Release 1. New unit of competency.

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to safely and effectively install, maintain and fault find battery storage systems for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems.

A person competent in this unit will hold an unrestricted electrical licence issued in an Australian State or Territory and be able to install, maintain and fault find battery storage systems for grid-connected PV in accordance to relevant industry standards and regulations.

This unit is subject to the following requirements:

• Legislation, regulations, relevant industry standards and codes of practice for electrical work including specific work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation and regulatory requirements
• Electrical licencing requirements – unrestricted electrical work
• Legislation, regulations, relevant industry standards and codes of practice for renewable energy.

There may be variations in these requirements across jurisdictions.

UEENEEK148A Install, configure and commission LV grid connected photovoltaic power systems

Renewable and Sustainable Energy

Electrotechnology

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1 

Plan for the installation, maintenance or fault finding of battery storage systems for grid-connected PV systems 

1.1 

Installation design requirements, components and how they interconnect with the different system configurations are identified

1.2 

Hazards associated with battery storage systems for grid-connected PV systems are identified and the risk control measures are listed in safe work method statements/job safety analysis

1.3 

Designer recommendations, relevant industry standards, regulations and manufacturer specifications are identified and applied to planning the system installation, maintenance or fault finding

1.4 

Tools and safety equipment are selected and checked for safe performance of required tasks

1.5 

Maintenance is planned in accordance with system designer's requirements

1.6 

PV system and reported faults are identified and fault finding techniques applied

2 

Carry out the installation, maintenance and fault finding of battery storage systems for grid-connected PV systems 

2.1 

Job safety analysis is undertaken or safe work method statement is prepared and used to inform work processes in accordance with regulations and workplace procedures

2.2 

Battery storage components are installed in accordance with system design documentation, relevant industry standards, regulations and manufacturer specifications

2.3 

Inverters are installed in accordance with system design documentation, relevant industry standards, regulations and manufacturer specifications

2.4 

System charge controllers are installed in accordance with system design documentation, relevant industry standards, regulations and manufacturer specifications

2.5 

Storage system equipment including, cables, protection and isolation equipment, and signs are installed in accordance with system design documentation, relevant industry standards, regulations and manufacturer specifications

2.6 

System charge controllers and inverters are programmed in accordance with design documentation, relevant industry standards, regulations and manufacturer specifications

2.7 

Required modification to the electrical installation is carried out in accordance with design documentation, regulations and relevant industry standards

2.8 

Maintenance checklists are used to identify items needing servicing or replacement

2.9 

Required maintenance is performed by servicing or replacing items

2.10 

Fault finding techniques are applied to correctly diagnose and rectify system faults

2.11 

Testing, commissioning or reinstatement of the system is conducted in accordance with design documentation, regulations, relevant industry standards and manufacturer specifications

3 

Document the installation, maintenance or fault finding of battery storage systems for grid-connected PV systems 

3.1 

Testing, commissioning and required compliance documents are completed

3.2 

As installed, electrical system drawings and equipment location plans are produced

3.3 

Client system documentation, from designer, is completed

3.4 

Client is briefed on safe and correct system operation and recommended maintenance

3.5 

Maintenance checklists are finalised correctly and added to client system documentation

3.6 

Fault report/record is completed and added to client system documentation

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions can be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

This is a new unit – no equivalent unit

Not applicable.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and include:

• documenting the battery storage system installation for the client:

• plan and enact scheduled maintenance of a system
• document/record maintenance activities

• finding faults in battery storage systems for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system:

• plan and enact identified fault finding procedures for the installed system
• document/record fault finding activities

• installing battery storage systems for grid-connected PV systems:

• install battery storage components
• install inverter/s
• install charge controller/s
• install the balance of system equipment including cables, protection and isolating devices, and signage
• program inverter/s and charge controller/s
• modify electrical installation as required

• maintaining battery storage systems for grid-connected PV systems
• preparing for the installation of a battery storage system:

• interpret system design documentation that specifies the quantity and location of all equipment in compliance with relevant industry standards, building codes and regulations

• testing and commissioning PV system:

• test operation of each piece of equipment
• test operation of complete system
• commission the system
• brief client on safe and correct system operation and recommended maintenance

• undertaking site assessment:

• interpret system design documentation that specifies the quantity and location of all equipment in compliance with relevant industry standards, building codes and regulations.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

• battery storage systems:

• battery storage systems for grid-connected PV systems including:

• applications for battery storage including:

• electrical energy supply during grid outages
• electrical energy supply direct to loads during periods of high tariffs

• purpose of each component in battery storage systems for grid-connected PV systems
• functional block diagrams for typical configurations of battery storage systems for grid-connected PV systems including:

