Event Report
“First International Conference on
Low Voltage Direct Current”
26th and 27th October 2015, New Delhi
“LVDC – Redefining Electricity”
-
First International Conference on Low Voltage Direct Current
-
26th and 27th October 2015
1.
Background: In the recent past, Low Voltage Direct Current (LVDC) has gained significant importance and
attention of global community as it provides wider scope for generation and distribution of electricity with
possible extensive usage of renewable energy resources amidst spreading global concerns like depleting
fossil fuels; energy conservation; clean environment and continuously growing demand of electrical energy.
Moreover, developing countries like India have additional national priority of providing electrical access to its
remote villages where there is no power grid connectivity, as yet. All these issues potentially can be well
addressed with the use of LVDC generated through renewable resources.
2.
Objective: In the above context to deliberate extensively on the subject of LVDC as an enabler to electricity
access and a possible solution to 21st century, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Bureau of
Indian Standards (BIS) jointly organized first IEC-BIS International Conference titled ‘LVDC; Redefining
Electricity’ in New Delhi, India on 26-27 October 2015.
3.
Conference Programme: The conference highlighted LVDC applications and trends which enabled
stakeholders to review standardization efforts for a faster and cost effective development of LVDC. The two
days of the conference were presented with three working technical sessions. Each session offered two sub
sessions in parallel. International speakers from IEC and other standardization bodies were present to
address the participants. Copy of Program schedule is available here and Technical Session is available here
4.
Highlights of the Conference Inaugural sessions attended by SESEI Expert:

Mr. D.K.Nayyar, DDG (Standardization) BIS:
Mr. Nayyar talked about history of DC systems, its usage in New York in the past which later became AC.
Similarly in India DC systems were also used in India in earlier days most particularly in cities like Kolkata and
Kanpur. Mr Nayyar also talked about DC vs AC system and its Pros and Cons, Need for LVDC in India/ Clean
Energy and use of renewable sources of energy and highlighted the work being done at BIS on LVDC through
its Panel on LVDC and the draft report which is under progress.

N.S. Sodha, Chairman ETDC (Electro Technical Divisional Council) at BIS in the capacity of Executive
Director (Load Despatch and Communication) - Power Grid Corporation of India Limited:
Mr. Sodha updated the audience about Power Grid, which is a Public Sector utility provider has laid down
120,000 km of Microwave in India however, rural India is still disconnected from electricity. Govt.
programme of Solar Power and other alternative renewable activities were also highlighted including 100%
FDI in the sector hence LVDC standardization is important for a commercial rollout and having potential to
connect the unconnected and make it affordable as well.

Mr. James E Mathews III, Vice President (IEC) & Chairman (SMB)
Mr. Mathews highlighted the current usage of USB/5V; Energy efficiency is also demanding use of DC. Solar
usage is also increasing hence the DC@solar lantern became very popular which is also an environment
friendly initiatives. He also highlighted Energy storage white paper of IEC and how Systems groups are
connected @ IEC such as AAL, SMART ENERGY, and SMART CITY etc.

Mrs. Alka Panda, Director General BIS
Mrs. Panda highlighted following points during her speech:
-

Renewable has emerged in recent past as the sustainable means to meet the energy requirement
India has started working on the LVDC system well in line with the environment protection and other
issues such as depleting fossil fuels etc.
Scientific community shall debate and come out with their finding from sessions, workshops and
deliberations planned as part of this conference.
She also highlighted that SEG 4 meeting is also scheduled for 28th and 29th Oct 2015 in India.
Mr. Pradeep K Pujari, Secretary, Ministry of Power , Govt. of India
Mr. Pujari highlighted following points during his talk:
-

Universal access to electricity is a fundamental and basic need. However 1.3. Billion people are without
access to electricity of which 97% are from developing nations.
National Grid in India has connected 18,500 rural villages. 80% Power supply currently is through fossil
fuel which is a diminishing resource.
There is a need to look for more sustainable energy sources / ways. Smart grid / efficiency and
renewable are required for clean environment.
India has aligned its efforts on DC but before DC is commercialized there is a need to standardize the
same.
Home and mix use of DC & AC needs to be protected from the consumer point of view. Also the
appliances built on DC will cost high initially hence an eco-system need to evolve fast.
Mr. Vimal Mahendru, SEG 4 convener / SMB
Mr. Mahendru highlighted following points:



Highlighted the various initiatives and schemes Govt. of India has rolled out towards powering India.
Relevance and importance of LVDC.
Increased global partnership on the need for sustainable energy sources / systems and India’s close
working relationship with ISO/IEC.
Day 1:26th October 2015
Working Session I: Parallel Session 1B - Public Electrical Systems- Last Mile

