Emergence as the Times Require: Filling Industry Gaps
Against the backdrop of global energy structure transformation, photovoltaic power generation, with its significant advantages of cleanliness and sustainability, has gradually become an important force driving global green development. In 2024, photovoltaic power generation reached 10% of global electricity consumption for the first time, and distributed photovoltaic power generation showed an explosive growth trend, entering the stage of parity and market-oriented development. However, as distributed photovoltaic projects have sprung up around the world, problems caused by the lack of unified technical specifications have become increasingly prominent. Differences in technical indicators and interface standards among different countries and regions have led to many difficulties such as poor equipment compatibility, affected system stability, and increased project construction and operation and maintenance costs. At this time, formulating scientific and unified international technical specifications is extremely urgent. The international standard Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Access to Low-Voltage DC Systems and Use Cases (IEC TR 63534: 2025) emerged as the times require, filling the gap in international standards in the field of photovoltaic direct current.
Core Content: Regulating Key Technologies and Scenario Applications
This international standard focuses on typical scenarios and key technologies of distributed photovoltaic access to low-voltage DC systems, and systematically sorts out relevant typical engineering cases worldwide. At the technical level, the standard summarizes the technical evolution rules of photovoltaic DC interface equipment and clarifies the technical index requirements for low-voltage DC systems in terms of system control, fault response, and stable operation. For example, in terms of system control, detailed regulations are made on power regulation accuracy and voltage control range; in fault response, the system is required to detect and isolate faults within an extremely short time (such as the specified time) to ensure system safety; for stable operation, the allowable fluctuation range of various electrical parameters is clarified.
In terms of application scenarios, the standard covers various common and representative scenarios such as industrial and commercial rooftops, agricultural greenhouses, and island microgrids. Taking industrial and commercial rooftops as an example, in view of the characteristics such as limited rooftop space and electricity load characteristics, it provides adapted photovoltaic DC system design schemes and equipment selection suggestions; for agricultural greenhouse scenarios, considering the humidity, temperature environment in the greenhouses and the electricity demand for agricultural production, corresponding technical specifications are formulated to ensure that the photovoltaic system and agricultural production operate without interference and efficiently synergistically.
Cross-Border Cooperation: Condensing the Crystallization of Global Wisdom
The birth of this international standard did not happen overnight but is the result of cross-border collaborative cooperation. Led by experts from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Huaneng Jiangsu Integrated Energy Service Co., Ltd., a working group was formed with experts from 14 countries including Germany, the United States, France, and Japan. After four years of joint efforts, the formulation of the standard was completed. During these four years, experts from various countries fully communicated, from the unification of basic concepts to repeated discussions on key technical details, and then to on-site verification and optimization of typical use cases. Every link embodies global wisdom. Different countries have their own strengths in the field of photovoltaic technology. Through cooperation, their respective advantageous technologies and practical experiences are integrated into the standard, making the standard widely applicable and advanced.
Far-Reaching Impact: Promoting Industrial Upgrading and Global Development
In the short term, the release of this standard provides clear production and R&D guidelines for photovoltaic enterprises. Enterprises can carry out product design and manufacturing in accordance with the standard, reduce the waste of R&D costs caused by inconsistent standards, and accelerate the product launch cycle. For example, manufacturers of photovoltaic DC interface equipment can produce according to the interface size and electrical parameters specified in the standard, improving the universality of products in the international market and enhancing their international competitiveness.
In the long run, the implementation of the standard will strongly promote the upgrading of the global distributed photovoltaic industry. On the one hand, it will urge enterprises in the upper and lower reaches of the industrial chain to increase investment in technological innovation to meet the higher requirements put forward by the standard. For instance, in the photovoltaic module manufacturing link, enterprises will strive to improve the conversion efficiency of modules and optimize DC output performance; in the field of system integration, more efficient system control algorithms and fault diagnosis technologies will be developed. On the other hand, it is conducive to building a more open, fair, and transparent global photovoltaic market environment, promoting the circulation and application of photovoltaic products and technologies worldwide, and helping more countries and regions accelerate energy transformation and achieve sustainable development goals.
With the release and implementation of this first global international standard in the field of photovoltaic direct current, the development of the photovoltaic industry will usher in new opportunities, take a more solid step in the journey of global energy transformation, and inject strong impetus into building a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system.
