According to energy expert Dr. Martin Steiner, freedom, self-determination as well as flexibility and security are the top goals of energy self-sufficiency. After an introduction to stand-alone PV systems and grid-connected PV systems, he now discusses the advantages and disadvantages of grid-connected systems. This type of system is suitable for blackout prevention.
Watch the video here or read the synopsis below:
V27 Energy Sufficiency Exercise – Part 3: Grid Parallel System
A guest contribution by DI Dr. Martin JF Steiner MSc
after a brief overview of
In this third part of Energy Self Sufficiency Exercise, I would like to introduce you about Grid Parallel Systems.
PV systems are now a highly emotive topic
However, I’d like to offer interesting – and less interesting – comments and feedback in advance. Of course I’m happy with the positive response to my post, but I’m also very interested in feedback and other opinions on my post. I always welcome different opinions, we make progress by open-mindedly looking at other opinions and perspectives.
Much to my surprise, there were also comments on the previous video V26 (grid-commutated PV system), which, in my opinion, had nothing to do with any technical dispute, but with personal defamation. The topic of grid-connected PV systems or PV systems in general is clearly now an emotionally charged topic, with each simplification or shortening of the topic – no matter how small – causing (some) strong emotional reactions. and leads to humiliation.
I don’t understand why this is considered good, I don’t want to go into more detail at this stage, except that I will delete or ignore such comments in the future.
From my point of view, I would like to add or clarify the following points:
- To anyone who finds my videos “horrible” – hey, I have some good news for you: You don’t have to watch these. ☺ Problem solved!
- Yes, I can’t go into all the details of a related topic in a 5 to 15 minute video – Yes, I’ll have to keep it short and simple. I try to do this in such a way that as little important information is missing as possible.
- Yes, the words have different definitions:
- Inselenlagen To me are systems that have no connection to the public grid at 230V level and are not in conformity with the public grid in terms of phase position, i.e. not connected to the public grid. These systems are suitable for blackout prevention. Yes, the purchase price for power stations is high – but the cost of assembly and commissioning is low.
- master guide PV systems are systems that are connected to the public grid with a grid-commutated inverter – whose 230V level corresponds to the public grid in terms of frequency, amplitude and phase position. These systems are not suitable for blackout prevention.
- main parallelTo me, systems are systems that can be operated as stand-alone systems or synchronized to the public grid. These systems are suitable for blackout prevention.
grid parallel system
As explained, today I would like to introduce this third type of system, the Grid Parallel System. But before we begin, a brief review of the topic of energy self-sufficiency: Heat – Electricity – Dynamics – These three areas always deserve attention if energy self-sufficiency is to be the goal. Then the following should be considered:
- In which areas can I save?
- How can I increase efficiency?
- How can I provide the necessary energy as self-sustainably as possible?
PV is always an important topic here, so I’ll summarize it The Three Main Common Types of PV Systems A:
- Inselenlagen
- grid-controlled systems
- grid parallel system
The respective properties and advantages and disadvantages can be seen in the overview image:
Grid-parallel systems can be connected to the grid, for example to receive surplus energy from the grid and to purchase the remaining demand from the grid if domestic production of electrical energy is not sufficient.
In any case, these system types work even without an existing electrical network, with full island operation possible at any time. In addition to PV energy, other primary energy sources can also be accessed, such as wind energy or electrical energy through the supply of gas or diesel generators.
Using a grid-parallel inverter, PV energy can either:
- be integrated on the DC side (via an MPPT charge controller) or
- AC side via (existing) line-commutated inverter.
This results in a very interesting application when retrofitting/converting a grid-connected PV system to a true blackout-capable grid-connected system.
Basically, this type of PV system is interesting wherever the subject Blackout prevention, resilience planning and operational security and of course increased independence are in the foreground.
I hope that with this third part I have now created a good overview of PV system types and the topic of energy self-sufficiency.
Regards, Martin JF steiner
About the Author
DI Dr. Martin JF Steiner MSc is a graduate of the Vienna University of Technology – he majored in electrical energy technology – and has been working for many years on the topics of renewable energy, energy self-sufficiency and the climate impact of various types of electrical power plants. 3 decades
https://www.str2030.at/Energie-Autarkie-Martin-Steiner
