SERIS Industry Day 2017

1. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
1
Owner’s / Banker's Engineering Services –
A Critical Part of Quality Assurance
TAN Congyi
Project Manager
Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS)
National University of Singapore (NUS)
SERIS INDUSTRY DAY on “PV Quality and Asset Management”
NUS, University Hall
14 August 2017

2. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
2
The case for quality assurance
 The PV industry has been growing at a stellar rate
 Market is highly competitive, and cost is often a major driving
factor
 How can we ensure that PV systems remain safe, and investors
get their money’s worth?
Source:
HDB rooftops,
Tiger breweries

3. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
3
 PV systems have almost no moving parts, do not operate
at high temperatures and have no dangerous emissions
 BUT, there are two key areas to watch out for, in order to
have a PV system that can last 25+ years:
 Safety (mechanical, electrical)
 System performance
What are the concerns?
Role of Owner’s / Banker’s Engineer
Source: Google Images

4. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
4
Concern #1: M&E safety
Most failures are electrical in nature
Messy wiringUsing improper protection devices
 Case studies show that catastrophic failures in solar PV
systems are primarily caused by:
 Inadequate/wrong system and fault protection design
 Sloppy workmanship during installation

5. 5SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
Concern #2: System performance
Example from analytical monitoring of SERIS in Singapore
82.6 82.2 81.9 81.7 79.9 79.8
73.5
70.0 69.5
62.5
58.1
A B C D E F G H I J K
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
PerformanceRatio(%)
Site
 A well-built system should perform according to design
specifications

6. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
6
Case studies – Faults identified (I)
Loose mounting mixtures
 Mounting problems can stay undetected for a long time,
until environmental conditions force it to manifest
 Especially risky for roof-mounted PV systems
 No quick test to uncover it, only meticulous inspection

7. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
7
Case studies – Faults identified (II)
Electrical hazards

8. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
8
Case studies – Faults identified (III)
Incorrect use of components
 Common faults: wrong polarity, DC components used in
AC circuit or vice versa

9. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
9
Case studies – Faults identified (IV)
Defective components
 Some insidious problems can lay dormant until checks
uncover them

10. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
10
 Commissioning formalizes quality control of PV systems
 Ensures that systems are safe and performing well
 Guards against fires, electrical harm arising from poorly
constructed systems
 Dollars and effort are not wasted on non-performing or
underperforming systems
 Encourages EPCs and system integrators to be responsible for
their installations
 Gives system owners a peace of mind during the transfer of
ownership
How can we mitigate the risks?
System verification is critical

11. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
11
PV system commissioning should
reference:
For grid-connected PV systems:
IEC 62446:2016
(SS601: 2014 in Singapore)
Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements
for testing, documentation and
maintenance
For off-grid PV systems:
IEC 62124:2004
Photovoltaic (PV) stand alone systems -
Design verification
Relevant standards
PV system commissioning

12. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
12
Mandatory certifications for Inverters
IEC 61000-6:2016
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
IEC 61683:1999
Photovoltaic systems - Power conditioners (Procedure for
measuring efficiency)
IEC 62109:2010
Safety of power converters for use in photovoltaic power systems
IEC 62116:2014
Utility-interconnected photovoltaic inverters - Test procedure of
islanding prevention measures
IEC 62894:2014
Photovoltaic inverters - Data sheet and name plate
Other useful IEC standards
Inverters

13. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
13
Low-voltage installations shall comply with:
IEC 60227:2007
Polyvinyl chloride insulated cables of rated voltages up to and
including 450/750 V
IEC 60228:2004
Conductors of insulated cables
High-voltage installations shall comply with:
IEC 60502:2014
Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories for
rated voltages from 1 kV (Um = 1,2 kV) up to 30 kV (Um = 36 kV)
IEC 60840:2011
Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories rated
voltages above 30 kV (Um = 36 kV) up to 150 kV (Um = 170 kV)
Other useful IEC standards
Power cables and accessories

14. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
14
Lightning protection shall comply with:
IEC 62305:2013
Protection against lightning
Power transformers shall comply with:
IEC 60076:2011
Power transformers
High-voltage switchgear shall comply with:
IEC 62271:2016
High-voltage switchgear and control gear
IEC 61936-1:2010
Power installations exceeding 1 kV a.c. - Part 1: Common rules
Other useful IEC standards
Power cables and accessories

15. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
15
All electrical components shall comply with:
IEC 62548:2016
Photovoltaic (PV) arrays - Design requirements
IEC 62093:2005,
Balance-of-system components for photovoltaic systems -
Design qualification natural environments
IEC 62093:2005
Balance-of-system components for photovoltaic systems -
Design qualification natural environments
IEC 60364:2005
Low-voltage electrical installations
Other useful IEC standards
Electrical components

16. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
16
 Verification that the system has been installed according to the
contract documents, manufacturer’s recommendations and
standards
 A proper record of equipment list and systems performance
 Verification that the installing company performed adequate
operation checkout
 Confirmation that the operations and maintenance (O&M)
documentation left on-site is complete
 Adequate training for the owner’s operating personnel
Testing & Commissioning
Expected outcomes

17. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
17
 Extensive experience with Owner’s Engineering services and T&C
(more than 50 MWp implemented)
 Broad range of exposure – from HDB blocks to MW-scale PV
installations (roof-top, ground-mounted, floating)
 Access to support from domain experts at NUS
How can SERIS be helpful here?
Our capabilities at a glance

18. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
18
 Backed by state-of-the-art equipment that goes beyond the
minimum standards prescribed
 I-V curve tracing, Infra-red Imaging, Daylight EL and PL
capabilities can aid in troubleshooting faulty or underperforming
systems
How can SERIS be helpful here?
Our capabilities at a glance
Irr = 712.2 W/m2
Daylight ELIV curve analysis

19. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
19
Other services by SERIS
 Subject matter experts can conduct customer-specific training on
various quality assurance topics for solar PV systems
 O&M training can also be provided

20. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
20
Summary
 Quality assurance is important to maintain the favourable
public opinion currently enjoyed by solar PV
 Proper system verification plays a critical role in system
ownership and risk mitigation
 Faults that go unrectified not only impact system
performance, but also safety
 Owner’s/banker’s engineering services are useful to protect
a client’s interest, and to fill in gaps in expertise for a project
Don’t chance it!

21. SERIS is a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). SERIS is sponsored by the National University of
Singapore (NUS) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
21
Don‘t hesitate to
contact us:
congyi.tan@nus.edu.sg
More information at
www.seris.sg
www.solar-repository.sg