The Solar Energy Grid Integration System (SEGIS) program fosters advanced photovoltaic (PV) balance-of-system technologies that can be readily assimilated into “more intelligent grids” and enable high penetration of PV in the nation’s utility grid while maintaining or improving power quality and reliability. The program accomplishes its objectives by significantly advancing highly integrated and innovative inverters, controllers, balance-of-system (BOS) hardware and associated elements for high-value residential, commercial and modularized allowing expansion to utility-scale solar energy applications.
Through the SEGIS program, industry and researchers develop energy management and integrated systems, that applies to smart metering, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and other intelligent interfaces. By turning the one-way power grid of yesterday into the sophisticated two-way power flow of tomorrow, SEGIS advances wide-scale deployment of solar and other energy resources. The program’s activities include advanced technology research and development, integrated communications, adaptable system optimizations, resource assessment, and codes and standards.
DOE’s SEGIS funding solicitation seeks to advance innovative hardware and software that support the Solar Energy Technologies Program (SETP) objectives. The solicitation is divided into three stages: Concept and Feasibility; Prototype Development; and Pilot Production. The solicitation is divided into three stages: Concept and Feasibility; Prototype Development; and Pilot Production (toward commercialization). SEGIS R&D efforts will provide significantly improve value and performance of PV systems, with energy management/storage options, through the development of advanced system-integrated inverters, adaptive controllers, and energy management hardware with higher reliability, higher value to the owner and utility, and lower overall system costs. Further SEGIS advances will use energy management, system-integrated inverters and controllers, and/or micro-grid controls and optimization to advance high penetration of PV into the grid infrastructure.
The advances through the SEGIS solicitation by the manufacturers is validated and verified through a coordinated effort with Sandia’s Distributed Energy Technology Laboratory (DETL) that provides third party performance evaluations on prototype and advanced designs.
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For more information about renewable grid integration and the SEGIS program at Sandia National Laboratories, contact Ward Bower, wibower@sandia.gov, (505) 844-5206.
Grid integration activities at Sandia National Laboratories support the Systems Integration sub-program of the Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Program, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/systems_integration_program.html. |
