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The International Energy Agencys Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) highlights key performance indicators (KPIs) for photovoltaic systems in its latest report. It calls for clear definitions of KPIs and standardised data processing to improve system efficiency and reliability. IEA-PVPS has called for standardised definitions of key performance indicators (KPIs) for operational PV systems in order to eliminate potential biases. Task 13, “ Best Practice Guidelines for the Use of Economic and Technical KPIs ,” describes calculations and applications of key technical and contractual KPIs for PV system operations. According to the IEA-PVPS, KPIs are essential for assessing PV systems from the perspective of operational efficiency, financial viability and sustainability metrics, while serving as a guide for effective decision-making. The report defines the most commonly used KPIs, describes their advantages and pitfalls, and critiques their application and limitations. IEA-PVPS noted that KPIs can vary depending on project size, market, location and calculation methods, which can have financial implications. It warned that KPI calculations based on heavily filtered data sets can introduce bias, which can lead to asset owners gaining or losing revenue unfairly. To address this, IEA-PVPS has called for transparency and standardisation in KPI definitions to eliminate such risks. The report also provides guidance on data preparation and processing, which IEA-PVPS says is crucial for reliable KPI calculations. The report points to an urgent need to standardise and harmonise data processing to enable data-based decisions to be made. A chapter on data management covers best practices for determining KPIs across data types, hardware and software, data quality, preparation and aggregation. Another chapter discusses the possibilities for KPIs beyond contractual agreements and minimum thresholds. IEA-PVPS noted that assessment processes have advanced and are becoming standard practice to provide valuable insights into PV system data. The report adds that advanced mapping techniques using KPI data enable a comprehensive assessment of PV performance across all regions, supporting tailored operations and design considerations in the early phases of new PV projects. IEA-PVPS says it is collecting PV system performance data from large PV system analytics platforms to calculate technical KPIs and interpret the data through geospatial maps. “This approach will serve to extend knowledge from specific locations where data is available to locations where PV systems might not even be installed yet,” IEA-PVPS said. “This exercise will be very valuable for the design of new PV plants and the adaptation of PV system contracts using greater certainty in performance estimates.” Its latest report follows publications on building-integrated photovoltaics and string inverters, both published earlier this December. |
