Challenge
A growing number of photovoltaic farms are currently being developed in Poland, and in order to properly monitor their operating parameters and electricity generation, they should rely on locally recorded meteorological data. The key challenge is the precise measurement of those parameters that make it possible to distinguish the impact of weather conditions from actual technical faults within the installation.
Only reliable monitoring enables rapid detection of irregularities, optimisation of energy production, and a complete understanding of plant performance under changing environmental conditions. Professional photovoltaic farms must operate as predictably and efficiently as possible, and IEC 61724-1 defines how their performance should be monitored in line with the highest industry standards.
Solution
For one of the companies developing large-scale photovoltaic farms, we supplied a total of 350 complete measurement sets, including Lufft WS500 weather stations, Lufft WS300 sensors, and professional Kipp & Zonen SMP10 pyranometers. In accordance with industry best practices and the requirements of IEC 61724-1, one complete measurement set is installed for every 1 MW of installed capacity, ensuring detailed monitoring of environmental conditions and the actual performance of the power plant.
The Lufft WS series sensors are advanced multi-parameter meteorological devices that integrate temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, and precipitation measurements within one compact housing. They are easy to install and simple to operate, and thanks to the Modbus interface, they can be seamlessly integrated with photovoltaic farm management systems. The Kipp & Zonen SMP10 pyranometers provide top-class solar radiation measurement, ensuring stability, precision, and digital communication that simplifies integration with control and monitoring infrastructure. Combined with Lufft sensors, they form a complete and professional supervision system that supports energy production optimisation and the rapid detection of abnormalities.
Benefits
A comprehensive monitoring system based on Lufft WS sensors and Kipp & Zonen SMP10 pyranometers gives investors and operators of photovoltaic farms full control over plant performance in all conditions. Accurate, local meteorological data enables ongoing detection of irregularities, faster service response, and optimisation of energy production, which directly translates into higher yields and lower financial losses.
An additional advantage is the ability to record extreme weather events such as strong wind gusts, hail, or severe storms. This data serves as valuable and objective evidence when applying for compensation for damage to photovoltaic infrastructure, significantly facilitating and accelerating the claims process.
The use of modern, easy-to-integrate, and reliable measurement sensors provides investors not only with effective supervision of plant performance, but also with a tangible increase in safety and protection of the value of their investment.