ABSTRACT
Monitoring a Photovoltaic (PV) system permits examination of its behaviour under real operating conditions, which may be quite different from the assumptions and simulations made during design. Monitored data provides designers with valuable information on how to improve future PV systems. It is also useful when assessing the potential and reliability of PV technology for a given application at a certain location. Reliability of monitoring equipment is sometimes lower than that of the PV system to be monitored, causing data losses. For monitoring PV systems in cold climates computers can therefore only be considered for larger installations with a thermal management system where personnel are available at least from time to time. Comparing the performance of different PV plants at different locations is complicated because the output of the array depends on the design of the system, as well as on the insolation and temperature at the site.
