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Global experiences and learning curve in PV monitoring Business.

Global experiences and learning curve in PV monitoring Business.

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1) Congratulations for winning RE asset 2017 Award in category of “leading PV asset management software company of the year”

Thank you very much. Our hard work, dedication, commitments to the Indian market, our product quality, price-performance ratio, technical supports and local stock facility helped us to achieve the next milestone this year.

2) What is the size of your company in terms of manufacturing capacities, growth chart, future expansion, plans, revenues, shipments etc.

Since August 2015, Solar-Log™ is a subsidiary of BKW AG (Bern, Switzerland) – a global company for energy and infrastructure with over 5,000 employees. We produce the data loggers in our German Headquarters and meanwhile monitor approx 12 GWp of PV power worldwide with more than 259.000 loggers. One of our targets is, of course, to increase our global market share. Solar-Log™ data loggers are installed in more than 100 countries.

We have distribution channels in 40+ countries. Our data loggers are compatible with 100 inverter brands relating to 1.700 inverter models as well as lot more component manufacturers like meters, storage systems, heating elements, heat pumps, … Presently our major focus is on fast developing PV markets like India, China, USA and some European countries like Turkey. We also achieved very good results with approaching the large European markets with existing PV plants, e. g. Germany and Italy.

3) Can you please illustrate how Solar-Log™ monitoring & PV asset management software will help O & M companies and PV Asset owners, management companies etc.?

The new Solar-Log WEB Enerest™ emphasizes the continued forward-thinking development of our online portal solution. It is a combination of robust, proven technology and cutting-edge innovation.

The Solar-Log™ WEB Enerest™ provides installers and service providers a tool for centralized control. This allows them to offer plant owners optimal plant monitoring and concise presentation options. The M, L and XL editions make it possible to find the perfect fit for the needs of the plant owner and to offer the most optimal service with flexible features and levels. The system provides banks and investors reliable protection and professional monitoring for PV investments.

Solar-Log WEB Enerest™ features reliable reporting functions and concise presentation options that can be accessed online. To prevent any data losses, plant yields, error messages and configuration data are saved on SDS servers.

This new software platform is a further development of our existing software platforms. The present qualified portal, Solar-Log™ WEB Commercial Edition, will be integrated and implemented. Start of Solar-Log WEB Enerest™ will be as of April 2017.

Benefits of Solar-Log WEB Enerest™
Professional MaintenanceThe “Full-Service” maintenance concept offers plant operators an ideal plant maintenance.Reliable ProtectionReliable monitoring and protection for PV investments.

Efficient MonitoringThe weather and reference data comparison module facilitates the detection of deviations from the potential power output of the plant and its current production.

Fast service restorationFast service restorationYou can review the status of all monitored plants at a glance. It is also possible to detect, analyze and remedy errors quickly with the diagnostic tools.

5  Simple documenting optionsWith the Timeline Module, events such as inverter replacements and configuration modifications can be documented.
Detailed reportsKeep plant operators informed on a regular basis with the easy-to-read reports. These reports only need to be configured once and then they will be automatically generated and sent out in the defined period.

Concise presentationSolar-Log WEB Enerest™ L & XL, can access plant data and offers various options in connection with the Solar-Log™ APP, Solar-Log™ Dashboard, Solar-Log™ Insight and Solarfox® to present the data.
Protection against data lossThat means plant yields, error messages and configuration data are stored, secured and backed up on our server.

4) Why is PV plant monitoring so important in fast developing markets like India?  

Solar Energy is an important source of energy all over the world and especially in developing countries like India. Therefore, it is very important that PV plants are working smoothly.Only with a professional PV monitoring system, errors and malfunctions at PV plants are immediately detected and can be resolved quickly. This helps to minimise yield losses. For example, failure of one or several inverters, cable damage, faulty installation and/or wiring, dirt and grime on the modules all cause yield losses and need to be corrected as soon as possible.

