Oversized PV arrays and Battery Days of Autonomy in Stand-Alone Power systems

Introduction Battery energy storage is essential to stand-alone PV power systems relying on intermittent renewable energy as the primary generation source, and the sizing of this battery storage has long been a critical and sometimes contentious issue in the industry. Due to the nature of stand-alone power systems, it is always necessary to size the battery […]

Which mounting solution is best for the job: The impact of constraints on PV mounting solutions in large-scale projects.

Large-scale ground-mount PV solar projects now have a multitude of mounting options. Single-axis tracking solutions are now more affordable than ever and new mounting designs have been introduced to the market, each with their own benefits and limitations. Every project is unique and has its own set of constraints and design challenges, one of which […]

A Case of Pitch: The effect of a North-South split pitch on array output and a rethink of optimum design

Any PV installer or system designer knows that, in Australia, orienting a system north would enable the maximum year-round generation. For sites where a north facing pitch is not readily available, east west array is often considered the next best solution. Intuitively, south facing arrays do not make sense, and systems have been designed insofar […]

Tracking – Another Option to Increase Yield

Large scale solar projects have seen tremendous growth in recent years, with notable projects including the 10MW capacity Greenough River Solar Farm in Western Australia and the 220MW Bungala Solar Power Project in South Australia. These projects require significant investment from system owners, and particularly for larger projects it is important to maximise financial return […]

Wiring Rules AS NZS 3000:2018 – Key Updates to the Standard and What They Mean for Installers

The latest version of the Australian and New Zealand Standard: Electrical Installations “Wiring Rules” (AS/NZS 3000:2018) has now been published, and will supersede AS/NZS 3000:2007. Updates to the Standard have been made to reflect new technologies, equipment, and installation techniques. This article explores some of the most significant changes presented in the standard, and how […]

Those who can, do…and they should also teach

George Bernard Shaw wrote “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach” in his 1903 play “Man and Superman”. This quote has been widely used to disparage teachers and, in addition to the quote being broad-brushed and obtuse, it also implies that the two are mutually exclusive. GSES has two core offerings; Training and Consulting. […]

The Role of CEC Accreditation in Renewable Energy Industry

The attainment of the Clean Energy Council (CEC) accreditation for installation of Solar PV systems has been the standard for the industry as a result of its ties to the Federal Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) . However, the introduction of battery energy storage systems has sparked discussion with regard to the relevance of […]

Inverter Power Factor Modes: How do they affect voltage rise calculations?

As Australia continues to see the trend to increase system capacity to medium or large scale Grid-connected PV system, it becomes valuable for Inverter Energy Systems (IES) to have ways to support the power quality of the grid. The most recent revision of the Australian Standard AS/NZS 4777.2: Grid connection of energy systems via inverters […]

Pumped hydro storage in Australia- can a liquid battery compete?

In the past months, there have been many discussions centered around pumped hydro storage schemes. Most notably of which is the current government announcement to expand the iconic Snowy Hydro system as well as South Australia’s investigation into pumped hydro from Spencer Gulf. It is well-known that some renewable energy systems are intermittent and their […]

Building Integrated Photovoltaics: What is the potential for this PV technology?

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), as the name suggests, describe a PV system where solar PV modules are integrated within a building’s envelope, as oppose to conventional PV systems where modules are mounted on the top of existing roofs. BIPV products have been commercially available since the 1990s in Europe, but have not played a major […]

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