Standards Development at RISE

Australian and international agencies are actively working to develop standards for renewable energy systems and balance of system components. RISE staff are participating in this important process. It is vital for Australia to have a part in the development of meaningful and manageable standards for the industry in order to improve reliability and acceptability of renewable energy systems worldwide. This work is strongly linked to the certification and testing activities within ResLab and other laboratories worldwide. It is particularly important that Australian experience in hybrid remote systems be integrated into international standards. It is equally imperative to ensure that Australian conditions, technologies and approaches are considered in the development of these international standards.

There are several key areas in Australian and International Standards that relate to renewable energy systems and components standards. RISE is actively involved with Standards Australia and the International Electrotechnical Commission and is represented on various technical committees. Within these two organisations the relevant committees that are working in areas related to renewable energy are:

Standards Australia

• EL-005 - Secondary Batteries
• EL-042 - Renewable Energy Power Supply Systems & Equipment
• EL-048 - Wind Turbine Systems
• Other related committees
  EL-001 -- Wiring Rules

International Electrotechnical Commission

• TC 4: Hydraulic turbines
• TC 82: Solar photovoltaic energy systems
• TC 88: Wind turbine systems
• TC 105: Fuel cell technologies
• Other related committees
  TC21: Secondary cells and batteries
  TC64: Electrical installations and protection against electric shock

Current issues and investigations

RISE is investigating the rating and suitability of components for use within photovoltaic arrays. This investigation stems from work in the Australian standards committee on the AS5033. At the BSCE ATRAA 2007 conference in Cairns, Queensland, RISE presented some initial work on DC arcs from photovoltaic arrays and what happens to incorrectly specified circuit breakers in DC circuits. If you have any information related to using circuit breakers in DC applications please contact Nigel Wilmot.

• Arcing, fire and other testing - ATRAA 2007 presentation
• Arc testing video - "Producing Arcs from DC Sources and PV Modules." (low speed, high speed)
• DC switching tests video- "AC Switches used for DC or Burning Issues." (low speed, high speed)

A "Photovoltaic (PV) Safety, Arcing and Fusing" workshop was held at the University of New South Wales on 26 March 2008.  Presenters at the workshop included Ted Spooner (UNSW), Mike Russell (Clean Energy Council), Geoff Webb(Standards Australia) and Nigel Wilmot.

Nigel’s presentation on “Fusing of PV arrays” highlighted the recent investigation conducted at the RISE test centre into the performance of fuses in relation to PV module characteristics. To ensure that correct installation and system design techniques are used, the characteristics of modules and fuses need to be understood. A PV module is a current limited source. A fuse is typically used in situations to break large fault currents due to short circuit faults. In a typical PV array, short circuit and earth faults create limited currents which may prevent the fuse from operating and breaking the current. So the correct specification and matching of fuses to the PV array installation is an important issue.

• "Fusing of PV arrays" March 2008 workshop presentation

RISE Staff Involvement

Nigel Wilmot, Manager, Standards & Testing
RISE representative on Standards Australia EL-042 Renewable Energy Power Supply Systems & Equipment,

• EL-042-01 - Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems
• EL-042-03 - Grid Connected Systems & Equipment
• EL-042-04 - Inverters for Stand-alone Power Systems

Australian Delegate from EL-042 to IEC TC 82

• Working Group 3 “Systems”
• Working Group 6 “Balance-of-system components”
• JWG: JCG TC 82/TC 88/TC 21/SC 21A “Guidelines for Decentralized Rural Electrification (DRE) projects”

Dr Hari Sharma, Senior Test Engineer
Standards Australia EL-042-03 - Grid Connected Systems & Equipment

Oscar Arteaga, Test Engineer
Standards Australia EL-042-04 - Inverters for Stand-alone Power Systems

Dr Jonathan Whale, Wind Project Officer
Standards Australia EL-048 Wind Turbine Systems, RISE Representative

RISE also has close links with Ted Spooner of UNSW in Sydney in this area of standards development