PV based electrification of the economy: Designing & optimising PV systems supporting industrial electrification and promoting participation in electricity markets (EUPI-PV Partnership)

Expected outcome

Large PV systems such as utility scale PV are evolving towards higher voltage architecture (>=3kV) with the objective to minimize losses and improve system efficiency at lower costs. The intention is to integrate also storage into such (hybrid) PV systems offering flexibility. It is consequently essential to build a blueprint for the implementation of high voltage large PV systems and the development of Direct Current (DC) networks around strategic end users for high voltage demand (industrial sites, servers, electric vehicle charging stations…). Understanding the factors that influence the performance and economics of these system architectures will help system planners evaluate the potential benefits of such hybrid resources that could support an increasing future industrial electrification. Another crucial challenge to address in ensuring the continued growth of new investments in solar PV, is the increasing occurrence of zero or negative prices in the electricity market, which dramatically hurt the profitability of operating solar PV assets. To tackle this challenge, PV participation to ancillary services is a way forward, which would reduce significantly system operating costs and PV curtailment and improve system reliability and PV profitability. The coupling/pooling with other generation assets or storage/demand assets is also to be considered.

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes as indicated for the proposed scope (high voltage DC PV systems or PV participation in electricity markets):

Scope 1: High-voltage DC PV systems:

1. Highly efficient PV systems, optimal utilisation of generated PV electricity, energy savings;
2. Decreased levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) and affordable electricity for industrial users.

Scope 2: PV participation in electricity markets:

1. Increased social profitability of PV by participation to ancillary services;
2. Energy efficient, cost competitive and flexible contribution of PV systems to the energy markets.

All proposals are expected to support the execution of the solar energy joint research and innovation agenda.

Scope

Proposals are expected to cover at least one of the following scopes:

Scope 1: High-voltage DC PV systems:

• Design higher voltage system architectures and evaluate the efficiency benefit;
• Develop the blueprint for an AC (Alternating Current)/DC hybrid solution for managing end user loads, achieving high levels of efficiency;
• Demonstrate a high voltage >3kV operating in DC grids for industrial installations hybrid system;
• Investigate the impact of higher voltage on PV modules.

Scope 2: PV participation in electricity markets:

• Demonstrate integrated management of PV generators for dynamic and/or nodal pricing;
• Pool PV with other consumption/production assets to participate in balancing mechanisms; assess the viability of these systems and demonstrate business models and financing schemes;
• Demonstrate reliability, procurement driven risk mitigation and better system availability through digitalization.

Whenever the expected exploitation of project results entails developing, creating, manufacturing and marketing a product or process, or in creating and providing a service, the plan for the exploitation and dissemination of results must include a strategy for such exploitation as well as a strong business case and sound exploitation strategy. The exploitation plan should include preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation, and deployment (feasibility study, business plan) indicating the possible funding sources to be potentially used (in particular the Innovation Fund).

This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV). As such, projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on the results to the European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs.