Plug & Play Photovoltaic Systems
The project investigates for the first time the potential for plug-and-play PV systems in Switzerland. Based on operating scenarios and device analyses, a list of requirements (performance, safety, processes) for future use is being drawn
Factsheet
- Lead school School of Engineering and Computer Science
- Institute(s) Institute for Energy and Mobility Research IEM
- Research unit(s) IEM / Photovoltaic systems
- Strategic thematic field Thematic field "Sustainable Development"
- Funding organisation Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (Bundesverwaltung)
- Duration (planned) 01.09.2023 - 31.12.2025
- Project management Prof. Dr. Christof Bucher
- Head of project David Joss
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Project staff
Theo Zwahlen
Luciano Borgna
Sebastian Tobias Koch
Donat Hess
Alexander Erber -
Partner
Bundesamt für Energie BFE
Meteotest (Konsortium)
Verband Schweizerischer Elektrokontrollen VSEK (Konsortium)
Electrosuisse (Konsortium)
Eidgenössisches Starkstrominspektorat ESTI (Advisory Group)
Verband Schweizerischer Elektrizitätsunternehmen VSE (Advisory Group)
BKW (Advisory Group)
Energiegenossenschaft Schweiz (Advisory Group)
Hassler Energia (Advisory Group)
Solarblitz (Advisory Group) - Keywords Plug-and-play PV, Plug’n’play solar, balcony solar system, balcony power plant, plug in solar, Plug-in solar devices
Situation
Plug-and-play solar systems are becoming increasingly popular. As these are not installed systems but consumer products, their legal handling is a challenge. With regard to safety and personal protection, there are no binding technical specifications for this product category. The market processes from registration to payment for the energy produced are not yet standardised. Also, the potential of such balcony systems in Switzerland is not yet known. Finally, the question of whether a higher output than the current 600W per power supply circuit would be legitimate in future has so far remained unanswered.
Course of action
The potential of plug-and-play PV systems in Switzerland is being investigated by means of a sample-based study using open data and geoinformation systems. The existing recommendations, directives, standards and regulations are collected for Switzerland as well as in an international context and used as a basis for further work. Safety-relevant aspects are considered in an operating and failure scenario analysis and, together with findings from laboratory tests, are ultimately incorporated into a recommendation for the future regulatory organisation. In addition to safety requirements and clear statements on maximum connected load, this should also include a proposal for practicable market processes in connection with plug-and-play PV systems.
Result
The potential for plug-and-play PV systems in Switzerland is estimated at around 1 TWh. This is equivalent to the average electricity consumption of around 200,000 households. 37% of the energy is produced by the systems in winter. The results were published at EU PVSEC 2024 in Vienna and are available below.Statistical analyses of commercially available inverters show that around two-thirds of the devices do not have an electrically conductive connection between the module and the grid. 68% of the devices (n=292) incorporate galvanic isolation, the use of a high frequency transformer being explicitly mentioned in the data sheets for 59% of them. By their very nature, this type of design does not allow any residual DC current devices on the grid side, which is why the type B residual current circuit breaker previously required could theoretically be dispensed with. Further assessments in the course of the project will show which safety measures the consortium eventually considers suitable for plug & play PV systems. A look at neighbouring countries shows that the rules and requirements for plug-in solar devices are changing. The Europe-wide trend points to an increase of the grid feed-in power to 800 WAC and to simpler processes for connecting and using such systems. These intermediary results stem from internal project documentation. The interim project report with additional public information is linked below or can be consulted in Aramis (as of November 2024).
Looking ahead
In the current phase of the project, laboratory tests are conducted on commercially available module inverters. The assessment focusses on the safety functions of the devices. The results of the tests and the findings from the previous analyses are to be incorporated into a core document in 2025, which will be used as the basis for the planned Swiss Guideline (SNG). In addition, there will be an extended assessment of the potential for off-grid plug & play PV systems within this project. The results are expected to be available by mid-2025.
