Smarter software, for smarter sensors

 by Hiroaki Kamoi, Application Engineer, EKO Japan

Solar PV generation increased by 31% in 2018, and with predicted annual average growth of 16% still on track between 2018 and 2030,[i] the demand for accurate, cost-saving, solar monitoring solutions is only going to grow.

While India, China and other countries compete to increase the size and efficiency of existing sites, or race to open new ‘mega’ PV parks, the quiet growth of smaller applications, including rooftop PV, is helping to democratise access to solar power.

At EKO, we develop industry and class-leading solar radiation sensors for any size of application. Still, with the rapid growth of solar, and greater variety of applications, we determined that a new approach to software was also required, that we needed to make it easier than ever to use your device, to get, visualise and understand the data.

‘Hibi’ for Windows OS is a new way to use, access and manage our latest advanced pyranometer, the MS-80S. Connect your computer to your MS-80S and with ‘Hibi’ you can check the onboard diagnostics, visualise your data, and choose your desired output; digital Modbus or SDI-12, and analogue 4-20mA or 0-1V.

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Opening the door to massive growth

by Caris Chan, Market Director, EKO China

The solar and renewable energy industries in China are already showing healthy signs of recovery following the height of the COVID pandemic. With the rapid growth of PV projects at home and abroad, the future of solar is truly being 'made' in China.

China was the first country to pass 100 GW of cumulative installed PV capacity in 2017, and in 2019 generated over 220,000 GWh of electricity from solar power; an increase of 26.5% over the previous year. Cumulative solar capacity reached 223 GW by the end of September 2020 and, despite the pandemic, China remains on course to add 34-38 GW in 2020.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency (IEA) is predicting that China will meet a target growth average of 35-44 GW annually from 2021 to 2025; securing China's position as the world's largest market for both photovoltaics and solar thermal energy, despite strong growth and projected investment in countries such as India and the US.

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To help highlight our support for international standards, and our involvement with various bodies developing and setting national, global and industry level standards, we have added hyperlinked organisational logos for ASTM, ISO, IEC, and HMEI into the footer section of our website.
 

Click on each organisations link to visit their website and find out more.

Creating Consistency

by Will Beuttell, Application Engineer, EKO USA

How do you know that the instrument you are buying will work, that it will be well-built, accurate, and reliable; that the company you are buying from is genuinely going to deliver a product or service that meets your requirements?

The answer, ‘International Standards’; technical parameters developed and established by international organizations that are usually independent, industry-based, and not for profit. From morse code in early telecommunications, through barcodes, the periodic table, and the binary code used in computer programming today; international standards touch on many aspects of modern life, science, technology, and communications. They are crucial to international trade and generally supersede technical regulations and standards developed independently and separately by each nation; ensuring that products work consistently, and as expected, wherever they are manufactured, bought or sold.

These same standards help companies and customers make informed choices, helping them to select the right products for their needs or applications. They provide buyers, researchers, and users with a consistent benchmark, and guide manufacturers through design and production.

At EKO, we develop instruments that conform to standards set by a range of organizations, national and international; from specific standards for measuring IV curves in Japan (JIS), to how we calibrate spectroradiometers (ASTM G138), and IEC 61724-1 which outlines equipment, methods, and terminology for performance monitoring and analysis of photovoltaic (PV) systems; including the specifications for Class A pyranometers like our industry-leading MS-80 and MS-80S.

As a manufacturer of scientific instruments, with the goal and responsibility of producing the most accurate and highest quality sensors possible, we believe that it is crucial to stay up to date; and where appropriate, to contribute to and support the development of standards. That’s why many of our engineers and scientists take part in technical working groups with bodies including ISO, IEC and others; helping to ensure that our products meet the needs of all our customers now and in the future

Since 2016, EKO Instruments has been an organizational member of American Society Testing and Materials International (ASTM). As an organizational member, EKO is actively participating in the revision of current, and the creation of, new ASTM standards.

While there are many individuals and companies within each ASTM subcommittee, our role as a radiometer manufacturer is especially crucial in the development of standards for meteorology, photovoltaics, and weathering.

We provide information into the latest state of the art of radiometric calibrations and measurements as well as communicating to various subcommittees on the needs of the respective industries.

For example, when using a Class A pyranometer (MS-80/S), users expect top-level performance. However, all measurements have some level of uncertainty. Calculating uncertainties accurately is crucial, and can be very complicated.

In 2017, the ASTM subcommittee G03.09 on Radiometry developed ASTM G213-17, ‘Standard Guide for Evaluating Uncertainty in Calibration and Field Measurements of Broadband Irradiance with Pyranometers and Pyrheliometers’. This standard allows users to have a consistent methodology for calculating measurement uncertainty. Users can enter the specific contributions of uncertainty based on their sensor design and location. The standard provides an adjunct spreadsheet file that allows users to calculate uncertainty values directly from their recent measurements. This adjunct also provides a direct example to learn from. Users can take the information and develop more elaborate uncertainty calculations, but G213-17 gives everyone a great, and consistent, starting place.

