Revamping and optimization of a ground mounted grid-connected photovoltaic plant.

The goal of the following work is the correct re-design of a medium scale photovoltaic plant, in order to increase its energetic and, consequently, economic performances (revamping); an existent 1 MW grid-connected plant located in Racconigi (TO), of ground mounted type, will be considered the case study for the revamping operation to which making reference for the whole treatment. After a brief overview on PV technology, the case study plant will be described in its original configuration. Plant’s productivity concept will be defined, and some methods of estimation will be applied in order to determine its value before and after the intervention, so as to estimate the potential energy gain of the revamping operation. Shifting the attention from the generator to components, in particular PV modules, main anomalies affecting the panels will be analysed; making reference to the ones characterizing the existent case study installation, a deeper examination will be exposed. An experimental I-V curve of the existent modules will be obtained with proper instrumentation, and compared to the theoretical one; thermographic analysis will be also carried on in order to further characterize existing problems. Furthermore, a final experimental estimation of plant’s efficiency will be performed and described, to characterize the plant as a whole. The final part of the elaborate will be devoted to the description of the revamping operation for the plant under analysis. A complete design for the case study will be set: the plant will be redesigned, starting from the existent structures of the current design. Exploiting previous results, a further estimation of plant’s productivity will be given. Finally, a financial analysis (business plan) of the investment will be carried on so as to estimate the advantages of the whole process. The work will be made in collaboration with the Entec Spa company, in Savigliano (CN), which is in charge for the labour.