Development of Photovoltaic Monitoring System

Web Portal
Wan Faezah Abbas 1,4, Masnawi Mustaffa 2,4,Sulaiman Shaari 2,4,Ahmad Maliki Omar 3,4,
Helme Mohd Yusop 1, H. Zainuddin 2,4
1
Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences,
2
Faculty of Applied Sciences,
3
Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
4
Photovoltaic Monitoring Centre,
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor

Abstract - In 2005, the Malaysian Government
(GoM) launched Malaysian Building Integrated
Photovoltaic (MBIPV) project which is a jointly
sponsored program between GoM and the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP) which aims
in promoting renewable energy, using photovoltaic
(PV) technology integrated in buildings. The portal is
expected to be as the quick reference point of PV
consumers, PV installers and researchers to study the
feasibility of numerous PV systems in Malaysia. The
portal development mainly involves the web design,
data collection from actual sites, data analysis and
perfor mance summary of each PV system in
Malaysia. The PVMC portal benefits the PV
community as they can view current progress about
the usage and energy production which can be
accessed anywhere and everywhere. In summary, this
paper discuss the design, development of
photovoltaic monitoring system web portal developed
by the Photovoltaic Monitoring Centre (PVMC)
Universiti Teknologi MARA which serves as a
source of information for the MBIPV system
performance.
current (DC) power. The power is fed into an inverter
that converts into alternating current (AC) power,
which is then fed into the grid. For grid-interactive
systems, the system imports energy from the grid
when the PV generation is not enough to meet the
loads. In addition, the system exports energy into the
grid when the PV generation exceeds the load
requirement [1].
Photovoltaic (PV) system or "solar electricity"
converts sunlight (light energy) into electricity. The
electric is processed silently with no depletion of
natural resources [2]. PV is also exceedingly versatile
as the same technology that can pump water and
provide communications and village electrification in
situations where no electricity is available, currently
being used to produce electricity for the buildings
and distribution grids of the industrialized countries
[3 ]. F igur e 1 s hows t he illustr at ion of S ola r
Photovoltaic (PV).

INTRODUCTION
th
On 25 July 2005, the Minister of Energy, Water
andv Communications Malaysia announced a
Malaysian Building Integrated Photovoltaic
(MBIPV) project. The MBIPV project is a jointly-
sponsored project between the Government of
Malaysia (GoM) and the United Nations
Development Programme-Global Environment
Facility (UNDP-GIF) [1]. In this project, several
categories of RIPV systems are planned to be
installed throughout the Malaysia in various sizes
with a total capacity of 1.5 MWp. Figure 1: Solar Photovoltaic Illustration

