PV Power Plant Weather Station: Fully Automatic Sun-Tracking for Precision Monitoring

PV Power Plant Weather Station: Fully Automatic Sun-Tracking for Precision Monitoring 

PV Power Plant Weather Station: Complete Analysis of Principles, Structure, Communication Methods, and Engineering Applications 

A PV power plant weather station is a professional monitoring system specifically designed for solar power plants. It continuously collects critical environmental data such as irradiance, wind speed & direction, temperature & humidity, and atmospheric pressure, and uses automatic sun-tracking technology to obtain ultra-high-precision radiation data. These data are widely used for generation efficiency evaluation, power forecasting, O&M scheduling, and safety warnings, making it an indispensable infrastructure component of modern photovoltaic power plants. 

This article systematically analyzes the working principles, structural composition, signal output, installation standards, and common troubleshooting procedures, serving as a directly referenceable technical document for PV plant technicians, designers, and equipment engineers.

 2. Definition and Functional Positioning 

A PV Meteorological Station is a comprehensive environmental monitoring system for solar power plants that measures:

 - Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI)  

- Plane-of-Array Irradiance (POA/GTI)  

- Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI)  

- Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI)  

- Sunshine duration  

- Wind speed & direction  

- Ambient temperature & humidity  

- Atmospheric pressure  

- GNSS latitude/longitude  

Primary functions:

- Generation efficiency calculation (real irradiance vs. actual output)  

- Operational strategy optimization (supports forecasting algorithms and intelligent dispatching)  

- Safety warnings (extreme wind speed, abnormal temperature/humidity)  

- Component lifetime assessment (environmental data-based performance correction) 

Compared with ordinary weather stations, the most critical difference is the addition of a solar radiation measurement system and automatic sun-tracking mechanism, offering higher accuracy and a more robust structure.

 3. Working Principles 

 3.1 Solar Irradiance Monitoring Principles 

All pyranometers operate on thermopile effect or photodiode principle: temperature difference generates micro-voltage → converted to W/m². 

 3.2 Automatic Sun-Tracking System Principle 

Dual tracking modes are typically combined: 

1. Sensor-based optical feedback tracking  

   Photosensitive detectors detect light spot offset → drive motors to adjust azimuth/elevation (ideal for short-term fine-tuning). 

2. GPS + astronomical algorithm tracking  

   Calculates sun position vector from latitude, longitude, and time for high-precision open-loop positioning. 

Hybrid operation:

- Weak light → GPS mode  

- Clear sun → optical sensor fine adjustment  

Ensures long-term unattended operation with the radiometer always precisely aligned to the sun.

 3.3 Other Environmental Parameters 

4. Structural Composition 

4.1. Radiation monitoring unit (GHI, POA, DNI, DHI pyranometers)  

4.2. Automatic sun-tracking system (motors, angle sensors, GPS module)  

4.3. Meteorological sensor suite (wind, T/RH in radiation shield, pressure, etc.)  

4.4. Data logger (supports RS485, 4G/5G, WiFi; built-in Modbus)  

4.5. Dual-pole structure (prevents mutual shading)  

4.6. Solar power system (panel + controller + wide-temperature battery)  

4.7. High-strength mounting frame (resists strong wind/snow)

 5. Measurement Methods Summary 

- GHI: Horizontal mounting  

- DNI: Automatic tracking, no obstruction  

- DHI: Shading ring  

- POA: Same tilt as PV modules  

- Wind: Preferably ultrasonic (no moving parts)  

- T/RH: Inside radiation shield  

- GNSS: For tracking and data timestamping

 6. Technical Specifications 

  7. Signal Output & Communication Methods 

 8. Installation Standards 

- No shading within 10 m above platform  

- Minimum 15 m distance from PV arrays  

- Dual-pole spacing: 0.8–1.2 m  

- Grounding resistance ≤ 4 Ω, surge protectors on signal lines 

 9. Installation Steps (Engineering Procedure) 

9.1. Foundation pouring / embedment  

9.2. Erect dual poles, check verticality  

9.3. Mount pyranometer brackets & tracker  

9.4. Install wind, radiation shield, pressure sensors  

9.5. Wiring, grounding, waterproofing  

9.6. Configure data logger (address/baud rate)  

9.7. Test RS485 or 4G connectivity  

9.8. Platform acceptance testing

 10. Common Faults & Troubleshooting 

 11. Application Scenarios 

- Utility-scale PV plants  

- Distributed rooftop PV  

- PV testing bases & laboratories  

- Power forecasting model training  

- O&M monitoring platforms  

- Desert, gobi, and mountainous plants

 12. Selection Guidelines 

 13. Comparison with Similar Products 

 FAQ 

1. Why must a PV plant install a weather station?  

   For irradiance measurement, efficiency calculation, power forecasting, and safety alerts. 

2. Which is more important: GHI or POA?  

   Both, but POA directly reflects actual energy received by modules. 

3. What does the automatic sun tracker do?  

   Enables accurate DNI measurement, essential for high-precision forecasting. 

4. How often should pyranometers be calibrated?  

   Annually; every 6 months in desert areas. 

5. 4G/5G vs. RS485?  

   RS485 if SCADA exists; 4G/5G for distributed/remote monitoring. 

6. Does the radiation shield really matter for T/RH?  

   Yes—without it, humidity readings will be falsely low under direct sun. 

7. Can the solar power system operate independently?  

   Yes—perfect for unattended locations. 

8. How do wind speed/direction affect PV plants?  

   Wind speed affects module cooling; high winds trigger structural safety warnings. 

9. Can data integrate with existing platforms?  

   Yes—supports Modbus/HTTP for seamless integration. 

10. Does snow affect irradiance measurement?  

    Yes—requires cleaning or heated pyranometer modules.

 Summary 

The PV power plant weather station is the key equipment ensuring efficient and stable operation of solar generation. Through high-precision monitoring of solar irradiance and environmental parameters, it provides foundational data for generation efficiency analysis, forecasting, intelligent O&M, and safety warnings. With automatic sun-tracking, dual-pole design, solar power, and multiple communication options, it operates reliably in harsh environments over the long term. 

For the photovoltaic industry, a dependable weather station not only enhances generation predictability but also serves as the core component of digitalization throughout the entire plant lifecycle.

Pyranometer Solar Radiation Sensors data sheet

NBL-W-HPRS-Solar-Radiation-Sensor-Instruction-Manual-V3.0.pdf

NBL-W-SRS-Solar-radiation-sensor-instruction-manual-V4.0.pdf

3-in-1 Fully Automatic Tracking Solar Radiation Meter.pdf