Technology and engineering
Posts about Technology and engineering

Technology and engineering
How does far shading affect solar plant efficiency?
Discover the impact of the far shading / Horizon effect on solar plant efficiency and learn how RatedPower’s Horizon Importer helps optimize PV installations for maximum performance
22 May, 23Altair Veiga

Technology and engineering
Top 5 Solar Inverters used in pvDesign
Read this post to discover the five most popular solar inverters used in utility-scale PV projects. We look at specifications, features, popularity based on regional use, and more.

Technology and engineering
Utility-scale solar plants in desert climates
Deserts would seem to have the ideal conditions for a solar plant. But what are the advantages and challenges for large-scale PV projects in desert climates?

Technology and engineering
The potential for solar PV to enhance hydropower plants
Adding floating solar photovoltaic panels to hydropower plants can maximize electricity generation efficiency. Read on to find out the latest developments.

Technology and engineering
Why are renewables being blamed for energy blackouts?
Fear of blackouts as the renewable percentage increases and grid stabilization solutions.

Technology and engineering
The state of PV recycling: Building a solar circular economy
What happens to solar panels when they reach the end of their lifespan? Unfortunately, many end up in landfills. Find out what steps are being taken to improve solar recycling.

Technology and engineering
The bright side of cold weather: solar panels efficiency
With our current snow storms in Europe, it is interesting to see that, unless extreme weather conditions, the cold may have its efficiencies in solar generation.


Technology and engineering
Cable sizing: Soil resistivity and temperature
How do soil conditions affect the cable requirements in a solar photovoltaic plant? Here, we’ll dive into how RatedPower’s pvDesign can help you account for the impact.

Technology and engineering
Solar cell efficiency and how to improve it
Cell conversion efficiency is an essential metric for PV design. Here we look at how to improve solar cell efficiency to make your PV plant more productive.

Technology and engineering
Meeting the challenges (and exploring the solutions) of grid saturation
Grid saturation is causing a number of problems around the world. Read on to find out what these challenges are, what’s causing them, and some of the solutions to overcome them.

Technology and engineering
Surge Protection Device (SPD): What is of utmost necessity for a solar plant?
PV design should always consider the risk and impact of potential electrical surges. Here we look at how to protect your plant against this issue — including the use of SPD.

Technology and engineering
Rare metals in the photovoltaic industry
What role do rare earths and minor metals play in the clean energy industry? What are the alternatives emerging for solar photovoltaic technologies?

Technology and engineering
How cloud computing is transforming the renewable energy industry
What is the role of cloud computing in the renewable energy sector? Here, we look at how cloud technology is transforming the industry.

Technology and engineering
Cybersecurity in solar plants: how to keep solar power supplies secure
As technology evolves, so do the risks of cyber attacks. But what does cybersecurity look like for the solar industry in particular? Read on to find out.

Technology and engineering
How 3D mapping is revolutionizing renewable energy and engineering
3D mapping is giving developers new capabilities in optimizing energy installations. Use the new 3D feature in Rated Power’s pvDesign software to plan your next solar project.

Technology and engineering
Choosing PV structures: Trackers vs Fixed vs East-West (Case study inside!)
Choosing the right PV structure for your project leads directly to greater efficiency, power output, and ROI. In this post, we outline the three main PV plant structures and share RatedPower analysis of their performance.

Technology and engineering
AC vs DC-coupled BESS: the pros and cons
AC or DC coupling refers to the way in which solar panels are linked to the BESS (battery energy storage systems). Here we compare the pros and cons of each.

Technology and engineering
Cable standards: Important criteria and differences between countries
Breaking down how the IEC, NEC, AS and GB cable standards differ from each other and their characteristics.

Technology and engineering
How pvDesign can help you to finance your PV projects
Financing a new solar photovoltaic project takes time and effort, and there are many variables to consider. In this blog, we’ll look at the steps involved in planning and financing a new PV installation, as well as how pvDesign from RatedPower can help you plan your finances and acquire investment.
11 Apr, 23Bernardino Martin

Technology and engineering
Photovoltaic and rail transportation: Is it the future, or a failure waiting to happen?
What is the potential for installing solar energy systems in railway networks? Is it viable to run trains from rooftop PV panels on a large scale?
6 Mar, 23Laura Rodríguez

Policy and regulation
Challenges of integrating renewables into today’s power grids
What are some of the challenges grid operators face in the clean energy transition and what are some practical solutions?
27 Feb, 23Laura Rodríguez

Technology and engineering
The refurbishment of a PV plant that has passed its expected lifetime
When equipment fails or deteriorates, PV plants can choose to either refurbish the equipment or replace it altogether. But which is the better route to take?
22 Feb, 23Maïlys Babin

Technology and engineering
Flat PV panels: 6 advantages and drawbacks
What are the advantages and drawbacks of installing flat solar photovoltaic (PV) panels without a fixed or tracker mounting structure?
1 Feb, 23Jeffrey Martínez

Technology and engineering
Lifecycle analysis of a PV plant: Carbon footprints and recycling modules
How does lifecycle analysis work for solar photovoltaic (PV) plants?
26 Jan, 23Maïlys Babin

Technology and engineering
Ultimate guide to utility-scale PV system losses
What are solar PV system losses and how can you avoid them to maximize the electrical output from your utility-scale plant project?
20 Dec, 22Altair Veiga

Technology and engineering
Why Hydrogen Fuel is fundamental to clean energy targets
Renewable energy such as wind and solar is crucial to the adoption of hydrogen fuel for meeting clean energy targets for heavy industry. Read on to find out more.