Basically, a BIPV system comprises an array of PV
modules that form part of the building envelope itself
and is electrically connected to the utility grid via an
interactive grid-inverter. As light shines onto the
array the PV modules convert sunlight into direct
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In perspective, all the MBIPV system installations
need some sort of evaluation. This is embedded in
on of the MBIPV's main components, i.e.
information services, awareness and capacity
building programme. To achieve this, a "Photovoltaic
Monitoring Centre" has been set-up [4].
Photovoltaic Monitoring Centre (PVMC)
Background
On 29th November 2006, the MBIPV project team
appointed and awarded a contract to the Universiti
Teknologi MARA (UiTM) to become the
Photovoltaic Monitoring Centre (PVMC) in an effort
to fulfill one of the components of the MBIPV
project.
As part of the dissemination of information and
awareness strategy, the PVMC has developed a web
portal dedicated to reporting the performance of the
MBIPV system installations. The address of this
portal is http://pvmc.uitm.edu.my. All processed data
and site information is regularly uploaded every
month. This portal has been developed indigenously
and is used as a database for storing all detailed and
processed data and information for all monitored
sites; for both Global and Analytical categories. The
long term objectives of the PVMC is to become a
National Centre to monitor and collect data of all PV
systems (on-grid and off-grid) in Malaysia and
become the focal point for PV systems information
nationwide. The short term objectives of the PVMC
are to support the MBIPV project implementation as
follows:
• To monitor and collect performance data of the
BIPV installations under MBIPV project to
allow for the optimization of BIPV
technology to suit the local environment.
• To set up a OV information database and be the
focal point for such information.
The PVMC is a body that monitors the performance
of PV/BIPV installations under the MBIPV project.
Basically, the purpose of PVMC is to disseminate
information and promote the use of photovoltaic (PV)
technology in Malaysia as well as to provide
information and report the performances of all
Building Integrated Photovoltaic (MBIPV) system
installations.
Data monitoring are important to understand how PV
systems are actively producing energy. This data
display also provides marketing value for the owner of
the building and the project participants. Through
photovoltaic monitoring system it provides an interface
for people to understand the system through this portal
which is accessible on the internet to all.
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PHOTOVOLTAIC MONITORING SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT
Requirements gathering
Primary data collection is used to capture the user
requirements to develop the Photovoltaic Monitoring
System. Series of interviews and discussion with the
Pusat Tenaga Malaysia (PTM) as the main
stakeholder and members of Photovoltaic Monitoring
Centre as well as international PV experts to define
the requirements needed for the web portal. Based on
these interviews and discussions, it has been defined
that there are two types of monitoring:
• Global Monitoring- is the monitoring of PV
systems without the use of
remote/automated monitoring devices or
facilities. In global monitoring system, only
the energy produced (kWh) from the meter
readings are taken every month
• Analytical monitoring- is the monitoring of
PV systems using a remote/automated
monitoring devices or facilities. In the
analytical monitoring, the parameters
monitored are:
a. Solar irradiance (kW/m2)
b. Ambient temperature ( °C)
c. Module temperature (°C)
d. AC and DC systems output
parameters
Website observation to PV related web portal was
conducted to gain more understanding of the features
provided for photovoltaic system. The features that
were evaluated include user interface design, project
progress energy information, and photovoltaic
information. Table I is the list of site currently
monitored on the PVMC web portal under the
MBIPV project and the list is expanding as the time
of writing.
Table 1. List of monitoring sites
 Figure 2. PV Monitoring System Use Case
Diagram

The system divides the users into 4 main roles with

different user access levels. PVMC has the same
activity with the administrator but there are certain
information is being prevented from them to maintain.
For the PTM, they can view service provider and
customer information. Service provider also inherits
the activity by the user and they also can view the
customer information that photovoltaic was installed
by them. Finally the customer inherits the
functionality of users.

Implementation

During website development. the specifics of the

hardware and software used are tabulated in Table 2
as follows;

Analysis and Design Table 2. List of components (a) ahrdware and (b)
software.
Figure 2 below shows the PY Monitoring System use
case diagram. This use case illustrated the No Hardware Specifiction/ Size
functionality of every user's role. The role consists of 1. HP Proliant ML 150 Server
administrator, customer of photovoltaic's system, G3
service provider, PVMC's member, and Pusat Tenaga 2. Intel Xeon E5310 @ 1.6 GHz
Malaysia's member (PTM). 3. Hard Disk Size (C 140 GB
& D)
Functionality for all users, they can authenticate 4. RAM @ GB
password, customize organization profile, customize 5. Monitor HPL 1706 17” Flat Screen
user profile, view detail and standard photovoltaic (a)
information. Administrator can inherit all
functionality from user and also can do these activities No Software Function
which are maintain photovoltaic information, 1. Windows Microsoft Server Operating
maintain user information, and maintain organization Server 2003 R2 System
information. 2. Internet Information Web Server
Services (IIS)
3. Macromedia Web Design and
Dreamweaver programming

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4. Adobe Illustrator Create graphics for the Where
Web or high-resolution Yf is Final Yield (kWh kWp-1)
images for print New Reading is kWh meter reading of the
5. Adobe Photoshop Image Editing latest month (kWh)
6. Microsoft Visual Code Editing Old Reading is kWh meter reading of the
Studio 2005 preceding month (kWh)
7. Internet Explorer 6.0 Web browser P array_stc is power of PY array at STC (kWp).
8. Microsoft Access Store Database N is number of days in a month (e.g. Jan = 31 days)
2003 n is number of days data is taken
(b)

