IEA PVPS

International Energy Agency

Implementing Agreement on Photovoltaic Power Systems

Task V
Grid Interconnection of Building Integrated
and Other Dispersed Photovoltaic Power Systems

Report IEA PVPS T5-01:1998

UTILITY ASPECTS OF GRID CONNECTED

PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS

December 1998

Prepared by:
Bas Verhoeven
KEMA Nederland B.V.
Utrechtseweg 310, P.O.box 9035
6800 ET, Arnhem, The Netherlands
email : s.a.m.verhoeven@kema.nl

To obtain additional copies of this report or information on other

IEA-PVPS publications, contact the IEA website: http://www.iea.org
Utility Aspects of Grid Connected Photovoltaic Power Systems Page 14-119

14. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The conclusions and recommendations of the individual subjects are given at the end of
each chapter.

Table 1 shows an overview of the subjects that can be categorised as “solved”. For these
subjects the number of remaining technical questions is (nearly) zero. Some of the subjects
grouped in the column “solved” may however still be under discussion in some countries. For
those situations the information provided in this report may be used as an international
reference.

Table 1 Overview of the technical status of the subject described in this report
“Solved” Need for further research
· Harmonics for single inverter · Harmonics with multiple inverters
· AC Modules · Effects on power network with multiple
inverters
· Grounding and ground fault detection of
PV-systems · Islanding of inverters in a part of the
network
· Lightning induced overvoltages
· EMI of inverters
· Reclosing
· External disconnect
· Isolation transformer and DC-injection

From the table it must be concluded that the issue of multiple PV-inverters is the main
unresolved subject. It is advised to continue to study the behaviour of multiple inverters and
the effects of high penetration levels of PV-systems in a relatively small electrical network,
for example a residential area. The need for this research is clearly identified in almost all
Task V participating countries. Examples can be found in the Olympic village in Australia, the
village S• ringen in Denmark and a residential area with 1 MW in the Netherlands.

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17. ANNEX B SYSTEM GROUNDING SUMMARY

The requirements for grounding of PV system components and PV systems are often the least understood design parameter in the system. PV Systems may be required to be grounded, double insulated, or may not
require a system ground. The rules for grounding may depend on system size or categories of installations, such as low voltage, self contained, or utility-tied. The following lists the requirements for grounding of PV
systems in eight participating IEA countries.

Topic Requirement or Comment By Country

Australia Austria Germany Italy Japan Netherlands Switzerland United Kingdom United States
PV Array Grounding Equipment Recommended Recommended Equipment Equipment Equipment Equipment Required Equipment
Requirements (Conductive Ground for lightning, for Lightning. Ground Ground Ground Ground (IEE Regulations Ground
Frame) Required Prohibited for Prohibited for Required Required Required Required BS7430) Required
certain Certain CEI-ETD Note: PME NEC
protection protection Earth Should not
classes classes be taken outside
DE- VDE0100 of Building
Part 712 Draft
PV Source Circuit Grounding Ground Not Depends on Depends on No Requirement No Grounding Not required, Grounding Not Grounding Not Grounding
Requirements Required earthing and earthing and for Grounding Requirement normal practice Specified Specified Required for
isolation isolation is to have >50V
transformer transformer floating DC
circuit
Batteries Associated with PV No Grounding None Grounding Not None No Grounding Grounding Not Grounding Not Grounding Not Grounding is
Array requirements if Required Requirements Required Specified Specified Required where
Grounding Requirements fuse in both + non-qualified
and earth personnel have
connections access for >50V.
Conductive Battery Support None Required Grounding Grounding None Grounding Grounding Grounding Grounding
Structure Ground Requirements Required Required Required Required Required Required
Inverter with Conductive case, Case Grounding Depends on Depends on Case Grounding Case Grounding Metal case must Grounding Grounding Case Grounding
Grounding Requirement Required) protection class protection class Required - Required be grounded. Required Required - Required
Inverter Active Circuit Neutral Depends on Depends on Active Circuit - Active Circuit Not required, Grounding Not Grounding Not Active circuit
Conductors Grounded system earthing & No Requirement No Grounding normal practice Specified Specified Grounding
(MEN System configuration isolation Required is floating DC Required for
transformer >50V
Are Center-Tapped DC Systems Yes Not discussed Yes Yes Not Decided Yes Yes Yes Yes
Allowed
Are High Resistance Grounds Not Generally No No, (Not Yes No ( In No Yes Yes, Earth Yes
Allowed mentioned) Principle) leakage
detection
required

