Inmetro Ordinance regulates hybrid inverters in Brazil

O Inmetro (National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology) published, this Wednesday (30), in the DOU (Official Gazette of the Union), the Ordinance 140/2022 – new regulation for photovoltaic equipment sold in Brazil. 

This is an update to the Ordinance No. 004/2011 and which brings as its main novelties the inclusion of on-grid inverters with batteries (hybrids) and lithium batteries.

The document also highlights that all products, at the point of sale, must bear the ENCE (National Energy Conservation Label), in a way that is visible to the consumer, without its view being obstructed by any other information attached by suppliers.

Before the publication of the document, there was no regulation by Inmetro for the use of grid-connected hybrid inverters. For this reason, andAmong professionals, the resolution is being considered a victory for the solar energy sector.

For André Gellers, country manager at SMA, the fact is very significant and extremely relevant for energy decarbonization. “Legislation is always chasing technological developments and the arrival of this resolution was especially slow, but it is very welcome, as it makes it possible to store energy generated by renewable sources, which can be used at the most appropriate time, solving the problem. aspect of intermittency. With the arrival of hybrid systems in Brazil, the foundations for the flourishing of electric mobility are also being formed”, he commented.

Emanuel Rholden, sales director at GE Brazil, in turn, said that the solar market has never had as much visibility as it does today. “The measure represents a significant advance for the regulated sector, valuing the quality and safety of the national electrical system and further opening the doors to a global trend of decentralization, decarbonization and digitalization,” he said. 

The engineer Matthew Vinturini highlighted that an important topic to be observed involves batteries, which must now be regulated in light of the standard NBR 16,767. “It is a standard for battery specifications for use in PV systems, which were previously not mentioned by Inmetro”, he highlighted. 

He also highlighted that hybrid inverters will now have to “follow the normal on-grid inverter tests, and, depending on their functions, they will also have to meet some off-grid inverter tests. Furthermore, there are specific requirements for it.”

On your social networks, Nelson Stanisci, solutions manager at Huawei, for example, celebrated the fact that all manufacturers must declare whether or not inverters have the arc flash detection (AFCI). “If they declare yes, it must be tested, and will be identified in the technical specifications sheet. Now the consumer will have information whether the inverter has a higher level of safety or not”, he wrote.  

João Souza, engineer responsible for Ecori Solar Energy, also drew attention to the fact that all inverters will also have to control the active power injected. “When the electrical grid experiences overfrequency, the photovoltaic systems, instead of turning off, as happened before, will now have to help stabilize the grid frequency before turning off,” he said.

The new ordinance also establishes the following deadlines for manufacturers, importers and distributors to comply with the measures imposed by the new ordinance:

• From 24 (twenty-four) months, counting from the effective date of this Ordinance, national manufacturers and importers must manufacture or import, for the national market, only equipment for generating, conditioning and storing electrical energy in photovoltaic systems in compliance with the provisions contained in this Ordinance (Article 13);
• From 36 (thirty-six) months, counting from the date of publication of this Ordinance, establishments that carry out distribution or commercial activities must sell, on the national market, only equipment for generating, conditioning and storing electrical energy in photovoltaic systems in accordance with the provisions contained in this Ordinance (Art 14);
• Exceptionally, manufacturers and importers of inverters with power above 10 and up to 75 kW will have 36 (thirty-six) months, counting from the effective date of this Ordinance, to adapt to the Ordinance now approved (Article 15).