| Work Detail |
Tokyo-based startup Girasol Energy and the Yamanashi Prefecture Enterprise Office have renovated Japan’s oldest photovoltaic system, a 100kW array built in 1993. The project aimed to partially replace the original 13.3% efficient solar modules, offering an alternative to dismantling and recycling system components.Japanese startup Girasol Energy and the Yamanashi Prefectural Enterprise Office have jointly upgraded the countrys oldest photovoltaic system, a 100kW array installed in 1993.
The system had a 95 kW inverter and 1,800 solar modules with a conversion efficiency of 13.3%, spread over a 751 square meter plot.
“We redesigned the plant to maximize performance and continue operation by making targeted repairs based on highly accurate expected power generation calculated using simulation technology obtained from big data analysis,” Girasol Energy said. “Instead of replacing the solar panels entirely, we mainly re-arranged the wiring, repaired the communication system components, and replaced the inverter.”
Girasol Energy says that system refurbishment, rather than component recycling, is a practical solution for PV systems that will see their feed-in tariff expire in the coming years.
"We believe that by quickly identifying defective parts and carrying out timely repairs, even small and medium-sized plants that have been installed for many years can remain profitable," the company said.
The companies have not disclosed additional technical details about the photovoltaic system, which currently supplies energy to nearby restaurants and a golf course. The renovation project is part of an initiative launched by the companys office.
“This is the first attempt to achieve 50 years of operation of the photovoltaic system,” the company said in a statement. “Repowering a solar power plant does not necessarily mean replacing all the equipment. We have been able to clearly show a path to the future where power generation can be restored by making appropriate redesigns when equipment breaks down or reaches the end of its useful life.”
The companies have developed an Internet of Things (IoT) platform that enables remote, real-time monitoring of solar plants, allowing operators to track sensor data without the need for additional communication lines. |
