Poject Summary
Wattmanager was commissioned to undertake a technical feasibility study for several Duna-Aszfalt sites where the company planned solar generation units. Solar simulations were made for five sites across Hungary.
Wattmanager’s analysis included several alternative options including South and East-West orientation systems, with and without bifacial solar panels, and also calculated the frame size and the number of solar panels to create the most optimised solutions.
Opportunity
This project offers many possibilities for our client. Not only is it more efficient use of land, but offers innovative energy sources for nearby consumers, which is potentially a better commercial opportunity than selling back into the grid.
Challenges
We had to test several scenarios simultaneously against a very challenging deadline. To win the race against the clock, we ran the modelling using multiple computers over several days. The fact that most sites are brownfield meant that we had to take unknown pipelines and dust into consideration. Choosing the right supporting system was also a challenge, and for the efficient modelling, we needed to consider over 100 inputs or variables.
Solutions
The solution was to compare different technical scenarios. These included a South-facing orientation, an East-West orientation, and a comparison of the energy yields of single-axis solar tracking systems at each site. After determining the energy yields, it was concluded that business scenarios were defined and compared. We had to select the best option from a financial perspective, and to decide whether it would be better to supply power back to the distribution network or sell power directly to a third party.
