The continued expansion of photovoltaics faces a decisive obstacle: limited grid connection capacity. That situation is unlikely to change quickly. Making optimal use of existing grids is therefore key to accelerating deployment. Project developer Next2Sun sees one solution in combining existing solar parks with vertically mounted modules, which would allow the grid connections of existing south-facing installations to be overbuilt.
Making the most of existing infrastructure
South-facing systems generate most of their electricity around midday, and grid connections are sized for this peak output. Vertical systems, by contrast, primarily use the grid connection in the hours before and after. Combining the two technologies significantly broadens the feed-in profile, spreading generation across the day. "Overbuilding is one of the most effective levers for adding generation while making optimal use of existing infrastructure," explains Heiko Hildebrandt, Managing Director of Next2Sun. "Not every additional solar installation places the same load on the grid – what matters is when the electricity is fed in," he emphasises.
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Higher revenues from electricity fed into the grid
Integrating vertical photovoltaics into existing solar parks opens up considerable potential. According to Next2Sun, connected PV capacity could be increased by around 60% without significant curtailment losses.
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The benefits extend beyond more efficient grid use. There are also clear economic advantages. According to the developer, using existing grid connections and infrastructure cuts costs by between 10 and 15 percent. At the same time, the revenue structure shifts, since vertical systems generate more of their electricity during periods of higher market prices, leading to clear marketing advantages over conventional installations. Next2Sun estimates a market value 87 percent higher than for standard solar parks, based on market values for solar electricity over the first five months of this year.
Combination with agri-PV
These advantages are not limited to solar parks on conventional sites. Dual use through agrivoltaics widens the pool of potential land. Agricultural plots close to existing ground-mounted installations could be developed with vertical solar systems, feeding electricity into the grid via the existing connection of the neighbouring conventional solar park. (su)
