Wind Interconnection Standards Platform (WISP)
The Wind Interconnection Standards Platform project aims to assist the distributed wind industry in overcoming existing barriers for distributed wind power converter in adopting interconnection standards such as IEEE 1547-2018. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office and Office of Technology Commercialization awarded the project to Sandia National Laboratories, Windurance, and DERSec to validate an experimental testing approach using the Windurance 90kW inverter.
All newly interconnected distributed wind power converters are required to incorporate a specified set of grid-support functions and communication interfaces due to the widespread adoption of IEEE 1547-2018 as the interconnection standard for distributed energy resources. A nationally recognized testing laboratory certifies a product to UL 1741 SB, proving that it contains these functions and interfaces. Then, authorities having jurisdiction confirm products are UL 1741 SB listed prior to approving them for interconnection.
The implementation of this new standard has presented challenges for distributed energy resource manufacturers, who have experienced rising costs and increased testing times. However, over the past decade, significant efforts have been made to reduce test times, improve accuracy, and establish precise repeatability in UL 1741 SB testing. These advancements aim to streamline the certification process, making it easier for manufacturers to comply with the new requirements while ensuring that products meet the necessary standards for safe and reliable operation. To further enhance this process, Sandia has developed an automation tool that helps expedite the testing process, allowing for even greater efficiency and consistency in testing outcomes.
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Contact
Rachid Darbali-Zamora, Principal Investigator
rdarbal@sandia.gov