Victron Energy powered Smartflower

From space to earth, solar panels come in many shapes and sizes – but none so pretty it seems as the folded petals of the Smartflower shown above, during a rainstorm in France.

Smartflower is a self stowing, self cleaning, automatic tracking, solar energy solution. Whilst they are usually connected to the grid, now there is an off grid and self consumption ready version, using Victron Energy components.

Rather than explain Smartflower’s operation, it is much more elegant to see one in action. Here is Mike’s installation in France.

Victron inside & out

As you can see below, the off grid version uses a Victron Energy inverter, solar charge controller and Lithium batteries, plus this standalone unit connects to Victron Energy’s VRM web portal for system monitoring.

Specifications of the POP+ off grid version

Nominal capacity solar system 2.31 kWp
High performance due to dual-axis sun tracking. 3,400 – 6,200 kWh/annum subject to region
Victron Energy Inverter (230 Volts AC with HUB 1 assistant so it can be set in UPS, off grid, grid support or feedback mode)
Solar Charge Controller (MPPT 150/85 MC4 charge controller)
Battery capacity 4.6 kWh (4 cells)
Battery technology Victron Energy LiFePO4 with integrated battery management system
Operating temperature range -20°C to +50°C
Output power 6,000W (peak), 3,000W (constant output @25°C)
Grid compatibility 230 VAC +/-2% / 50 Hz +/-0.1% or 120 VAC +/-2% / 60 Hz +/-0.1%
Weight of total system approx. 800 kg
1 AC connection (AC output)
Monitoring System using Victron Energy BMV-700, Color Control GX, VRM, LAN/WLAN/web interface

Operation

Conclusion

In recent times, due to the falling cost of solar panels, there has been a move toward fitting additional easterly and westerly panels (space permitting) in addition to the ideal southerly facing panels. This alters the shape of the generation curve, generating energy earlier and later in the day. Smartflower with a smaller footprint manages this in an attractive and elegant way and due to the design further benefits are realised.

To quote Smartflower: “Thanks to the astronomical control system, the solar modular fan moves horizontally and vertically along with the sun’s position, even when it’s cloudy. This guarantees optimum alignment with the sun and an exact 90° angle – during the entire course of the day, even when the sun is low on the horizon in the winter. The result: despite the lower space requirement, up to 40 % more output when compared to that of a conventional rooftop system, which is only ideally positioned towards the sun for a few hours per year. And thanks to smart cooling and smart cleaning, common losses in output due to heat and contamination are prevented by up to 15%.”