Solectria Renewables secures $2.1m DOE contract for smart-grid ready PV inverters

Solectria Renewables has secured a $2.1m contract from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop integrated smart-grid ready photovoltaic (PV) inverters with utility communications.

The partners under the contract include the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Detroit Edison, National Grid and Xcel Energy.

The awarded contract is part of the DOE's SunShot Initiative, that will demonstrate smart-grid ready inverters with grid support functionality and required communication links with utilities to capture the full value of distributed PV.

Under the contract, EPRI and Solectria Renewables will integrate the distribution management system, enabling utilities to communicate different operating objectives such as a normal mode, with no disturbances, energy conservation mode, demand reduction mode, or grid-level emergency mode.

Detroit Edison, National Grid and Xcel Energy will supply test sites ranging from 605kW to 30MW.

Solectria Renewables is the US-based grid-tied PV inverter manufacturer for residential, commercial and utility-scale solar installations.