Have you ever had a piece of equipment, like a computer or other electronic device, that frequently malfunctioned or broke down without any clear cause? Perhaps you’ve noticed flickering lights or, in a factory setting, motors that overheat and fail sooner than expected. These issues could be the result of poor power quality, and if this isn’t recognised, the time and money spent addressing the symptoms may be wasted.

Moreover, poor power quality can also lead to higher energy bills, further cutting into your profits. This is why it’s crucial for anyone running a business to know what the power quality of their premises is.

In the field of solar energy system designs, accurate data collection is essential for optimising system performance and ensuring long-term reliability. Estac Engineering strongly recommends using advanced loggers capable of measuring all aspects of power quality at your premises, rather than just the load profile

Load Profile Collection:

A load profile is essentially a graphical representation of a site’s energy consumption over time, typically measured in kilovolt-ampere (kVA). It provides a detailed view of how much energy is used, when it is used, and how this usage varies throughout the day, week, or season. This information is critical for sizing a solar PV system, as it helps designers determine the system’s capacity to meet the site’s energy demands.

Limitations of Load Profile Collection:

While load profile data is valuable, it has significant limitations when used in isolation. A load profile does not provide information on the quality of the energy being consumed, such as the presence of harmonics, voltage fluctuations, or power factor issues. These factors can have a substantial impact on the performance and lifespan of a solar PV system. Without addressing these issues, a solar system might be improperly sized, inefficient, or even prone to premature failure.

Energy Quality Analysis with our advanced PEL 103 Logger: 

Energy quality analysis involves a more comprehensive examination of the electrical characteristics of a site. The PEL 103 Logger is a sophisticated tool that measures not only energy consumption, but also voltage, current, power factor, harmonics, and total harmonic distortion (THD). This analysis provides a holistic view of the electrical environment, identifying potential issues that could affect the performance of a solar PV system.

How does Power quality affect your solar system design?

1. Voltage: Voltage dips may cause equipment failure or damage, system lock-up, data corruption, data loss etc.  
2. Power Factor: Bad power factor will lead to oversizing the designed solar system due to the inflation of the apparent power. Severe power factor will cause inverters to trip making the designed system unfeasible. (see our article on Power factor here).
3. Harmonics: Harmonic currents have negative effects on almost all items connected to an electrical system; they upset sensitive electronic devices, they increase heating and they produce mechanical stresses. This can also cause inverters to trip.  Among the most common effects of harmonics are computers crashing, IT equipment locking up, lights flickering, electronic components failing in process control equipment, problems when switching large loads, overheating of neutral conductors, unnecessary circuit breaker tripping and inaccurate metering.

Below is a snippet of the detailed 1min summary reports provided by Estac Engineering after a 10-day logging period. Our experienced Engineering team will investigate the report and clearly explain any energy quality concerns and their correct

Conclusion: 

While load profile collection is a critical step in the solar PV system design process, it should not be the sole method of data collection. A comprehensive energy quality analysis using tools like the PEL 103 Logger provides a deeper understanding of the electrical environment, leading to better system design and improved long-term performance. By addressing potential issues related to voltage, power factor, and harmonics, energy quality analysis ensures that solar systems are not only properly sized but also optimised for efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. In the rapidly evolving field of solar energy, incorporating both load profile data and energy quality analysis is essential for delivering the highest quality solar solutions to clients.solutions to you.