EPRI Has published a Paper Titled, "Standard Language Protocols for Photovoltaics and Storage Grid Integration - Developing a Common Method for Communicating with Inverter-Based Systems."
EPRI has published a paper titled, "Standard Language Protocols for Photovoltaics and Storage Grid Integration - Developing a Common Method for Communicating with Inverter-Based Systems."
Here is a brief synopsis of this paper:
Large deployments of distributed generators will at some point require monitoring and management by operators of the electric grid. Solar photovoltaic systems will likely be the first to challenge operators at the utility distribution level and not far behind will be plug-in electric vehicles and bat¬tery systems. These distributed resources, connected via an electronic power converter (inverter), can, in aggregate, offer new opportunities for faster power control and compensation of local voltage variations. Communication will enhance grid benefit by enabling the collaboration of many small resources with the larger public power supply. Unfortunately, captur¬ing these benefits today is impeded by the lack of common functions and a common language to manage inverter-based systems. The upshot: utilities will be better able to support higher grid penetration levels and to derive greater value from distributed assets such as grid-tied photovoltaics and energy storage.
This paper describes efforts currently under¬way to identify the basic inverter/charger capabilities and develop a standardized communication protocol to enable distributed grid support.