• multimode inverter/s for connecting to renewable energy, grid, loads and battery storage; these inverter/s provide backup to dedicated loads on grid failure and may:

• have a built in charge controller for direct connection of a PV array or
• require a separate charge controller to direct current (DC) couple the PV array and battery

• two types of inverters comprising, PV grid-connected inverter/s and multimode inverter/s where:

• both inverter types are connected to the grid and loads via a switching device that may provide backup to dedicated loads during grid failure
• both inverter types are connected to the grid and only the multimode inverter/s may provide backup to dedicated loads on grid failure
• only the multimode inverter/s are connected to the grid. The grid-connected inverter/s are alternate current (AC) coupled to the multimode inverter/s and both types can provide backup to dedicated loads on grid failure

• charge controllers including:

• types and applications of charge controllers for different system configuration
• specifications of a charge controller, including:

• output rating DC voltage operating window and/or rating
• DC current rating in and out
• efficiency

• grid-connected batteries:

• battery terms including:

• nominal voltage
• cell
• primary and secondary cells
• battery
• charge and discharge rate
• amp hour capacity
• watt hour capacity
• state of charge (SOC)
• depth of discharge (DOD)

• battery types including:

• major features of commercially available types of batteries suitable for battery storage systems for grid-connected PV systems
• factors affecting the life of commercially available types of batteries including the estimation of battery life
• charging regimes suitable for commercially available types of batteries

• battery safety including:

• hazards associated with handling, installing or maintaining commercially available types of batteries and risk control measures
• procedures for safe disposal of commercially available types of batteries

• common processes leading to battery failure in commercially available batteries including sulphation and stratification in lead acid batteries

• grid-connected inverters:

• inverters including:

• differences between multimode and grid connect inverters
• output rating of a multimode inverter/s in relation to:

• required maximum demand
• capacity for battery charging

• program parameters for a multimode inverter, for the correct operation of the system

• grid-connected storage systems fault finding:

• fault finding procedures including:

• fault finding procedures for individual equipment
• fault finding procedures for interconnected systems

• grid-connected storage systems installations:

• installation requirements including:

• installing battery storage devices in accordance with system design documentation, relevant industry standards, regulations and manufacturer requirements
• installing inverters suitable for connecting to battery storage in accordance with system design documentation, relevant industry standards, regulations and manufacturer requirements
• installing charge controllers in accordance with system design documentation, relevant industry standards, regulations and manufacturer requirements
• installing all balance of system equipment in accordance with system design documentation, relevant industry standards, regulations and manufacturer requirements

• electrical drawings including:

• electrical systems circuit diagrams of typical battery storage systems for grid-connected PV systems including:

• AC loads being supplied during periods when grid is unavailable
• all major components
• protection devices
• earthing
• isolation
• switching
• metering

• equipment location plan/s to show the locations of equipment, fittings and cabling

• grid-connected storage systems maintenance procedures including:

• maintenance requirements for individual equipment
• maintenance requirements for interconnected systems

• grid-connected storage systems testing and commissioning procedures including:

• safe testing of equipment
• safe testing of system operation
• commissioning of battery storage system.

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations, current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations, current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

Industry Standards

• relevant industry standards
• relevant industry product standards
• AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules)

Documentation including reporting formats

• manufacturer technical data site plans
• system designer documentation relevant to installing the system
• maintenance checklists and/or testing and commissioning sheet

Measuring and testing equipment

• multimeter insulation resistance tester clamp tester (DC and AC)

Plant

• an existing installed PV array along with the equipment to facilitate the installation of a battery storage system for grid-connected PV systems. This equipment shall comprise:

• battery storage
• multi-mode inverter/s
• devices for interconnecting solar to system either including charge controller or an appropriate inverter and all required balance of system equipment including:

• cables
• protection and isolating devices
• isolators and signage in accordance with relevant industry standards, regulations and industry guidelines

• appropriate switchboard (or similar) to simulate interconnection of the system with an existing electrical installation

Safety systems and personal protective equipment (PPE)

• example of a job safety analysis or safe work method statement form relevant for the practical installation; PPE related to the types of battery storage included in the system

Software/Systems

• programming software for the inverter/s and charge controller/s

Specialist requirements

• specific manufacturer specifications for the equipment included in the battery storage system for grid-connected PV systems including:

• installation manuals and user guides for typical components and those provided for the practical installation

• special tools as required for installing specific equipment
• special testing tools or equipment required for testing and commissioning, maintenance and fault finding of specific equipment

Tools and equipment

• hand tools and power tools.