Solar Tutorial

Welcome Coffee

Lecture 1: PV Arrays Technology – Operation and Performance
Dr. Dezso Sera (Aalborg University, Denmark)

This lecture will show an overview of the most important PV cell technologies and their performance characteristics. Common modelling techniques for PV cells, modules and arrays will be presented. Performance models that can be used for assessing plant produc-tion will be discussed.
Furthermore, some essential aspects of reliability and yield optimization of PV arrays will be included, such as I-V curve analysis, and infrared and electroluminescence image based inspection, which are rapidly gaining importance as cost-effective tools in O&M for PV plants.

Lecture 2: PV Inverters and their Control
Dr. Tamas Kerekes (Aalborg University, Denmark)

Inverters are a key element in PV power plants. This lecture will review the topology of the inverters commonly used in PV plants with focus on efficiency, ranging from low-power modular inverters to central inverters used to process power of large strings. Some examples from PV inverters manufacturers will be presented. The main structure of the control system of a generic PV inverter will be also presented in this lecture, as well as the most common functionalities regarding monitoring and diagnosis.

Coffee break

Lecture 3: Integration of PV in the Modern Power System
Dr. Florin Iov (Aalborg University, Denmark)

Grid integration of renewables i.e. wind and PV systems and activation of their flexibility for smart grid solutions requires a hierarchical and coordinated control. This lecture will show exemplary DSO’s challenges especially on the low voltage grids with high penetra-tion of PV systems at household level. Smart solutions addressing voltage control of these systems both at MV and LV levels will be shown.
Provision and coordination of ancillary services from wind power and large PV systems connected in the Medium voltage grid will be also presented.

Coffee break

Lecture 4: Compliance Testing of Smart Grids Functions
Roland Bründlinger (Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria)

Verifying interoperability and capabilities of modern inverters for PV and storage appli-cations requires advanced testing and verification procedures. The demonstration at the AIT SmartEST laboratory will present latest developments in testing procedures and show exemplary testing of advanced interoperability on a utility scale PV inverter.
In addition, challenges of testing complex functionalities and the interrelation of different functions will be highlighted during the session at the laboratory.

Lecture 5: Remote control of smart inverters in an interoperable environment
Thomas Strasser (Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria)

The ever increasing deployment of photovoltaic systems and other distributed energy resources causes massive challenges for utility operators in terms of planning and operation. Through promising intelligent control methods and remote control possibilities the existing power grid infrastructure can be used in a more efficient way, allowing a higher penetration of distributed and renewable resources. Interoperability and standardized communication systems/protocols are important keys to realize such intelligent approaches. IEC 61850 as well as the Modbus-based SunSpec are promising concepts for the real-ization of remote control functions.
The demonstration at the AIT SmartEST laboratory will showcase the remote control of a PV inverter using latest standards and protocols.

Closure