DOCTOR-PV - Development of optimized tools for operation and maintenance of photovoltaic plants

DESCRIPTION
DOCTOR-PV is going to lay the foundations for the application of a predictive maintenance and an optimal operation for the different types of photovoltaic power plants.
The project combines the most promising techniques related to predictive maintenance: maintenance based on the condition of all the elements in the facility and maintenance based on the measures of electroluminescence (EL), and infrared thermography (TIR), which are intended to be implemented in flights conducted by drones.
OBJETIVES
The main objective of DOCTOR-PV is the optimization and the maintenance of photovoltaic facilities through the development of advanced tools and the application of machine learning techniques, which enable the performance of: automatic inspections of the state of the facilities, predictive maintenance of the main components and the improvement of the operation.
The achievement of the main objective will be done through the following developments:
- Algorithms of predictive maintenance.
- An optimal monitoring system.
- A polarization system for EL measures.
- A measuring device of EL and TIR installed in a drone.
- Algorithms of failures detection through the use of EL and TIR techniques.
- A methodology for the maintenance and the optimal operation in a photovoltaic facility.
CIRCE´s ROLE
CIRCE, behind the experience in the management of R+D+I projects, assumes the technical direction with MAETEL. Also, CIRCE will work actively in the development of algorithms for predictive maintenance and in the identification of monitoring intensity level of new facilities, reducing costs and assuring the committed performance. Likewise, CIRCE will participate in the integration of EL and TIR techniques in a same methodology, DOCTOR-PV, which will be validated in the pilot projects.