Furthermore, expert monitoring is to be understood as the basis for precise optimised consumption of self-produced energy, i.e. true energy management.Today, monitoring and performance analysis of solar plants has become extremely critical due to the increasing cost of operation and maintenance as well as reduced yield due to performance degradation during the lifecycle of the plant equipment. This means that the use of a monitoring system becomes essential to ensure high performance, low downtime and fault detection of a PV plant. This is especially valid for the very dynamic Indian market, where often quality is compromised by very tight time constraints.

We have also seen this at the high times of the European market a couple of years earlier. In short: A professional monitoring system protects your PV investment!

5)How Solar-Log™ monitoring is helpful for installers, portal operators, service providers & plant operators?

Advantages and benefits for installers, portal operators and service providers:
Easily become more efficientNo PC or Internet expertise is required to take advantage of the quick and simple installation with Easy Installation.

The LCD displays show the operating statusAn LCD-Status-Display is included with all devices and provides comprehensive information on the installation and operating status.3 Greatly reduce the installation time and effort required for network set-upFor wireless communication, all Solar-Log™ models are available with optional GPRS.4 Compatible with all major inverters on the marketThe single monitoring system for all inverters allows plant operators to select the best inverter for their needs.

All information at a glanceCentrally monitor all PV plants from a single platform with the Solar-Log™ WEB Software.6 Save a considerable amount of time and moneyCentrally monitor all PV plants from a single platform with the Solar-Log™ WEB Software.

Advantages and benefits for plant operators
Unmatched security for banks
Banks and investors require guarantees on their PV investments. Solar-Log™ monitoring helps to ensure a solid rate of return from the PV plant.

Higher efficiency
Error messages are immediately transmitted online or to mobile devices to guarantee yield certainty.

Effective and quick monitoring
The device can be intuitively and conveniently operated via the colour TFT-Touch-Display directly from the device or remotely via the web browser.

No PC expertise required
No software needs to be installed to connect the Solar-Log™ to the network.

Flawless and precise monitoring at an attractive price
As the market leader, we produce larger quantities at the highest qualities and guarantee the best value for money.

Optimize consumption of self-produced power
Optimized control and consumption of self-produced power with Solar-Log™. This optimization helps to make rising electricity prices less frightening.

6) How many data loggers have you supplied to India till now, what is the target/expectation in 2016-17?

We distributed 1600 data loggers to India until today. And we do, of course, expect more to come. This year, we have the target to distribute 2000 data loggers. That would increase our market share in PV monitoring in India significantly. Our Indian team is working hard to achieve this.

7) Apart from data loggers & monitoring systems, what else Solar-Log™ is offering for the Indian market?

Solar-Log™ sensors & accessories:
– Sensor Basic & Sensor Box Professional which delivers the irradiance values as well as the module temperature.
– Sensor Box Professional plus with optional accessories like wind sensor & ambient temperature sensor.
– Sensor Box Professional Plus also has the option to connect an ambient temperature sensor and window sensor in addition to inbuilt irradiation & module temperature sensor.

Feed-In Management Solutions:
“X% Regulation”: the function “X% fixed regulation” with the calculation of self-consumption offers an innovative solution to minimize losses that results from the fixed regulation.

Zero Export limitation: Solar-Log™ ensures that no amount of power will feed-in into the grid.
eControl Box (PV Hybrid System):
This product (eControl-Box) is used for PV Hybrid Plants where it manages in-parallel operations of a photovoltaic system and a diesel generator. This box can also be used in a situation where it is not allowed to feed any power back to the grid as the protection system.

8) Kindly enlighten our readers on the performance of your Solar-Log™ data logger in India in various geographic locations, customer feedback?

Presently, we have a lot of customers all over in India including leading EPCs, installers, developers, O & M and inverter manufacturers.  The feedback from our customers is very encouraging and motivating. They are satisfied with the Solar-Log™ device and its features. And this is what we want to achieve: customer satisfaction. Recently we have also published detailed interviews with renowned companies. Our data logger is meanwhile known for giving comprehensive, extensive and detailed PV plant feedback – however – qualified and reliable as well as competent. To cut a long story short: Solar-Log™ is meanwhile familiar with its status of being the communication channel for both – good and bad news.

Anand Gupta Editor - EQ Int'l Media Network

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