WHITEPAPER ON

OFFGRID AND BACKUP SYSTEMS

Fronius Microgrid Solution
Fronius PV-Genset Solution
© Fronius International GmbH
Version 1.0/2014
Solar Energy

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You are hereby reminded that the information published in this document, despite exercising the greatest of care in its preparation, is
subject to change and that neither the author nor Fronius can accept any legal liability.
Gender-specific wording refers equally to female and male form.
.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1  Introduction .....................................................................................................................................4 

2  Inverter-Charger driven microgrids ..............................................................................................5 

2.1  AC-coupling ......................................................................................................................................6 
2.1.1  Basic Inverter-Charger AC-coupling .................................................................................................7 
2.1.2  AC-coupling as grid back-up.............................................................................................................7 
2.1.3  Optimising Microgids / Extended Inverter-Charger AC-coupling ......................................................7 
2.2  Fronius Microgrid Solution ................................................................................................................8 

3  Operation of PV-Genset Systems ...............................................................................................10 

3.1  Fronius PV-Genset Solution ...........................................................................................................12 
3.1.1  Protecting and optimizing the diesel genset ...................................................................................13 
3.1.2  Optimising the PV-Genset system ..................................................................................................13 
3.1.3  Online system monitoring ...............................................................................................................14 
3.1.4  Products for the Fronius PV-Genset Solution .................................................................................14 

4  Appendix: Inverter features supporting microgrids .................................................................15 

4.1  Gradual Frequency dependent Power Reduction (GFdPR) ...........................................................15 
4.2  Gradual Voltage dependent Power Reduction (GVdPR)................................................................16 
4.3  Reactive Power as a function of Voltage (Volt-VAr-curve) .............................................................16 

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1 INTRODUCTION

Photovoltaics (PV) are continually gaining the focus of microgrid (MG) operators. In the fast growing sector of
MGs, PV and wind power are currently providing the best and cost effective solutions, in comparison to
traditional fossil fuel resources like diesel, oil, coal, etc. Annual costs of PV systems have been decreasing,
and when compared to the increasing costs of traditional fossil fuels and their transportation aspects, the
very positive market for solar business becomes subtle.
A MG is an energy system comprising of distributed generators, consumers and storage facilities. These
distributed generators can not only be fuelled by fossil energy resources (diesel, gas, etc.), but also by
renewables (biogas, PV, fuel cells, etc.). MGs can be established in areas with weak security of energy
supply and in remote rural communities or industrial areas. Generally, MGs are able to work in parallel to an
existing power grid (“on-grid-mode”), in addition to the islanding mode (“off-grid-mode”). The main focus of
this document lies on the “off-grid” behavior, in case of such MGs. Diesel generator sets in MGs are able to
build a stable grid (voltage, frequency) within limited areas offering a unique advantage that the site of power
generation is located in the vicinity of loads. MGs act like little self-sustaining cells where the demand and
generation are in equilibrium. The lack of long distance distribution networks makes the energy supply
through these grids even more valuable, since the distribution losses become minimal.

We classified the MGs into two types:

/ Inverter-Charger driving small and medium scale MGs (up to 300 kVA) with or without a backup AC
source (diesel genset or AC backup grid)
Fronius Microgrid Solution
/ Diesel Genset driven medium and large scale MGs (100 kVA up to MVA)
Fronius PV-Genset Solution

MGs formed by Inverter/Chargers are usually smaller than dieselgrids1 (<300kVA), and are used to power
commercial buildings or smaller settlements in remote locations.
“Dieselgrids” are rather large, and are located in areas, where it is economically or technically difficult to build
the transmission lines. They are popular in countries with variations in its geographical demography
(resulting in a number of remote locations, for e.g. Australia), and in countries with a weak security of energy
supply, for e.g. regions of India and the Asia/Pacific, in general. The size of such MGs can be of several
100s kVA.

