Guest Blog

Sounds dull I know … but it has reduced the normally calm Sundog Energy engineer sat on the desk behind me to screaming point. I have held off writing this for a few weeks as I keep thinking that I will be able to present a clear conclusion – but that point still looks a while off. Smaller systems are relatively uncomplicated.

The requirement to fit a DC isolator in a solar PV system comes from BS7671 – Part 712.537.2.1.1, which states “To allow maintenance of the PV convertor, means of isolating the PV convertor from the d.c. side and the a.c. side must be provided”…

I was encouraged to see the government’s recent commitment to legally binding emissions targets, including policy to encourage renewable generation. However, all these technological changes will put an immense strain on our national grid. In order for the network to cope with the strain, careful investment is needed.

I am currently working on edition 3 of the guide to the installation of PV systems…

The Government’s Climate Change Committee is having its John and Yoko moment. Summoning the world’s press to its bedside, the Committee announced that the UK should renounce fossil fuels…in favour of nuclear power. The report was actually supposed to be about renewable energy. In reality, it turned out to be just a veneer for bringing nuclear back into the game.

Getting a solar PV system connected to the grid can be straightforward – but problems do occur.

In Shanghai just now … at an IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) TC82 – Solar PV energy standards meeting. More delegates than I have ever seen at these meetings.

The requirement, or otherwise, for the main AC isolator in a solar PV system to be “located in an accessible position within the Customer’s installation” was discussed at the first of the G83 review meetings yesterday.

BSi has just released a DPC (draft for public comment) version of IEC 62548 Ed.1: Design requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays. The DPC has the following on the cover …

Used a trial version of the new Seaward Solar PV100 test instrument for real, for the first time today. We were testing the latest strings of glass-glass PV modules to be installed on the roof of one of our larger London projects.