TRAINING

COURSE
VOL . 3
VOL. III: ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION – MANAGEMENT MODELS
 2-3 6
PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATION
THE PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATION FOR SELF-CONSUMPTION WITH
ACCUMULATION

IPHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATION
FOR DIRECT SELF-CONSUMPTION
WITHOUT ACCUMULATION
4 EQUIPMENT THAT MAKES UP A
PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATION 7-8

PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATION
FOR SUPPLYING THE NATIONAL
GRID
5

www.onyxsolar.com

Welcome to Onyx Solar training course.

The aim of the following three volumes that comprise this training course is to show, in a didactic way, how Onyx Solar’s photo-
voltaic integration solutions operate. These solutions have been developed as a result of Onyx Solar’s research and experience,
which make us unique in the Building Integrated Photovoltaics market, known as BIPV, as we will call it from now on. Our inten-
tion is to transfer this knowledge in a clear and precise manner by providing answers to the most frequently asked questions on
BIPV, from the most basic to the most complex.

The objective is that after this training, your sales and technical teams will be able to understand the photovoltaic constructive During this training course, reference will be made on several occasions to the section on our website called RESOURCES,
solutions developed by Onyx Solar. Therefore, we are offering you all our support so that you quickly achieve success in the since it provides all the information needed to understand the Building Integrated Photovoltaics or BIPV concept through tech-
introduction and sale of the product. You will agree that, before marketing any product or technology, it is essential to under- nical guides and examples of some installations carried out by Onyx Solar that are used as a reference.
stand how it works, its characteristics and the value proposition for its market.

www.onyxsolar.com

Turn Key installation completed by Onyx Solar
for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation´s
headquarters in New Jersey, United States.
THE PHOTOVOLTAIC
INSTALLATION
In this volume we will talk about the photovoltaic installation, the different parts of an installation,
minimum technical requirements, management models with and without accumulation, and we
will show images taken of the installation of a photovoltaic façade.
Onyx Solar’s solutions enable the on-site
generation of electricity through the complete
integration of photovoltaic installations in the
construction. These installations are capable
of supplying a building with free and clean
electricity from the sun without breaking
the architectural equilibrium by achieving a
good integration and optimal operation of
the installation. For this, it is key having clearly
defined the components needed for the
installation.
A photovoltaic installation can be divided
into two very differentiated parts from the
electrical point of view: the installation
corresponding to the continuous current and
that corresponding to the alternating current.
Due to the so called photoelectric effect and
because of the nature of photovoltaic glass,
a continuous electric current is produced that
is conducted through an electric circuit to the
solar inverter, which transforms the continuous
current into an alternating current with the
same characteristics that the grid to which the
consumption elements are connected.
onyxsolar.com
Photovoltaic glass produces a very low current
intensity at a certain voltage, imposed by the
actual characteristics of the glass. In order
to optimize the electricity generated by the
photovoltaic installation, glass groupings
are carried out through series or parallel
connections, increasing the voltage or current
of the installation, as required for the supply
applications of the usual consumption of an
industry or a dwelling.
The elements of a photovoltaic installation
are selected on the basis of a high number of
parameters that guarantee the fulfillment of the
requirements of the integration, the technical
limits of the equipment and the interconnection
possibility of the photovoltaic glass.
The design of a photovoltaic installation has
to meet a minimum of technical requirements
in order to provide guarantees that the
installation operates correctly according to its
particular integration conditions. These correct
operation requirements can be met under
three general rules that we will explain next.
1-2
 onyxsolar.com

PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATION FOR DIRECT SELF-CONSUMPTION WITHOUT ACCU-

MULATION

A photovoltaic installation for direct self-consumption without accumulation is an installation

whose aim is to immediately consume the electricity generated in the installation. The basic
elements it comprises are photovoltaic modules, the solar inverter and the alternating current
(AC) protection electrical panel, where the generated electricity is injected. The grid receiving
the solar installation will always be alternating in nature, being able to be connected in a single-
phase or three-phase system depending on the needs of use and the equipment used.

