Better Integration of Home Solar Power with Electricity Grid

Researchers from the RMIT University have initiated a two-year, $1.2 million research project with MIL-Systems, an inverter manufacturer, for improving the integration of home generated solar power with the electricity grid.

In order to utilize renewable energy sources and also reduce emissions, households use renewable energy generators. They supply the surplus energy generated to the electricity grid. This causes operational problems affecting the ability of electrical distribution networks to supply regulated electricity at a specific voltage. The grid voltage may increase beyond the stipulated safe limits and may cause failure of electricity supply in that area.

RMIT Platform Technologies Research Institute and MIL-Systems plan to develop a cutting-edge reactive power control (RPC) inverter for helping better regulation of the injected energy into the grid. The Victorian Department of Primary Industries Sustainable Energy Research and Development has awarded a $647,000 grant for the inverter project.

The project will adapt a two-way energy flow control strategy instead of the normal one-way energy flow strategy.