ᐅ Limitation of photovoltaic system output due to subsidy conditions
Created on: 19 Jan 2021 21:45
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WilderSuedenW
WilderSueden19 Jan 2021 21:45Here in Baden-Württemberg, the funding program for "grid-supportive storage" is being relaunched. I have just been reading through the funding conditions for the previous program and have a question about them. I had already started a thread in the subforum for construction costs/funding, but no one responded, and the question is more technical in nature.
The funding conditions state the following:
The maximum power output of the photovoltaic system at the grid connection point is a) for photovoltaic systems with up to 30 kWp capacity, 50 percent, and b) for photovoltaic systems with more than 30 kWp capacity, 60 percent of the installed capacity of the photovoltaic system. The obligation to limit the power output applies permanently for the entire lifetime of the photovoltaic system, but at least for 20 years [...]
If photovoltaic systems [...] are equipped with technical devices that fulfill the requirement according to § 9 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 or § 9 para. 1 sentence 2 no. 1 of the Renewable Energy Act (remote-controlled reduction of feed-in power in case of grid overload by the grid operator), the active power limitation does not apply [...]
This does not seem very economical to me. For a one-time payment of around 1000€ or so, I am only allowed to feed in half of the nominal capacity permanently. Especially in summer, the yield is quite high, and the base load in the house is unlikely to be several kilowatts without air conditioning. The battery is probably already full from mid-morning onwards.
The way out would be for the grid operator to curtail power. How often does this happen, and is the curtailment function a standard feature in inverters?
The funding conditions state the following:
The maximum power output of the photovoltaic system at the grid connection point is a) for photovoltaic systems with up to 30 kWp capacity, 50 percent, and b) for photovoltaic systems with more than 30 kWp capacity, 60 percent of the installed capacity of the photovoltaic system. The obligation to limit the power output applies permanently for the entire lifetime of the photovoltaic system, but at least for 20 years [...]
If photovoltaic systems [...] are equipped with technical devices that fulfill the requirement according to § 9 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 or § 9 para. 1 sentence 2 no. 1 of the Renewable Energy Act (remote-controlled reduction of feed-in power in case of grid overload by the grid operator), the active power limitation does not apply [...]
This does not seem very economical to me. For a one-time payment of around 1000€ or so, I am only allowed to feed in half of the nominal capacity permanently. Especially in summer, the yield is quite high, and the base load in the house is unlikely to be several kilowatts without air conditioning. The battery is probably already full from mid-morning onwards.
The way out would be for the grid operator to curtail power. How often does this happen, and is the curtailment function a standard feature in inverters?
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WilderSueden19 Jan 2021 22:29200€ per kWh of storage, so depending on the size of the storage system, roughly around one thousand euros. To then only feed in half of the rated capacity for 20 years seems a bit insufficient. On the other hand, I would be less bothered if the grid operator limits my feed-in five times a year for an hour each time due to high wind and solar power production.
Implement a soft curtailment. This way, the photovoltaic system can produce at full capacity and only reduces output when self-consumption is too low.
Are you planning or do you already have a pool? Excess power could be used with a heat pump to heat the pool water. Or consider using it for air conditioning in the house, or an electric or hybrid vehicle...
The main issue is that during the season with the highest electricity demand (heat pump in winter), almost no photovoltaic power is generated.
How large do you plan the photovoltaic system to be?
Curtailment by the grid operator has so far been very rare, especially for “small” private systems. Of course, this could change...
The ripple control receiver also costs money, and if the grid operator cuts you off, you have no production at all...
Are you planning or do you already have a pool? Excess power could be used with a heat pump to heat the pool water. Or consider using it for air conditioning in the house, or an electric or hybrid vehicle...
The main issue is that during the season with the highest electricity demand (heat pump in winter), almost no photovoltaic power is generated.
How large do you plan the photovoltaic system to be?
Curtailment by the grid operator has so far been very rare, especially for “small” private systems. Of course, this could change...
The ripple control receiver also costs money, and if the grid operator cuts you off, you have no production at all...
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WilderSueden20 Jan 2021 12:47Neither a pool, air conditioning, nor an electric car. Consumption without heating is therefore not very high. The exact size of the photovoltaic system is not yet determined but will be in the range of 6-10 kWp. Half of that would be 3-5 kW, and even with a reduction to account for the difference between nominal and actual output, this is still well above the base consumption. I believe that with a 50% curtailment, we would consistently be producing excess electricity on sunny days.
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