Dr Abdullah A S. Emhemed:
Dr Abdullah from Senior researcher Institute for Energy and Environment at the University of Strathclyde gave
Presentation on Enabling an LVDC last mile distribution network. Dr Abdullah highlighted that the
applications of LVDC are still at an early stage due to the lack of mature experience and standards. Over and
above, the protection challenges that are presented by integrating DC installations in existing AC systems are
one of the key issues that delays the wide uptake of LVDC technologies Highlights of his presentation were;
 IET Code of practice
 Protection in AC is simpler compared to DC. DC needs more correction which means more work.
 IEC 61660: It is suitable for characteristics of LVDC short circuits current under all possible system
configurations
 IEC 60479 - Band I (ELVDC) 0V – 120V and Band II ( LVDC) 120 – 1500 V
 IEC 60947 – 2 ( Mechanical Breakers )
 Protection Solution: lab developed and tested
 Market readiness: UK utility has plans but they see no visible market / Hence not ready for next 10 years
Copy of presentation is available here

Jintae Cho, Senior Researcher, KEPRI (Korea Electric Power Research Institute) presentation on “The
development of LVDC distribution system in Korea”.
The current trend is towards power utilities which supply electricity to customers. It is expected that DC
customers like IDC (Internet Data Center), DC building and DC home will demand power utilities to provide
the direct DC electric power soon. KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation), the Korean electric utility, has
an interest in DC distribution system. It has researched the LVDC system and has plans to supply DC power to
customers directly. This presentation explains the current development status and the construction plan of
LVDC distribution system in Korea. Highlights of the presentation are;
 IDC ( Internet Data Centre) , currently uses 48V/ 380 V DC distribution system which is 13% more
efficient
 DC Home gives 1.5% - 3% efficient
 DC Home test bed ( KETI) has proven to be 6% efficient with PV, 279Kwz
 DC building ( K MEG)
 Electric utility needs the DC distribution system
 Needs to prove feasibility of LVDC systems
 Transmission + 750 V ( 1500 V ) and customer at 380 V Standard


DC system is more effective when DC loads is over 44%
Earthing: IT Grounding System for high DC voltage
Copy of presentation is available here

Pasi Nuutinen, Researcher, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland gave presentation on
Application of LVDC networks in rural distribution in Finland.
Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) has researched a concept, where DC is used to replace 20 kV AC
branch lines and a 400 V AC networks with ±750 V LVDC network. A research site was built in cooperation
with a power company Suur-Savon Sähkö Oy and it was commissioned in June 2012. Finnish DSO Elenia Oy
has also implemented an LVDC distribution system into their network, which has been operating since 2014.
The LVDC distribution has also been tested in a third location by Ensto Finland Oy, already in 2008. All the
experiences compiled over the years in Finland are presented. The main scope is in the used structures,
confronted challenges, main drivers of the selected voltage level, and in the standardization of the LVDC
distribution concept. Highlights of the presentation are:





Application of LVDC distribution system in rural areas
±750V LVDC mw with Transmission range of up to 10 km
Availability of the maximum allowed 1500 VDC (European Commission Low Voltage Directive
(LVD/2006/95/EC)) is crucial for the feasibility of the rural-area LVDC
Protection issues: Finish National Standards SFS 6000 series based on HD60364, IEC 60364, IEC60664
Need to cover 2kHz – 150kHz distributions standardization
Copy of presentation is available here

Ms Worajit Setthapun, Dean, Chang Mai Rajabhat University, Thailand presentation on Lesson Learned
from the Application of Community Based DC Microgrid
Appliances such as lighting, air conditioner, television, refrigerator, computer, water heater, and water pump
were specially developed for use with DC power. The DC power devices are approximately 30% more efficient
then AC power devices. The DC system has been in operation since 2012 and lesson learned were shared in the
presentation.
 DC Smart grid at the Smart Community
 Phase 1 : Lighting 24v dc/ 1 House 240V DC
 Phase 2: Household appliances : 260 – 297V DC
Copy of presentation is available here

Mr. Mario Tokoro, Executive Advisor and Founder, Sony Computer Science Laboratories (CSL), Inc., Japan,
presentation on DC-Based Bottom-Up Microgrids as the Next-Generation Electrical Power Infrastructures.
A DC-based, bottom-up microgrid system called DCOES with a novel energy exchange mechanism has been
developed and deployed in a community of 19 inhabited houses at the campus of Okinawa Institute of Science
and Technology (OIST) since December 2014. The key technology for such a microgrid is an energy exchange
mechanism which achieves bidirectional power transmission in the form of DC. The concept of DC-based
bottom-up microgrids is a proposition for next-generation electrical power infrastructures.
Copy of presentation is available here
Working Session 2 - Parallel Session 2 A on Electrical Equipment

Mr. K. V. Nachiappan, Director, Marketing and R&D, Numeric, gave presentation on UPS Market and its
Trends. Highlights of his presentation are:




