Photovoltaic module installation management system and method

Abstract

A photovoltaic (PV) module power compensator (20, Fig. 2) having a DC-DC power converter (21, Fig. 2), a module-level power electronics (MLPE) controller (22, Fig. 2), and a sensor unit (28, Fig. 2) t

Description

The present invention relates to a photovoltaic module power compensator, photovoltaic module installation management system and method of managing a photovoltaic module installation. Large-scale photovoltaic installations consisting of hundreds of photovoltaic modules are an increasingly common sight as efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of energy production are intensified. A typical photovoltaic module installation is illustrated schematically in Figure 1. A photovoltaic module 1 comprises a photovoltaic (solar) panel 2 electrically connected to a module level power electronic (MLPE) converter 3. Each photovoltaic module 1 is connected in series to at least one other photovoltaic module 1 via the MLPE converter 3 to form a string 4 of photovoltaic modules 1. This string 4 of photovoltaic modules 1 is electrically connected in parallel to other strings 4 of photovoltaic modules 1 and to an inverter 5 for the photovoltaic installation 6. The strings 4 of photovoltaic modules 1 form an array 7, and the photovoltaic installation 6. Each MLPE converter 3 is designed to adjust the performance of the photovoltaic panel 2 it is in electrical connection with using Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques. The conditions in which the photovoltaic panels 2 operate change due to the amount of incident sunlight, shade, photovoltaic panel temperature and the electrical characteristics of the photovoltaic panel’s 2 load. As these operating conditions vary, the load characteristic (impedance) that provides the highest power transfer (the Maximum Power Point or MPP) changes, requiring the MLPE controller 3 to provide a tracking function to maintain the MPP based on the operating conditions. This ultimately results in the transfer of power between the photovoltaic module 2 and the load being as efficient as possible, as each MLPE converter 3 is made up of circuits that provide an optimum load to the photovoltaic panel 2 to balance these operating condition variations. In addition to a traditional MPPT functionality, each MLPE converter 3 also contains a MLPE controller 8 and DC power optimisers 9. A DC power optimiser 9 (or solar optimiser) is integrated in the MLPE controller 3 to increase the power yield of the photovoltaic module 1 before sending an optimised DC voltage to the string inverter 5. The DC optimiser 9 is effectively a DC-DC converter that performs the MPPT function within the MLPE converter 3. The local optimisation of the DC voltage means that any changes to the operating conditions of a single photovoltaic module 1 do not affect the performance of the other photovoltaic modules 1 in the string 4. Therefore, by using the DC power optimiser 9, the MLPE controller 3 is able to control the performance of the photovoltaic module 1 in isolation to all others in the array 6 and photovoltaic installation 7. One other advantage of using MLPE converters 3 is that these are loT devices and equipped with the ability to communicate with a device hosting a control or optimisation application, for example, over a local network or cellular connection. This allows for real-time photovoltaic module 1 and installation 7 performance monitoring by reviewing power mismatch between different string 4 to determine which may be underperforming. Whilst it is possible to determine that underperformance is occurring, it is not possible to locate the individual photovoltaic module 1 and determine the actual performance of photovoltaic module 1, type of issue or fault that may be causing the underperformance remotely, nor is it possible to determine a corrective course of action due to series-parallel law which pushes the operating point of each photovoltaic module 1 of string 4 to satisfy the law. Without power compensation, the series-parallel law does not allow photovoltaic module 1 to operate in its actual MPP. However, It would therefore be advantageous to be able to monitor individual photovoltaic modules 1 to a sufficient extent by enabling photovoltaic module 1 to operate in its actual MPP that not only can fault diagnosis take place but that corrective action can be determined and taken all remotely without needing to visit the installation 7 itself. The present invention aims to address these issues by providing a photovoltaic module power compensator, wherein each photovoltaic module comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells, comprising: a DC-DC power converter in electrical connection with a module level power electronics (MLPE) controller; and a sensor unit in electrical connection with the MLPE controller; wherein the sensor unit comprises at least a current sensor adapted to indicate photovoltaic panel current, a voltage sensor adapted to indicate photovoltaic panel voltage and a temperature sensor configured to indicate the temperature of the photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic module to which the power compensator is connected; and wherein the sensor unit is provided with communication means adapted to link the sensor unit to other sensor units within a network of such sensor units and / or a remote server. The advantage of such a photovoltaic module power compensator is that the overall resource required to maintain a photovoltaic module installation is reduced whilst maintaining the operating point of each photovoltaic module 1 and the overall output of a photovoltaic module installation. By employing the photovoltaic module power compensator in a photovoltaic module installation management system which helps to diagnose the actual operating condition of each photovoltaic module 1 at any specific instant, remote fault identification and mitigation lead to reduced maintenance times and costs and enable the realtime optimisation of MPPT in individual photovoltaic modules to overcome the effects of faults and variable ambient weather conditions. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a photovoltaic module installation management system, comprising: at least one string of photovoltaic modules, wherein each photovoltaic module is electrically connected in series to at least one other photovoltaic module and electrically connected in parallel to a photovoltaic module power compensator as described above; a single central inverter electrically connected in parallel to the string of photovoltaic modules and to each power compensator; a string power compensator electrically connected in series between the string and the central inverter, the string power converter having the same configuration as a photovoltaic module power compensator; and a remote server available to each photovoltaic module power compensator and the string power compensator via the communication means; wherein: the sensor unit of each photovoltaic module power compensator is adapted to acquire diagnostic information about its respective photovoltaic module and to transmit this to the remote server; the sensor unit of the string power compensator is adapted to acquire diagnostic information about its respective string and to transmit this to the remote server; the remote server is adapted to receive the diagnostic information, analyse the diagnostic information and generate operational instructions for the