The first phase of R-evolution’s photovoltaic (PV) power production initiative is operational and growing! The solar park project portfolio kicked off with the acquisition of a 40-hectare site—equivalent to 60 football fields—in the south of Spain near Malaga, called Archidona. The site now hosts our first 8.24 MWp photovoltaic solar park, which contains 20,592 solar panels that convert the sun’s energy into clean electricity and connects to the grid.
We are now in the process of doubling the capacity to 16.44 MWp with a second park adjacent to the first. The total capacity is enough to power close to 6,000 households each year!
The completed solar park will include almost 40,000 bifacial (double-sided) panels mounted on horizontal axis trackers, which together enable energy absorption from both sides and automatic tracking of the sun to increase efficiency and output.
R-evolution will expand the park’s efficiency by putting data to work using Hexagon’s hardware and software monitoring solutions, including visualisation platforms and sensors. The technologies will combine to create a Smart Digital Reality of the entire solar park that can be remotely and autonomously monitored to detect solar panel anomalies, improve maintenance, aid inspections and more.
Solar energy is a high-growth sector with a lower cost of entry in recent years: the price of solar panels has fallen 70 per cent since 2017. Already today, solar power alone accounts for nearly 60 percent of the expected growth in renewables.
Major markets, such as the United States, China and the European Union are predicted to add an average of 125+ GW of capacity per year through 2025. Solar tech innovations will continue to drive down costs while improving efficiency, a trend forecasted to continue for the next decade. R-evolution will accelerate this trend by leveraging Hexagon’s solutions.
R-evolution’s photovoltaic (PV) project portfolio increases operational efficiency by creating and leveraging a Smart Digital Reality at every stage—from planning, designing, manufacturing, building, operating, and optimising solar energy production.
The solar park in Archidona, in the south of Spain near Malaga, relies on Hexagon’s broad range of digital solutions, including construction design tools, visualisation platforms and monitoring sensors and software. This combination creates a sustainable ecosystem that exemplifies the future of R-evolution.
These Hexagon innovations are already in place at the Archidona solar park:
Two Hexagon OxBlue professional construction cameras are deployed at the Archidona site. These highly accurate cameras capture the entire Archidona II building process with high-definition time-lapse technology and AI-powered image analysis. Running on solar power, the OxBlue cameras provide immediate access to geospatial data with an intuitive, responsive interface.
Hexagon’s Leica RTC360 reality capture laser scanners record even the smallest details in 3D for a complete digital twin representation of the module strings. Remarkably accurate and portable, these sophisticated scanners create a Smart Digital Reality of the site for use in ongoing construction, maintenance, and monitoring.
Hexagon’s Leica BLK247 smart 3D surveillance system accurately detects security breaches for to power block and constor center of the park. The system’s world-leading sensor fusion technology ensures immediate and relevant notifications. For example, LiDAR with 360- by 270-degree coverage constantly scans our designated areas with real-time 3D change detection. A twin video camera system with onboard video sequence recording visually monitors the area, and four thermal cameras check for temperature changes. Together, this revolutionary surveillance system guards the space with unprecedented accuracy. At the same time, it reduces the occurrence of false alarms and saves time investigating harmless changes that would trigger less sophisticated systems.
Hexagon’s Leica BLK2GO is a handheld imaging laser scanner that creates a 3D digital twin while you walk through a space. It’s the fastest and easiest way to scan a large building, structure or environment. This cutting-edge technology uses real-time LiDAR scanning and SLAM tracking for mobile mapping of 3D spaces. While you walk, the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) senses your movement to calculate the BLK2GO’s change of position in 3D space.
Hexagon’s HXDR cloud-based visualisation and collaboration platform provides a view of the Archidona site and terrain in the context of the real world. The detailed model is placed within an accurate 3D map of its precise geographic location, including access to the HxGN Content Program’s temporally consistent, high-resolution aerial imagery and elevation data. This highly detailed geospatial context promotes optimal insight and planning at the site.
Hexagon’s Cradle CFD technology leverages design and simulation in real time. This software optimises thermal and fluid performance on the solar plant, simulate wind, thermal and energy usage, and support weather forecasting for accurate spot price trading.
R-evolution is leveraging Google Cloud to develop a global blueprint that decreases green premiums (the difference in cost between a product that involves emitting carbon and an alternative that doesn't) and accelerates the renewable energy transition.
Hexagon’s sensor and software digital reality solutions are underpinned by its technology platform, Xalt. Xalt enables all solutions to work seamlessly together, providing an integrated data flow from Hexagon’s sensors and other input sources to present analysed data in a single interface. A missing ingredient was the ability to process large amounts of real-time and historical data with more artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) capabilities and a simple framework that allows quick innovation, now made possible via BigLake. Through the partnership with Google Cloud, BigLake can help more easily scale additional use cases, such energy forecasting or anomaly detection, now available at R-evolution’s solar park in Spain. See Google Cloud R-evolution case study.
To learn more about R-evolution's work in green-tech innovations, visit https://r-evolution.com/r-projects.
