MET Stations for Large PV

MET / Weather Stations for Utility, Commercial and Industrial PV
Solar Resource Assessment Technology
Installation and Civil Works Services Available

Solar PV MET Stations

Maintain and improve solar energy output by combining weather analytics and PV panel conditions with your PV production data. These weather stations are modular, plug-and-play, and are SunSpec certified / compliant. Easily integrate important weather analytics and PV panel conditions into your SCADA via Modbus RTU using an RS-485 interface.

Solar Irradiance from the Sun

Solar irradiance is the full energy output from the sun. Pyranometers measure the energy received, which varies based on geography and microclimate. See how closely solar production compares with available energy from the sun -- using pyranometers. Plus, these measurements can forecast solar production for a potential location.

The most common irradiance measurement is global irradiance. Other measurements include plane of array, reverse plane of array, albedo, and diffused.

Every PVmet weather station includes at least one irradiance sensor, except for the PVmet 500. This weather station supports 3 irradiance sensors (all classes and standards of thermopile and silicon diode technologies). This station can also support irradiance for albedo (bifacial PV) and diffused.

Learn more about pyranometers and solar irradiance.

PV Panel Temperatures and Solar Production

High panel temperatures reduce the efficiency of the solar panels. Efficiency of modules typically drops around 0.5% per 1°C temperature rise, compared to the standard test condition of 25°C. Track panel temperatures to determine temperature-related losses.

All but one the PVmet weather stations include a back of panel temperature sensor and support one additional one. The PVmet 500 does not include this sensor, but supports up to 3.

• Back of Module Temperature Sensor PT1000
• Back of Module Temperature Digital Modbus Sensor
• Temperature Sensor Back of Module - PVmet

Wind and Solar Panels

Real-time and historical wind data from wind sensors has numerous benefits. Wind data helps with project design requirements. Wind can also be used to estimate panel temperatures. Recording wind can also provide information relevant to wind-damage warranty claims. Wind is also the most common cause of damage for photovoltaics systems, according to Thorsten Kray, PhD Head of the PV Wind Loading Department. Read more (external link) about the importance of wind concerning solar installations.

• Wind Speed and Direction Sensor
• Wind Sensor High-Performance

Soiling Sensors

Use soiling sensors to know when solar PV panels need to be cleaned to maximize PV production.

• Dual Reference Cell Soiling Measurement Kit
• Mars Soiling Sensor Specification
• RC22 PV Reference Cell

Rain and Solar Power

Why monitor rain with a rain gauge? If a location hasn't received much rain, the panels become soiled, produce less power, and should be scheduled for a cleaning. Or, know when a location receives heavy rains and could impact ground-mounted arrays.

• Rain Gauge - PVmet
• Rain Gauge Tipping Bucket
• Rain-O-Matric Professional Rain Gauge

Remote Weather Stations

PowerWise offers integrated solutions to monitor weather in remote locations. The solution includes a gateway and cellular modem mounted in a NEMA enclosure. The weather station and NEMA enclosure are affixed to a tripod or tower. A PV panel provides power to the cell modem and gateway. Contact PowerWise for more information.

Best-in-Class Techonology

PVmet Weather Station Product Line

Commercial and Industrial PV Weather Stations

The PVmet 200 is the most popular weather station for C&I solar. It includes 2 irradiance sensors, commonly used to measure global irradiance and plane of array. The weather station features sensors for wind speed and direction, as well as ambient air and panel temperature.

Utility Solar PV
Weather Stations

Enjoy fully customizable SCADA MET stations designed for the utility PV projects. These modular weather stations integrate with multiple SCADA applications and hardware platforms. The MET stations can be configured to meet the IEC 61724-1 international standard. For Canadian utility sites, our MET stations meet the ISO Rule 304.9 Table 1 specifications.