1
MGs mainly powered by diesel gensets
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2 INVERTER-CHAR
RGER D
DRIVEN
N MICRO
OGRIDS
S

Inverter-Cha
arger driven MGs usually
y consist of tthree main co
omponents. The Inverterr-Charger itself, a batteryy
bank to sto
ore/provide the
t electricitty required, and an external powerr source (baack-up AC-grid, back-up
p
diesel, rene acilitate the recharging o
ewables) to fa of batteries.
It is importa
ant to know th
hat the Inverrter-Charger is in charge of keeping the system inn balance (i.e
e. active and
d
reactive pow ed tasks (forr e.g. UPS2, turn-on/turn--
orming all en ergy management relate
wer), in addiition to perfo
offs, back-u
up diesel setss, etc.).
Since the Inverter-Charger must be
b able to m mands of the load, its nnominal pow
meet the dem wer must be
e
dimensioned above the expected pe
eak load. It i s usually possible for the
e Inverter-Chharger to su
ustain supplyy
of extra pow
wer (exceed meplate’s rat ing) for shorrt durations (i.e., up to sseveral seco
ding the nam onds), which
h
might be esssential in ca
ase of inrush
h currents or to trip the protection
p dev
vices – in caase of issues
s addressing
g
the safety a
aspects.
Sizing the b
battery is imp
portant, since
e they are the
e main and price
p driving factor of succh systems.
The maximu
um achievab
ble system-siize largely de
epends on user’s
u choice of type of Innverter-Charg
ger. Usually,,
several unitts per phase
e can be connected in p
parallel (two up to ten) depending
d oon the manufacturer and
d
type. There
efore, the ma
aximum 3 ph
hase system size is limite
ed, for e.g. 63
6 kVA or upp to 300 kVA
A. For single
e
phase syste
ems 21 kVA / 100 kVA is also a possiibility.
The integra
ation of rene
ewables like PV into succh systems can
c be achie
eved either by employin
ng Maximum
m
nt Tracking (MPPT) charrge controllerrs on the 12
Power Poin 2 ... 48 V bus
b which iss typically called as “DC--
coupling”, o
or through the
e use of conventional griid-tied inverters that feed
ds-in on the A
AC Bus, which is termed
d
as “AC-coup
pling”.

Figure 1: Typical
T system to
opology of a DC
C-coupled micro
ogrid system

2
UPS referss to Uninterrruptable Pow wer Supply
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On the AC side, the In
nverter-Charrger acts as a voltage source
s that delivers thee exact real--time energyy
on (apparentt power). De
consumptio epending on
n what syste
em topology
y the user pprefers to ch
hoose, solarr
energy can directly cha
arge the battteries using MPPT charge controlle
ers to ensure
re that the batteries
b can
n
harge during
always rech g the availab
bility of sun irradiation. This is a co
onventional aapproach tha
at has been
n
everal years . The disadv
followed by energy harvvesters for se vantage of DC-coupling iss that the ov
verall system
m
efficiency iss very low, an
nd that the lo
ow voltage le
evel leads to
o very high currents on thhe DC side – resulting in
n
the requirem
ment of expe
ensive electrical compone
ents.

2.1 AC
C-coupling
g

A more up-tto-date apprroach of integrating renew

wables like PV into MG systems is tto use conve
entional grid--
tie inverterss feeding-in directly
d to the
e AC-side. T
This is possib
ble because of the technoological leap
p in continuall
developmen
nt of inverterrs over the la
ast years. To
oday’s PV in
nverters and Inverter-Chaargers are much
m smarterr
than those – from a couple of years
y ago. Features lik
ke frequency sweep too protect ba
atteries from
m
ng on the Invverter-Charger side, and the active and
overchargin a reactive power charaacteristic currves to keep
p
the grid in b
balance on th
he grid-tie inv
verters have led this to a possibility.
Such a systtem topologyy is termed as
a “AC-couplled”. The effficiency in su
uch a case off coupling is significantlyy
higher, beca
ause the pow
wer produced from PV ca
an be directlly fed to the loads througgh the highly
y efficient PV
V
inverters. In ge and link the gap. Any
nverter-Charrger serves to just bridg A excess oof solar ene
ergy can be
e
additionally stored in the
e battery ban
nk.

Figure 2: Typical schem

matic of an AC-c
coupled microgriid system

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The main advantages of AC coupling include the following:
/ High system efficiency because of efficient components and less conversion losses in case direct power
supply to the loads
/ Economical cost of components
/ Possibility of easy up-gradation of existing systems

2.1.1 Basic Inverter-Charger AC-coupling

In remote regions that are deprived of access to electrical energy, battery inverters offer a simple solution to
build MGs. Battery inverters when replaced by Inverter-Charger – renders other sources of energy to
interact within the system. Additionally, diesel gensets can be used as a back-up option – in case of battery’s
State of Charge SoC) drops, because of the lack of solar irradiation.

