SunSniffer marks the latest technology trend in the photovoltaic field, the move towards smart modules. In Germany STORM is offering modules from ZNShine, ET Solar and the Canadian GMA with a new generation of SunSniffer chips. The result: modules with innovative and fully integrated electronics from well-known manufacturers cost the same as conventional modules.
Demand for the smart module technology SunSniffer has quadrupled in the last twelve months, due, in part, to the increasingly prominent problems encountered with poorly installed solar panels, even those from reputable manufacturers. The German Technical Inspections Organization, TÜV Rheinland, revealed in its 2013 study, "Quality Monitor Solar," how imperative it is to check the functionality of a PV system: around 30% of all large plants verified by TÜV Rheinland showed serious flaws, of which half could be traced back to errors in installation. Ordinarily these errors would not be apparent, as it is impossible to know if modules are working correctly without monitoring them. Even inverter level monitoring only provides information about whether the system as a whole is operating; without close monitoring a visit to the site involving time-consuming inspections is unavoidable. These costs are often spared and it is accepted that the plant may not be working smoothly. By contrast, the module-specific PV operating system "SunSniffer," with integrated chip in each junction box and interactive webportal, offers perfect real-time monitoring.
For the installer, the advantages are in the immediate verifiability of all installed components and their affiliations: any assembly errors or material damage are immediately visible after installation and stringing errors will be immediately apparent as the modules log on with each string and corresponding inverter. And repair costs are reduced during the operation of the PV system, as any fault is made apparent via the webportal without any lengthy on-site search. Furthermore, minimal electronics makes SunSniffer extremely robust.
And for owners, it is not just the low maintenance that pays dividends but also the increased efficiency through close module monitoring: 7% if not substantially higher returns are obtained with SunSniffer.
