LV Embedded Generation

Technical Considerations

and Standards

Dr Hendri
Geldenhuys

Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd

LV Technical Considerations

• Safety of Maintenance Staff

• LV Network Performance

(Focus on PV rooftop installations)

2
When the SUN shines…..

3
Things do go wrong………

4
Complex Engagement Triggered

Engineering
Commercial

Legal

5
 An Electrical Installation: SANS 10142-1

FA Fixed Appliance
DB Distribution Board FA FA FA FA
CG Control Gear
I Isolation point

CG CG CG CG

Solar
Main Panel
DB
Eskom DB
Meter
kiosk
DB

DB Inverter
 OSH Act Accountability

FA FA FA FA

CG CG CG CG

Solar
Utility

Panel
OSH Act Accountability Laid upon
Eskom DB
Main installation user or lessor
Meter I
DB
kiosk
DB

DB Inverter
Utility Approval……SANS 10142-1

Note 1 Requirements of the supplier

should be ascertained before a generating
set is installed in an installation
connected to the main supply of a
supplier.

Note 2 This part of SANS 10142 does not

cover the supply to and installation that
function in parallel with the main supply
(co-generation)
8
 National and Utility Standards
• Grid Connection Code for Renewable
Power Plants connected to electricity Tx or
Dx in SA. Nov 2012.
• NRS 097-2-1, NRS 097-2-2 and NRS 097-2-3
LV EG Requirements…Will become SANS
• SANS 10142-1 LV Wiring Code
• SANS 10142-3 LV Embedded Generator
Code
• SANS 10142-xx DC and PV Wiring Code
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 Current Requirements

FA FA FA FA
1) NRS 097-2 -1: Utility interface

SANS 10142-1
Installation”
CG CG CG CG
2) NRS 097-2-2 : Generator type testing
Solar

“The
Panel

3) NRS 097-2-3 : Capacity limits

DB
Eskom
MeterI
“The Installation”
Main
DB
kiosk
SANS 10142-1 DB
4) Eskom Safety Requirements
5) SANS 10142-1 DB Inverter
Short term: Signoff by Professional

FA FA FA FA

CG CG CG CG

Solar
Assurance of system
Utility

Panel
signed offDBby
Eskom
Main(suitably qualified and experienced)
Meter I
DB
kiosk PrEng or PrTech DB

DB Inverter
 Final Standardization State

FA SANS
FA XXX-X
FA FA

SANS 10142-xx
CG CG CG CG

Solar
Wiring of Premises: Panel

Eskom SANS 10142-1 DB

Main
Meter I
DB
kiosk
DB

SANs and
Wiring of EG DB Compulsory
Inverter
SANS 10142-3 Specs
 SANS 10142 Future State

FA SANS
FA XXX-X
FA FA

SANS 10142-4
CG CG CG CG

Assurance of system Panel

Solar

Eskom
signed off
DB by
Main Trained and Certified
Meter I
DB SANS 10142-1
kiosk
“Master Electrician” DB
Compulsory
SANS 10142-3 DB Inverter
Spec
Safety Requirement: Maintenance

Energizing networks backward while

maintenance work is underway:

Does our current WORK

PRACTICES ensure the
safety of workers in the
presence of EG?
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 LV Safe Work Practice
• Identify circuit

• Open circuit With NO EG:

• Isolate circuit
(remove source of
There is only one
energy) source of energy, and it
is effectively
• Tag circuit disconnected
• Lock out circuit
Additionally tests are
• Test at location done to serve as
• Work
redundant confirmation
of a safe work area.
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 Safety Requirement

FA Fixed Appliance
DB Distribution Board FA FA FA FA
CG Control Gear
I Isolation point
Feeders with single
“Prosumers” connected
CG CG CG CG

Solar
Panel

Eskom DB
Main
Meter
kiosk Feeders with many distributed
DB
DB
“Prosumers” per LV feeder
connected
DB Inverter
LV Safe Work Practice
EG Dilemma

With Embedded Generators

anywhere on a LV network:

How do you ensure that the

installation are safe and
remain safe while work is
undertaken
?
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 Utility LV Safe Work Practice
• Identify circuit EG Dilemma
• Open circuit
Can we execute all of
• Isolate circuit these steps in the
• Tag circuit
presence of an
Embedded Generator?
• Lock out circuit
In the case of a SINGLE
• Test at location
EG on a dedicated
• Work feeder:

“YES - we – can.”
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 Safety Requirement: Isolation Point

FA Fixed Appliance
DB Distribution Board FA FA FA FA
CG Control Gear
I Isolation point

CG CG CG CG

Solar
Panel

Eskom DB
I Main
Meter
DB
kiosk
DB

DB Inverter
 Utility LV Safe Work Practice
• Identify circuit EG Dilemma
• Open circuit
Can we execute all of
• Isolate circuit these steps in the
• Tag circuit
presence of an
Embedded Generator?
• Lock out circuit
In the case of
• Test at location
MULTIPLE EG on a
• Work shared feeder:

“NO –it is not practical”

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 Is this an impasse ?

Or is there a way in which

feeders with multi
customers can have
Embedded Generators
Egs ?
2015-03-03 21
 Equivalent Safety Provision?
Fundamental Requirements:

1.Automatic disconnection when utility power

drop away: Anti Islanding ( x2 different
detection methods- redundancy for Reliability)

2.It must be impossible to power up the EG

connection once the part of the network have
been tested and shown to be dead. Plus
Redundancy for Reliability.

3. “Robust” - proven. (Safety elements are

reliable over the entire life of the EG)
2015-03-03 22
 Guaranteed safe work:

• In order to work safe, workers needs

testers capable of detecting AC
and importantly also DC.

• Once testing confirms that the plant is not

live safe work can proceed.

The previous slide’s criteria will ensure that

the plant remain safe for the duration of the
work.

2015-03-03 23
 Inverter EG

POS

DB

POC
 Rotating Generator EG

POS

DB

POC
 geldenhj@eskom.co.za

2015-03-03 26