TRAINING.

Overview

After participating in the course, you will be able to:

• Apply basic principles of solar cell operation and comply with the electrical authority and system operator
• Perform AC and DC system losses, fault analysis at combiner boxes and assess solar farm site
• Complete design layout and orientation, financial evaluations and operation of string and utility-scale inverters
• Transform to AC and connection medium voltage (MV) and high voltage (HV) distribution system and addition of battery energy storage system (BESS)
• MV AC collector system design
• Understand safe design (DC and AC arc flash analysis, labelling and interlocking)
• Project scheduling and commercial aspects

Description:
In Canada, the growing and constantly evolving solar PV systems are unfamiliar to many engineers involved in power generation. The course deals with solar site assessment, installation consideration, financial evaluation of design, DC and AC losses, utility-scale and string inverters, project scheduling, MV and HV distribution, PV system commissioning and local utility and authority technical requirements.

The course focuses on ground-mounted, grid-connected, medium and large utility-scale solar farms connected to medium and high-voltage circuits. Participants will also learn about overall solar farm configuration, including DC and AC design and conceptual design of MV substation and AC collector circuits.

Course Outline :

• PV modules and fundamentals
• String voltage and current sizing
• String combiners and recombiners
• Solar farm site assessment
• DC system losses
• DC to AC transformation
• Energy yield analysis
• Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
• Medium voltage collector system design
• Medium voltage and high voltage substation design
• Grounding
• Project scheduling and procurement
• Testing and commissioning of PV system
• Utility interconnection requirements

Who Should Attend:
Owners • Electrical Designers • Electrical Engineers • Sales Engineers • Electricians • Project Managers • Installation and Operating Engineers requiring knowledge of PV Solar Systems

Please note: You can check other time zones here.

Syllabus

Day I

Welcome, Introduction, Workshop Preview, Learning Outcomes, and Assessment Method

PV Modules

• Properties of light and PV modules
• Basic theory
• Commercial types and technologies
• Understanding PV modules’ technical specifications
• PV module IV curve

String Voltage and Current Sizing

• Case study 1: VOC and ISC calculations
• Cable sizing and ampacity study
• Approved cable types and cable sizing
• Canadian Electrical Code requirements

String Combiners and Recombiners

• Circuit ampacity correction and derating Factors
• Sizing for combiners and recombiner boxes
• "Smart" combiner boxes
• Prewired combiner boxes
• PV system racking systems
• Rapid shut-down
• Trunk wiring design
• Solar array configurations
• Fault analysis at combiner boxes
• DC arc flash assessment
• Case study 2: Voc and ISC calculations, sizing of combiner and recombiner boxes

Solar Farm Site Assessment

• Civil works
• Environmental aspect
• Array length
• Access road

Questions

Adjournment

Day II

DC System Losses

• PV module losses
• Environmental losses
• Cable voltage drop: I2R losses
• Case study 3: I2R losses calculation

DC to AC Transformation

• Understanding technical specifications for DC/AC grid tie-in inverters
• Grid tie-in inverter operation principle
• Inverter station e-house package
• Inverter AC short circuit contribution
• DC/AC ratio design consideration
• AC transformation for utility grade inverters: Inverter AC output to hydro medium-voltage
• Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Component
• MV collector system design
• MV and HV substation design
• Conservation of operational energy (“brown” power)
• Safety aspects (AC Arc flash analysis and interlocking)
• AC system losses (medium-voltage transformers no load and load losses and I2R cable losses)
• Summary of DC and AC losses
• HV and MV Substation design concepts for utility-scale and string inverters

Grounding

• Electrical Safety Code requirements
• Grounding potential rise (GPR)
• Resistance field measurements

Day III (morning time)

Project Scheduling

• Design/construction sequencing
• Procurement
• Limited and Full notice to proceed with task orders
• 3rd party interaction

Testing and Commissioning of PV System

• Open circuit voltage test
• IV curve test
• Thermal image

Regulatory Requirements

• Electrical Safety Authority
• System Operator & Utility requirements
• Case study 4: 10 MW design example

Questions and Answers, Feedback on Achievement of Learning Outcomes

Concluding Remarks and Final Adjournment

Instructor

Igor Bozic, P.Eng.

Igor is a registered professional electrical engineer with LEED accreditation. He graduated from the electrical engineering program at Ryerson University in 2001. A member of the consulting industry since 1999, Mr. Bozic has gained extensive experience in commercial, industrial, and utility scale wind and solar projects. He has worked with a number of different clients in industrial, heavy industrial, utility, transportation, commercial, health care, and government sectors. He specializes in the technical aspects of projects, taking on roles as electrical inspector, electrical engineer, electrical lead for utility scale solar and wind projects.

His experience also includes financial analysis, procurement for EPC contracts, regulatory requirements, testing and commissioning, performance guarantee, and feasibility studies. Mr. Bozic is an employee of Wood (formerly knowns as AMEC FW), where he works as electrical department lead.