PROJECT DECISIONS FOR THE TESLA ENGINEERING POWER EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOVOLTAIC PLANT

Abstract

This article presents the most important design decisions of the TESLA Power Engineering Photovoltaic Experimental Power Plant (37 kWp), connected to the power grid. It is located at the School of Engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (EEUFMG) as part of the R&D project developed by the Tesla Power Engineering Laboratory, entitled “Development of electronic transformers for interconnecting panels to the grid in photovoltaic power plants". This project is developed in partnership with the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and the Company of Electricity from Bahia (Coelba), in attendance to the Call number 13/2011 from ANEEL, strategic project: "Technical and commercial arrangements for insertion of solar photovoltaic generation in the Brazilian energy matrix". This paper presents the main criteria for components selection that compose the power plant such as solar panels, strings, dc and ac protection and the grid connection transformers. Using PVSyst is showed an estimation of energy generated by the power plant. This work proved to be of great value to the team involved with the gain of know-how in projects development and building of solar power plants.