Two new, commercial-ready plug-and-play home solar photovoltaic systems were recently demonstrated by the Fraunhofer USA Center for Sustainable Energy Systems at the organization’s “2016 Demo Day,” according to a new press release.
The new plug-and-play solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are, according to Fraunhofer USA Center for Sustainable Energy Systems, simple to install, easy to inspect for code compliance, and compatible with electronic Permitting, Inspection and Interconnection (ePI&I) processes.
For some background here, the US Department of Energy SunShot Initiative’s Plug and Play PV project was created to “dramatically reduce the installed cost of residential PV systems, from $3–4/Watt today to $1.50/Watt by 2020.”
“We have taken the Plug and Play PV approach to the next level by demonstrating that different technology approaches can meet the vision with simplified installation, simplified inspection, and electronic permitting, inspection and interconnection,” stated Dr Christian Hoepfner, Executive Director of Fraunhofer CSE and principal investigator on the Plug and Play PV project. “This opens the path for many manufacturers to develop and offer Plug and Play PV systems. Fraunhofer CSE and its commercial partners are now looking forward to piloting the Plug and Play PV approach on a larger scale in 2017.”
Plug and Play Demo Day 2016 saw Fraunhofer CSE perform a live installation of a string inverter solar PV system (including commissioning) in under 75 minutes — demonstrating the ease and simplicity of the system.
A number of major stakeholders — the City of Boston, electrical utilities like National Grid and Eversource, and industry partners such as Lumeta, SunPower, and VoltServer, amongst others — have been working closely with Fraunhofer CSE on the plug-and-play PV initiatives (and others).
“The Commonwealth’s partnership with Fraunhofer CSE continues to drive innovation and cut energy costs while making clean energy options like solar more accessible to residents and businesses,” commented Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “As part of the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to Massachusetts’ leadership in clean energy, we’re proud to support these types of public-private partnerships that aim to transform clean energy marketplaces.”
Pilot projects are expected to take place in 2017 in various different utility company territories.