Rule 21 refers to the generator interconnection requirements of each California Investor-Owned Utility (IOU). A years-long process has been underway to update Rule 21 with “smart inverter” requirements. Rule 21 requires inverters to have new grid support functions and a new certification under UL 1741 SA. Each new inverter also gets a new nameplate label that identifies it as a “Grid Support Utility Interactive Inverter.”
New smart functions, such as voltage and frequency ride-through or soft start ramp rate, will pave the way for further solar penetration into the California grid and help to better manage the fluctuations caused by distributed energy resources (DER). These new functions have a stabilizing effect on the grid as more DER is added to it. Fronius has always been a driving force when it comes to inverters’ Grid Support Functions and has years of experience from highly solar-penetrated markets such as Germany or Italy.
Fronius is currently shipping Rule 21 compliant residential inverters (the Fronius Primo 3.8-8.2 kW) and commercial inverters (the Fronius Symo 10.0 – 24.0 480V). Beginning November 6, 2017, the Fronius Primo 10-15 kW and the Fronius Symo 208V models will also ship with Rule 21 compliance. For more information on ordering your Rule 21 compliant smart inverter, please contact your local Fronius distributor.
News item from Fronius
Tommy says
Not all the Fronius Symo 208V are rule 21 yet, the 10k/12k are still pending but they have a cert letter declaring intent to have it completed by the end of Dec. Just the 15k 208v was updated to rule 21.