Photovoltaic Power for Remote Hub Sites

New telephone loop plant construction is increasingly relying upon high-speed digital lines, often using optical fiber cables, that terminate and are demultiplexed at hub sites before distribution as voice-grade lines. These sites often serve clusters of customers and are "remote" in the sense that they may be several miles from the central office. This paper describes the operation of a photovoltaic test site in Chester, New Jersey, which simulates such a hub site. The photovoltaic array, rated at 3.87 kWp, may be interfaced at either the AC or DC level with a conventional battery plant operating from the AC utility mains. Specific requirements for a grid-connected site are noted, leading to the design and equipment selection for the test site. Results from nine months of operational history are discussed, including the average and total energy generated, the variability of the PV-provided power, the value of peak power tracking, and the usefulness of computer models in predicting PV performance under differing environmental conditions and at different geographic locations.