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System Grounding Summary (Continued)

Topic Requirement or Comment By Country

Australia Austria Germany Italy Japan Netherlands Switzerland United Kingdom United States
DC/AC Ground Intertie (Bond) Not Specified Yes Depends on Not Decided Not specified Not Specified Not Specified Required
Grounding Requirements earthing system
but varies from
isolation to bond.
Are Ground Fault Detectors No, but generally No No, but generally Yes Yes, for DC- No Not Specified Yes, for
Required on DC Circuits used on large used on MV voltage > 120 systems
systems systems mounted on
dwellings
Are Ground Fault Detectors Yes No No Yes Yes No Not Mandatory Yes, Yes
Required on AC Circuits Requirement is
for
Disconnection
Times to be Met
Are DC-Side Transient Not Specified Yes, Class C No, but No, but used by Yes Recommended Yes Not Specified No, but
Suppressers Required recommended ENEL General Practice generally used
to Include
Are AC -Side Transient No No No Yes Yes No Yes Not Specified No, but usually
Suppressers Required used
Is Charge Controller/System Not Mentioned Depends on Not Mentioned Required Not mentioned Not Specified Not Specified Required with
Controller Grounding Required system. Usually exceptions for
No current limited
systems and for
systems >50V.

Comments

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PV Array
PV Arrays may be ground-mounted, roof-mounted or become part of a building as a facade or awning. This table addresses the wiring and grounding requirements for the PV array installation.

Topic Requirement or Comment By Country

Australia Austria Germany Italy Japan Netherlands Switzerland United Kingdom United States
PV Source Circuit Grounding No grounding Depends on Depends on No grounding No grounding No grounding No grounding Grounding
Requirements requirements earthing system Earthing System requirements requirements requirements requirements Required
Grounding may
be a resistance
ground
Metal Frame Yes Grounding Grounding Yes, Using Required Yes Yes Required
Grounding/Bonding generally generally standardized
recommended. recommended. components
Prohibited with Prohibited with
certain certain
protection protection
Frameless or Non-conductor Not Regulated Not regulated. Not Regulated. None Not Mentioned Not regulated None Metal structure
frame Module Requirements Class II Class II must be
suggested suggested grounded.
Blocking Diode Requirements None Required. May Required. May None, but Required None None Not Required.
be omitted with be Omitted with practiced by (Possible to
Class II modules Class II modules. ENEL Remove)
Bypass Diode Requirements General Practice According to According to General Practice Required None General Practice. Not Required
Manufacturer Manufacturer (Possible to (Module
specifications. Specs Remove) supplier
requirement)
Allowable Open Circuit Voltage Not Specified Not discussed. 1500V. 120 V 600V for LV 750 V (JIS deals Max 1500 Vdc Depends on 600 Volts for
for Array Depends on for Class III 50V for passive only with under according to IEC Product One and Two-
Module Systems.(Vdc 0- safety 750V dc 364 Specification family dwellings.
Specification 100) Voltage) other systems
(usually 600V) limited to 1000V
listing limit.
Wire Insulation Types Allowed Must pass Not Specified, Not Specified, Certified IV (Poly-vinyl) Cables must be Not Specifically, Types USE, UF,
compliance tests but cables must but cables must CT (Rubber) suitable for but cables must SE permitted.
for UV, heat etc. withstand withstand CV-CE application. withstand Where exposed
expected expected (Polyethylene) Double expected to sunlight, USE,
ambient and ambient insulation ambient UF, or others
outdoor conditions conditions listed & marked
conditions sunlight resistant

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PV Array (Continued)

