DC Electricity Meter Improves The Management Level Of Photovoltaic Power Generation- Zhejiang Yongtailong Electronic Co., Ltd

The increasing scale of photovoltaic power generation has higher requirements for its management control and daily maintenance, and DC electricity meter plays a significant role in this.

With the global "carbon neutrality" goal proposed, each country is promoting the implementation of new energy power generation. The scale and growth of photovoltaic power generation are the largest among many types of new energy power generation. According to data from the World Energy Statistical Yearbook 2023, in 2022, the total global photovoltaic power generation will be 1,322. 6 billion kWh, which is an annual increase of 24%. 9%, with an average increase of 29%. The percentage increased by 3% from 2012 to 2022. The increasing scale of photovoltaic power generation has higher requirements for its management control and daily maintenance, and DC electricity meters play a significant role in this.

1. The DC electricity meter is used to measure the voltage of a bus.

In photovoltaic power generation, the output power supply of a single photovoltaic panel will be connected in series on a busbar. The bus voltage is determined according to the input voltage of the inverter, generally ranging from DC480V-600V and above. DC electricity meters that measure bus power data require the ability to measure high voltages and currents. These meters transmit data to the platform through remote communication (commonly used RS485, LoRa, HPLC, wireless, 4G, etc.). Through real-time monitoring of DC electricity meter data, the operating status of a photovoltaic power generation system can be analyzed. Additionally, damage to photovoltaic panels and decline in power generation efficiency can be identified by comparing changes in DC electricity meter data. However, simply monitoring the bus through a DC electricity meter cannot accurately determine the exact location of the PV panel failure.

2. The DC electricity meter is used to measure the power consumption of a single-board system.

With the improvement in market requirements for digitalization, refinement, and scientific management of photovoltaic power generation, it is necessary to use DC electricity meters to monitor the power generation data of individual photovoltaic panels. The output voltage of photovoltaic single board power generation is DC 30V ~ 60V, generally in DC48V. The power generation power is about 500W, and the DC electricity meter used for power generation measurement is low voltage and low power. DC electricity meters should have remote communication functions such as RS485, LoRa, HPLC, and wireless. To transmit power generation data on time to the platform, it is necessary to use a reliable communication method such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. By using DC electricity meters to monitor individual solar panels, damaged photovoltaic panels can be quickly and accurately identified for repair. In order to improve the operating efficiency of the photovoltaic power generation system, the user hopes that maintenance does not affect the use of the overall photovoltaic system and that the voltage of the entire power generation system remains high during safe maintenance. This proposal suggests an additional feature for the DC electricity meter that requires it to have a pull-and-close function, allowing remote cutting off of power generation output from adjacent photovoltaic panels during maintenance. After completion of the maintenance work, the system can be remotely closed again.

Using DC electricity meters to detect the generation data of photovoltaic panels is an extremely important task. By correctly selecting the meter, setting reasonable parameters, and accurately measuring and analyzing data, more accurate performance evaluation results of photovoltaic panels can be obtained. This will optimize the system configuration and improve power generation efficiency.