Taking full advantage of solar energy
To get the most out of your solar project, all factors must be optimal. These include shading on the panels, of course, but the angle of the panels and the electronics behind them also come into play. In addition, it may be smart to look at a combination with wind power or storage. Miloš Stamenković, a solar energy specialist at GreenTrust, is happy to give advice.
No one starts building a wind farm without the help of a specialist. But when realizing a solar project, a solar expert is less likely to be called in. “With solar projects, you’re often talking about a very different scale than with wind energy,” Miloš understands. “For just a few hundred euros you can get started with a single solar panel combined with fairly simple electronics. You can find an installation manual on YouTube. But what you won’t find there are the many factors you need to think about. Such as the effect of shade on energy production, the pros and cons of different electrical solutions or problems caused by falling leaves from trees. Thanks to innovations in the solar industry, there are all kinds of technical solutions. Such as two-sided solar panels, tracking mounting, a multi-oriented layout or dual use of agricultural land (agrivoltaics). By taking this into account from the beginning, you can increase the yield of your solar project.” In addition, installing a solar panel on a vacation home is something very different from creating a solar park of many acres. “With a larger project, you quickly run into issues around grid connection and battery storage, for example,” Miloš says. “Or maybe you can get unexpected benefits by combining solar and wind power.”
Thinking along from the start
As a specialist in solar energy, Miloš takes a close look at all these aspects. “I prefer to think along from the start of a project,” he indicates. “So that we can optimize the design in all respects. For shading, that starts with information about current and future objects in the neighborhood. Think of trees, tall chimneys or light masts from a nearby sports field. But also plans in the area, for example for wind turbines. In a software program, I combine that information with other parameters, such as the angle at which the panels will be placed and the electronics. I also look at possibilities for flexible panels, panels that move with the sun, panels with or without a frame. In this way, I create different variants. Based on that, I help the developers determine what is the most optimal solution for the design.”
Design in pictures
Miloš has experience with several solar parks at home and abroad, with large projects on the ground or, for example, PV panels on the large halls of a logistics business park. In addition to calculations, he often uses visualizations of the design in 3D. “Local residents will get an idea of what the solar park will look like in practice. Here, too, we can show different variants. For example, with and without landscaping. Such a visualization also helps when applying for the permit.”
Added value
Is your solar farm already in operation but would you like to expand, for example, or combine it with wind energy? Or are you just curious about how to realize more yield? Even then, GreenTrust’s expertise provides added value. Miloš: “I make an analysis based on the drawings and the situation. In this I take into account various aspects, from shadow effects to electrical design and grid congestion. My background in electrical engineering comes in handy here. We are also increasingly looking for hybrid solutions, such as solar energy with battery storage or combining solar and wind power in the same connection. In this way, more is often possible than you might think.”
Curious about the added value of GreenTrust for your solar project? Feel free to contact Miloš or one of his colleagues!