FIRSTLY:

A minimum installed power must be reached for the correct operation of the inverter or regulator.
In other words, a minimum surface area that will vary depending on the technology used and
the integration conditions with regard to slant and orientation.

SECONDLY:

The photovoltaic glass that is connected to said inverter or regulator must be of the same
technology with the same sizes and electrical characteristics in order to be connected to each
other by meeting some equality requirements. There could be a possibility of compatibility despite
not being equal when they are proportional to each other or if the inverter were prepared for this.

FINALLY:

The photovoltaic elements that are connected to the same inverter or regulator must have the
same orientation and slant in order to guarantee that they work under equal conditions and
to avoid penalties due to differences in the electricity generation capacity. Again, there is the
possibility of carrying out the interconnection of different orientations and slants, provided the
equipment prepared for this.

Not complying with these general rules will make the design of the installation need a more
profound and concrete analysis, given that there are particular cases were, excluding the
general methodology, a solution offering operating guarantees can be achieved.

The electricity generated in photovoltaic installations of architectural integrations can be

managed in different ways if we attend to the use to which it is going to be allocated. There are
three types of basic Installation that are: installations aimed at direct self-consumption without
accumulation; Installations aimed at supplying the national grid; and installations designed for
self-consumption with accumulation.

Vol. III: Electrical installation – Management models 3-4

 onyxsolar.com 9

PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATION FOR SUPPLYING THE NATIONAL GRID PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATION FOR SELF-CONSUMPTION WITH ACCUMULATION

Lastly, a photovoltaic installation for self-consumption with accumulation is that which stores the
On the other side, a photovoltaic installation for supplying the national grid is an installation in
electricity produced during the day to be used whenever necessary, regardless of whether or
which the electricity generated is not consumed directly, but rather supplied to the distribution
not there is irradiation. In this case, the basic elements of the installation include those previously
grid of the electricity company, regardless of the energy consumed, with the intention of
mentioned: the elements for managing accumulation, such as the charge controller, the batteries,
receiving payment in exchange. The basic elements that make up this Installation are essentially
the solar inverter and alternating current protection electrical panel. In this type of installations,
the same ones as for the direct self-consumption installation more typical of the connection
if the electricity is going to be used in continuous current, the inverter could be dispensed with.
with the external grid, the most characteristic being the measuring equipment that controls the
balance of energy to manage with the grid.

Vol. III: Electrical installation – Management models 5-6

 onyxsolar.com

Next, we will list the singular equipment that makes up a photovoltaic installation.
The voltage at nominal power (VMp) is the voltage that exists between the positive
and negative terminals of a module when operating in stationary regime and at
nominal power. Similarly, the current at nominal power (lmp) is the current that
We start this description with the most representative and visible part of an installation: the
circulates through the module under these stationary and nominal power conditions.
photovoltaic modules. Each module has certain characteristics that define them and depend
on the technology and the sizes, and will condition the type of connection that is done between
These characteristic values of photovoltaic modules are, together with the power,
them, being able to be connected in several ways in order to add voltages and currents until the
the most used when determining electrical installations in photovoltaic integrations.
most suitable values are achieved according to the compatibility of the equipment installed.
They are values that change with the temperature and must be sized considering a
wide range of climate conditions, since the rest of the equipment of the installation
must be in line with them.

