Highlights of IEEE Standard 1547-2018

This NREL workshop highlights key subjects within Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standard 1547-2018 (IEEE Std 1547-2018) and breaks down the core functions of the updated requirements.

The evolution of IEEE Std 1547-2018 is outlined to provide background and the scope and limitations of the standard are clearly defined.

Topics Covered

This workshop includes the following topics:

• Overview and background of IEEE Std 1547-2018
• Core functions of IEEE Std 1547-2018

• Ride-through and grid support functions of IEEE Std 1547-2018.

Key Takeaways

The goal of IEEE Std 1547-2018 is to update requirements for the interconnection of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) with the grid. This presentation outlines these requirements and notes the limitations of IEEE Std 1547-2018. The standard is not to be used as a design handbook, application guide, or as an interconnection agreement. Within the scope of the standard, the core functions of IEEE Std 1547-2018 reinforce “good citizen” behavior via safety, general, tripping and reclose coordination, and power quality.

Power quality requirements mitigate flicker, current distortion, and overvoltage contribution. IEEE Std 1547-2018 includes energy storage as a component of DER and related clauses are highlighted. This presentation also defines intentional islanding, its characteristics, varieties of intentional islanding and transitions to an intentional island as this relates to IEEE Std 1547-2018. Interoperability capability requirements regarding communication and information exchange are summarized and clearly defined. Voltage regulation requirements evolved as IEEE Std 1547-2018 evolved, and this capability has now become mandatory with the most recent version. IEEE Std 1547-2018 also requires a high-level test and verification process highlighted here.

This presentation lists the ways in which this update to IEEE Std 1547-2018 has improved its requirements for grid safety including operation under normal conditions, grid support under abnormal conditions, guidance for interoperability and communications, guidance for intentional islands and balancing the needs for small and large installs. Lastly, grid support functions evolved alongside IEEE Std 1547 and are reviewed here including performance categories, ride-through requirements, and bulk power system considerations.