Sunny February
At Autarco, we continuously monitor solar irradiation levels for locations where our PV systems are installed. By doing so, we are able to analyze whether the yields of these systems are as expected and all components work as they should. The collected data leads to interesting results when comparing one year with another or looking for differences between various locations around the globe.
It’s not uncommon that a months irradiation levels may change from year to year by up to 20%. This is one more reason an intelligent monitoring system that tracks your systems actual performance against actual weather conditions is so important.
See how Autarco can offer you this here.
Last winter was quite dark...
For example in the Netherlands, irradiance levels last December and January have been lower than the long term average. On top of that, snowfall led to small decreases in yield, mostly for flat-roof systems. However, since average yields in these winter months account for only a small part of the yearly total, the impact of an incidental snow cover is minimal. The Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI) measured that the number of sun hours in December and January were both far below average, this had a big influence on irradiation levels in this period, as we saw in our satellite data as well. The winter months were truly dark this year!
... but February made up for it!
Fortunately, February 2018 showed an entirely different image. Sun hours are far above average values, even so that it is the second highest number since the KNMI start monitoring these data back in 1909. On our satellite data we see this resulting in irradiation levels that are indeed above average, up to 30%, depending on the location within the Netherlands. Together with the low temperatures and the days lengthening again, this boosts the overall performance of PV systems, resulting in good yields for this time of the year.
Clean2Antarctica
Zero-waste expedition to the South pole.
Autarco is powering the Solar Voyager vehicle in the cleanest expedition ever, Clean2Antarctica. Dutch explorer Edwin ter Velde is planning to complete the worlds first ever energy neutral and zero-waste expidition to the South Pole.
Read more about his mission here www.clean2antarctica.com
The last unspoiled continent.
The South Pole is located on the Antarctic. This is the last untouched continent of the world. The Antarctic is not owned by anyone. Luckily the Antarctic Convention is in place. Military missions should not be carried out, no raw materials should be mined and nobody should leave waste behind. How swell is that! That is what the whole world needs. And that is possible, if we collaborate genuinely. We, at Autarco, want to be part of this journey, to help our next generation.
Why is there the need to go to the Antarctic, the cleanest continent in the world? With this clean expedition, it will draw attention to the Antarctic Convention, which is to be extended in 2048 so that’ the thermostat of the world’ is preserved for future generations.
A clean earth and a climate that ensures that the earth is and remains more live-able for the next generations to come. That is why it is necessary to deal with mother nature more sensibly. Nature is cyclical and change is the only constant. And needs to STOP! We need to stop burning raw materials as once they disappear, they never come back as a raw material, never ever again.
A vehicle made from waste.
The Clean2Autartica team wants to drive up and down 2300km to the South Pole with a 100% Autarco solar-powered vehicle, autonomously without outside help. The car is built from waste material like plastic in co-creation, with individuals, government, business and youngsters who use their ideas and creativity to shape the future! It will prove that it is possible to build a car with combined knowledge, purely on solar energy and through clean technology. This first solar expedition team is therefore determined to be the cleanest expedition ever! No waste, no emission! You have to follow your dreams, dare to simply do it. We, Autarco, strongly believe in this philosophy and therefore support this expedition wholeheartedly.
Autarco named in top 3 innovative businesses
Anne-Marie Rakhorst is a successful entrepreneur and a much sought-after speaker on sustainability. In the program Booming Brabant she pronounces her personal top 3 of most innovative Brabant companies, including Autarco because of the ‘real demand-driven solution they offer’.
The importance of the kWh guarantee
Roel van den Berg, our CEO, explains his vision on the solar market and why a guaranteed output of PV systems is so important for installers and owners. This interview was broadcast on a special on sustainable energy on Dutch television.