/ The basic rule valid for every Inverter-Charger driven MG application mentions that an installed PV
power (i.e. max. AC Power) must not exceed the installed Inverter-Charger power.
This ensures that the Inverter-Charger is not overloaded at any time.A strategy to increase the PV
penetration in such systems is described in 2.1.3.
/ All Inverter-Charger units in parallel or three phase systems must be connected to the same battery

2.1.2 AC-coupling as grid back-up

It is not necessary to connect the entire electrical installation to the Inverter-Charger while employing it as an
AC-back-up. For such a case, it should be sufficient to define some critical loads that are required in an
event of outage. In such cases, the installed capacity of Inverter-Charger can even be lower than that of a
stand-alone case. Nevertheless, if the grid-tie inverter should also be on-line in a back-up case, it can be
installed on the AC-out terminals of the Inverter-Charger.

2.1.3 Optimising microgrids / Extended Inverter-Charger AC-coupling

As a matter of fact, batteries are the known and obvious cost drivers in an Inverter-Charger MG. To
guarantee an un-interrupted supply of power, it becomes essential to have sufficient back-up of power
capacity, and therefore, battery banks must not be undersized. By adding a quantum of intelligence into the
system – it is possible to oversize the AC-coupled PV inverters with respect to the installed Inverter-Charger
capacity (by monitoring the power fed into the battery). Therefore it needs a control that measures the load
and controls PV power in a way that the maximum allowed power of charging the batteries trough the
Inverter-Charger is not exceeded at any time.
If most power demand is during the day-time (certain base load) it renders feasibility to cover most of the
demand, supplied by PV (to reduce the battery charging losses), and also to ensure simultaneous charging
of the batteries. This could lead to the decrease of the battery bank sizing, and in turn results the system to
be cost effective. In case of reduced solar irradiation the Inverter-Charger nevertheless must be able to
cover the peak load or small backup generators help out during these rare events. Also in case of poor
irradiation that last for several days, a backup generator can prevent form the system from “run dry”.

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2.2 Fro
onius Micrrogrid Sollution

The Froniuss Microgrid Solution

S offerrs an AC-cou m with the following listed advantages:
upled system
/ High syystem efficiency through the use of e
efficient syste
em compone
ents and redduced converrsion losses,,
in case
e of direct sup
pply to the lo
oads
/ Econom
mical cost of components
s
/ Possibiility of easy up-gradation
u of existing ssystems

The Fronius inverter provides

p as much PV e
energy as possible
p to the Microgridd. Automatic
c PV powerr
reduction iss necessary in times where the load iss lower than the possible
e PV producttion and the batteries are
e
full (or when
n the chargin
ng power of the
t Inverter-C
Charger is to
oo small).
Typically the
e power of th
he inverter is
s controlled w
without any communicat
c ion. In this caase the frequency droop
p
of the Invertter-Charger and
a the frequ
uency droop
p of the Fronius inverter cause
c optimaal power setp
points.

ency droop, a function ffor voltage dependent

In addition to the freque d po
ower reductiion to prevent from overr
voltage caused tripping,, and several reactive pow
wer control functions,
f can be activateed and fully configured.
c
There is allso a possib
bility to implement load measureme
ent to limit the maximuum power th
hat is to be
e
consumed b
by the Invertter-Charger. This can be
e realised witth using the Fronius PV--System Con
ntroller. With
h

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these possibilities the size of the PV n be large in comparison to the size oof the Inverter-charger forr
V-system can
optimized syystems.

It is also possible to con nius inverter via a 3rd partty device. Th

ntrol the Fron he available ccommunication solutionss
are Modbuss RTU or TCP (SunSpec Alliance Pro
otocol) and/or Fronius Inte
erface Protoocol.
Furthermore
e, the protecction settings
s in the Micro
ogrid Setup are configurrable. Whethher the same
e settings forr
the Microgrid are also applicable
a forr systems wh metimes conn
hich are som nected to thee utility grid, depends on
n
local connection rules.
The Froniuss Microgrid Solution
S can be realized with all Fronius Inverterrs the Froniuus PV-System Controllerr
and Currentt Transducerrs.
Inverter-Cha
arger produccts tested in combination
c with Fronius
s inverters:
/ Studer Xtender
nd Quattro
/ Victron MultiPlus an

With these products th

he Fronius Microgrid
M etup can be used withou
Se ut further coonfiguration effort at the
e
Fronius invverter. The standard
s setttings work in
n correctly sized
s system
ms (The Inveerter-Charge
er has to be
e
configured a
according itss manuals).