DC-DC power converter; and the DC-DC power converter is adapted to receive and carry out the operational instructions from the remote server. Preferably, the photovoltaic module power compensators are configured to provide the following to the remote server: maximum power point (MPP) tracking and power optimisation for the respective photovoltaic module to which it is connected; current information for the photovoltaic module to which it is connected; and voltage information for the photovoltaic module to which it is connected. Preferably, the string power compensators are configured to provide the following to the remote server: current information for the string to which it is connected; and voltage information for the string to which it is connected. Preferably, the photovoltaic module power compensator is further configured to supply photovoltaic cell hot spot and photovoltaic module loading information to the remote server. Preferably, each photovoltaic module power compensator is adapted to communicate with each other photovoltaic module power compensator within a photovoltaic module string, the string power compensator and with the remote server, forming a collective network of connected devices. Preferably, the remote server is a cloud platform and each photovoltaic module power compensator and string power compensator is a cloud client. The present invention also provides, in yet another aspect, a method of managing a photovoltaic module installation, wherein the installation comprises at least one string of photovoltaic modules, and wherein each photovoltaic module is provided with a photovoltaic module power compensator as claimed in claim 1 and the string is provided with a string power compensator having the same configuration as a photovoltaic module power compensator, the method comprising: receiving the diagnostic data acquired by each photovoltaic module power compensator and each string power compensator within the installation; from the diagnostic data, determining the operating conditions of each photovoltaic module and string, identifying any fault and any photovoltaic module impacted by the fault and determining a fault mitigation procedure; sending the fault mitigation procedure to faulty photovoltaic modules and string compensator of the same string and a MPPT control signal for photovoltaic modules without a fault; and applying the fault mitigation procedure to faulty photovoltaic modules and the string compensator of the same string; wherein the fault mitigation procedure comprises adjusting the maximum power point (MPP) of each faulty photovoltaic module and the string compensator in the same string to counteract the impact of the fault on the overall performance of the photovoltaic module string. Preferably the method further comprises generating a warning indicating a performance mismatch based on the diagnostic data and indicating the type of fault identified and the identity(ies) of the faulty photovoltaic module(s). Preferably, determining the operating conditions of each photovoltaic module and string comprises comparing individual photovoltaic module currents and voltages and current and voltages for the string of photovoltaic modules, and identifying current and / or voltage deficits. Preferably, determining the operating conditions of each photovoltaic module and string further comprises comparing the thermal profiles of individual photovoltaic modules, and identifying hot spots or thermal load issues. The method may further comprise comparing diagnostic data received from a first string of photovoltaic modules with the diagnostic data received from at least a second string of photovoltaic modules; and sending the fault mitigation procedure to all photovoltaic modules in the installation. Preferably, the method further comprises generating and sending a report of the fault and fault mitigation to a remote device in the possession of an operator of the photovoltaic module installation. The present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a photovoltaic module installation; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a photovoltaic module power compensator in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a string of photovoltaic modules comprising photovoltaic module power converters according to embodiments of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a photovoltaic module installation management system in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention; Figure 5 is a flow-chart illustrating a method of managing a photovoltaic module installation in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of fault detection and remediation in a photovoltaic module installation in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments of the present invention take the approach that the DC power optimiser or DC-DC converter in a conventional MLPE converter can be used as the basis for a photovoltaic module power compensator that is able to indicate not only the power or energy mismatch but to then implement corrective or mitigating action remotely. This is done by providing current or voltage compensation to enable the photovoltaic module to operate in its MPP. Such a photovoltaic module power compensator comprises a DC-DC power converter and a sensor unit, with the DC-DC power converter being in electrical connection with a module level power electronics (MLPE) controller. The sensor unit is in electrical connection with the MLPE controller, and comprises at least a current sensor adapted to indicate photovoltaic panel current, a voltage sensor adapted to indicate photovoltaic panel voltage and a temperature sensor configured to indicate the temperature of the photovoltaic module to which the power compensator is connected. The sensor unit is also provided with communication means adapted to link the sensor module to other sensor units within a network of such sensor units and / or a remote server. The function of the photovoltaic module power compensator, its use in a photovoltaic module installation management system and method of use will now be described in more detail. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a photovoltaic module power compensator in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The photovoltaic module power compensator 20 comprises a DC-DC power converter 21 in electrical connection with a MLPE controller 22. The MLPE controller 22 comprises a MPPT control circuit 23 having a current sensor 24 and a voltage sensor 25 adapted to take an input current and an input voltage respectively from a photovoltaic module (not shown), and a pulse-width modulator 26. The MPPT control circuit 23 is connected to the pulse-width modulator 26 in order to provide a duty ratio from the input current and voltage. The pulse-width modulator 26 is also electrically connected to the DC-DC power converter 21. An input filter 27 is also provided between the photovoltaic module and the DC-DC power converter 21. A sensor unit 28 is in electrical connection with the MLPE controller 22, and comprises a current sensor 29 adapted to indicate photovoltaic panel current, a voltage sensor 30 adapted to indicate photovoltaic panel voltage and a temperature sensor 31 configured to indicate the temperature of the photovoltaic panel of the photovoltaic module to which the photovoltaic module power compensator 20 is connected. The sensor unit 28 is also provided with communication means 32 adapted to link the sensor unit 28 to other sensor units within a network of such sensor units and / or a remote server (not shown). Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a string of photovoltaic modules comprising photovoltaic module power converters according to embodiments of the present invention. A first photovoltaic module 33a is electrically connected in parallel with a first photovoltaic module power compensator 20a, and is electrically connected in series with a second photovoltaic module 33b and a central inverter 34 for the entire photovoltaic installation. The second photovoltaic module 33b is electrically connected in parallel with a second photovoltaic module power compensator 20b, and is electrically connected in series with a third photovoltaic module 33c and so on until the final photovoltaic module 33 n in the string 35. The first photovoltaic module power compensator 20a is electrically connected in parallel to the second photovoltaic module power compensator 20b, and so on until the photovoltaic module power compensator 20n electrically connected in parallel with the final photovoltaic module 33n in the string 35. The string power compensator 36 has the same configuration as the photovoltaic module power converters 20a, 20b...20n, but connected in series with photovoltaic modules and provides the ability to control the entire string in the same manner as each individual photovoltaic module to provide voltage compensation and avoid voltage mismatch, as described in more detail below. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a photovoltaic module installation management system in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. The photovoltaic module installation management system 38 comprises at least one string 35a, 35b, 35c...35n of photovoltaic modules 33a, 33b, 35c... 33n, each equipped with a photovoltaic module power compensator 20 as shown in Figure 3. A central inverter 34 is electrically connected in parallel to each string 35a, 35b. 35c...35n, with a string power compensator 36 electrically connected between the end of each string 35a, 35b, 35c...35n and the central inverter 34. A remote server 37 hosting software adapted to manage the photovoltaic module installation is available to each photovoltaic module power compensator 20a, 20b...20n and the string power compensators 36a, 36b, 36c...36n via the communication means 32. The sensor unit 28 of each photovoltaic module power compensator 20 is adapted to acquire diagnostic information about its respective photovoltaic module 33 and to transmit this to the remote server 37. The sensor unit 28 of the string power compensator 36 is adapted to acquire diagnostic information about its respective string 35 and to transmit this to the remote server 37. The remote server 37 is adapted to receive the diagnostic information, analyse the diagnostic information and generate operational instructions for the DC-DC power converter 21. The DC-DC power controller 22 is adapted to receive and carry out the operational instructions from the remote server 37. In order to be able to manage the photovoltaic module installation, the photovoltaic module power compensators 20a, 20b..,20n and the string power compensators 36 are configured to provide diagnostic information to the remote server 37. This diagnostic information is comprised of data that indicates the real-time operational performance of each photovoltaic module 33a, 33b...33n and the string 35a as a whole. Each photovoltaic power compensator 20a, 20b...20n transmits the maximum power point (MPP) tracking and power optimisation for the respective photovoltaic module 33 that it is connected to. This information indicates the efficiency of the current power transfer, and variations in the data indicate that an event is occurring that potentially affects the ability of the photovoltaic module 33 to operate. The current sensor 29 obtains current information for the photovoltaic cells of the respective photovoltaic module 33 to which it is connected and the voltage sensor 30 obtains voltage information for the photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic module 33 to which it is connected. Tracking deficits in the current and voltage of an individual photovoltaic module 33 enable a power compensation to be made in real time, for example, should there be damage to a cell, unexpected shading (severe weather conditions) or fouling of the surface of the photovoltaic module (such as by birds or other animals). The string power compensators 36 are configured to provide current information for the string 35 to which they are connected as well as voltage information for the string 35 to which they are connected. Variations in the overall performance of the string 35 can be monitored and compensated for in order to mitigate the effect of any faults on the overall power generation performance of the string 35 and therefore the impact of this on the photovoltaic module installation as a whole. Whilst issues due to shading, soiling and damage are noticeable from monitoring the MPPT, current and voltage of a photovoltaic module 33, there is also a risk that a fault may develop within one of the photovoltaic modules 33 in a string 35. To take this into account, the photovoltaic module power compensator 20 is further configured to supply photovoltaic cell hot spot and photovoltaic module 33 loading information to the remote server 37. This is done using the temperature sensor 31, which is adapted to detect variations in the temperature of the photovoltaic module 33, with data from the current 29 and voltage 30 sensors being used to indicate photovoltaic module 33 loading information to the remote server 37. To provide the network required for such information to flow to the remote server, each photovoltaic module power compensator 20 is adapted to communicate with each other photovoltaic module power compensator 20 within the photovoltaic module string 35, the string power compensator 36 and with the remote server 37, forming a collective network of connected devices. The communication means 32 provided in each sensor unit 28 forms a local area network (LAN), with the individual sensor units 28 connected together using well-known communication technologies such as Bluetooth™, ZigBee™, NFC (Near Field Communication) or Wi-Fi. Ideally, the inter-sensor unit 28 connection is Wi-Fi, such that the remote server 37 is able to communicate with the sensor units 28 via a communications network or cellular connection. The communication means 32 is therefore preferably an antenna configured to work at Wi-Fi frequencies. This in turn allows the remote server 37 to be a cloud platform and each photovoltaic module power compensator 20 and string power compensator 36 to be a cloud client. Figure 5 is a flow-chart illustrating a method of managing a photovoltaic module installation in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. As described above, each photovoltaic module 33 is provided with a photovoltaic module power compensator 20 and each string 35 is provided with a string power compensator 36 having the same configuration as a photovoltaic module power compensator 20. The method 500 begins with receiving the diagnostic data acquired by each photovoltaic module power compensator 30 and each string power compensator 36 within the installation at step 502. Next, at step 504, the remote server 37 determines the operating conditions of each photovoltaic module 33 and string 35, identifying any fault and any photovoltaic module 33 impacted by the fault. Determining