Project Manager: Sylvain Martel

CANMET Energy Technology Centre - Varennes

Introduction
In response to the increasing popularity of distributed generation systems, CANMET Energy Technology Centre –
Varennes, in partnership with key industry players and associations, has undertaken a number of activities in the
area of interconnection in order to avoid multiplication of regional or excessive requirements across the country.
Such grid interconnection issues were addressed over the last few years through the development of electrical
interconnection standards, the conduct of research and demonstrations addressing concerns of the industry and the
implementation of changes in the Canadian Electrical Code.

Activities & Results

Over the entire four year, this project has addressed the need to build a consensus on requirements for DER
interconnection to the grid in Canada as well as participate in the development of international interconnection
standards. This project also supported research and demonstration addressing specific issues faced by the industry,
supported desired changes to the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) and provided input to the related standards
projects such as the utility-led IEC TC8. (International Electrotechnical Commission, Technical Committee 8 is
responsible for reliability standards under a deregulated electricity market.) and the IEEE 1547 series.

On the Canadian scene, activities of the DER Interconnection Standards and Code Project were coordinated with
CSA’s committees SCORES and SCOPE. The Steering Committee On Requirements for Electrical Safety
(SCORES) oversees activities pertaining to installation of systems under 600V in buildings and is involved in
activities relating to changes with the Canadian Electrical Code and the adoption of standards for systems up 600V;
while the Steering Committee On Power Engineering (SCOPE) covers utility standards and is involved in the
standards activities that relate to larger scale DER.

Highlights of major activities that produced 18 public reports, papers and standards to date include:

- Selected research and test activities: Support to the development of standards was provided through
various research, test and demonstration activities on contentious issues such as islanding detection and
power quality. The results of these targeted activities helped to demonstrate that relatively simple and
inexpensive solutions have proved to be practical and can be implemented in standards. [1] [5] [13] [14]
[15] [16] [17] [18]

- National standards for interconnection of DER: In collaboration with CSA, a consensus standard for the
interconnection of static inverter-based DG system has been developed and published as a National
Standard of Canada. This used the MicroPower-Connect Guideline as a seed document. Support to the
development of a second national standard on the interconnection of DER larger than 600V and/or non-
inverter based, up to 10MVA capacity, was also provided. [2] [4] [8] [9] [10] [11] [19]

- Upgrade to the Canadian Electrical Code: Amendments to the CE Code were put forth and implemented
in the 2006 Edition to effectively consider the safety of DG installation below 600 volts, particularly
Section 84 on Interconnection of Electric Power Production Sources which underwent a complete rewrite: a
major improvement for inverter-based DER systems. [7]

- Support to the development of harmonized international interconnection requirements: The project

team participated in the review of IEEE 1547 series of standard on the Interconnection of Distributed
Resources with Electric Power Systems (interconnection of DER units up to 10MVA), and the review
undertaken by the International Electrotechnical Committee 8 (IEC TC8) "System Aspects of Electrical
Energy Supply". [3] [6] [12]
Discussion and Next Steps
This project focused on eliminating a number of barriers to the implementation of DER across Canada. Much
progress was made over the last few years in that respect, especially with the development of the national standards,
however the application of these standards, Code rules and innovative solution need be supported over time and
additional improvements will need to be made to these various references. Moreover, standards on specific topics
are currently being developed with IEEE and Canada would benefit from a sustained participation on these
committees. At higher level, international (IEC) documents are subject to much slower progress due to their
consensus nature; therefore additional efforts need to be maintained in this area in order to ensure that Canada and
North America in general will not be penalized vis-à-vis the international community.

Budget

External
T&I Other Federal Leverage
In-kind Cash
$1,083 K - $165 K - 41%

Project Team
- Sylvain Martel – CETC-Varennes, Natural Resources Canada,
- Joseph Neu – Electro-Federation Canada,
- John O’Neil, Mike Henville – Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
- Geza Joos – Mc Gill University
- Wilsun Xu – U of Alberta
- Konrad Mauch – Konrad Mauch Technical Services
- Ark Tsisserev – CE Code Part 1 Chair
- Sean whittaker - CANWEA
- Members of IEC TC 8 “System Aspects of Electrical Energy Supply”
- Members of IEC TC8/CSC (Canadian Sub-Committee to IEC TC 8)
- Members of IEC TC8/CSC/TSC (Technical Sub Committee)
- Members of CE Code Section 50 Committee “Photovoltaic Systems”
- Members of Alberta Micropower Generation Task Force
- Members of CSA C22.2 No. 107.1 “ General Use Power Supply”
- Members of SCOPE (CSA Steering Committee on Power Engineering)
- Members of SCORES (CSA Steering Committee on Requirements for Electrical Safety)
- Members of IEEE 1547 Standards series Committees

