Evaluating future standards and codes with a focus on high penetration photovoltaic (HPPV) system deployment

High-penetration photovoltaic (PV) system deployment is becoming a reality in several regions of the United States and the trend toward high penetration levels will continue to rise due to decreasing PV system costs in concert with increasing electric utility rates and societal deliberations. New standards and codes for high-penetration PV deployment must be developed, while some existing standards and codes will need to be revised to accommodate increasing levels of PV deployment. According to a recent industry report, cumulative grid-tied PV capacity in the U.S. grew to 792 MW by the end of year 2008, with a growth rate of 81% for new grid-tied PV installations in 2008 over 2007 and 53% in 2007 over 2006. These rapid growth rates are expected to continue and will be further spurred by the President´s energy plan to double renewable capacity in the next three years to help the U.S. concurrently meet its economic, energy security, and environmental challenges. On May 20, 2010, in Denver, Colorado, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), held a workshop to examine the key technical issues and barriers associated with high PV penetration levels. Addressing these standards and codes was a major finding of the High Penetration of PV Systems into the Distribution Grid Workshop held in Ontario, California, in February 2009.