Technology and engineering
A guide through semi-transparent solar cells
How do transparent solar cells work and what are the pros and cons of using them in PV projects?
23 Nov, 22Maïlys Babin

Technology and engineering
Solar Power Technologies that rocked it in 2022
What are the trends and technologies that will drive the expansion of solar energy in the next few years?

Technology and engineering
The importance of solar irradiance and meteorological data for PV design
Solar irradiance — the power of solar radiation measured in W/m2 — is an essential metric when designing a PV system.
26 Sep, 22Natalia Opie

Technology and engineering
How to design overhead power lines for utility-scale green energy
Overhead power lines play a vital role in the overall green energy infrastructure. Here we outline how to design overhead lines using pvDesign software.
12 Aug, 22Soukayna Jermouni

Technology and engineering
The power of battery storage: Evolution and alternatives
Alternatives to batteries are on the rise. Read on to find out how the development of battery storage technologies is integral to the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Technology and engineering
Solar mounting structure construction methods
The success of a PV installation relies on solar panel mounting systems. Here we discuss the four-step approach to selecting the right mounting structure for your PV project.
13 Jul, 22Ming Cheng

Technology and engineering
What is carbon capture — and can it be a climate change solution?
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is seen as a viable way of minimizing the energy industry’s impact on the environment. But how effective is CCS as a climate change solution?
6 Jul, 22Laura Rodríguez

Technology and engineering
How to design an optimal solar PV system
Roll up your sleeves and learn how to design an optimal solar PV system. Get a perfect project layout easily with pvDesign.

Technology and engineering
Artificial Intelligence in Renewable Energy
What role can artificial intelligence play in advancing the renewable energy sector?

Technology and engineering
What is the pitch distance and why is it important?
What is the pitch distance and what effect does it have on solar PV plant output and efficiency?
4 May, 22Hassan Farhat

Technology and engineering
DC/AC ratio: How to choose the right size solar inverter?
Let's dive into the DC/AC ratio of a PV system —and why it is important when designing it.
19 Apr, 22Nacho Álvarez

Technology and engineering
The era of standalone energy yield software is ending
Let's take a look at the foundations of PV system energy yield calculations, the history of standalone EY tools and the benefit from integrating design, engineering and energy yield in one tool

Technology and engineering
How to clean solar panels: 5 tried and tested ways
Why should you clean solar panels? And, how can you clean to maintain their optimum power efficiency? Read on to find out.

Technology and engineering
Cabling solar installations for maximum efficiency
The way that cables are laid out in a solar power plant can affect its performance and return on investment. Here’s how.

Technology and engineering
How to battle soiling losses with pvDesign
How do soiling losses affect the output from a solar energy system and how can Rated Power’s pvDesign help to account for them in a PV project?
22 Feb, 22Natalia Opie

Technology and engineering
Limiting shading losses to maximize solar power output
What are shading losses in a solar energy system? What causes shading? How can RatedPower help to account for them in a solar project?

Technology and engineering
Bifacial modules: a comprehensive guide on financial and technical performance of the next hot thing in solar
Looking into the economic aspects of bifacials such as the current industry situation, market leaders, key world regions, LCOE, bifacial modules' history and the future of the solar photovoltaic market with special attention to bifacial solar panels compared to monofacial.

Technology and engineering
The importance of meteorology in solar plant design & how to perform meteorology analysis
The meteorology of the location plays an important part in solar panel plant design. Read on to find out what to look out for in meteorological analysis.
23 Dec, 21Félix Pérez

Technology and engineering
Learn PV substation engineering and design automation with pvDesign
Do you know why and how a solar farm connects to the grid? pvDesign automatically generates the best solution for an interconnection facility and chooses between a switching and breaking station, a line to transformer substation or a single/double busbar substations.
2 Dec, 21Nacho Álvarez

Technology and engineering
How to design a PV plant with topography restrictions
When it comes to designing solar plant projects, the topography is incredibly important. Read on to find out how to best plan your solar project with topography restrictions

Technology and engineering
Green airports challenge for operators: How to support complex design decisions?
Can aviation really become less polluting? Clean energy at airports could help to achieve this industry-wide goal and install the most obvious renewable power production system: solar photovoltaic. But the list of concerns are seemingly endless: what about glare, power system stability, airside safety and costs?

Technology and engineering
Benefits of Agrivoltaics and 5 real-life examples of successful implementations
Why invest on solar PV or agriculture and livestock farming when you could do both together and better: welcome to Agri PV.
14 Sep, 21Laura Rodríguez

Technology and engineering
Solar power’s role in supercharging green hydrogen
Solar power is soaring ahead as a low-cost source of electricity for producing green hydrogen, all thanks to solar excess. Read on to find out how green hydrogen and solar are meeting the energy needs of old and new industries.
15 Jul, 21Laura Rodríguez

Technology and engineering
Sustainability of batteries: Can we afford them?
Battery adoption is growing exponentially, however, is all that glitters gold?

Technology and engineering
Solar panel orientation: How using East-West structures improves the performance of your project
Which solar panel orientation and tilt is best for your residential, commercial or utility-scale plant?
1 Jun, 21Laura Rodríguez

Technology and engineering
Renewable technologies and their geographical location: Why it matters
What determines the best geographic locations to install renewable energy generation? Read on to find out.
20 May, 21Laura Rodríguez

Technology and engineering
Why and how do solar panels degrade?
What are the reasons for solar panel degradation? What affects the rate at which solar panels degrade and are there ways to extend their lifespan to avoid them ending up as waste?
29 Apr, 21Laura Rodríguez

Technology and engineering
Solar glass buildings: Greatest achievable idea or science-fiction?
Solar glass and the opportunity to build solar buildings to provide 40% of the energy demand.
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