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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Prepare to design a grid-connected PV power supply system
  2. Grid system is determined from design brief
  3. Industry regulations and job requirements are identified and applied to work in accordance with workplace procedures
  4. Design development work is planned to meet scheduled timelines in consultation with relevant person/s
  5. Develop a grid-connected PV power supply system design
  6. Alternative arrangements for hybrid power systems design is considered based on the requirements outlined in the design brief
  7. Safety, functional and budgetary considerations are incorporated in design
  8. Grid-connected power supply system design draft is checked for compliance with the design brief, industry regulations, job requirements and workplace procedures
  9. Grid-connected power supply system design is documented and submitted to relevant person/s for authorisation
  10. Unplanned situations are responded to in accordance with workplace procedures
  11. Obtain approval for grid-connected PV power supply system design
  12. Requests for alterations to design are negotiated with relevant person/s in accordance with workplace procedures
  13. Final design is documented and authorisation obtained from relevant person/s
  14. Quality of work is monitored against workplace procedures

Performance Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and include:

developing outlines of alternative designs

developing the design within the safety and functional requirements and budget limitations

documenting and presenting design effectively

successfully negotiating design alteration requests

obtaining approval for final design

dealing with unplanned events

applying relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements

designing grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power supply system

identifying and applying industry regulations

meeting scheduled timelines

working with relevant person/s.


Knowledge Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

PV power systems design principles, including:

site survey encompassing:

declination angle, reflectance, sunshine hours, extra-terrestrial irradiation

energy efficiency techniques relevant for domestic dwelling and commercial premises to reduce the electrical energy demand

energy efficient initiatives that could be implemented by the site owner

assessing WHS/OHS risks when working on a particular site

solar access for the site

shading and estimates of its effect on the system

solar resource for the site

available area for the solar array

roof is suitable for mounting the array

modules mounted on the roof

switchboard or distribution board is located for connecting the output of inverter

array junction box (if required) and location of inverter

cabling route and estimates of the lengths of the cable runs

monitoring panels or screens and determining a suitable location with the site owner

PV arrays selection encompassing:

selection and sizing of PV array for a grid-connected inverter system, based on annual energy demand, budget constraints, architectural constraints or limitations on available inverter sizes

determining the minimum and maximum number of PV modules in a string for the specified voltage

system components selection encompassing:

balance of the system components, including cabling, circuit protection and isolation equipment for a grid-connected PV system

energy yield, specific energy yield and performance ratio for system

schematic diagrams of common grid-connected inverter circuit configurations, including metering arrangements, isolation and connection with respect to residual circuit devices (RCDs)

major installation details for a proposed grid-connected inverter system, based on the requirements set out in AS/NZS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters and AS/NZS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays

other design considerations encompassing:

major non-technical considerations impacting on the design, installation and operation of grid-connected PV systems, including economic, financial, contractual, institutional, legislative and regulatory

calculation of the annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions achieved by a given PV power system at a given location

inverters encompassing:

types of inverters used in grid connected systems

Australian Standard symbol for a low voltage (LV) inverter

the basic function of an inverter

simple block diagram of a typical inverter used in grid-connected system

inverter operation encompassing:

the basic principle of operation of a single phase inverter (using switch analogue)

the operation of an inverter bridge and half-bridge configuration

operation of a FET inverter

connection of a grid inverter and measurement of the inverter parameters for various loads

inverter characteristics encompassing:

the characteristics which distinguish inverters suitable for grid-connected PV array application from standard inverters

using waveform diagrams, the function of PWM techniques in square wave, modified square wave and synthesised sine wave inverters

output voltage waveforms for square wave, modified square wave and synthesized sine wave inverters showing typical voltages and periodic times

the six (6) essential inverter specifications

PV grid-connected system operation encompassing:

block diagram of a PV grid-connected system

operation of grid interactive PV systems, including synchronisation, safety feature, power flow control, passive and active anti-islanding, and metered energy for systems

schematic diagrams of common grid-connected inverter circuit configurations, including metering arrangements, isolation and connection with respect to RCDs in accordance with AS/NZS 4777.1 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters - Installation requirements

grid-connected inverter selection encompassing:

operating window of the inverter for the expected minimum and maximum effective cell temperatures

selection of an inverter rating with respect to the output power of the array/s

major installation requirements for all system components which will ensure correct operation, long life, safety and ease of maintenance consistent with AS/NZS 4509 Stand-alone power systems, AS 4086.2 Secondary batteries for use with stand-alone power systems - Installation and maintenance, AS/NZS 3000 and relevant WHS/OHS guidelines

selection of a suitable location for the PV array, inverter and other components, at a given installation site in accordance with AS 2676.2 Guide to the installation, maintenance, testing and replacement of secondary batteries in buildings - Sealed cells and AS 3011.2 Electrical installations - Secondary batteries installed in buildings Sealed cells, and the considerations given in AS/NZS4509 Stand-alone power systems and AS 4086.2 Secondary batteries for use with stand-alone power systems - Installation and maintenance

typical installation configurations for grid connection of energy systems via inverters

function and operation of a grid protection device as specified in AS/NZS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters

draft array wiring plan for series connected modules to minimise power loss due to shading at a particular site

installation requirements for a grid connected system

labelling and signage requirements for switchboards supplied with power from grid connected inverters, as set out in AS/NZS 4777.1 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters Installation requirements

the additional requirements for UPS systems as specified in AS/NZS 4777.1 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters - Installation requirements

relevant manufacturer specifications

relevant risk mitigation processes

relevant WHS/OHS legislated requirements

relevant workplace documentation

relevant workplace policies and procedures

budgeting methods

design briefs

grid systems

hybrid power systems

quality assurance requirements.