New research and educational lab for solar PV/grid integration power studies at ANU

Trent Grgich (ANU)

SOLAR SEMINAR SERIES

DATE: 2013-11-07
TIME: 16:00:00 - 17:00:00
LOCATION: Ian Ross Seminar Room
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ABSTRACT:
This seminar will provide an outline of a soon-to-be-installed "power laboratory" at ANU. The power lab is funded by a grant from ActewAGL and the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The main intention of the power lab is to study the integration of PV solar into the electricity distribution network. Several barriers exist preventing increased penetration of distributed small-scale solar PV systems. This lab will provide researchers with the means of investigating these barriers. These barriers include poor voltage regulation and race conditions between inverters exporting power on the same phase. A new innovation involves the use of redesigned inverters which produce reactive power in addition to active power to correct power factor in the electricity distribution network. The lab will be used to research just how well these redesigned inverters solve these problems. Our goal is to construct a power lab with functionality to serve both research and education. The design, functionality and other potential applications of the power lab will be described in this seminar.

The Principal Investigator of this project is Lachlan Blackhall and the Project Manager is Trent Grgich.
BIO:
Trent completed his studies in engineering and science at ANU several months ago. His studies included an honours thesis on the effect of UV light on silicon surface passivation by Al2O3. Trent has also completed three months of work experience at Snowy Hydro conducting a fault current study for all LV switchboards in Snowy's largest power station.