Category: Energy Efficiency

A Cost Effective Solution for Solar Roof Electric Systems

Currently, residential renewable energy systems have several deficiencies. For example, grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems, when there is a problem on the power grid, this type of PV systems must be shut down to prevent possible casualties or damage to equipment regardless if it is generating electricity or not. Wouldn’t it be better if the PV system can continue to provide power to some crucial appliances in this situation?

Figure 1 Grid-Tied PV system using a Load Center

There are hybrid PV systems ( grid-tied PV systems with batteries) that can provide backup power for users during a power outage, but installing a such system requires a sub-service panel, a bi-direction inverter, a transfer switch, and an addition beside the battery system. Its cost compared to grid-tied PV is almost doubled.

Here is a solution to address the above problems cost-effectively. The solution is to target the key component of a local electric system, to make it more robust and intelligent.

Figure 2 Grid-Tied PV system with batteries using a Load Center

To understand why it is a cost-effective solution, let’s have a look at how a PV system is connected to a power grid. From Figure, you can see that a grid-tied residential PV system is also connected to a utility grid through the load center. Because all the connections through the load center are fixed, when there is a power outage, to prevent islanding, the PV system has to be shut down. Figure 2 shows a grid-tied PV system with batteries. From this figure, it is not hard to understand why this type of PV system is so expensive.

Figure 3 Grid-Tied PV system with Batteries using a DuliISP

From figure 3 you can see, after replacing the load center with an intelligent device, DuliISP, the structure of a grid-tied PV system with batteries is simplified, therefore significantly reducing the components and labor cost. Meanwhile, the embedded energy management features enable users to more efficiently use energy, and to get their money back. in a few years.

One Innovation Multiple Benefits

Utility power has been connected to a local electric system or a residential home through a power distribution panel or a load center. All the connections on the load center are fixed. The fixed connections have many drawbacks. It is difficult to increase energy efficiency, limits the benefits of smart grids to some degree, and contributes to the higher cost and less satisfactory performance of grid-tied PV systems.

Duli intelligent service panel (DuliISP) overcomes these drawbacks. With innovative circuit topology and control algorithm, the DuliISP can function as an intelligent gateway to a power grid, a dynamic power distribution device, and a local energy management center. As the result, the DuliISP  1) reduces grid tied renewable energy system cost and improve its performance, 2) enables consumers to conveniently reduce unnecessary power consumption, and participate in the demand response program.

For example, the DuliISP will enable grid-tied PV system continue to operate and to provide power to selected appliances safely during a power outage. It also simplifies the structure of grid-tied renewable energy systems with energy storage, therefore significantly reduce the system cost. This is important, because it makes the grid-tied PV system with energy storage to be more attractive to consumers. The advantages of this type of PV system compare to,current grid-tied PV system are not only more efficient, but also can help to smooth out fluctuations on the power grid, and overcome one of the obstacles clouding the future of the solar energy.

The DuliISP’s ability to intelligently connect to a power grid and to automatically manage the energy allow consumers to reduce unnecessary power consumption through conveniently monitoring & controlling their appliances usages  anywhere and anytime. Empowered by this ability, consumers are more willing to participate in the demand response programs. This in turn not only helps them to further reduce their electricity cost, it also helps to increase overall anergy efficiency as well.

One innovation can bring multiple benefits. Would you like to have it at your home?