ASTM E2939-13
(Practice)Standard Practice for Determining Reporting Conditions and Expected Capacity for Photovoltaic Non-Concentrator Systems
Standard Practice for Determining Reporting Conditions and Expected Capacity for Photovoltaic Non-Concentrator Systems
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This practice can be used to determine an expected capacity for an existing or a proposed photovoltaic system in a particular location during a specified period of time (see data collection period in Test Method E2848).
5.2 The expected capacity calculated in accordance with this practice can be compared with the capacity measured according to Test Method E2848 when the RC are the same.
5.3 The comparison of expected capacity and measured capacity can be used as a criterion for plant acceptance.
5.4 The user of this practice must select the performance simulation period over which the reporting conditions and expected capacity will be derived. Seasonal variations will likely cause both of these to change with differing performance simulation periods.
5.5 When this practice is used in conjunction with Test Method E2848, the performance simulation period and the data collection period must agree. If they do not agree, the comparison between expected and measured capacity will not be meaningful.
5.6 Historical or measured5 plane-of-array irradiance, ambient air temperature and wind speed data can be used to select reporting conditions and calculate expected capacity. If historical data are used, the data collection period should match the time period of the measured data in terms of season and length.
5.7 The simulated power output that is used to calculate the expected capacity should be derived from a performance model designed to represent the photovoltaic system which will be reported per Test Method E2848.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides procedures for determining the expected capacity of a specific photovoltaic system in a specific geographical location that is in operation under natural sunlight during a specified period of time. The expected capacity is intended for comparison with the measured capacity determined by Test Method E2848.
1.2 This practice is intended for use with Test Method E2848 as a procedure to select appropriate reporting conditions (RC), including solar irradiance in the plane of the modules, ambient temperature, and wind speed, needed for the photovoltaic system capacity measurement.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E2939 − 13
Standard Practice for
Determining Reporting Conditions and Expected Capacity
for Photovoltaic Non-Concentrator Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2939; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of terms used in this practice may be found
1.1 This practice provides procedures for determining the
in Terminology E772, IEEE 1547-2003, and Test Method
expected capacity of a specific photovoltaic system in a
E2848.
specific geographical location that is in operation under natural
sunlight during a specified period of time. The expected
3.2 Definitions:
capacityisintendedforcomparisonwiththemeasuredcapacity
3.2.1 expected capacity, photovoltaic system, n—the pre-
determined by Test Method E2848.
dicted power rating that is derived from meteorological data
andaperformancemodelthatdescribesaspecificPVsystemin
1.2 This practice is intended for use with Test Method
a specific location and time period.
E2848 as a procedure to select appropriate reporting conditions
(RC), including solar irradiance in the plane of the modules,
3.2.2 measured capacity, photovolaic system, n—the output
ambient temperature, and wind speed, needed for the photo-
power of a photovoltaic system measured according to Test
voltaic system capacity measurement.
Method E2848.
3.2.3 performance model, photovoltaic system, n—a com-
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
puter model which, at a minimum, simulates the operation of a
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
particular photovoltaic system using plane-of-array irradiance,
standard.
ambient temperature and wind speed data as inputs to calculate
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
the instantaneous, simulated power output.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.4 performance simulation period, photovoltaic system,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
n—the period of time over which a single expected capacity
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
prediction is performed. Compare with data collection period
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
in Test Method E2848.
2. Referenced Documents 3.2.5 plane-of-array irradiance, POA, n—see solar
irradiance, hemispherical in Terminology E772.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.6 simulated power output, photovoltaic system,
E772 Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
n—photovoltaic system power output derived from meteoro-
E2848 Test Method for Reporting Photovoltaic Non-
logical data and a performance model.
Concentrator System Performance
3.2.7 time resolution, meteorological data, n—the time
2.2 IEEE Standards:
interval between individual meteorological data points that has
IEEE 1547-2003 Standard for Interconnecting Distributed
amaximumaveragingintervalof1h,usedtocalculateboththe
Resources with Electric Power Systems
reporting conditions and the expected capacity.
4. Summary of Practice
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar,
Geothermal and OtherAlternative Energy Sources and is the direct responsibility of
4.1 Test Method E2848 provides a procedure to measure the
Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.
capacity of a photovoltaic system. The procedure involves a
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2013. Published September 2013. DOI:
multiple linear regression of output power as a function of
10.1520/E2939-13
plane-of-array irradiance, ambient air temperature, and wind
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
speed data collected during the data collection period, which is
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
a relatively short time period, typically between 3 and 30 days.
the ASTM website.
Using the regression results, the expected capacity (in watts) is
Available from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE),
445 Hoes Ln., Piscataway, NJ 08854, http://www.ieee.org. then calculated by substitution of a set of reporting conditions
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2939 − 13
consisting of plane-of-array irradiance, ambient air collection period must agree. If they do not agree, the com-
temperature, and wind speed appropriate for the system under parison between expected and measured capacity will not be
test into the regression equation. meaningful.
4.2 Although Test Method E2848 states that its procedure is 5.6 Historical or measured plane-of-array irradiance, am-
suitable for acceptance testing of newly installed photovoltaic bient air temperature and wind speed data can be used to select
systems (i.e. acceptance testing), it provides only general reporting conditions and calculate expected capacity. If histori-
guidance for the selection of the reporting conditions and no cal data are used, the data collection period should match the
guidance for predicting expected capacity prior to test. Both time period of the measured data in terms of season and length.
the reporting conditions and the expected capacity are neces-
5.7 The simulated power output that is used to calculate the
sary for acceptance testing.
expectedcapacityshouldbederivedfromaperformancemodel
4.3 This practice provides guidance for selecting the report- designed to represent the photovoltaic system which will be
ing conditions needed for Test Method E2848. This practice reported per Test Method E2848.
also provides a procedure for determining the expected capac-
6. Meteorological Data Procurement
ity of a photovoltaic system.
6.1 Select a meteorological data set that includes at a
4.4 The procedure for determining expected capacity con-
minimum, plane-of-array irradiance, ambient temperature and
sists of the following steps:
wind speed for a minimum of 5 contiguous days. This dataset
4.4.1 Procure meteorological data that will be representa-
4 will be used to calculate reporting conditions and expected
tive of the POAirradiance, ambient air temperature, and wind
capacity. Another disadvantage is that historical data is rarely
speed conditions during the data collection period.
measured in the plan-of-array. Therefore, the data will have to
4.4.1.1 This is best accomplished by using meteorological
be transposed into the plane-of-array which will have errors
data that is of the same time of year and same weather
when compared to actual measurements. Historical or mea-
conditions seen or expected to be seen during E2848.
sured meteorological data may be used to calculate reporting
4.4.2 Procure or develop a performance model representa-
conditions and expected capacity. Both have advantages and
tive of the photovoltaic system,
disadvantages.
4.4.3 Substitute the meteorological data into the perfor-
mance model to calculate the instantaneous, simulated power 6.2 The advantage of using historical data to calculate
reporting conditions is that the reporting conditions and asso-
output of the photovoltaic system, and
4.4.4 Use the data set to calculate the expected capacity ciated expected capacity can be calculated in advance of the
construction of a project. This is beneficial when this practice
according to Section 9 of Test Method E2848.
and Test Method E2848 are used for the purpose of acceptance
4.5 The expected capacity can then be compared with the
testing. The disadvantage of using historical data for calculat-
capacity measured during an acceptance test of a photovoltaic
ing reporting conditions is that actual meteorological condi-
system, if both capacities are determined from the same
tions du
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.