Other new standards EKO is taking part in developing include a ‘New Guide for Performance Classification of Solar Radiometers’ and an ‘Estimation of UV irradiance received by samples as a function of location, orientation and tilt’. As the needs of various industries change, ASTM and EKO will be ready to respond to the challenges, working together to create the latest standards to appropriately support those industries.

If you have an interest in ASTM or would like to learn more about a specific EKO product and its adherence to an ASTM or other international standard, please contact your regional EKO office for more information.

Anyone wishing to contact our offices around the world can now book an online video meeting using Calendly and Zoom.

Calendly is a booking tool that allows you to choose the date and time of your meeting. Simply make a selection from the available timeslots, and you will receive an automated email with the details and a Zoom link.

Please click here to access the full list of available meetings with our global team.

Study uses MS-321LR Sky Scanner

by Huzefa Motiwala, India Country Manager

‘The Energy and Resources Institute’ (TERI), headquartered in New Delhi, is a not-for-profit, policy research organization - working in the fields of energy, environment, and sustainable development. TERI’s mission is to usher in the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable future through conservation and efficient use of energy and other resources. With a 1200-plus strong team of scientists, sociologists, economists and engineers based on campuses across the country; in Gurugram, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Mumbai, Panaji, and Nainital, TERI has been developing insightful, high-quality action-oriented research for over forty years.

So, when TERI started to consider a research project to measure luminescence and radiation of the sky hemisphere, light pollution, and how radiation affects the diffusion of light, they needed a highly accurate system and comprehensive training, on hardware and software, to use it.

Working with ‘Aimil’, and a team led by Deputy General Manager, Data Acquisition, Anurag Gupta, TERI commissioned and installed an EKO Instruments MS-321LR Sky Scanner at their New Delhi headquarters.

The MS-321LR Sky Scanner sky scanner is often used to study diffuse sky radiation, an important parameter for building automation, design, daylight software modelling, and light pollution research. 

Some of the key features of the EKO MS-321LR Sky Scanner include:

• A daylight analysis measurement system
• The ability to measure sky irradiance and illumination
• A 145 sequential step measurement process of the hemisphere
• An auto measurement schedule function
• And integrated values over full hemisphere

The advanced software control functions give full flexibility, enabling data exports for extensive research and analysis. The software also allows measured data to be automatically recorded at pre-defined time intervals; a convenient feature that allows users to simply set it and go.

We will try to share further reports on the TERI study, and their experience using the EKO MS-321LR Sky Scanner in future.

Anyone wishing to contact our offices around the world can now book an online video meeting using Calendly and Zoom.

Calendly is a booking tool that allows you to choose the date and time of your meeting. Simply make a selection from the available timeslots, and you will receive an automated email with the details and a Zoom link.

Please click here to access the full list of available meetings with our global team.

The New Normal

The COVID-19 pandemic may be winding down in some countries, but its impact will be felt long-after the lockdowns have ended. With so many lives lost our definition of what is ‘normal’ will almost certainly change. In industry, the companies and manufacturers caught off guard, and ill-prepared to maintain production during the crisis must adapt now, or risk severe consequences from a second wave or third wave of the virus. Solar power and renewable energy industries are no exception.

At EKO, we have been working on new remote working systems; helping our customers, partners, and colleagues to schedule online meetings, and webinars, with ease. A useful option before the pandemic, the ability to hold meetings online, to work remotely, should now be regarded as essential. Indeed, many other organisations and event organisers have moved quickly to adopt similar tools.

In North America, the Solar Asset Management (SAM) North America conference, for example, led by Solar Plaza, was held on April 7^th and 8^th. The event, for the first time, was held virtually.

Overall, the conference was a real success. The information from the presenters was, during uncertain times, clear and encouraging. The solar industry in North America was described as “still moving along with little disruption”. Concerns about the supply chain remain, but there was a real sense that each active project has talented people working quickly and efficiently to resolve challenges. Time and again during the conference, online tools and virtual meeting were highlighted as key; enabling teams across countries, and continents, to continue coordinating large and complex projects.

While our headquarters in Japan were quick to adopt new measures once we became aware of COVID-19 issuing face-masks, hand sanitiser, and alternative work schedules, for example, it is fair to say that remote working, has played a significant role. Tools such as Slack, Zoom, and Dropbox, have helped us to maintain production and safety in our offices at home and around the world.

Whatever the ‘new normal’ has in store, we expect remote working, and virtual meetings to now continue as one of the primary methods of communication. If you have any questions about the solar energy business in your region or how EKO Instruments can help you, please reach out to us. We are ready and look forward to supporting you and your projects.

Open for business

At EKO, we were fortunately well prepared to weather the global pandemic, with remote working tools already in place. We were able to remain operational and maintained our manufacturing capabilities while continuing to work with our partners to deliver services and solutions to our customers.

We have launched a new online call booking system and continue to develop new resources.  

Anyone wishing to contact our offices around the world can now book an online video meeting using Calendly and Zoom.

Calendly is a booking tool that allows you to choose the date and time of your meeting. Simply make a selection from the available timeslots, and you will receive an automated email with the details and a Zoom link.

Please click here to access the full list of available meetings with our global team.