the operating conditions of each photovoltaic module 33 and string 35 preferably includes comparing the thermal profiles of individual photovoltaic modules 33, and identifying hot spots or thermal load issues. In addition, diagnostic data received from a first string 35a of photovoltaic modules 33 may be compared with the diagnostic data received from at least a second string 35b of photovoltaic modules 33. Having identified the fault, the remote server 37 then determines a fault mitigation procedure at step 506. At step 508, the remoter server 37 sends the MPPT control signal to the photovoltaic module power compensator 20 of each photovoltaic module 33 in the same string that does not have a fault and a fault mitigation procedure to the photovoltaic module power compensator 20 of all faulty photovoltaic modules 33 in the same string as the impacted photovoltaic module 33. If data from more than one string 35 has been analysed, the fault mitigation procedure may be sent to all faulty photovoltaic modules 33 in an installation and the string power compensators 36 of all strings with faulty modules. At step 510,each photovoltaic module power compensator 20 applies either the MPPT signal to generate a new MPP for each photovoltaic module or the fault mitigation procedure to its respective photovoltaic module 33 ensuring that the fault mitigation procedure is applied to all faulty photovoltaic modules 33 in the same string 35. The fault mitigation procedure adjusting the maximum power point (MPP) of each faulty photovoltaic module 33 and the string compensator 36 in the same string 35 to counteract the impact of the fault on the overall performance of the photovoltaic module string 35. The remote server 37 may also generate a warning indicating a performance mismatch based on the diagnostic data, as well as indicating the type of fault identified and the identity(ies) of the faulty photovoltaic module(s). Once the fault has been identified and the fault mitigation determined, the remote server 37 may also generate and send a report of the fault and fault mitigation, at step 512, to a remote device in the possession of an operator of the photovoltaic module installation. The remote device may be a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, or a desktop computer or laptop. Preferably, the remote device has software installed that not only enables the reading of the report, but allows the operator to control the performance of individual photovoltaic modules 33 and strings 35. This is illustrated in the example below. Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of fault detection and remediation in a photovoltaic module installation in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Figure 6 illustrates a small central inverter 34 of photovoltaic modules 33a - 33n within a larger photovoltaic module installation 38. The string 35 is positioned at the outer edge of the photovoltaic module installation 38, close to a trees 39 and hedgerow 40. The weather conditions are sunny, with no cloud cover expected. However, one of the photovoltaic modules 33c has a faulty photovoltaic cell 41, and the photovoltaic module 33a closest to the trees 39 has been soiled by a bird, causing a number of the photovoltaic cells to be covered 42 and therefore not available for power generation. The MPPT, current and voltage of the two photovoltaic modules 33a, 33c, is constantly monitored by their photovoltaic module power compensators 31, the string power compensator 26 and the remoted server 37. The software on the remote server 37 picks up that not only is there a variation in the MPPT for the photovoltaic modules 33a, 33c, but there are current and voltage variations not seen in the other photovoltaic modules 33b, 33n of the string 34. In addition, the temperature sensor 31 of the photovoltaic module 33c with the faulty photoelectric cell 41 picks up a hotspot corresponding to this photoelectric cell 41. The remote server 37 processes this diagnostic data and determines that the photovoltaic module 33a is dirty and that the photovoltaic module 33c is faulty. To counteract this, the remote server devises a fault mitigation plan to compensate for the drop in power transfer from the two faulty photovoltaic modules 33a, 33c by altering the MPPT of the faulty photovoltaic modules 33a, 33c in the string 35 to compensate for the corresponding lower performance of the string 35. This is done by controlling the DC-DC power converters 21 to compensate the current of the two faulty photovoltaic modules 33a, 33c to match that of the healthy photovoltaic modules 33b, 33n in the string 35. The string compensator 36 provides the voltage compensation based on the difference in string voltages identified by the server 37. At the same time, the remote server 37 generates a report of the fault and mitigation, which is sent to a maintenance engineer 43 in possession of a mobile device 44 in communication with the remote server. The report identifies that one photovoltaic module 33a requires cleaning and one photovoltaic module 33c requires repair. The maintenance engineer 43 is alerted to the issue by the remote server 37 generating a warning and sending this to the mobile device 44. In addition to providing remediation of specific faults, the photovoltaic module installation management system is able to vary the current and voltage of individual photovoltaic modules 33 5 and strings 35 in response to changing weather conditions, such as cloud coverage variation. This ensures that, at any point in time, the photovoltaic module installation is functioning at its maximum possible energy generation capacity given current ambient conditions. By indicating the exact location of a fault, the manual effort that goes into the current practice of identifying the faulty module by removing and testing each module of a string is reduced or removed altogether. 10 Generating a warning helps in fault mitigation even in the most remote installations and thus helps protect the module and installation from complete failure. Indicating the type of fault found is a great aid to maintenance teams, since appropriate tools and parts can be taken to the installation on a first visit. By enabling the MLPE controller 22 to act as power compensator instead of a power optimiser, other healthy photovoltaic modules 33 that are connected in a string or 15 installation to faulty photovoltaic modules 33 are able to operate at their own MPP without any compromise. This increases the performance or output of the photovoltaic module installation even under faulty and / or partially shaded ambient conditions.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic module power compensator, wherein each photovoltaic module comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells, comprising:a DC-DC power converter in electrical connection with a module level power electronics (MLPE) controller; anda sensor unit in electrical connection with the MLPE controller;wherein the sensor unit comprises at least a current sensor adapted to indicate photovoltaic panel current, a voltage sensor adapted to indicate photovoltaic panel voltage and a temperature sensor configured to indicate the temperature of the photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic module to which the power compensator is connected; andwherein the sensor unit is provided with communication means adapted to link the sensor unit to other sensor units within a network of such sensor units and / or a remote server.

