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Final Report Report: Smart Grid Ready PV Inverters with Utility Communication

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1244268· OSTI ID:1244268
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [6];  [7];  [8]
  1. Electric Power Research Inst. (EPRI), Knovville, TN (United States); Electric Power Research Institute
  2. Electric Power Research Inst. (EPRI), Knovville, TN (United States)
  3. BPL Global, Inc., Canonsburg, PA (United States)
  4. Spirae, Inc., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
  5. Northern Plains Power Technologies, Brookings, SD (United States)
  6. DTE Energy, Detroit, MI (United States)
  7. National Grid, Warwick (United Kingdom)
  8. Pepco Holdings, Inc., Washington, DC (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

In 2011, EPRI began a four-year effort under the Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems - Advanced Concepts (SEGIS-AC) to demonstrate smart grid ready inverters with utility communication. The objective of the project was to successfully implement and demonstrate effective utilization of inverters with grid support functionality to capture the full value of distributed photovoltaic (PV). The project leveraged ongoing investments and expanded PV inverter capabilities, to enable grid operators to better utilize these grid assets. Developing and implementing key elements of PV inverter grid support capabilities will increase the distribution system’s capacity for higher penetration levels of PV, while reducing the cost. The project team included EPRI, Yaskawa-Solectria Solar, Spirae, BPL Global, DTE Energy, National Grid, Pepco, EDD, NPPT and NREL. The project was divided into three phases: development, deployment, and demonstration. Within each phase, the key areas included: head-end communications for Distributed Energy Resources (DER) at the utility operations center; methods for coordinating DER with existing distribution equipment; back-end PV plant master controller; and inverters with smart-grid functionality. Four demonstration sites were chosen in three regions of the United States with different types of utility operating systems and implementations of utility-scale PV inverters. This report summarizes the project and findings from field demonstration at three utility sites.

Research Organization:
Electric Power Research Institute, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)
DOE Contract Number:
EE0005337
OSTI ID:
1244268
Report Number(s):
DOE-EPRI--5337
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
DERMS
Grid Support
PV Invertration
Smart Inverter