According to an article, written by a utility engineer on O'ahu, PF can be worsened at the site where a substantial PV system is located.
If there is a poor or wavering PF due to an abundance of inductive loads at a particular site, having a large inverter, in relation to the overall power consumption of the facility, can actually make the PF worse. I can track down that piece for anyone interested. Marco ProVision Solar -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Joel Davidson Sent: Thursday, January 07, 2010 5:42 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Power Factor and Grid Tied PV We worked on dozens of commercial PV systems in Southern California Edison (SCE), Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) territories. We installed Xantrex, SMA, and SatCon inverters and measured power factor on both the grid and the inverters. In every case, inverter power factor was 1. In almost every case LADWP's power factor was less than 1 and in older parts of Los Angeles power factor was often 0.75. SCE and SDG&E generally has pretty good power factors. In general, PV inverters do not worsen grid power factor. In general, newer sections of the grid are better designed and better managed than older grid sections. When utility companies or anyone says PV causes grid problems, ask for proof. Joel Davidson ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darryl Thayer" <[email protected]> To: "RE-wrenches" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 9:39 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Power Factor and Grid Tied PV I recently spoke with an inverter manufacture and I left with the following opinion. Normally the inverter takes the unity power factor load and leaves the reactive load. making the power factor worse. However the power factor could be corrected by the inverter, However this would add cost to the inverter and would not appear to have value to the solar industry. There are variable reactance devices existing that can correct power factor, is there need for another device? Darryl > Hello Wrenches, > > Commercial power customers often are penalized for low > power factors. > Looking for other info I came across this article, which > seems to > cover the subject from an academic standpoint. > http://tinyurl.com/ye5pzrw Does anyone > have real world data which > might shed light on the impact of a DGT PV system on power > factor. > > With Regards > Carl Adams > SunRock Solar, LLC. > _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.129/2606 - Release Date: 01/07/10 21:35:00 _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
