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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/L15050/01
Title: MODELLING AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE INTERACTION OF MULTIPLE PHOTOVOLTAIC INVERTERS
Principal Investigator: Infield, Professor D
Other Investigators:
Kettleborough, Mr JG Freris, Professor L
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
CH2M Hill (Halcrow)
Department: Electronic, Electrical & Systems Enginee
Organisation: Loughborough University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 August 1996 Ends: 31 July 1998 Value (£): 120,078
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Solar Technology Sustainable Energy Networks
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Energy No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
A vast potential exists for building integrated PV systems connected to the grid. Although the present high costs of PV generation is limiting the number of such installations in the UK, thousands of systems are now operating across Europe. This is set to increase as the technology develops to bring costs down. As the penetration of the technology increases, questions relating to safety and quality of supply on the local grid need to be answered. The Regional Electricity Companies are concerned that local interactions of the electronic power interface systems could threaten the integrity of their supply system. In particular the possibility of islanded operation exists whereby the PV systems continue generating into an otherwise isolated section of the network, posing a threat to maintenance personnel. Power quality issues also arise due to the harmonic distortions caused by the inverters which transfer power into the grid. These and other technical issues are potentially serious when large numbers of such devices are connected near to each other (say, where a large number of houses on a given housing estate have rood mounted PV arrays fitted). This proposal seeks to address certain key issues relating to the interaction of such installations. Potential interactions will be addressed through the development of a suitably detailed and sophisticated computer model. Measurements will be made I suitable configurations of multiple inverters to substantiate the model and highlight the interactive processes involved.
Key Findings
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Summary
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.lboro.ac.uk