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PV system Performance Ratio measurements: going beyond Class A standards

Published in: Solar, Ask the Experts, Exclusive Articles

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Hukx has earned a global reputation in solar radiation measurement, with its Class A instruments known for accuracy that goes beyond standard ISO benchmarks. The company has also developed a worldwide calibration network aimed at lowering long-term costs. In a recent study with Delft University of Technology, Hukx explored how measurement accuracy influences PV system Performance Ratio (PR). PES spoke with lead researcher Matthijs Ates to hear what they found.

PES: It’s great to speak to you today Matthijs. Could you tell us more about your research and Hukx’s motivations for initiating this study?

Matthijs Ates: We looked at how uncertainty in pyranometer measurements affects real-world uses of solar radiation data, particularly PV system Performance Ratio (PR) calculations. PR is based on measured solar irradiance, power output and module temperature, so any uncertainty in these inputs feeds directly into the final result.

We quantified the overall uncertainty in PR, identified the main contributing factors and examined how this uncertainty influences how PR is used in industry.

For a long time our focus has been on developing highly accurate instruments, often exceeding the Class A requirements set out in ISO 9060. This research was driven by a need to better understand how measurement uncertainty impacts downstream applications. We calculate the amount of error allowed starting from the defined specifications.

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