ABB Grid Protection Relay
From February 2025 the Australian Standard AS 4777 changed the requirements of grid connected solar PV systems. Previously systems up to 30kW did not require grid protection in Australia, however it is now a requirement that all PV systems over 200kVA incorporate grid protection.
Why is this important?
The number of grid connected PV systems has increased dramatically in recent years. All these systems are ‘distributed generators’ on the grid. If the network shuts down, ether from a fault or scheduled maintenance, these distributed generators act as independent ‘islands’ of generation plant. The result can be a de-stabilized grid and unsafe conditions for line workers on the network.
To prevent this scenario, the advanced ABB Grid Protection Relay, CM-UFD-M33, provides the safety of an anti-islanding function to disconnect the PV generator from the grid if the grid supply disappears. The relay measures the ten-minute average of voltage increases and decreases as well as changes in grid frequency.
The relay includes a host of standard features:
- Monitoring of voltage and frequency in single and three phase mains
- Over/under voltage protection
- Over/under frequency
- Rate of change of frequency (ROCOF)
- Vector shift detection
- Interrupted neutral protection
- Time stamped error memory
- ABB AbilityTM connectivity
- Password protection
- Backlit LCD display
Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSP) insist that secondary protection by a certified protection relay is provided in addition to any in-built protection offered by AS 4777 compliant inverters.
The CM-UFD-M33 grid protection relay is easy to install and configure, suitable for solar PV and wind generator applications, and is approved by Australian utilities.
IPD provides a range of solutions for renewable energy applications such as small to large scale solar PV and wind farms.
To learn more, visit our website or contact us via customerservice@ipd.com.au or 1300 556 601.