Investigation of photovoltaic inverter loss of phase protection

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Nowadays, the grid-connected renewable distributed generation (DG) is fast growing in Ottawa. To promotethe integration of DG, Hydro Ottawa Limited (HOL), the local distribution company in the City of Ottawa,established numbers of criteria and requirements for DG connection according to the published standards suchas IEEE Std. 1547 and HOL's special concerns. A separate loss-of-phase (LOP) protection device is such anadditional requirement that DG manufacturers and owners often complain since no other utilities in Canadahave this requirement. This requirement increases the cost of DG owner, manufacturer production test, andutility commissioning test for DG integration in Ottawa. iSolara Solar Power Limited (iSolara) is currentlydeveloping high performance low-cost grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) generation systems. Through thisNSERC Engage project, iSolara and Carleton will investigate the necessity of a separate LOP protection devicefor grid-connection of inverter-based DG. The cost of PV installation in Ottawa will be reduced if the separateLOP protection device is proved to be unnecessary for the inverters which have already satisfied the currentpublished standards.The outcome of this project will help iSolara and HOL to understand the impact of intermediate transformerand multiple-inverter configuration on inverter-based DG LOP protection. The investigation results are criticalfor iSolara and HOL to make informed, strategic and effective investment in DG integration technology andinfrastructure in the future. Essentially, the project will be beneficial for utility companies, DG manufacturesand standard makers to act in a coordinated and proactive manner to ensure the successful integration of DG inCanada.