Module Embedded Microinverter Smart Grid Ready Residential Solar Electric System Award Number: DE-EE0005344 CX(s) Applied: A9, 5.16 Solar Energy Technology Office Date: 07/30/2014 Location(s): NY Office(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
March 7, 2016
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Module Embedded Microinverter Smart Grid Ready Residential Solar Electric System
Award Number: DE-EE0005344
CX(s) Applied: A9, B5.16
Solar Energy Technology Office
Date: 07/30/2014
Location(s): NY
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to GE Global Research Center to develop and demonstrate power electronics technologies that address micro-inverter system limitations. DOE completed a previous NEPA review (GFO-0005344-001 CX A9 & B3.6 11/9/2011) authorizing power electronics research and development and prototype development. However, this determination excluded the proposed pilot demonstration based on the fact that they had not determined the location for said demonstration. This NEPA determination applies only to the pilot demonstration activities of the proposed project.
GE Global Research Center seeks to design, build, install and operate two pilot, smart grid-ready, photovoltaic systems with micro-inverter module interfaces. Building the prototypes of the micro-inverters and functional testing of the micro-inverters including grid connection communication and smart grid support functions would take place at GE Global’s industrial research and development facility located at 1 Research Circle in Niskayuna, NY. Installation and operation of the 2.5kW solar photovoltaic system would take place in two separate locations: Innovative Test Solutions industrial testing facility located at 551 Kings Road in Schenectady, NY and SolarWorld Americas LLC’s industrial facility located at 4650 25300 NW Evergreen Road in Hillsboro, OR. All of these locations are pre-existing sites and would require no additional licensing and/or permitting. No physical modifications would be made to any of the existing test setups. Panels in existing setups would be replaced by new panels with integrated micro-inverters.