IEA-PVPS shares technical kpi guidelines for PV systems

The IEA-PVPS calls for a standardized definition of kpi for operable PV systems to eliminate potential deviations.

The Task 13 report “Best Practice Guidelines for the Use of Economic and Technical kpi” outlines the calculation and application of the main technical and contractual kpi for the operation of PV systems.

According to IEA-PVPS, kpi is essential for assessing the operational efficiency, financial viability and sustainability metrics of PV systems, while also guiding effective decision-making. The report defines commonly used kpi, outlines its benefits and challenges, and critiques its application and limitations.

IEA-PVPS notes that kpi can vary depending on project size, market, location and calculation method, which can have financial implications. It warns that KPI calculations based on tightly filtered datasets can introduce bias that may result in asset owners unfairly gaining or losing revenue. To address this, IEA-PVPS calls for greater transparency and standardization of KPI definitions to eliminate such risks.

The report also provides guidance on data preparation and processing, which IEA-PVPS says is essential for reliable KPI calculations. It notes that there is an urgent need for standardization and harmonization in data handling to enable data-driven decision-making.

A chapter on data management covers best practices for KPI determination across data types, hardware and software, data quality, preparation and aggregation. Another chapter discusses KPI possibilities beyond contractual agreements and minimum thresholds.IEA-PVPS notes that the assessment process has progressed and is becoming standard practice, providing valuable insights into PV system data.

Advanced mapping techniques using KPI data can provide a comprehensive assessment of PV performance across regions, supporting tailored operations and early design considerations for new PV projects, the report added.

IEA-PVPS said it is collecting PV system performance data from large-scale PV system analytics platforms to calculate technical kpi and interpreting the data through geospatial maps.

“This approach will help extend the knowledge of specific sites where data is available to sites where PV systems have not yet been installed,” IEA-PVPS said. “This work will be valuable for designing new PV plants and customized PV system contracts that can take advantage of greater certainty in performance assessment.”

Its latest report follows publications on building-integrated PV and string inverters released earlier this month.