Secure your solar investment. inside. 1OO % transparency = 1OO % performance.

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1 Secure your solar investment inside 1OO % transparency = 1OO % performance

2 page 2 Why 1OO % transparency? With a solar energy system, anybody can produce environmentally friendly electricity that s great! Things become a little more complicated when one of the modules is not working properly. Unfortunately, this happens very easily for a number of reasons: birdies dropping their business, trees and leaves casting shadow or martens chewing on cables. SunSniffer identifies these problems. Plants with SunSniffer inside harvest between 6,5 % and 17,5 % more energy depending on the location and different factors. Secure your solar investment Did you know? Understand how SunSniffer works: Visit videoen.sunsniffer.de 17.5% Safety and dependability Savings in Mainentance External Effects Depending on several circumstances 0.5% 0.5-2% % 1-3% 4-10% The biggest impact on yield of your pv plant are the external effects. To correct them you first need to identify the optimization potential. Predictions for future optimizations are almost impossible. Highest resolution is required for professional off-site error detection and reduced O & M cost. Pollution Soot from exhaust fumes, dust and pollen settle on the surface of the module. As a result, light can no longer reach the cells. Weather Extreme temperatures, high snow levels and hail can lead to glass breakage. Animals Martens chew through cables at night; birds soil modules with droppings. Installation errors Modules can be setup incorrectly and plugs forgotten; erroneous connections can cause a dangerous electrical arc. Production defects Soldered connections become brittle causing hot spots; performance tolerances are not complied with. Due to the serial connection of modules in a string, the maximum current flow is limited to the flow of the weakest module. Maximum power thanks to SunSniffer Therefore one single faulty module also affects the performance of the good modules in a string. SunSniffer recognizes and locates defects immediately and for each individual module. We call that 100 % transparency. Regular maintenance and cost-intensive roof inspections can be avoided. The system also shows when, where and what needs to be done.

3 page 3 With SunSniffer your plant always operates at an optimal level Power Repair Cleaning Repair 100 % Installation defects Soil and dirt Cable damage SunSniffer gain Plant with SunSniffer Plant without SunSniffer Time Benefits Plant owners, investors and power supply companies Higher yield due to fast and total recognition of faults and necessary maintenance Certainty about a good plant condition and a rewarding investment All performance data is accessible at any time, also via mobile phone Error messages are easy to understand and comprehensible even for non technicians Advanced Operation and Maintenance by a sophisticated warning system and asset management for several plants Installers Simple recognition of optimization potentials Fast and easy detection of faults allows perfect service Automatic control of the complete installation, no manual control necessary Time-saving management of plant maintenance Management of several plants using one interface Fast clarification of warranty and guarantee claims Module, junction box and inverter manufacturers Easy integration New possibilities for intelligent PV systems Unique selling point Achieved performance automatically prepared and visualized Certification passed according to EN 50178:1997 and UL-> no additional certification is needed At the 25th Fachsymposium Photovoltaische Solarenergie SunSniffer was awarded 2nd place of the innovation competition 2010.

4 page 4 Did you know? The loss of yield due to contamination in long term tests averages about %. Haeberlin, Ph. Schärf: Long term behavior of PV-plants for more than 15 years. 25th Fachsymposium Photovoltaische Solarenergie, Bad Staffelstein (Germany), March 2010 That s how SunSniffer works Brilliantly simple - simply brilliant The SunSniffer system consists of three parts: The SunSniffer Sensor The small sensor is integrated directly into the modules junctionbox. It measures voltage and temperature and sends the information attached to the modules serial number to the string server through the existing cable. The SunSniffer String-Server The String-Server reads the module data from the strings and measures the current and voltage. For every string you need a String-Server which sends the read data to the Connection Box. We have String-Servers for one and two strings for a more convenient installation. The SunSniffer Connection Box The Connection Box receives the data from every String-Server and sends via any desired router (e.g. for UMTS, DSL) to the webserver. The SunSniffer Webportal The Webportal analyses and edits the data for the user. The SunSniffer Webportal does not only detect individual performance variations but can also analyse certain patterns like shading of a module by using intelligent data analysis. SunSniffer powerline technology Sensor and server communicate over the normal solar cabling using a specifically developed transmission technology. An additional installation of communication cables is therefore not necessary.

5 page 5 Did you know? Special functions Intelligent warning system The warning system within the SunSniffer Webportal recognizes performance variations of every component on a percentage basis. Besides this simple recognition it also detects data patterns by automatic data analysis. For example a moving shadow or snow on the modules can be detected. A warning will be sent via in case of a problem. Fast & exact localization By using the SunSniffer PlantView you can show the plant on the SunSniffer Webportal the way it was built. This function enables a focused course of action in future maintenance or repair. According to the Association for the Promotion of Solar Power (Solar-Förderverein), one should budget about 1 % of the original price for maintenance per year. With SunSniffer you can reduce these costs by up to 30 %. Statement from the Solarenergie-Förderverein Deutschland e.v. (SFV) in Version for mobile devices With an easy and clear version of the SunSniffer Webportal for your mobile devices you can always have one eye on your revenue and can check the operability of the plant at any time. Representative illustrations Visualize your ongoing commitment via different presentation modes and show it via any screen with an internet connection.

