Measurement issues for performance assessment in large photovoltaic plants

The role of measurements is crucial for performance assessment in PV plants. Measurements are of critical importance both on a preliminary stage of model validation and on the subsequent stage of on-line monitoring. Measurement issues are particularly critical above all in large PV plants, where different environmental, geometrical and technical conditions may coexist. This paper addresses such issues, focusing on the features of the measurement system that should be guaranteed to obtain cost-effective model validation and performance evaluation in a large PV plant, with specific reference to a 18 MW plant installed in the north of Sardinia (Italy).