Posted January 15, 20232 yr We are about to install a PV Grid tied system with no battery storage (too expensive, it’s for a small office block). I have been advised by the installer that the system will not provide power to us during load shedding, even if there is adequate sunshine to supply the loads. Why is that? Is it a restriction on the part of the inverter, or something inherent in grid tied systems that prevents this from happening? I thought that installing a CT coil on an AC coupled system would prevent exporting power back to the grid, thus making this possible.
January 15, 20232 yr 36 minutes ago, Pramod said: We are about to install a PV Grid tied system with no battery storage (too expensive, it’s for a small office block). I have been advised by the installer that the system will not provide power to us during load shedding, even if there is adequate sunshine to supply the loads. Why is that? Is it a restriction on the part of the inverter, or something inherent in grid tied systems that prevents this from happening? I thought that installing a CT coil on an AC coupled system would prevent exporting power back to the grid, thus making this possible. Unfortunately, the machine is required to disconnect from grid when escom grid is not available. This is for safety reasons. Secondly if it was possible, the quality of pv as a backup source will dissapoint you, it needs a minimal battery storage source to fill in for times when pv is weak , acting as a reservoir. So this will be money not well spent. It will only serve as energy saving, but then only during sunny hours and only if grid is available.
January 16, 20232 yr Author Thanks. However, my home system (Sunsynk) has PV panels and a battery, and I believe that it will continue to function even if the battery is disconnected (It seems that the SMA Sunny Island inverters shut down if no battery is connected). The CT Coil prevents the inverter from exporting power back onto the grid in case of a grid failure (According to Sunsynk); so I don't understand why an SMA system without a battery can't behave in the same way (i.e. stop exporting to the grid when the grid fails, but continue to supply the load). Our PV grid tied system should save us enough money to pay for itself with a few years, and thereafter provide a substantially reduced cost of electricity. We use about 30kw and will generate 50kw at peak. Edited January 16, 20232 yr by Pramod
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