6 page 6 How SunSniffer solves pv plant problems Take a look at the SunSniffer artificial intelligence and how it is detecting problems, analyzing the causes and is therefore optimizing your plant! Detection of defective modules Status plant A defective module is detected and directly compared to its neighbouring ones. A yearly loss of 112 is calculated directly so you can see, when it will be profitable to do the on site maintenance. Status inverter Detection of moving shadows Status string Status module A moving shadow with a yearly loss of 59 is detected. Especially two modules (yellow and green line) are affected by this. The cause for this can be located on the next on site service.

7 page 7 Exact localization of each module and every string The SunSniffer not only detects and calculates the loss of the defective modules, but they are localized exactly via the SunSniffer PlantView. You are able to see each module with its power output, its string and inverter number and location on the rooftop. Therefore a service technician is able to find the modules easily. Examples of problems detected by SunSniffer Problem: A tree is casting a shadow on different modules. E ff e c t : The power output of the module is decreased by 20 %. Therefore the inverter has a power loss of 1.5 %, with a yearly loss of 51 for the plant. Solution: With SunSniffer the moving shadows can be detected and the problem may be resolved at the next on-site maintenance. Problem: The glass of one module is broken by hail. E ff e c t : The power of this specific module is decreased by 40 %. Therefore the inverter has a power loss of 3 % with a yearly loss of 102 for the plant. Solution: SunSniffer detects the loss and localizes exactly which module is affected.

8 page 8 Technical data SunSniffer Sensor Monitoring chip for integration into the connection box Allowed ambient temperature -40 to +80 C Absolute measuring tolerance voltage 1,0 % Absolute measuring tolerance temp. -/+ 3 C Energy consumption < 0,1 % SunSniffer 1-String-Server Protection class IP 65 Connection for strings MC4 compatible Interface for Connection Box RS485 Connection for inverter MC4 compatible Max. number of modules per string 30 Max. voltage in the string 1000 V DC Max. current per string 10 A Absolute measuring tolerance current 1 % absolut Energy consumption 0,5 W (operating stat) otherwise 0 W SunSniffer 2-String-Server Protection class IP 65 Connection for strings MC4 compatible Interface for Connection Box RS485 Connection for inverter MC4 compatible Max. number of modules per string 30 Max. voltage in the string 1000 V DC Max. current per string 10 A Absolute measuring tolerance current 1 % absolut Energy consumption 0,5 W (operating stat) otherwise 0 W SunSniffer Connection Box Protection class IP 65 Interface for 1-String-Server RS485 Max. cable lenght 1000 m Interface internet Ethernet RJ45 Max. number of 1-String-Servers 90 Max. number of inverters 30 Energy consumption 3,5 W input supply Memory Card (optional) 2 GB

9 page 9 SunSniffer Retrofit Retrofit-Box with SunSniffer Sensor inside for module monitoring of modules by every supplier. Allowed ambient temperature -40 to +80 C Absolute measuring tolerance voltage 1,0 % Absolute measuring tolerance temp. -/+ 3 C Energy consumption < 0,1 % Protection Class IP65 Connection for modules MC4 compatible Cable length 2 x 5 cm - 2 x 90 cm MODUL SENSORS

10 page 10 Technology preview SunSniffer Secure SunSniffer Secure considerably reduces the risk in case of fire Using SunSniffer Secure allows an emergency shutdown of each individual module. Fires can be extinguished without any precautionary measures and without putting the fire fighters at risk. Due to temperature monitoring and emergency shutdown directly in the junction box modules can be switched off in case of a possible overheating. That s how SunSniffer Secure works SunSniffer Secure is an optional extension of the SunSniffer Monitoring System. Switching off is performed by the SunSniffer Secure sensor. The sensor is integrated in the junction box of the module. In case of emergency the electrical current is cut off at its origin. The shutdown signal is sent from SunSniffer Server to the SunSniffer sensors. Switching off can be triggered by the software or using a manual switch. Prior to the execution Sun- Sniffer Secure confirms the shutdown. The transmission of the signal is carried through the normal DC cabling, additional cabling serving as communication lines is not necessary.

11 page 11 High risk of fire In case of emergency photovoltaic modules pose a high risk for untrained fire fighters as long as electricity flows. Current practice is that a DC switch is installed in front of the inverter, which allows the plant to be switched on and off. The problem is that electricity continues to run through the modules and cables on the roof. Advantages over competitors Cost-effective emergency shutdown solution directly in the junction box and Profitability of the plants remains guaranteed No additional cabling Standard certified junction boxes are available for a quick integration by module manufacturers Benefits Makes the fire department s job easier and less risky Satisfies the demands of the fire department Complies with liability provisions and safety regulations, required for certain type of plants and countries... as well as all benefits the innovative SunSniffer monitoring system offers. Because of the continuous development of our products we point out that the features named in this brochure can be changed. Therefore a liability is excluded.

12 SunSniffer a product of STORM ENERGY GmbH Rathenauplatz Nürnberg Germany T / F / info@sunsniffer.de