Ecosense has
successfully installed its Solar PV Training and Research System at the Centre
for Energy Studies, Savitribai Phule Pune University. As a leading
institution in renewable energy research and education, SPPU continues to
foster innovation, industry collaboration, and hands-on learning in sustainable
energy technologies.
The Solar PV
Training and Research System provides an advanced platform for students,
researchers, and faculty to explore the fundamentals and advanced concepts of
solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. The system is designed to offer practical,
research-driven insights into solar power generation, performance optimization,
and system integration.
The system
covers three core areas of solar PV technology. The first focuses on the
physics and performance of solar panels, including I-V and P-V characteristics,
the effects of irradiation, temperature, shading, and tilt angle, as well as
the impact of geographic location on energy output. The second area involves
understanding the components and integration of a standalone solar PV system,
including charge controllers, inverters, blocking and bypass diodes, AC/DC
loads, and MPPT vs. PWM charge controllers, along with power flow analysis
across various components. The third aspect facilitates advanced research in PV
systems, particularly in maximum power point tracking (MPPT), allowing users to
test custom MPPT algorithms and manually control gate signals for charge
controllers.
This
state-of-the-art system is equipped with an active measurement panel for
precise monitoring of voltages, currents, and temperature. It allows users to
adjust irradiation levels to simulate varying sunlight conditions, affecting
solar panel temperature and performance. The system also enables flexible solar
panel configurations in series and parallel, incorporates an adjustable tilt
mechanism to study the impact of angle on PV efficiency, and includes shading
simulation tools to analyze the effects of partial shading on energy
production.
Designed for hands-on learning, the system provides an open configuration where users can practice assembling and connecting different components to install a standalone solar PV power plant. It also facilitates power flow calculations for charge controllers, inverters, and battery storage. The system supports external MPPT signal input, allowing researchers to study the effects of different MPPT algorithms on energy conversion efficiency. A proprietary PC software enables real-time data visualization, plotting of various performance curves, and CSV data storage for analysis and record-keeping. The system is further equipped with advanced instrumentation, including solar insolation meters and angle measurement tools, ensuring precise experimentation and data collection.
To maximize
the benefits of this installation, Ecosense conducted a detailed demonstration program
for faculty members, researchers, and scholars at Centre for Energy Studies. The session
covered the fundamentals and advanced concepts of solar PV technology, hands-on
demonstrations of system operation, software-based real-time data analysis, and
methodologies for MPPT research and algorithm implementation. By equipping
faculty and researchers with in-depth technical knowledge, the training program
ensures that students receive high-quality, practical education in solar energy
systems.