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3 OP
PERATIION OF PV-GENSET SYSTEM
S MS

nsets and photovoltaic

Diesel gen p technology can be co
ombined in perfect harrmony. Alth
hough these
e
technologie ely been in demand by the same users in the
es have rare e past, bringging the two
o generation
n
ogether hass now bec
systems to come extrem
mely benefficial technically, ecoloogically and
d especiallyy
economically.
In remote a he electricityy supply is patchy or extremely expeensive, grids powered byy
areas or regions where th
diesel genssets are an absolute
a st. The cost per kilowatt hour of electricity from a diesel gens
mus set is largelyy
e, depending
changeable g as it does on fuel and other variable costs. Only
O a small proportion is fixed. The
e
costs can va epending on country, tra nsport distan
ary widely de nce and incre
easing oil coosts on the global markett
(€0.05 – 2.5
5 per kWh).
The price trrend in the photovoltaic
p sector
s is mucch more pos he past few yyears the co
sitive. Over th osts per kWh
h
from PV sysstems have dropped
d dram
matically aro
ound the glob
be (€0.07 - 0.14 per kWh)).
For this rea
ason there is a clear finan
ncial justifica
ation for integ onius PV-Ge nset solution
grating a Fro n into almostt
every diesel-powered syystem. Every
y unused die
esel kWh sav
ves money.

For any grrid, and esp

pecially in ca
ase of MGss, the balanc
ce of powerr is mandatoory for safe
e and stable
e
operation. In large interr-connected grids, surplu
us spinning reserve
r and control mecchanisms are
e considered
d
to keep the system in ba
alance (prima
ary, seconda
ary, and tertia
ary control).

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In a MG system, conditions are mostly similar to the ones that are as mentioned above. A stable operation of
a MG is of high significance. PV inverters are intended to not negatively impact the operation of genset
systems. Power quality and reliability are therefore intended to improve, and if not, are at least intended to
remain at the same level.
Various control algorithms that can be supported by PV inverters are further explained in this paper.
Gensets can be operated in isochronous or droop mode. Isochronous case of operation refers to the
operation of generator at one constant frequency (similar to the inter-connected grids). Droop mode
operation refers to the variation of frequency with respect to the load (i.e. open circuit frequency is higher
than frequency at full load).
Firstly, active and reactive power generation and demand are required to be in balance. A mismatch in active
power mainly leads to frequency deviation, and a mismatch in reactive power to a voltage deviation. In case,
when two or more synchronous generators feed one load - the load sharing is typically implemented via
either a droop load sharing or an isochronous load sharing.
Droop load sharing refers to the alteration of frequency with respect to the load such that the actual load
remains supplied by all generators in the system, approximately at the same level.
Isochronous load sharing requires communication between gensets - either by means of an analog signal or
digital communication (CAN, RS485 or Ethernet).

Using grid-tie inverters without special functionality3 in MGs is - provided that the island detection is disabled
– not a big issue, as long as inverter’s power is very low (<10%) compared to the generator power and the
load. In this case, the inverter’s power is always consumed by the loads and that the actual grid source is
slightly unburdened.

Increasing the installed PV power closer to the generator’s power poises challenging aspects in terms of
control. If PV power installed lies between 10 and 30% of generator’s nominal power, an external device for
controlling the inverter’s output can be necessary. For increased PV power capacity (above 30 %) of
generator’s nominal power, an external control is necessary and also relevant information of consumption
becomes essential. Otherwise the synchronous generator could get into operation modes that are
disadvantageous for permanent operation or even dangerous in case of reverse power.

To participate in MGs with diesel gensets and significant PV penetration, it is important to control the
inverter’s output reliable and fast by means of a superior control device.