References & Publications

[1]. W. Xu, K. Mauch, S. Martel, “An Assessment of Distributed Generation Islanding detection Methods
and Issues for Canada”, CETC-V 2004-074(TR), July 2004.
[2]. G. Joos, “An Overview of Wind Interconnection in Canada”, CETC-V 2004-199 (OP-J), CANWEA
Conference, Toronto, July 2004.
[3]. G Joos, “Review of Grid Codes”, CETC-V 2004-153 (OP-J), First IRED Conference, Brussel,
October 2004.
[4]. Assessment of on Farm Anaerobic Digester Grid Interconnection, Wayne R. Ruhnke, CETC 2007-
024 (TR), March 2005. (English and French)
[5]. Review of Current Knowledge on the Impact of Typical Loads on the Electrical Grid, KEMA
Consulting”, CETC-V 2005-086 (TR) March 2005.
[6]. IEEE 1547.1, Standard for Conformance Test Procedures for Equipment Interconnecting Distributed
Resources with Electric Power Systems, IEEE, July 2005.
[7]. Canadian Electrical Code - Part I, 2006 Edition (C22.1-06), Section 50 and Section 84, CSA
Technical Sub-Committees, January 2006.
[8]. Interconnecting Inverter-based Micro-distributed Resources to Distribution Systems – CAN/CSA-
C22.2 No. 257-06 – CSA Technical Committee 2301, March 2006. (English and French)
[9]. M. Leblanc, L. Evans, P. Gardner & N. Scott, Canadian Grid Code for Wind Development – Review
and Recommendations, CETC-V 2006-075 (TR), April 2006.
[10]. S. Martel, J. Neu, Connecting MicroPower to the Grid – A Status and Review of Micropower
Interconnection Issues and Related Codes, Standards and Guidelines in Canada – Second Edition,
CETC-V 2006-073 (TR), April 2006.
[11]. CSA C22.3 No. 9 Interconnection of Distributed Resources with Electricity Supply Systems –
(Public review Draft), CSA Technical Sub-Committees, May 2006.
[12]. IEEE.P1547.4 Draft Guide for Design, Operation and Integration of Distributed Resources Island
Systems with Electric Power Systems (D2.1), IEEE, May 2007.
[13]. W. Freitas, W. Xu, Z. Huang and J. C. M. Vieira, “Characteristics of Vector Surge Relays for
Distributed Synchronous Generator Protection,” Electric Power Systems Research, Vol. 77, No. 2,
pp. 170-180, 2007.
[14]. X. Wang, W. Freitas, W. Xu and V. Dinavahi, “Impact of interface controls on the steady-state
stability of inverter-based distributed generators,” in Proc. IEEE Power Eng. Soc. General Meeting,
Tampa, USA, June 2007, pp. 1-4.
[15]. X. Wang, W. Freitas and W. Xu, “Comparison of frequency-based positive feedback anti-islanding
methods for inverter-based distributed generators,” in Proc. CIGRÉ Canada 2007 Conf. on Power
Sys., Calgary, Canada, Aug. 2007, Document 439.
[16]. X. Wang, W. Freitas, W. Xu and V. Dinavahi, “Impact of DG interface controls on the Sandia
Frequency Shift anti-islanding method,” IEEE Trans. Energy Conversion, vol. 22, no. 3, pp.792-794,
Sept. 2007.
[17]. A. Foss, Grid Connection Commissioning of 180 kW Biogas Generator at Terryland Farm, CETC-V
2007-161 (TR), September, 2007.
[18]. F. Katiraei; A. Foss; C. Abbey; B. Strehler, Dynamic Analysis and Field Verification of an
Innovative Anti-Islanding Protection Scheme Based on Directional Reactive Power Detection,
CETC-V 2007-160 (OP-J), IEEE PES Electrical Power Conference 2007, October 2007.
[19]. S. Martel, D. Turcotte, Review of Distributed Generation Product and Interconnection Standards for
Canada, CETC-V 2007-172 (OP-J), IEEE PES Electrical Power Conference 2007, October 2007.

Figure 1 – Scope of various Canadian interconnection standards

and the equivalent international references.
 Figure 2 – IREQ’s medium voltage test facility
Photo Credit: IREQ

Figure 3 - Innovative anti-islanding protection scheme

based on directional reactive power detection at Terryland Farm, Ontario