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Author: GSES
Specialised Cable Sizing of Complex Electrical Circuits
Cable sizing and derating are critical elements in any electrical project, not just solar power installations. Most electricians rely on Australian/New Zealand Standards AS/NZS 3008.1.1 and AS/NZS 3000 to provide the answers necessary to adequately size and derate cables for a given load in any situation. In some scenarios, a specific site or installation may […]
CEC Accreditation: How to launch your solar career
DC Cable Sizing using AS/NZS 3008; and Limitations
This article will give you an overview and examples of DC cable sizing using the standard AS/NZS 3008. Cable sizing is one of the most crucial engineering problems in PV system design. It has major implications on the overall cost, performance, and safety in design of PV systems. Correct cable selection also ensures compliance with Australian […]
Why do we need to derate electrical cables?
This article will look at the physics behind why it is necessary to derate electrical cables. It is the first in a series of articles covering cable sizing and deratings, so stay tuned for more on different methods to derate cables safely while maintaining cost effectiveness. Cable selection is one of the most crucial engineering problems […]
Implementing Virtual Power Plants (VPP) in Australia
Virtual power plants (VPP) have the potential to make the grid infrastructure more resilient in Australia. Currently, VPPs can reduce the pressure on the grid during times of high demand. It does this by linking small-scale independent decentralised generators like PV systems and batteries into a network, with communication and controls to allow the units […]
Effect of Orientation and Latitude on the Performance of Solar Tracking Arrays
A solar module generates maximum power when the surface of the module directly faces the sun. For a stationary module facing the equator, this typically occurs during the middle of the day. The high performance of solar tracking arrays comes from the ability to maintain the optimum angle for a longer period of time. The […]
South Australian Regulations for New Solar Power Systems
As a result of the huge uptake of grid-connected PV systems in South Australia, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is projecting significant system security risks to the South Australian electricity supply network. As a result, the South Australian Government will be implementing some solar regulations, known as Regulatory Changes for Smarter Homes, from 28th […]
All About High Efficiency Solar Cells: PERC and Half Cut
Photovoltaic technology has been making steady improvements since the first major silicon cell created by Bell Labs in 1954. As research and development continue to push solar cell technology forward (Figure 1), we often see a lag in the adoption of these advancements in commercial applications. Today, high efficiency solar cells that were once only […]
Condition Based Maintenance for Solar PV Systems
Since the advent of solar PV systems in Australia in the early 2010s, there has been a growing number of installations of small residential as well as commercial, industrial and utility scale PV systems. However, as with any piece of equipment, the likelihood of component failure increases as the PV system ages, and solar maintenance […]