3
”Normal“ grid-tie inverter with unity power factor (PF = 1) and no additional characteristic curves
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3.1 Fro
onius PV-G
Genset So
olution

If the power from the photovoltaic system

s oportionally quite large, the entire syystem must be optimallyy
is pro
o obtain the best possible
controlled to e diesel savi ngs.
This is whe
ere the Froniius PV-Syste
em Controlle
er comes into
o play. By using data froom the Fronius inverterss
together with load mea
asurements (as well as diesel gens
set measure
ements weree necessary), the entire
e
system can be monitore
ed. This allow
ws the Froniius inverters to be contro
olled. If seveeral diesel ge
ensets are in
n
hese too havve to be con
use, then th ntrolled at th e same time
e. Further po
otential for ooptimisation exists
e where
e
controllable (in terms of time) loads can also be taken into ac
ccount.

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3.1.1 Pro d optimizing the diesel g
otecting and genset

The diesel g
genset is a fundamental
f ecting it has to take the hhighest priority, as losing
part of the ssystem. Prote g
the generator would cau
use the entire
e power supp
ply to fail.

The Froniuss PV-System

m Controller assumes
a the following fun
nctions:
/ Ensurin
ng that the minimum
m num
mber of diese
el gensets ne se during anyy given situa
eeded is in us ation.
/ Checking that the diesel
d gensetts are alwayss being used
d in a manner that has thee lowest pos
ssible impactt
on servvice life, even
n at low loads.
/ Guaran
ntees an exxtremely quick and res ponsive con
ntrol over th
he PV outpput. As a re
esult, powerr
fluctuattions are com
mpensated im
mmediately a
and the strain
n on the dies
sel genset is reduced dra
amatically.

3.1.2 Opttimising the

e PV-Gensett system

It is very e
easy for a sm
mall PV sys oad to pay for itself finaancially, butt it does nott
stem in relattion to the lo
represent a cost-effectivve form of op
ptimisation. A
As the PV output never has to be resstricted, the savings can
n
dentified from
simply be id m the annual energy calcu
ulated in the respective region.
r
The differen
nce between the costs off producing P
PV energy an
nd the costs of producingg electricity frrom diesel iss
normally qu
uite large. Th
he saving is therefore
t mu
uch higher if the size of th
he PV system
m has been designed so
o
that temporrary power restrictions
r are
a the norm
m. This signifficantly increases the am
mount of pow
wer supplied
d
from photovvoltaics. In order to identify the most cost-effectiv
ve PV system
m size for eacch project, it is importantt
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to examine the insolation and load profile alongside the variable diesel power costs and the cost of the PV
system.
Simulations are then used to calculate the highest possible savings that could be achieved.
Fronius can provide you with an unbeatable support in the planning of your PV-Genset system.

3.1.3 Online system monitoring

Every PV-Genset system can be designed, monitored, analysed and visualised at any time using the free
Fronius Solar.web online portal. Up-to-date system data can be accessed at any time and is clearly
presented: the portal is very user-friendly and easy to use, and a comprehensive range of analysis functions
is included.
Fronius Solar.web is also available as an app to allow you to check your PV system data from your
smartphone at your own convenience.

3.1.4 Products for the Fronius PV-Genset Solution

All Fronius inverters can be used in a PV-Genset system. The Fronius PV-System Controller assumes all
control functions over the system. Depending on the configuration, the required measuring accessories will
also be offered.
Due to the open nature of Fronius communication solutions, it is also possible to implement individual
solutions containing third-party components. With the Fronius Datamanager 2.0 or Fronius Datamanager
Box 2.0, it is possible to incorporate all components into a control system using Modbus RTU or TCP with
the SunSpec Inverter Control Model.

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4 AP
PPENDIIX: INVE
ERTER FEATURES SU
UPPORT
TING
MIICROGR
RIDS

Regardless of the use

er’s intention
n of designi ng an AC-c
coupled Inve
erter-Charge r MG, or a PV-Gensett
application, modern Fro
onius PV-inve
erters come with a multii-featured fun
nctionality coompared to the
t inverterss
of the past.. Earlier, it was
w only nec
cessary to fe
eed-in with unity
u power factor
f (PF = 1), but the capability off
latest FRON
NIUS PV inve
erters extend
ds far beyond
d that.
Key feature de: Gradual Frequency dependent Power Reduuction (GFdPR), P(f) orr
es to portrayy can includ
reactive pow
wer characte
eristics, viz., cosPhi(P), Q
Q(V) or Q(P) (also known
n as Frequenncy-Watt-curv
ve, Watt-PF--
curve, Volt-V
VAr-curve, Watt-VAr-cur
W rve.)
A control function, for e.g. P(V) (pow
wer limitation
n as a functio
on of voltage
e; Volt-Watt-ccurve) prevents inverterss
g due to ove
from tripping ervoltage, and
d therefore, a
also plays an
n important role
r in MG appplications.
Grid-tie inve
erters with reactive
r pow
wer functiona
ality, P(f) an
nd P(V) can be easily cconfigured to
o be able to
o
participate in MGs with positive influences.

