Industry 4.0 approach aligned with the challenges of grid-connected photovoltaic systems

Technological innovations applied to photovoltaic (PV) energy are important for improving the process of conversion and management of energy, being one of the renewable energies challenges. In this occasion, the phenomenon called Industry 4.0 encourages new concepts and methods of work for several areas integrating automation systems, cyber-physical systems, and the internet, facilitating innovations, such as using smarts grids. Thus, this paper aims to show the challenges for PV systems and brings the union of possible solutions applied in a photovoltaic plant with an approach to Industry 4.0. To do so was analyzed the main challenges for each component and proposed a PV system in software PV*SOL with power optimizers, inverter, and PV modules cleaning system. Subsequently, the proposed system is compared with other scenarios. An analysis was made in different soiling losses in PV modules, i.e., situations without the PV cleaning system, and tested the application of Industry 4.0 elements in conventional systems with and without solar trackers. As a result, the proposed scenario generated more energy than the conventional PV system. In situations, without carrying out cleaning in the PV modules the power generation was lower, even with a better global optimization performance due to the power optimizers that mitigates part of the energy losses. Therefore, Industry 4.0 can provide connectivity, visibility, predictability, and adaptability improving better control over the variables involved in PV systems.