Sungrow said its SC210HX series Power Conversion Systems (PCS) have obtained the VDE FNN Prototype Certificate, issued by TÜV Rheinland of Germany. The company announced the milestone on July 20, calling the SC210HX line the first energy storage PCS to pass the full set of German medium- and high-voltage grid connection standards together with grid-forming performance verification.
What the certificate covers
VDE FNN is the organization that sets Germany's grid technology and operational standards. Its certification framework lays out requirements for medium- and high-voltage grid integration, and Sungrow said European grid operators, developers and financial institutions use it to judge a storage project's compliance, reliability and grid support. Passing the test means Sungrow has shown the SC210HX's hardware, control algorithms and grid-forming performance meet what the company described as Germany's strictest mandatory grid standards.
Grid-forming technology for weak grids
The certified PCS runs on Sungrow's own Stem-Cell Grid-Forming Technology, built into its PowerTitan energy storage systems. It can absorb or send out active and reactive power on its own to support:
- frequency regulation
- voltage regulation
- backup power supply
On weak grids carrying a lot of renewable generation, the converter holds voltage-source behavior and pushes out reactive current fast when a short-circuit fault hits the grid. Sungrow said the system can also start up a grid on its own, without syncing to an outside power source, letting it black-start and run in island mode, a capability it said solves grid-connection problems at remote European storage sites and off-grid projects.
Why the paperwork matters for developers
Sungrow said European storage rules keep getting tighter, and investment institutions and lending banks increasingly look to TÜV Rheinland VDE certification when they judge a project's compliance and equipment reliability. The company said the certificate lets developers using its equipment cut grid-connection timelines and meet Europe's newest entry rules for inertia-based storage, the fast-responding backup that grid operators call on when a large generator suddenly drops offline. Sungrow said that, in turn, strengthens a project's credibility, asset value and financing prospects.
