Salt River Project to study effect of solar on the grid
by Apache Junction Independent
More than 750 Salt River Project customers are participating in an advanced inverter study to investigate how solar and other types of customer-generated energy sources impact the grid. The purpose of the pilot study, which is being conducted in conjunction with the Electric Power Research Institute, is to better understand how advanced inverters can help maintain grid reliability as solar installations increase, according to a press release.
Advanced inverters offer additional functionalities compared to traditional inverters that can support power quality and enable the ability to be controlled remotely. SRP has installed more than 750 advanced inverters on new and existing residential solar installations, and will begin collecting data in July. This study is one of the first of its kind to look at this technology from the customers’ side of the meter, according to the release.
“As more customers turn to solar or other generating sources, we will see an impact on our grid as the energy they generate tends to operate differently than traditional generation resources,” Jim Pratt, SRP’s senior director of Grid Modernization Services, said in a press release. “An advanced inverter helps smooth out the intermittent solar power fluctuations. We are excited to see how advanced inverter functionality can mitigate impacts and support power-quality requirements so equipment like our customers’ appliances and air conditioning units operate optimally. This helps us enable customers’ choices.”