The PV readings are updated monthly, calculated For Analytical Monitoring:

and inserted into the database and displayed on _ _
=
the portal. Data analysis is done based on PV _
calculation. Currently, the database contents
stores information such as: Where
Eout_of_inv is energy output from the inverter
a. Detailed information on all the
(kWh)
monitoring sites (Global and
Analytical).
b. Site photos. Calculating Performance Ratio from Raw Data
c. Monthly and yearly data. Performance Ratio is used to assess the installation
d. Analysis of Global and quality of a PV system [6]. The PR provides a
Analytical monitoring. normalized basis for comparison of different types
and sizes of PV systems. The PR is calculated as:
The PVMC plans to enhance the website and
database using asp.net and Microsoft SQL software.
Subsequently, all data will be stored in one database =
!"
with multi-level access users. The improvements
planned are: Where

a. To develop a system with auto- PR is Performance Ratio (unitless)

processing of data. PSH is Peak Sun Hour (h)
b. To develop an auto-report
generator. Note: the value of PSH is equivalent to solar
c. To develop an e-commerce facility irradiation, often designated as H with units of
on the portal. kWhm-2

P V Calculation
It has been agreed that the PVMC shall use the main
performance indicators described in the following
section.
Calculating Final Yield from Raw Data
Final yield represents the specific yield of a
PV system [6],[7]. The final yield is
calculated as:
RESULTS
The main page of PVMC website provides the
general overview on PVMC main activities. On this
page, a map of Malaysia which indicates with a red
dot is the state related to MBIPV project (Table 1).
As this paper written, a total of 35 sites have been
started the monitoring process. Each site has clearly
marked with either global or analytical monitoring.

For Global Monitoring:

−
=
_

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 • Eout_of_inverter - Energy output of the
inverter
• Final Yield
• Data availability - not available yet

The information displays for the Analytical

Monitoring are:

• Irradiation (obtained from data logger

installed) - not available yet
• Module Temperature
• Eout_of_inverter - Energy output of the
inverter
• Final Yield
• Performance Ratio - not available yet
• Data availability

Figure 3. PVMC Main Page

Figure4 below provides information on site location

and technical information. The information include
types of PV system, PV module, inverter, PV nominal
array power, service provider, date of testing and
commissioning, type of building and method of
module being installed either integrated or retrofitted.

Figure 5. PVMC Site Information

Figure 4. PVMC Site Information

The results of performance analysis of each MBIPV

system are displayed in the performance page as
shown in Figures 5 and 6. The global and analytical
monitoring systems have slightly different parameters
and graph.
The information displays for Global Monitoring are;
• Irradiation (obtained from the nearest
Meteorological station - not available
yet)
Figure 6. PVMC Site Information
CONCLUSION
The photovoltaic monitoring system portal hopes that
by incorporating a high-quality data monitoring
system, every renewable energy installations can be
used to raise public awareness. This is a high priority
as the solar industry works to leverage high profile

190
installations to build sustainable market for PV exchange and analysis, First Edition 1998-04,
technologies. Geneva Switzerland.

The portal aims to set as a one-stop centre for

acquiring information on all BIPV systems in [7] ISP (Design and Installation of Grid -
Malaysia. It also allows BIPV system manufacturers Connected PV Systems-Training Manual), Third
and installers to monitor their system performances Edition, 2008. MBIPV Team, Pusat Tenaga Malaysia,
and the expected energy and cost savings. Through MALAYSIA, ISBN 978-983-40216-9-6.
the PVMC web portal it is meant to instill public
awareness especially for energy consumers with no
previous knowledge of PV systems could understand
that solar panels are producing electricity and
powering building systems without depleting
resources or releasing harmful emissions for future.

REFERENCES

[l] S. Shaari, M. Omar, H. C. M. Haris, Z. M Zain,

H. Zainuddin, S . I. Sulaman, K. S. Muhammad,
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[2] A.H. Haris, "Grid-Connected And Building

Integrated Photovoltaic: Application Status and
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[3] Pusat Tenaga Malaysia. "What is BIPV".

http://www.ptm.org.my/bipv/bipv/intro-pv.pdf.
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[4] Photovoltaic Monitoring Centre, "Milestone

Report: Malaysian Building Integrated Photovoltaic
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[5] Photovoltaic Monitoring Centre,

http://pvmc.uitm.edu.my. Shah Alam: PVMC,
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[6] INTERNATIONAL STANDARD

IEC61724 Photovoltaic System Performance
monitoring - Guidelines for measurement, data

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