What are the pros and cons of DC grids and how have the TIGON team dealt with these? This was one of the talking points at the project's final event at its French demo site.
Much of the work carried out at CEA-INES, as one of the project’s demo sites, has involved enhancing MVDC grid tech for photovoltaics (PV). Potential for PV roll-out is huge, both for installed capacity and generation. And the cost of producing such systems is coming down.
The facility in France, which set up the world’s first 3kV string voltage PV plant in 2012, includes a large rooftop PV system where medium voltage DC grids have been tested for industry. The demo visit took delegates through the MVDC grid test platform and the key components, including the rooftop PV equipment.
DC grids offer more efficiency, with fewer conversion steps and less cable losses, epecially for medium voltage levels. They also use less material and space, while providing greater flexiblity. However, the supplier ecosystem remains small and protections are more complex. Another big issue is regulation. Medium voltage levels are still subject to high voltage regulations.
It’s against this backdrop that we have worked towards the energy transition, in which electricification is a key strategy. And as demand in electricity is set to rise significantly, the experience from the project will help inform policy and marks another step in helping bridge the gap between legacy AC grids and DC loads.
