PV Technology, Engineering
Design, NEC Code & 2017-2023 Changes + PV Product & Installation Safety
Overview
Presentation Outline for RECI
Lunch Workshop, Wed, Apr 3, 2024
By J.J. Sinkular, PhD, Founder
& Owner, SELE Solutions, LLC
1. Does Solar PV make practical sense
for generating energy in Michigan?
a. Levelized Cost of Electricity/Energy
(LCOE) compares the cost of electricity from Solar PV vs. other forms of energy
generation, e.g. coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, etc. and shows that it makes
practical sense even without the help of government financial incentives.
b. Global & U.S. data shows the
steady rise in PV installations over the past decade and the projected rise
into the future.
c.
Utility
scale vs. Distributed Generation (commercial, industrial, residential) PV
installations.
2. Government Financial Incentives to
encourage PV Installations because they benefit our (grand)children!
a. Share information on federal, state
and local financial incentives available to businesses and individuals through
the Inflation Reduction Act for PV, other renewable energy and energy
efficiency solutions.
3. Technical System Overview of PV Solutions
a. Physics underlies PV cells and
modules.
b. Basic all-encompassing electrical
diagram that shows how the various PV system components interact together to
produce electrical power.
c.
Common
manufacturers of PV system components and associated technologies.
d. Typical solar PV cell efficiency and
new technologies.
e. Solar PV Engineering Design Process
i.
What distinguishes “any old design” from a “high LCOE design”?
f.
Solar
Insolation across the U.S. and elements of PV System Design that help Optimize
Electric Power Production & LCOE at each unique geographical location.
g.
PV
Plan Documents for Design, Engineering & Commissioning
4. NEC Code for PV
a. An Overview of Sections relevant to
PV Code
b. Code Changes from 2017-2023
5. Safety & Reliability for Solar PV
Installations: An Overview
a. Product Safety:
i.
Nationally
Recognized Testing Labs (NRTLs) and the relevant PV system component testing
standards: e.g. UL 1703, 61730, 1741; CSA; Intertek ETL; CE
ii.
IEEE
Standards for Interconnection & Interoperability: 1547, 2030
iii.
International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) certifications for PV system components e.g.,
61215, 61646, 60364-4-41, 62108, 61701
b. Installation Safety:
i.
OSHA
29 U.S. CFR: Chap 29, Part 1926
ii.
NEC
70E, Electrical Safety in the Workplace
iii.
International
Fire Code (IFC) Requirements for Solar PV Installations
iv.
Specific
Electrical Safety Considerations for Solar PV Installations
v.
The
role of the AHJ & Utility in Permitting & Commissioning
6. PV System Monitoring, Maintenance and
Efficiency
J.J. Sinkular
