By: Thomas Enzendorfer, Fronius USA.
Just like the evolution of the internet and computer systems, the surge of new, innovative technology in the realm of photovoltaic (PV) systems is constantly on the rise. We as consumers and manufacturers strive for a better experience which feeds our innovation to complete tasks faster and more efficiently. The system isn’t changing, rather we are growing to discover more convenient ways to streamline its process.
For example, 20 years ago you could get on a plane and travel across the United States in hours. Today, you can still get on a plane and travel across the United States in about the same amount of time, but now it’s a more streamlined process. You can upload your e-ticket via your airline app, slide through security and work on-flight via Wi-Fi* much more quickly.
Innovation in the solar industry can be said to be seen primarily through inverter technology. Easier installation, seamless design, National Electrical Code upgrades and Wi-Fi capability are just to name a few.
Creating direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) is the most basic function, like getting on a plane. Accessing that basic function, however, has proven to be a crucial component for the PV system owner to be knowledgeable about how their system performs. Monitoring has been and continues to be completed in many ways. Options for PV system owners have included products that require additional cords and hardware, not necessarily accessible or user-friendly for the customer.
Fronius, for example, has addressed these monitoring issues with several products that not only streamline the process but create a seamless connection with the inverter. Its datamanager is a plug-in card that enables inverters to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi. PV system data is seamlessly sent to a web platform and app for convenient access and customer review. This product can be retrofitted to all the company’s inverters, as long as it meets the minimal hardware requirements, to help streamline the connection and not worry the consumer about added routing or cords.
Clear presentation and evaluation of the latest and archived data is an important component for those looking to monitor on a regular basis, in which these Wi-Fi enabled devices create a convenient way to continually stream information. Having your system Wi-Fi integrated also affords an opportunity for automatic yield comparisons across multiple inverters or time periods, easy management of multiple systems and ability to be a part of the company’s online community to share and compare systems.
Additional tools being required to monitor PV system data is now a thing of the past as we continue to gravitate towards a more streamlined approach. The Fronius Galvo inverter, for example, has Wi-Fi already enabled, creating a one-stop-shop for monitoring success. The data from the inverter is automatically sent to the online systems. This type of streamlining should be standard in our growing solar energy industry. The goal of a better customer experience should always be at the forefront when it comes to innovation and, like adding convenience to and reducing time of your business travel. We should demand this streamlined quality in our residential and commercial PV systems for a better tomorrow.
*The term Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance
By: Thomas Enzendorfer, Fronius USA.