U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Solar Energy Technologies Program

Systems Engineering

An engineer, tests the output of PV panels with an I-V (current voltage) curve tracer.

The Systems Engineering activity includes four key focuses: (1) benchmarking and validation through testing at all levels of the system, (2) developing activities to measure and characterize system performance and developing appropriate standards, (3) developing inverters and other balance-of-systems components, and (4) developing domestic and international market opportunities to support industry.

Several studies have indicated that some of the key factors in the overall cost of PV systems are based on the balance-of-systems (BOS) components in terms of installed costs, operational performance, and the continued costs of operation and maintenance (O&M).

Our R&D activities include the following goals:

• Gaining a better understanding of BOS costs and their effects on overall PV system costs in a variety of market sectors

• Addressing technical barriers, using the systems-driven approach, related to reducing installed costs of BOS components and increasing reliability, thus reducing O&M costs and overall levelized energy cost (LEC)

• Researching, developing, testing, and evaluating power-electronics hardware—including both the power electronics themselves and the interaction of power-electronics inverters with other similar devices

• Developing new BOS technologies, improving reliability, lowering costs, removing implementation barriers, and developing a better understanding of existing technologies

• Improving system efficiency and reducing life-cycle cost by improving structures and installation techniques, improving the use of storage, and developing selected non-power electronics components