A consortium led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) is testing grid-forming inverters at a large solar power plant in southern Germany. The aim of the first tests is to investigate the performance of the devices in real operating conditions, stress factors and typical stress profiles.
The goal of the “Stabil” research project is to find out possible load scenarios to which the inverters forming the network may be exposed in the future.
“On the basis of these studies, conclusions are drawn about optimal and cost-effective sizing, especially for power semiconductors,” said Fraunhofer ISE.
The consortium is measuring the performance of the first grid-forming inverter prototypes at a solar power plant in Dürbheim, Germany. The aim of these first tests is to investigate the performance of the devices under real operating conditions, stress factors and typical stress profiles.
Once these tests are complete, experts at the three entities can develop so-called “mission profiles,” which define values ​​such as global horizontal, direct and diffuse radiation and ambient temperature.
“These will be analyzed in the laboratory along with identified future loads,” they said. “From this feedback, recommendations are derived for optimized design for durable devices and their components that have a long service life and are introduced to the public.”
Kaco New Energy participates in the project by integrating solar electricity into its grid-forming control equipment. Infineon Technologies supplies optimized semiconductor modules for inverters.
“In the energy system of the future, which will be built largely without grid-forming synchronous machines in today’s mandatory conventional power plants, grid-forming inverters must provide grid stability not only during normal operation but also during severe grid failures,” said Fraunhofer ISE.
