Overview
The Core Monitoring KPIs is a Certified Product Point Template for PV Inverters defines required normalized performance key performance indicators (KPIs) that provide first-principles performance metrics for all vendors of Solar Inverters. The metrics here specifically leverage the raw data in the Core Real-Time Data template (e.g. the collection “raw” OPC points expected on all inverters) and the normalized calculations in the Core Real-Time Calculations template.
These calculations are important for monitoring and optimizing solar inverters, as they provide actionable insights into how effectively the system is converting solar energy into usable electricity. Performance KPIs, such as performance index or capacity factor, help identify underperforming inverters or environmental impacts like shading or temperature variations. Production KPIs, like total energy produced or differential power, allow tracking of energy generated over time for comparison with expected values. Together, these metrics enable operators to detect faults early, schedule maintenance proactively, and ensure the solar plant is operating at peak efficiency.
Template Definition
The Core Monitoring KPIs is based on a five-minute aggregation layer, formed from inter-related interval expressions (see below).
Scale Equations: Algebraic or logical manipulations of input data done on the Bazefield edge buffer
Online Expressions: Algebraic or logical manipulations of input data done on the central Bazefield data engines (typically on a storage node). Similar to scale equations in purpose, but done in the centralized architecture.
Interval Expressions: Algebraic, logical, or advanced manipulations of input data done within a pre-define aggregation interval (e.g. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 1 hour, etc). These are typically done centrally on a storage node.
Details on the Point Names, Descriptions, and Types are below.
Name | Description | Type | Interval | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ActivePowerAvg | Average of ActivePower tag over 5 min interval | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | kW | |
CapacityFactor | Active power in 5min interval divided by rated capacity | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | % | |
DifferentialPower | Unrealized potential power. Theoretical Power minus Active Power | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | kW | |
Irradiance.5m | 5m Irradiance for use in Theoretical Power Calculation | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | W/m2 | |
IrradianceOption | 5m Irradiance Option used in Theoretical Power Calculation (1=Asset irradiance; 2=Related WST irradiance; 3=Site avg WST irradiance; 4=Night hours 0 irradiance) | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | ||
PerformanceIndex | Performance index = actual energy / expected energy | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | % | |
PossiblePower | Possible power based on irradiance and rated capacity | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | kW | |
TempPanelAvg | Average panel temperature over 5 min interval | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | °C | |
TempPanelOption | Temperature option used in Theoretical Power Calculation | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | ||
TheoreticalPower | Theoretical power based on irradiance and temperature | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | kW | |
TotalEnergyProduced.5m | Total energy produced over 5 min interval | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | kWh | |
TotalEnergyExpectedDC.5m | Expected DC energy over 5 min interval | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | kWh | |
Insolation.5m | Insolation over 5 min interval | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | Wh/m2 | |
TotalEnergyExpected.5m | Expected AC energy over 5 min interval | Calculation (Interval Exp.) | 300 s | kWh |