Carbon Footprint Optimization as PLC Control Strategy in Solar Power System Automation

Abstract Control and automation forms an integral part in the design of solar power conversion systems for stand-alone village installations as well as for industrial scale grid-connected installations. Some control designs employ digital implementation platforms such as robust industrial standard Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC's) with remote control/access capabilities. The Siemens Simatic S7-1214C TIA platform was chosen as PLC platform to automate an easy-to-assemble stand-alone mechatronic solar concentrator platform for power generation in rural Africa. This paper describes issues around a CO 2 impact optimization algorithm as control concept for the automation of the solar power generation and tracking system wherein a digital power budget principle forms the basis for artificially intelligent decision architecture to maximize CO 2 impact of the solar power system. The proposed control strategy would be of value to both off-grid rural power generation systems and commercial solar farms where CO2 impact optimization eventually impacts directly on the carbon footprint of a solar farm.