Presentation of the new Energy Systems Sector in SUPSI, with focus on "developing innovative approaches to intelligent energy management and to photovoltaic systems quality, facilitating their implementation in the built environment, promoting the knowledge transfer to industry, professionals and younger generation.

1. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Energy Systems Sector
Vision for research, services and education
Davide Rivola
Mauro Caccivio
Vasco Medici
26 novembre 2015
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2. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Background:
SUPSI in photovoltaics, a brief summary
• 1982: TISO 10 kW mono-Si PV plant
• 1988: 4 kW a-Si
• 1991: Outdoor Test Stand
• 2001: Indoor Test (ISO 17025)
• 2010: Swiss PV Module Test Center(ISO 17025)
• 2014: IECee Certification Body Test Laboratory (CBTL)
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3. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Turning points
19.06.2015
Decision to restructure the PV research area
06.11.2015
The new Energy Systems Sector is operational
31.12.2015
Ceasing of IECee certification of PV modules
30.09.2016
Conclusion of transfer of equipment and personnel from Lamone to Trevano
Campus
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4. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
New organization
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ISAAC
R. Rudel
Sector Energy Systems
D. Rivola
Team
Intelligent Energy
Systems
Vasco Medici
Team
Photovoltaic
Systems Quality
Mauro Caccivio
Engineering Nicolas Ostinelli
Advisor Domenico Chianese
Building Sector
BIPV Competence Centre

5. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Mission of Energy System Sector
Our mission is to accelerate the transition to reliable and environmentally
sustainable energy systems.
We develop innovative approaches to intelligent energy management and to
photovoltaic systems quality.
We facilitate their implementation in the built environment.
We promote the knowledge transfer to industry, professionals and younger
generation.
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6. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Head of Sector Energy System
Davide Rivola M.Sc. Microtech. EPFL
2004 – 2006 Software Engineer – Omega Electronics, Bienne
2006 – 2007 Software Engineer – TEQ, Barbengo
2007 – 2009 Industrial Automation Engineer – PCAM, Cadenazzo
2009 – 2010 Sabbatical – round the world trip
2010 – 2015 Researcher – SUPSI, Trevano
Main activities:
• 2010 – 2014 Project manager, Swiss2Grid P&D
• 2014 – 2015 Project manager, GridSense (industrialisation of Swiss2Grid)
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7. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Team Photovoltaic Systems Quality
- New organisation
- Market analysis
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8. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
New Organisation:
Photovoltaic Systems Quality Team
• Mauro Caccivio Responsible
• Gabi Friesen Researcher
• Mauro Pravettoni Researcher
• Sebastian Dittmann Researcher
• Loris Manni Assistant
• Moreno Ronchi Technician
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9. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
PV Market situation and evolution:
Market trends
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• Price balance
is shifting
to soft costs
• Strong decrease
in module price

10. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Is the PV module going to be a commodity?
• The winning products shall have a special
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focus on quality
Soft costs reduction: PV Plug and Play
• Integration of electronics in PV modules
• Easier installation
• Better shadows management
• Safety
• Monitoring
• Efficient O&M
• Not for the moment but…
PV Market situation and evolution:
Price pressure

11. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
- Target
- Activities
.Research
.Services
.Education
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12. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
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• Present situation
Redefine our Target: Balance of System
Redefine our Target: PV module as «black box»

13. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Module characterisation
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• Electrical
• Thermal
• Optical
• Mechanical
• Outdoor yield evaluation
• Different climates
• Different technologies
Field Performance
Activities: Research

14. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
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• Definition and ranking of all the failure
modes of a product
• Ranking based upon major indicators, for
example:
• Severity: economic and safety impact
• Frequency
• Detectability
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Survival probability
Activities: Research
New tools for failure prediction
•Failure occurrence
•Failure mechanisms/modes
•Development of test procedures
Approach
•Reverse engineering on modules from old systems (>20 years of
operation e.g TIS010)
•Reproduction of early stage failures (case studies from clients, 1-5
years old systems)

15. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
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• ISO 17025 accredited testing
– Prototype pre-testing
– Retesting activities
– Module characterisation:
• Lot acceptance verification
• Reference module characterisation
Activities: Services
• Accelerated testing procedures for industry:
• New products qualification
• Optimisation of R&D processes
• Energy Yield measurement
• Field testing on PV systems
• Quality Auditing

16. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
• Introduction to PV (Course of Advanced Studies)
• Introductory PV courses for newcomers
• Tailormade courses for professionals
– FMEA case studies
– ALT and UALT methodologies
• Tailormade courses for developing countries
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Activities: Education

17. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Summary
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18. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
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• RESEARCH
• Focus on PV System Quality
• Integration with Intelligent Energy
Systems and BIPV group
• SERVICES
• Focus on Industry, Professionals,
EPCs , Insurances and Utilities
• Swiss Industry and market driven
strategic view
• EDUCATION
• CAS, courses for professionals,
courses for developing countries
Summary

19. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Team Intelligent Energy Systems
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20. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Team Intelligent energy systems
• Vasco Medici Dr. Sc., M.Sc. Microengineering Team leader
• Davide Strepparava M.Sc. Informatics Researcher
• Gianluca Corbellini M.Sc. Mathematical Engineering Researcher
• Lorenzo Nespoli M.Sc. Energy Engineering PhD Student EPFL
Scientific assistant
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21. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector 21
Current research (1/4)
GridSense project
A completely decentralized demand side managment system
• Controls energivorous loads using
custom built hardware
• Solves a multi-objective optimization
problem (energy cost + grid)
• Adaptive (plug-and-play)
• Pilot project set up
and operational

22. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector 22
Current research (2/4)
SCCER – FURIES Shaping the FUtuRe SwIss Electrical InfraStructure
• Work packages:
• WP1 Regional Multi-Energy Grids
• S1.1. Smart metering infrastructure
• S.1.2. Demand side response/management
• S1.3. Ancillary services for distribution grids
• S1.4. Forecasting tools of renewable energy
production
• S1.5. Planning procedures of regional energy
systems
• S1.6. Development of standards/grid codes for
distribution networks
• WP2 Bulk Multi-Energy Grids
• WP3 Multi-Terminal AC-DC Grids and Power
Electronics
• WP4 Grid Components

23. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector 23
Current research (3/4)
Optimal design of PV systems
• Optimal sizing and orientation of rooftop PV systems, with special focus on
bankability (e.g. maximizing internal rate of return of the investment)
• Risk assessment and Sensitivity analysis

24. DACD / ISAAC / Energy Systems Sector
Start-up company based in Lugano, that is
developing a new tool for PV plant design,
simulation and optimization, based on a 3d graphics
engine.
Collaboration with ISAAC on:
• Mathematical models for PV performance
(modules, inverter, losses...)
• Mathematical models for hi-res irradiation
• Algorithms for detailed mismatch losses analysis
• Optimizer for the design of PV plants (energetic,
economic, self-consumption….)
• Modelling for bifacial and BIPV modules
• …
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Current research (4/4)
INSUN

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• ERA-Net Smart Grids Plus
– Meta analysis of the results of
several smart grid project in Europe
• SCCER - FURIES 2
– Validation of developed DSM
systems
– Algorithm development
– Business models investigation
• KTI project with Insun
– Modeling
– Plant design optimization
– ...
Future research (1/2)
Planned

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• Data mining techniques on low accuracy monitoring datasets
• Machine learning for fault detection
• On-site analysis to prevent failures
• Analysis of grid effects from penetration of PV
• New tariff scenarios for electricity bill (voltage based, peak, capacity…)
• Bankability of PV projects
• Peer to peer analysis of PV performance from public weather datasets
(no local sensors in PV plant)
Future research (2/2)
Outlook