Photovoltaic generators and systems
DATES: 2025 June: week 16-20th
Class schedule:
Monday, June 16, 2025 — 10:00–12:30 and 14:00–16:00 CEST
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 — 09:30–12:30 and 14:00–16:00 CEST
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 — 09:30–12:30 and 14:00–16:00 CEST
Thursday, June 19, 2025 — 09:30–12:30 and 14:00–16:00 CEST
Friday, June 20, 2025 — 09:30–12:00 CEST
Teachers: Prof. Filippo Spertino and assistant Prof. Alessandro Ciocia
Students: Ph.D. students, teachers, research staff
Topics: The course includes theoretical and practical sessions on grid-connected photovoltaic systems, covering components, configurations, performance analysis, and integration with the electrical grid. It also features technical visits to PV installations and a microgrid at Politecnico di Torino.
LOCATION:
Location of the University: Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, Italy, 10139
The lectures will be offered in: Laboratory “Riccardo Tommasini”. You can see the position of the laboratory (undergroud floor) by using the following link:
https://www.polito.it/en/maps?bl_id=TO_CEN04&fl_id=XS01&rm_id=M031
The laboratory (floor -1) can be accessed entering in the University from:
Corso Rodolfo Montevecchio, 71a, 10129 Torino TO
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zjDjHCEm6tZzUgdNA
Detailed description of the topics:
1. Technical visit to two configurations of PV system at Politecnico di Torino for highlighting the main components: PV modules, inverters and protections with their dimensions and installation structures for the connection to the grid (1 h).
2. Theory: the I-V curve of a PV module from the technical specifications of manufacturers; the dependence of I-V curves on irradiance and cell temperature. Qualification tests to simulate accelerated ageing (2 h).
Practice: calculation of the electrical parameters of the PV modules in conditions different from the rated STC by datasheet of the manufacturers (2 h).
3. Theory: configurations and tasks of inverters for grid connection from the technical specifications of the manufacturers (2 h).
Practice: determination of the optimal configuration (number of series connected modules Ns x number of parallel connected strings Np) for the PV array according to the voltage/current/power constraints imposed by the inverter (2 h).
4. Theory: conventional calculation of energy production from the evaluation of solar irradiation on the plane of the PV array, loss sources in the energy production; profiles of load consumption and determination of self-sufficiency and self-consumption (2 h).
Practice: calculation of the productivity from a PV system in terms of reference yield, performance ratio, and energy balance with the energy consumption to determine the self-consumption and self-sufficiency of an active user (2 h).
5. Theory: management of the grid connection as the selection of power transformers and distribution lines with proper protections (2 h).
Practice: calculation of power losses and voltage regulation in the components (transformers and lines) used for grid connection of a large-scale PV system (2 h).
6. Theory: the tasks of the transmission/distribution system operators: the active power/frequency control, the reactive power/voltage control; how to synchronize generator with grid; parallel operation of synchronous generators (2 h).
7. Theory: basic aspects of grid-connected PV plants equipped with electrochemical batteries. (1 h)
Technical visit to a micro-grid in which three PV systems, equipped with storage, feed electricity to an energy community of three users at Politecnico di Torino (2 h). https://pvzen.polito.it
Additional links – additional info – welcome to Polito
Welcome to polito | Welcome Centre Unite!
Accommodation | Politecnico di Torino
Contacts:
tne.administration@polito.it
alessandro.ciocia@polito.it
filippo.spertino@polito.it