The ProFoto project aims at installing comparative photovoltaic test panels on the terrain of the University College West-Flanders (Howest) in Courtrai and on the roof of the incubator on the Greenbridge science park (Ghent University) in Ostend. Each technology will be displayed at approx. 10m² i.e. approx. 500 Wp.

The development of the PV technology doesn’t stand still and PV installations are more and more being implemented as an alternative energy source. New generations of solar cells can generate a higher energy efficiency and comparative systems are becoming vital. By building demonstration and test sites at several locations, the different technologies can be studied in their actual behaviour in realistic situations and under similar conditions. Both the influence of the weather conditions (sunshine hours, wind, temperature, positioning of the solar panels, etc.) as the influence of the network quality (power outage, voltage distortion, parallel operation, etc.) are being investigated. Moreover, the impact of the widespread use of PV installations on the quality of the power supply and the stability of the grid-connected invertors is being studied.

The final objective of the ProFoto project is to develop a software tool that infers from different case studies the best choice of PV system, the grid-connected invertor included. The tool responds to the selection of the best available technique (BAT) for the software also checks the economical feasibility of various installations and takes the subsidy channels and green energy certificates into consideration.