UT-Austin solar monitoring station |
Project Objectives
The objective of this project is to verify and demonstrate existing and new high-penetration level photovoltaics in the distribution grid while emphasizing current technological issues. The ideas and components developed will be mass manufactured to generate employment opportunities.
The project will test the existing PV power conditioners made by commercial companies such as Enphase Energy, SMA America, Xantrex, and the prototype power conditioners developed by Virginia Tech. Cost effectiveness of these power conditioners and other possible configurations will be evaluated for high-penetration PV systems. The current problems associated with distributed generation will be monitored such as voltage regulation, reverse power flow, unintentional islanding, false inverter trips, reactive power control, fault contribution, protection, communications, and intentional islanding operation. After evaluating the cost effectiveness, control, communication methods, and performance of different power conditioners, Virginia Tech will develop the technology for the most feasible PV system and transfer the technology to its partners so they can manufacture the field test prototypes. These prototypes will be certified for manufacturing and for field testing.
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