2. A photovoltaic module installation management system, comprising:at least one string of photovoltaic modules, wherein each photovoltaic module is electrically connected in series to at least one other photovoltaic module and electrically connected in parallel to a photovoltaic module power compensator as claimed in claim 1;a central inverter electrically connected in parallel to the string of photovoltaic modules and to each power compensator;a string power compensator electrically connected in series between the string and the central inverter, the string power compensator having the same configuration as a photovoltaic module power compensator; anda remote server available to each photovoltaic module power compensator and the string power converter via the communication means;wherein:the sensor unit of each photovoltaic module power compensator is adapted to acquire diagnostic information about its respective photovoltaic module and to transmit this to the remote server;the sensor unit of the string power compensator is adapted to acquire diagnostic information about its respective string and to transmit this to the remote server;the remote server is adapted to receive the diagnostic information, analyse the diagnostic information and generate operational instructions for the DC-DC power converter; andthe DC-DC power converter is adapted to receive and carry out the operational instructions from the remote server.

3. A photovoltaic module installation management system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the photovoltaic module power compensators are configured to provide the following to the remote server:maximum power point (MPP) tracking and power optimisation for the respective photovoltaic module to which it is connected;current information for the photovoltaic cells of the respective photovoltaic module to which it is connected; andvoltage information for the photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic module to which it is connected.

