Data logger in weather stations: Bulbe Energia uses FieldLogger in more than 30 photovoltaic plants

Posted on 27 de February de 202327 de February de 2023 by Roberta Roth

Bulbe Energia is one of the main suppliers of electric energy obtained from a clean source in Brazil. It operates in the distributed generation model. Nowadays, Minas Gerais, where the company was founded, is the state with the largest presence of sustainable energy generators in the country.

The weather stations, which provide guidance for the operation of the 30 Bulbe Energia plants, use NOVUS FieldLogger data logger to monitor and record variables. These variables are indispensable to ensure efficiency and effectiveness during the photovoltaic power generation process. Data obtained from pyranometers, thermocouples, anemometers, and weighing rain gauges are concentrated by FieldLogger. Then, they are sent via Modbus TCP to the local SCADA platform and the cloud.

The data collected, such as temperature and humidity, provide the information that allows the evaluation of the energy generation process through the photovoltaic solar panels. The variables indicate the actual generation capacity of each plate, allowing to monitor the efficiency of the plant and to make a comparative forecast using mathematical models. Thus, it is possible to obtain a predictive analysis of the capacity of the renewable source power plant and anticipate whether it will be necessary to supply customer demand from traditional distributors.

Felipe Gomes, senior digital strategy analyst at Bulbe Energia, recalls that the need to standardize devices in the generation units of the company brought FieldLogger as a solution for the weather station in the plants.

Renewable Energy in Brazil

In 2017, the distributed generation model had its first plants operating in Brazil. By 2022, Brazil was the 13th photovoltaic energy producer in the world. According to ANEEL, there are more than 1600 distributed energy generation units supplying a market with growing demand.

Today, Bulbe Energia operates with mini plants in the north of Minas Gerais state, in areas of approximately 8 hectares. In Brazil, there are 3 classifications for photovoltaic energy generation:

Below 75 kW – Microgeneration (residential);
75kW to 3 MW – Minigeneration (companies like Bulbe, with areas of 8 hectares);
Above 3 MW – Centralized generation.

About Bulbe Energia

Founded in 2017 and with the pilot project installed in 2019, Bulbe uses FieldLogger devices from NOVUS in its weather stations at photovoltaic power generation plants. The company invests in the construction, operation, and maintenance of solar photovoltaic plants with a distributed generation model. In the first half of 2022, the accumulated investment was R$ 97 million. The plan contemplates 30 more photovoltaic plants, which generate 200 GWh/year.

Today, there are more than 100,000 households connected to sustainable energy in a subscription format. The company emphasizes its purpose of sustainability by offsetting 12,000 tons of CO₂ per year. In addition, Bulbe Energia aims to be the largest sustainable energy generator in Minas Gerais.