Augsburg, December 18, 2014 – Yield reports by meteocontrol GmbH provide a reliable basis for assessing photovoltaic projects. In addition to system-specific parameters, they take into account local conditions as well as the latest climate research insights. For any system location around the world, the Augsburg-based PV service provider can generate accurate forecasts of the expected yield. For investors and solar project planners this leads to planning reliability and an early opportunity for optimization for their solar projects.
Yield reports are a basic requirement when it comes to obtaining funding for solar projects from banks and investors. meteocontrol calculates the expected specific yield as well as the performance ratio for each system location, taking into account the components used and the project-specific configuration. Based on long-term average figures for global irradiance, every hour of a year is simulated using a detailed calculation model. Realistic yield forecasts call for an exact knowledge of the individual specifications.
Longstanding project experience and reliable weather data
meteocontrol has access to an exceptionally precise meteorological database that is constantly updated and regularly adapted to take into account the latest scientific findings. Compared with previous calculations, the latest data shows a trend toward higher irradiance levels for the Europe region, resulting in higher specific yields in the forecasts. Another significant reason for these highly precise calculations comes from the continual validation of data by meteocontrol from a basis of over 35,000 monitored PV systems with a total capacity of 9.2 GWp. These calculations incorporate the latest climate research data and benefit from the extensive experience meteocontrol has gained from its PV projects all over the world. These calculations factor in location-specific effects such as soiling in desert regions as well as snow conditions in colder regions, allowing for realistic assumptions to be drawn for the evaluation of the Performance Ratio. The exact analysis of on-site energy consumption data and the minute-by-minute breakdown of losses due to output limitations make the yield forecasts even more precise.
Yield reports for major international projects
Over the course of this year, meteocontrol has received a particularly large number of orders from Japan and the United Arab Emirates. For Japanese planners alone, meteocontrol has produced reports for solar projects with a total volume of 1.8 GWp. The sometimes unusually high levels of snowfall in Japan pose a particular challenge for yield calculation for this region, as do the effects of sand on weather conditions in desert regions like in the UAE. In Arab countries, meteocontrol has forecast solar yields for photovoltaic projects with a total volume of about 100 MWp. In order to win a tender, planners require much more extensive planning documents and detailed forecasts in these regions. meteocontrol has also produced yield reports for solar projects in the United States and South Africa as well as for aspiring solar-power players such as Turkey, Israel and Madagascar.
About meteocontrol
meteocontrol, based in Augsburg, Germany, and with offices in Lyon (France), Madrid (Spain), Milan (Italy) and Moers (Germany) offers energy and weather data management, yield reports, quality audits and technical due diligence as well as monitoring and technical operation management of PV systems of all sizes. meteocontrol has more than 30 years of expertise in the renewable energy sector and has so far been involved in projects with a total investment volume of more than 13 billion euros. The company currently conducts technical operation management for systems with a total power of around 500 MWp. In addition, meteocontrol is the market leader for professional remote monitoring of PV systems. meteocontrol monitors around 35,000 PV systems around the globe with a total power of over 9.2 GWp. meteocontrol is an S.A.G. Group company.
Further information: www.meteocontrol.com