Topic Requirement or Comment By Country

Australia Austria Germany Italy Japan Netherlands Switzerland United Kingdom United States
Wiring Types Allowed No Restrictions No Restrictions. Stranded Wire No Restrictions Not Mentioned Stranded copper No Restrictions Stranded Wire
(Stranded/Solid Conductor) Usually stranded wires are
(Copper/ Aluminum wire. preferred
Rules for Protecting Wiring Conduits not Not Strictly Prevention of Not Mentioned Not Strictly Flexible Cords
Insulation. Is Conduit mandatory, Regulated Electrical Shock Yes, sunlight Regulated and Cables
Required? Are PV Array however resistant allowed on PV
Raceways Allowed? Sunlight mechanical required array where
Resistant Insulation Required? protection is water and
preferred. sunlight
Sunlight resistant.
Resistant
required
Color Codes Allowed on PV + Red + Red + Red Normally black + Red + Red
array Interconnect Wiring. - Black - Blue - Blue - Blue - Black
Preferred but Not strictly Ground Green
other colors regulated. or Bare Wire
permitted
Junction Boxes and Module None J-boxes J-boxes Standard per Water Proof according to IP- J Boxes NEMA rated for
Interconnect Requirements according to IEC According to IEC1245 classification According to appropriate
IEC 439-1 IEC 439-1 locations
What are the Fusing Not required but Usually string None Not Required String fusing Individual array Individual array
Requirements for the PV array currently under fuses used. required when strings must be strings must be
review more than 2 fused. fused.
strings are
paralleled
Visible Disconnect None Required Required None, but this is Not Required Required Visible Visible
Requirements between the between the ENEL’s practice between array disconnect disconnect
array and array and and inverter required with required with
inverter inverter lockout lockout
capability when capability when
not collocated not collocated
with PV with PV
Lightning Protection Not required, but Not mandatory. Not Mandatory. None, but Required Advised for Not Required Not Required
Requirements generally used. If used, there are If used, there are ENEL’s larger systems at but normally but normally
guidelines. guidelines protections DC side used. used.

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Utility-Interactive (U-I) Inverters in PV Systems

Topic Requirement or Comment By Country

Australia Austria Germany Italy Japan Netherlands Switzerland United Kingdom United States
Are U-I Inverters categorized Yes No No Line Yes No No Yes, Distinction Self
Commutated between Line Commutated
Commutated and Line
Line Commutated
Synchronized in Transformerless.
G5911 Inverters must be
identified for use
in PV systems
Must U-I inverters be certified Yes, but no No No Yes Yes No, but advised Soon No Overall Yes. Listed is
certification . AC-Modules Certification but the general
Must conform to must must conform to certification.
individual individual
standards. standards
Must U-I inverters be protected Yes Usually yes Yes Yes Yes Yes, according Yes Yes, EMC Rules Yes
against transients to standard
EMC-CE
Are dc voltages limited Limited to Battery voltage To 1500 V; NO Yes (Based on max. 1500Vdc = No Yes, ICE Yes (600 V for
associated <120V (series Lower values for insulation IEC 364. Regulations. inverters used in
equipment connection of class III (120 V) requirements 120V dc for residential
insulation class cells) SELV applications.
1500V dc for System Voltage
Low Voltage is used as the
limit.
Is dc transient protection No, but No, but No, but No. This is Yes No, Yes No, But No
required recommended recommended recommended ENEL’s practice recommended Recommended
Must dc circuit be grounded No, but depends No, Depends on No, Depends on No No No No No Yes
on protection protection protection
and earthing measured and measured and
earthing earthing
Must ac circuit be grounded Yes Depends on Depends on Yes No No Yes Yes (PME Yes
local premise local premise Neutral and
wiring wiring Earthed)

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Utility-Interactive Inverters in PV Systems (Continued)

