A review of technical requirements for plug-and-play solar photovoltaic microinverter systems in the United States
A review of technical requirements for plug-and-play solar photovoltaic microinverter systems in the United States
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美国即插即用型太阳能光伏微型逆变器系统技术要求综述
DOI：
10.1016/j.solener.2016.06.002
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发表时间：
2016
期刊：
影响因子：
6.7
通讯作者：
Joshua M. Pearce
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
A. S. Mundada;Yuenyong Nilsiam;Joshua M. Pearce
普通美国人高度支持太阳能光伏(PV)技术，并有机会从对自己家的光伏投资中赚取高回报。不幸的是，普通美国人并不容易获得资本/融资来安装能够满足他们每年总电力需求的光伏系统。克服这一挑战的一种方法是允许“即插即用太阳能”，它被定义为完全包容的、商业的、现成的光伏系统(通常由光伏组件和微型逆变器组成)，消费者可以通过将其插入电源插座来安装，从而避免了大量的许可、检查和互联过程。许多发达国家已经允许即插即用太阳能，但美国的监管一直落后。为了帮助美国克服监管障碍，提高光伏的普及率，本文首先回顾了美国国家电气法规、地方司法管辖区和公用事业部门关于光伏的相关法规和标准，尤其是即插即用太阳能。接下来，对市面上可买到的微型逆变器和交流(AC)模块的技术和安全标准进行审查，发现它们都符合这些标准。然后，利用密歇根州的案例研究，将技术要求与监管和公用事业要求进行比较，发现这些要求对电网进入造成了任意的非技术有效障碍。分析还揭示了住宅和小型商业电网连接太阳能光伏的公用事业接入交流隔离开关的冗余性。显然，交流隔离开关在技术上并不是必需的，因此，对于具有UL(保险商实验室)认证的微型逆变器的太阳能光伏系统来说，它是进入电网的经济障碍。为了减少消费者和公用事业的工作量以及随之而来的软成本，本文提供了一个简化的应用程序，只有技术要求和免费开放源码的软件来简化公用事业的实现。最后，通过UL认证的微型逆变器支持即插即用太阳能光伏的优势包括更高的光伏系统性能、更快的吸收速度和更高的光伏普及率、更好的消费经济性以及更环保的发电。
The average American is highly supportive of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology and has the opportunity to earn a high return of investment from a PV investment for their own home. Unfortunately, the average American does not have easy access to capital/financing to install a PV system able to meet their aggregate annual electric needs. One method to overcome this challenge is to allow ‘plug-and-play solar’, which is defined as a fully inclusive, commercial, off-the-shelf PV system (normally consisting of a PV module and microinverter), which a prosumer can install by plugging it into an electric outlet and avoiding the need for significant permitting, inspection and interconnection processes. Many advanced countries already allow plug-and-play solar, yet U.S. regulations have lagged behind. In order to assist the U.S. overcome regulatory obstructions to greater PV penetration, this article first reviews the relevant codes and standards from the National Electric Code, local jurisdictions and utilities for PV with a specific focus on plug-and-play solar. Next, commercially available microinverters and alternating current (AC) modules are reviewed for their technical and safety compliance to these standards and all were found to be compliant. The technical requirements are then compared to regulatory and utility requirements using case studies in Michigan, which were found to create arbitrary non-technically-valid barriers to grid entry. The analysis also exposed the redundancy of the utility accessed AC disconnect switch for residential and small commercial grid connected solar PV. It is clear that the AC disconnect switch is not necessary technically and thus imposing it is an economic barrier to grid entry for solar PV systems with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certified microinverters. To reduce consumer and utility workload and the concomitant soft costs, this article provides a streamlined application with only technical requirements and free and open source software to ease utility implementation. Finally, the advantages of supporting plug-and-play solar PV with UL certified microinverters include greater PV system performance, faster uptake and higher PV penetration levels, improved prosumer economics, and more environmentally responsible electric generation.