discovered and turned back on on Aug 23rd. This resulted in a lack of generation data for these sites during this time but did not stop the sites from physically generating.
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System Disconnection for Cabling Works
All arrays at the Solar Centre were disconnected from approximately 2.00pm to 3.00pm on Monday, 9 July 2018 in preparation for the cable between the main switchboard and distribution board being upgraded. Array sites #23-38 remained disconnected while the main feeder cable to these sites was replaced in subsequent days, but all systems were re-connected by early afternoon on Thursday, 12 July 2018.
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System Outage at Australia Day Long Weekend
A breaker tripped at around 12.30pm on Friday, 26 January, likely due to high generation levels reached at this peak time on this high irradiance day. Connection was restored after the Australia Day long weekend at around 11.30am on Monday, 29 January but shortly tripped again.
UPDATE 26-02-2018. The cause of this reoccurring issue has been identified and will be rectified. The solution requires the upgrading of a key distribution cable. This should be completed in the coming months.
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Connection Restored After Christmas/NY Period
Arrays have been re-connected following the outage that disconnected multiple sites from Christmas day 2017. The outage is believed to have been triggered by the tripping of two circuit breakers in separate distribution boards, making the diagnosis initially elusive. The ability of the common circuit shared by these arrays to keep abreast with increasingly high current demands as new arrays are installed and generation conditions are high is presently being addressed. For the same reason, intermittent outages persisted in the summer of early 2018.
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System Outage at Christmas/NY Period
A system outage was caused by a circuit breaker trip at approximately 2pm on a high generation day shortly after installation of a new array at the DKA Solar Centre. The outage commenced on 25 December continuing into the new year and is being addressed.
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System Outage for New Array Connection
Sites 23 through to 37 experienced an outage today from 11:10 to 11:50. The outage was due to the local distribution board being temporarily being taken offline to allow for the connection of a new PV system.
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Monitoring Interruption for UPS Battery Replacement
The disconnection and re-connection of the solar arrays and weather station equipment while a new site connection was being established prompted the already flattening UPS batteries which power the site’s energy meters to fail and require immediate replacement. Data recording was affected from approximately 2.30pm ACST, Monday 10 July to 4.00pm, Wednesday 12 July.
Affects weather data for DKASC, Alice Springs
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Partial System Outage
One of the major switchboards at the DKASC lost power yesterday 01/12/2016 at ~11:00 am. This isolated and shutdown array sites 23 through to 37 inclusive. The switchboard was re-energised at ~16:30 today (02/12/2016) and is again operating normally. Data for this period for these sites is lost.
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Site 36: Intermittent Outages
The micro inverter settings for the Novopolymer array were incorrectly changed in early November 2016. This has resulted in the intermittent shutdowns of these inverters up o and including 29th November 2016. This has been corrected on the 29th November 2016 and this issue should now resolve itself.
> Answer to Spotlight Question
Onsite at the DKA Solar Centre in Alice Springs are a series of quiz-like Spotlight Questions at each array. Visit the centre and scan the QR code at each sign to test your knowledge – and check your answer here!
Q: In what situations might it be most useful to use microinverters instead of string inverters?
A: Microinverters are designed to optimise the performance of, and allow remote monitoring of, individual solar modules rather than a whole string or the array at large. This makes them desirable in arrays that experience partial shading, as any compromised performance of one module need not affect all other modules, or where installation surfaces (such as the roof) have many different-facing directions or tilt angles. Microinverters are also useful when detailed insights into each module are required for research/testing or contractual purposes.