Online Training on Solar Systems for Bankers of

ISA Member Countries

GSES Moodle e-Learning Platform through Zoom video conferencing

Session 3:
Grid connected Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
Content
• How a solar PV system is connected to grid?
• Definition of distributed (Rooftop) vs. utility (large) scale grid connected PV plants
• Grid connectivity requirements and compliances
• Regulations and metering arrangement for grid connection of PV systems
o Feed-in-tariff concept
o Gross metering concept
o Net metering concept
• Renewable energy and carbon trading concept
o CER (carbon emission reduction) certificate
o Renewable Purchase Obligation
o Renewable Energy Certificate
• Review, discussion and quizzes
How Solar PV System is connected to Grid

• Solar PV panel converts

sunlight into DC electricity.
• This DC electricity is then
converted into AC
electricity using a grid-
connected (grid –tied)
inverter.
• The inverter is then
connected to the grid in
the main panel.
• For large system output
from inverter is connected
to a transformer to step-up
the voltage which is then
connected to main grid at
higher voltage level
Definition of distributed (Rooftop) vs. utility (large) scale
grid connected PV plants

Distributed (Rooftop) grid connected PV plants Utility (Large) scale grid connected PV plants

• Installed in building roofs (Residential, industrial or • Directly connected to the transmission/distribution

commercial) system through a transformer

• Generated power is typically consumed by the loads • Generated power is directly injected to main electricity
within the building and excess power can be grid and power is sold to utility or a major consumer
exported to the electricity grid through open access

• Typical system size : 1 kW to 500 kW or more • Typical Capacity: 1 MW to 2000 MW or more

Definition of distributed (Rooftop) vs. utility (large) scale
grid connected PV plants

Monitoring
system
PV Modules Power Grid

Mounting
frame

AC Cabling Meter
Junction Box Inverter

DC Cabling

Main Switch Switchboard

Solar Array Isolator
Solar Supply
PV array Transformer
Central inverter Power grid
Definition of distributed (Rooftop) vs. utility (large) scale
grid connected PV plants
Grid connectivity requirements and compliances
Typical grid connectivity requirements
Grid Parameters
Response to abnormal
voltage and frequency
Synchronization
Unintentional islanding
Limitation of DC injection
Harmonics
Metering
Interface protection device
functional requirement
Typical Requirement/ Acceptable limit
Voltage 85% to 110%
Frequency 47.5Hz to 52.5Hz
Voltage ± 6%
No objectionable flicker
Disconnection in < 2 second
Reconnection in > 60 second
< 0.5%
< 5%
Main electricity meter (Bi directional to measure both active power and reactive power)
PV electricity meter
Tri-vector Type, suitable for 3-phase 4-wire connections, with initial and sustained accuracy of
class 0.2S
Unintentional islanding, Under voltage Protection , Overvoltage Protection , Over frequency ,
Under frequency
Grid connectivity requirements and compliances
Typical grid connectivity requirements

General requirement Typical wiring diagram

Regulations and metering arrangement for grid connection
of PV systems
Net metering concept

• Bi-directional Net Meter Rooftop PV Plant

records the surplus electricity Rooftop PV Plant Meter 2: Solar meter
(Required for RPO or optional)
exported to and imported
from grid.
• A separate solar meter can
be installed to measure
energy generated by PV
• Primary benefit of net
metering is the reduction in
the electricity bills.
Meter1:1:Bi-directional
Meter Bi-directionalNet
NetMeter
Meter
• In some cases, the solar MeasuringElectricity
Measuring ElectricityConsumption
Consumption
energy generators receives &&Export
Export
credit for the excess energy
exported to grid.
Regulations and metering arrangement for grid connection
of PV systems
Net metering concept

• Bi-directional Net Meter

records the surplus electricity
exported to and imported
from grid.
• A separate solar meter can
be installed to measure
energy generated by PV
• Primary benefit of net
metering is the reduction in
the electricity bills.
• In some cases, the solar
energy generators receives
credit for the excess energy
exported to grid.
Regulations and metering arrangement for grid connection
of PV systems
Gross metering and Feed-in-tariff concept

• Conventional Uni-directional Meter 2: Solar meter

electricity meter remains Rooftop PV Plant for gross metering

there to record total electricity

consumed by the customer
• A Gross Meter is used to
measure energy generated
by PV which is directly
injected to the grid
• Utility company will pay a pre-
determined tariff called Feed-
in-Tariff to the solar generator
Meter 1: Conventional Uni-
(Prosumer) which can be directional Electricity Meter
higher or lower than the tariff
a consumer paid for total
consumption
Renewable energy and carbon trading concept
Carbon trade is the buying and selling of credits that permit a company or other entity to emit a certain amount of carbon
dioxide. The carbon credits and the carbon trade are authorized by governments with the goal of gradually reducing
overall carbon emissions and mitigating their contribution to climate change.
Renewable energy and carbon trading concept
CER (carbon emission reduction) certificate

A Certified Emissions Reduction, also known as CER, is a certificate issued by the United Nations to member nations for
preventing one tonne of carbon dioxide emissions. These are usually issued to member states for projects achieving
greenhouse gas reductions through the use of Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM)

Validation of the Registration of the

Project identification Obtaining Host project by a Project with the
and development Country Approval Designated CDM Executive
Operational Entity Board

Sales of CERs to
Issuance of the Verification of
Establishment in
CERs the CERs
eligible countries
Renewable energy and carbon trading concept
Renewable Purchase Obligation
Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) is a mechanism by which the Government authority oblige entities to purchase a
certain percentage of power from renewable energy sources.

Source: REN 21 Global Status Report 2021

Renewable energy and carbon trading concept
Renewable Energy Certificate
The concept of Renewable
Energy Certificates (RECs)
seeks to address mismatch
between availability of
renewable energy and the
requirement of the obligated
entities to meet their renewable
purchase obligation (RPO) by
purchasing green attributes of
renewable energy remotely
located in the form of RECs.
The REC mechanism is a
market based instrument, to
promote renewable sources of
energy and development of
electricity market.

Illustration credit: https://www.lazardassetmanagement.com/

Thank You

17