7he voltages and currents of
a photovoltaic module vary
according to the number of
cells that make up the module
and the way in which they
are connected internally. The
interconnections of the cells
in the interior of the module
are done using conductive
ribbon, thereby achieving
the characteristic electrical
values of the module. The most
important and characteristic
electrical parameters of a
photovoltaic module are the open circuit voltage (Voc), the voltage at nominal power (Vmp),
the short circuit current (lsc) and the current at nominal power (lmp).
The open circuit voltage (Voc) can be defined as the existing voltage between the positive and
negative terminals in the significant and extreme event of the module being in open circuit and
consequently having an impedance of infinite value, in other words, when the terminals of the
module are not connected to any charge, the current value in this case being zero. This empirical
value is obtained in a laboratory assay and indicates the maximum value the module can reach
in the least favorable case. However, under normal operating conditions, this value is never going
to be reached.
The short circuit current (lsc) is the current that circulates through the module when the
positive and negative poles short circuit, in other words, in the singular and concrete case of
connecting an impedance of zero value. Its numerical value and its purpose are equivalent to
the aforementioned open circuit voltage.
The following component of the electrical installation that is mentioned is the
solar inverter, a fundamental element whenever alternating electrical current
consumption is needed. Photovoltaic modules generate electricity in continuous
current, therefore, an inverter that converts the signal is needed so that said electricity
can be used. The function of the inverter is to carry out a transformation of the nature
of said signal, varying voltage, current and type of current in order to achieve the
voltage and current values compatible with the alternating current grid, where the
electricity is injected.
The solar inverter for connecting to the grid requires a supply from the grid it uses to
study its signal and take it as a synchronous pattern when it detects voltage coming
from the photovoltaic modules in continuous current. Only when the transfer relay is
established properly does it automatically shut and are the signals coupled.
Accumulation installations do not need this procedure because the consumption
is only supplied with photovoltaic technology. Then it is only necessary to achieve
some suitable use parameters compatible with any charges that are going to be
connected.
The regulators, also know as controllers, and the accumulation batteries are
equipment that is used only in insulated or accumulation installations, in other
words, where batteries are needed. The batteries store electricity that will be used in
other time periods, with which they are bound to charging and discharging cycles,
whose characteristic parameters vary according to the types of batteries used
and the charging and discharging conditions. It is important to mention that for a
correct sizing of an installation with accumulation it is necessary to know the exact
consumption needs data and that the electricity is managed correctly and in a way
that is faithful to the data contributed. The controller or regulator controls the current
passage in one direction or another in order to charge or discharge the batteries,
and to give the charging orders of one supply or another, if appropriate, for the
correct operation of the installation. W

Vol. III: Electrical installation – Management models 7-8

 PHOTOVOLTAIC GLASS INNOVATION WALKABLE ROOF

CANOPY
FAÇADE
SKYLIGHT
LEED
BIM ARCHITECTURECERTIFICATION
ECOTEC

CREDITS

DESIGN
ARCHITECTURE
BUILDING
REVIT
INNOVATION

INNOVATION
GREENBUILDING SIMULATION

PHOTOVOLTAIC
ANALYSIS
SUSTAINABILITY LED ROOF

BIM
CLEAN

PHOTOVOLTAIC

ARCHITECTURE
PROJECT
REVIT
WALKABLE ROOF LEED
WALKABLE ROOF ROOF BIM

FAÇADE
GREEN LED BIM
BUILDING

ENERGY
PV BIPV
PHOTOVOLTAIC
INNOVATION BIPV

LED
PARKING

BIPV
SUSTAINABLE

ENERGY
PERGOLA
TECHNOLOGY
PROJECTS

FROM THE SUN FAÇADE BUREAU

LED
BIPV LED GENERATION
CURTAINWALL
ARCHITECTS
CURTAINWALL

DESIGN
CANOPY

ONYX SOLAR
SKYLIGHT SUSTAINABILITY PHOTOVOLTAIC GLASS

SPAIN (Ávila)
C/ Río Cea 1, 46 • 05004
Phone: +34 920 21 00 50
info@onyxsolar.com

UNITED STATES (New York)

1123 Broadway, Suite 908, NY 10010
Phone: +1 917 261 4783
usa@onyxsolar.com

To find the nearest distributor for your location or to join

our worldwide sales network, please, send us an e-mail
to distributors@onyxsolar.com

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