4.1 Gra
adual Freq
quency de
ependent Power Re
eduction (G
GFdPR)

The most im
mportant con
ntrol strategy
y in MGs is tto be able to
o reduce the feed-in pow
wer according to the grid
d
frequency. As most Invverter-Charger manufactturers use frrequency sw
weep to proteect batteries
s from being
g
d, GFdPR presents
overcharged p a key
k feature tto prevent the system from
f becomiing unstable
e. Therefore,,
erters use a special P(f) function to rreduce their power to ze
Fronius inve ero, if the Invverter-Charger increasess
the value off frequency.
For e.g. at frequency va
alue of 51 Hz
H inverter sttarts to reduce the powe
er, and at 522.9 Hz the po
ower feed iss
o. The inverte
almost zero er further disc
connects at a frequency value of 53 Hz.
H
Diesel genssets react on load steps
s by alterati on of freque
ency until a new equilibbrium is atta
ained (1-5 s,,
depending on the load steps). A situation of P
PV power su
upply to the full load andd excess feeds into the
e
generator m
must be stricttly avoided. GFdPR also
o has a positive effect aftter load rejecction, due to its speed off
reaction (<4
40ms).

Figure 3: Schematic de epecting GF FdPR strateg gy to ensure e secure eneergy supply y

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To top thin
ngs off – in
ndividual pa
arameters likke bend fre
equency or reduction ggradient are
e completelyy
configurable
e, by means of a display to be able tto meet the wide
w range of
o requiremennts of a MG, which need
d
to be define
ed by the MG
G operator.

4.2 Gra
adual Volttage dependent Pow
wer Reduc
ction (GVd
dPR)

Another stra
ategy to stab
bilize power quality and security of energy
e supply is throughh GVdPR. If the value off
voltage excceeds a defin
ned threshold limit, powe
er from the inverter redu
uces. This ccompensates
s the voltage
e
rise caused
d by the inve
erter and the
ereby restrictts the voltag
ge to exceed
d the threshoold limit thatt causes the
e
disconnectio
on of inverte
ers.
The parame
eter set for GVdPR
G comprises of volltage thresho
old from whe
ere on the G
GVdPR is ac
ctive, a staticc
gradient (in %Pn/V) and two dynam
mic gradientss (in %Pn/s)) – one for attenuation
a aand the othe
er for return..
amic gradientts are importtant parametters for voltag
These dyna ge dips and swells.

Figure 4: Schematic
S de
epicting GV
VdPR strateg
gy to ensure
e secure eneergy supply
y

4.3 Reactive Pow

wer as a function
f of Voltage (Volt-VAr--curve)

Imbalance iin reactive power also ha

as an influen
nce on powe
er quality in MGs.
M Synchrronous gene
erators which
h
act over-exited lead to rise of voltag
ge at the terrminals, and those that act
a under-exxited lower th
he voltage att
the terminals. To keep the
t reactive power
p in bala us-inverters also
ance, Froniu a use a chharacteristic curve that iss
gurable – through the us
easily config se of four se
et-points, if re
equired. The
e Q(V) charaacteristic is characterized
d
by an area around the nominal voltage, where reactive power is zero (called as “ddeadband”). Outside the
e
wer follows a gradient to a certain rea
deadband, reactive pow active power limit. If this limit is attain
ned, reactive
e
ains constantt until the trip
power rema p limits of invverter.

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 Figure 5:
5 Over-excitation & un
nder-excitatiion of synch
hronous gen
nerators

The mentio
oned Q(V) ch
haracteristic can be con
nfigured to be
b unsymmetrical and bbe adjusted to a certain
n
situation in MGs. Also, the
t “deadban
nd” can be se
et to a zero value.
v

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