Power Grid Integration

To guarantee the stability and performance of power grids, manufacturers and operators of decentralized power generating systems must adhere to the demands of national and international guidelines and network connection regulations. Compliance with connection conditions for supplying low, middle, high and maximum-voltage networks is an important prerequisite.

We are accredited according to ISO 17065 to certify conformity according to the following international standards:

• Germany:
  
  • Connection to low-voltage networks according to VDE-AR-N 4105
  • Connection to medium-voltage networks according to BDEW MSR 2008 and VDE-AR-N 4110
  • Connection to high-voltage networks according to VDE-AR-N 4120

• CEA, Govt of lndia Grid Standards
• Brazilian Grid Code
• Spanish Grid Code
• USA Grid Code: ERCOT
• South Africa Grid Code
• Turkish NAR

For the energy networks of the future, energy storage systems (ESS) are an important component for supporting power generation units. We test and certify ESS from the design phase through the completed facility according to national and international norms:

• Technical guidelines FGW TR3, FGW TR4, FGW TR8
• BDEW medium-voltage guidelines: technical connection conditions for medium, high and maximum voltage
• VDE-AR-E 2510-2: stationary electric energy storage systems intended to connect to low-voltage networks
• VDE-AR-E 2510-50: stationary energy storage systems with lithium battery safety requirements

The network compatibility of decentralized power generating systems must be demonstrated. This is done, according to the voltage level, as part of the electrical characteristics verification and must be certified. Certification requires testing of the specifications related to the production unit (i.e. combined heat and power plant, wind turbine or solar inverter) and to the production facilities (i.e, wind farm or solar park):

• Adherence to harmonics and flicker limits
• Reactive power provision
• Real power discharge
• FRT simulation and network disruption behavior
• Conferral of unit and facility certificates
• Modeling and calculations at the network connection point
• Network behavior simulation

After receiving certificates for the units and facilities (i.e. for the windpark, etc.), a compliance declaration for the park operator must be issued. This declaration confirms that the network operator’s technical requirements have been implemented and that the corresponding prerequisites for the receipt of feed-in remuneration -- according to the Renewable Energy Law -- have been met.

Unit manufacturers must provide a unit certificate for all generation units (i.e., combined heat and power units, PV inverters, etc.) that are connected to the distribution or transmission grid.

TÜV Rheinland certificates for generation units confirm compliance with relevant technical standards and network connection guidelines. In addition, they verify conformity with all values specified by power supply quality requirements.

For the German market, our testing is based on the VDE-AR-N or BDEW guidelines as well as the technical guidelines 3, 4 and 8 of the FGW e.V. (Fördergesellschaft Windenergie und andere Erneuerbare Energien e.V.). We also carry out the necessary generation unit measurements related to feedback effects (short-circuit resistance, current-carrying capacity, active and reactive power provision, fault behavior). Our testing laboratory is accredited according to DIN EN 17025.

Following the commissioning of the power generation unit in the generating facility, the grid operator is required to present a declaration of compliance. On the basis of commissioning and safety inspection records and an on-site assessment, this document confirms that both the power generating facility and unit comply to the guidelines confirmed by the facility certificate.

Submission of the declaration of compliance completes the certification process for electrical characteristics verification according to grid codes as well as the German SDLWindV ordinance (Verordnung zu Systemdienstleistungen durch Windenergieanlagen).