4. A photovoltaic module installation management system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the string power compensators are configured to provide the following to the remote server: current information for the string to which it is connected; and voltage information for the string to which it is connected.

5. A photovoltaic module installation management system as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the photovoltaic module power compensator is further configured to supply photovoltaic cell hot spot and photovoltaic module loading information to the remote server.

6. A photovoltaic module installation management system as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein each photovoltaic module power compensator is adapted to communicate with each other photovoltaic module power compensator within a photovoltaic module string, the string power compensator and with the remote server, forming a collective network of connected devices.

7. A photovoltaic module installation management system as claimed in any of claim 2 to 6, wherein the remote server is a cloud platform and each photovoltaic module power compensator and string power compensator is a cloud client.

8. A method of managing a photovoltaic module installation, wherein the installation comprises at least one string of photovoltaic modules, and wherein each photovoltaic module is provided with a photovoltaic module power compensator as claimed in claim 1 and the string is provided with a string power compensator having the same configuration as a photovoltaic module power compensator, the method comprising:receiving the diagnostic data acquired by each photovoltaic module power compensator and each string power compensator within the installation;from the diagnostic data, determining the operating conditions of each photovoltaic module and string, identifying any fault and any photovoltaic module impacted by the fault and determining a fault mitigation procedure;sending the fault mitigation procedure to faulty photovoltaic modules and string compensator of the same string and a MPPT control signal for photovoltaic modules without any fault; andapplying the fault mitigation procedure to faulty photovoltaic modules and the string compensator of the same string;wherein the fault mitigation procedure comprises adjusting the maximum power point (MPP) of each faulty photovoltaic module and the string compensator in the same string to counteract the impact of the fault on the overall performance of the photovoltaic module string.

9. A method of managing a photovoltaic module installation as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:generating a warning indicating a performance mismatch based on the diagnostic data.

10. A method of managing a photovoltaic module installation as claimed in claim 8 or 9, further comprising:indicating the type of fault identified; andthe identity(ies) of the faulty photovoltaic module(s).

11. A method of managing a photovoltaic module installation as claimed in claim 10, wherein determining the operating conditions of each photovoltaic module and string comprises comparing individual photovoltaic module currents and voltages and current and voltages for the string of photovoltaic modules, and identifying current and / or voltage deficits.

12. A method of managing a photovoltaic module installation as claimed in claim 11, wherein determining the operating conditions of each photovoltaic module and string further comprises comparing the thermal profiles of individual photovoltaic modules, and identifying hot spots or thermal load issues.

13. A method of managing a photovoltaic module installation as claimed in any of claims 8 to 12, further comprising:comparing diagnostic data received from a first string of photovoltaic modules with the diagnostic data received from at least a second string of photovoltaic modules; andsending the fault mitigation procedure to all photovoltaic modules in the installation.5 14. A method of managing a photovoltaic module installation as claimed in any of claims 8 to13, further comprising generating and sending a report of the fault and fault mitigation to a remote device in the possession of an operator of the photovoltaic module installation.

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