Topic Requirement or Comment By Country

Australia Austria Germany Italy Japan Netherlands Switzerland United Kingdom United States
How is dc/ac ground handled If DC system is If grounding If grounding DC system Bounded to If grounding Bonded Bonded to
floating, only PV exists, both shall exists, both shall floating; SC ground exists, both shall neutral when
frame bonded. be bonded be bonded support structure be bonded available.
If DC earthed, and ac grounded Bonded to
bond between ac ground where no
and dc required. neutral
List Required Set points and 120 Vdc No requirements No Maximum Depends on 120 Vdc No 120Vdc limit for
Thresholds for dc specified Requirements. allowed by Measuring according to IEC Requirements. SELV
Only 120V limit inverters or System 364 Only 120V limit
for Class III appliances for Class III
List Required Set points and 240V +/- 6% No requirements No Vnom + 10% 5 ~ 30 ma (0.1 ~ 230 -10% +6% 230/400 +10%, -6% on Nominal + 10%
Thresholds for ac specified Requirements 2 sec) +6, -10% 230V and +6,-13% are
Specified 50 ~ 100 ma +1, -1 frequency used.
(0.1 sec) operating
envelope
Are isolation transformers No, but dc Generally No. Generally No. Only for single- Yes (In No No No, but dc No, but dc
required injection shall Only for certain Only for certain phase connect Principle) injection shall injection shall
not occur protection protection not occur not occur
measures. measures.
Are internal over/under Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes, (Preferably Yes
voltage/frequency features sealed)
allowed
Are external over/under Yes, Unless No or for No Yes Yes No Yes Yes, Electricity No except some
volt/frequency relays required inverter is tested example “ENS” companies utilities may
and complies discretion if can impose such a
with guidelines be combined requirement

Comments

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Disconnects in PV Systems

Topic Requirement or Comment By Country

Australia Austria Germany Italy Japan Netherlands Switzerland United Kingdom United States
Where in the PV system are Not Specified on Between the Between the At the dc/ac Visible Between array Dc to Inverter Not Specified, Readily
visible disconnects required dc. AC must Array and the Array and the switch Disconnects Not and inverter and Inverter to AC but good accessible.
have labeled Inverter Inverter Required but Inverter and practice Visible
disconnection disconnectors array disconnects must
point. are required for (different for AC be grouped and
ac and dc Modules) identified when
terminals more than one
source is
available.
Is Neutral disconnected with No center- No No N/A No Center No No Not Specified No
center tapped systems tapped systems Tapped Systems
Are disconnects required on all Not specified Yes Yes Yes Yes, in nearly all Yes Not Specified Yes
conductors in ungrounded
systems
What disconnects are required DC not Load Break Load Break ac side, (ELB) Not Specified Not Specified Under
in ground fault circuits mentioned. Capabilities Capabilities Not Mentioned consideration.
AC (RCD) (dc side) Normally the
array is opened
or short-
circuited.
Must dc disconnect be rated to Yes Yes Yes Yes Not mentioned Yes Yes Not Specified No. When the
break under load but usually rated disconnect
to break load cannot be
operated under
load.
Are solid-state disconnects No No No No No (ac side) No No No, (AC side) No
allowed Not Mentioned
(dc side)
Are array disable switches or No Yes No Yes Not Mentioned No No Not Specified, No, but good
relays required for fire safety but good engineering
practice practice.

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Thresholds, Protective Devices and Circuits Required in PV Systems

Topic Requirement or Comment By Country

Australia Austria Germany Italy Japan Netherlands Switzerland United Kingdom United States
DC GFI Requirements Not Specified Not Regulated Any Not Regulated Not Specified 30 ma
Requirements
AC GFI Requirements 30 ma Not Regulated Yes Not Regulated 30 ma domestic 5 ma
Max DC Voltage 120V, 1500V 120V, 1500V LV limit of 600 750V for low 120,1500 Vdc 120V, 1500V 120V, 1500V 600 for
Vdc voltage class residential
Max AC Voltage 415 V, 3-Phase Not Regulated Not Regulated LV limit of 1000 600 V for low 230/415 Open 415 V, 3-Phase 600 for
Vdc voltage class residential
Max Ground Resistance Not Specified Not Regulated Not Regulated Any 100 ohms (in No regulated According to Designed to Variable, but
Requirements case of installing IEC1216 meet ICE often less than 3
ELB, 500 ohms disconnection ohms.
times
Islanding Detect Requirements Yes, Passive and Required Can Replace Required Yes, Not Required Required by Under
Active Detect external 9591 discussion.
disconnect Generally
required by
utilities
Passive Allowed or U/O Voltage Min/Max Required Only voltage and Required Min/Max Voltage and/or
Required U/O Frequency Voltage and frequency Voltage and frequency
frequency window Frequency
Negative
frequency shift
is advised
Active Allowed or At least two 3-phase UV 3-phase UV Required No Not Required Loss of Mains Non at this time
Required active methods relay or ENS relay or ENS EG ROCOF
required.
Method not
specified.

Report IEA-PVPS T5-01:1998