As South Africa continues its transition to renewable energy, the efficient management of solar farms has become more critical than ever. Iritron, a leader in industrial automation and control systems, is at the forefront of this revolution, offering advanced remote monitoring solutions tailored to the unique challenges of solar farm operations.
Why remote monitoring matters for solar farms
Large-scale solar farms are vital for powering towns, mining operations, and private enterprises such as warehouses and distribution centres. However, ensuring these installations operate at peak efficiency is no small feat. "Owners need real-time insights into their farm's performance to meet energy delivery targets and manage billing," explains Neels van der Walt head of department sales and business development, at Iritron.
“In a mining context, remote monitoring of solar farms allows mining companies to reduce their reliance on diesel generators and grid electricity should power outages occur, lowering operational costs. The monitoring of the health of their solar farms ensures that it functions optimally,” he adds.
Remote monitoring addresses key challenges, including the inability to benchmark performance, equipment failures due to environmental factors like lightning or hail, and the logistical difficulties of managing remote locations. “Without effective monitoring systems, issues such as misaligned solar panels or electrical faults can lead to significant energy losses,” notes Van der Walt.
Iritron’s advanced solutions
Iritron’s remote monitoring systems stand out for their adaptability and reliability. Many solar farms in South Africa rely on proprietary overseas technology that often lacks local support. Iritron bridges this gap by providing locally supported solutions built to European standards but optimised for South African conditions.
"Our systems represents a significant leap forward in solar farm management," adds Iritron Compliance Executive Andre Roeloffze. "By providing real-time insights and leveraging edge technology, we're enabling operators to make informed decisions faster than ever before."
With access to real-time data, maintenance teams can predict potential issues before they become critical. This proactive approach reduces downtime and extends the lifespan of solar modules and structures, ultimately improving the overall efficiency of the solar farm.
A key innovation in Iritron's offering is its edge technology, which utilises Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) capabilities. This allows for seamless data transmission even in low-bandwidth environments, ensuring that remote solar installations remain connected and monitored at all times.
The system's fault detection and alert features are particularly noteworthy. Operators can now pinpoint issues such as dirty or damaged panels, tripped circuit breakers, or overheating equipment with precision. Automated notifications via SMS or email ensure that response times are minimised, reducing downtime and maximising energy production.
Iritron has also prioritised integration with existing infrastructure. The system's standardised communication protocols, including Modbus TCP, Profinet and Ethernet IP, ensure compatibility with a wide range of equipment. This approach allows solar farm operators to upgrade their monitoring capabilities without the need for extensive hardware replacements.
“To further enhance safety and efficiency, we recently developed and customised a locally compliant 16-way combiner box for a solar farm that was experiencing issues with intermittent failures. This innovation ensured the secure DC switching and integrated monitoring capabilities to streamline fault detection,” adds Roeloffze.
For data analysis and long-term planning, the system offers robust historical analysis tools and customisable dashboards. Users can access detailed graphs for root cause analysis and performance benchmarking, providing valuable insights for future optimizations and expansions.
"Our solutions allow operators to manage solar farms remotely without needing full-time onsite personnel," says Gordon Schoombie, Iritron branch manager for Somerset West. "This reduces downtime and maintenance costs while maximising energy production,” he concludes.