DC vs AC UPS is not much efficient (only 0.5% to 1%)
Facebook design Centre at Sweden is based on DC, Power Usage effectiveness (PUE) is 1.08, DC UPS type
85 KW – 48 V, 1250 A,
o V2 SERVER design is not based on LVDC, which means no DC UPS
o Power supply unit PSU with battery backup (BBU 48V) is used instead
o DC distribution is limited to the Rack.
Standardisation for LVDC in UPS Industry: LVDC in UPS @ SC22H / WG6 = UPS 62040 series based on IEC
62040-5-3 Ed.1 to be ready by early 2017
Facebook is a specific case using fine cooling
Copy of presentation is available here

Mr. Pankaj Chaudhury, VDE Representative- India, VDE Testing and Certification Institute, Germany gave
presentation on “Application of Energy Storage Systems in LVDC”.
Smart applications of Renewable Energy, Micro-grids, LVDC power distribution & Energy Storage is going to
change the landscape in energy management by increasing efficiency & quality of the supply and achieving
flexibility both in generation and consumption. The objective of maintaining a continuous supply of power
from renewable distributed energy sources in the conditions e.g. when there is no sun or wind, will be fulfilled
through energy storage systems that will charge up when excess power is generated and release it when
utility-supplied power or other power source ( e.g. Diesel Generator ) is too expensive or insufficient.
Standards addressing key issues of safety, interconnections and interoperability will pave the way for faster
integration of Energy Storage Systems with LVDC power distribution. Highlights of his presentation are;
 A typical Telecom Tower has power demand of 3-5 KW and to ensure a continuous power supply, Diesel
Generator is a permanent feature at most of the sites.
 Telecom Tower Power Supply Technology AC & DC Solution topology
 Off grid Telecom tower Power Supply Topology – DC Nano-grid
 Off grid telecom tower : Renewable Integration with Energy Storage
 List of standards for lithium ion batteries/energy storage system
Copy of presentation is available here

Cristiano Masini, Manager Wiring Devices and Cable Management Standardization Coordination, gave a
presentation on “DC installations and related electrical accessories – use cases”:
This presentation dealt with the use of the electrical accessories in various environments, in relation with the
voltage levels and possible scenarios. With regard to the voltage levels and the type of supply providing DC,
the electrical accessories installed in DC installations will have characteristics that might be different from case
to case. And then; depending on the voltage levels, some electrical accessories will be required mandatory to
ensure safety. The presentation highlighted use cases covering rural, domestic, tertiary, Industry and Dara
centers including characteristics, problems and opportunities for the electrical accessories that can be used in
DC installations.
Accessories: Assumption per use of existing installations
 Light Circuit: 48V (Wire size 1.5 mm2)
 Power Circuit: 200 V (Wire Size 2.5 MM2)
 Other Circuit: 48 V (2.5 MM2)
 Needed DC/DC converter
Residential
 Protection system > 120 V for power Circuit, Light Circuit < 120 V must be SELV
 Socket Topology: 200 V = Power socket, 48V = USB socket
Territory
 DC/DC converter necessary to get 110 V
 Protection system POWER CIRCUIT = Yes (> 120 V) 400 V SHALL BE MANAGED, LIGHT CIRCUIT = No (<
120 V must be SELV) VERY CLOSE TO THE LIMIT
 Socket Topology: 400 V (Power socket) (SHALL be with interlock)
Existing installations can be + 200V DC Existing installations, with existing products (socket outlets) can’t be
used in dc for high power loads at high voltage (≥200V). Lower voltage for high power will require an increase
of the cable size (not reasonable for the cost). Standards shall be completely re-written.
Copy of presentation is available here

Hyosung Kim Ph.D, Professor, Kongju National University gave a presentation on LVDC arc characteristics
in circuit breakers and consent-plugs:
His presentation specially focused on arc behavior in LVDC circuit breakers and socket-plugs. The experimental
results indicate that traditional measures in circuit breakers and socket-plugs no longer properly work.
AC: Major Material is Copper conduction, uniflow, transportation, trippling > 1 ms Vs DC: Major material is
semi –conductor, bi-flow, static switches, < 1 ms, new standards
Presentation proposed some new measures to solve these problems.
Copy of presentation is available here

Priya Ranjan Mishra, Principal Scientist, Philips Research India – Bangalore, India gave presentation on
Lighting with DC distribution - Mapping of multiple DC distribution voltages to different application spaces
with case studies.
His presentation was based on the use of chargeable batteries as back-up power source in addition to a main
power source. Examples are solar powered indoor and outdoor lighting using 12V batteries, second lighting
systems designed for 220V DC CEAG-type battery emergency DC power also in combination with solar power
demonstrated by Philips Bangalore and third data centers with 380 V battery systems according to the
standard of the European Telecommunication Standardisation Institute (ETSI).
A second motivation is the combination of lighting with power and connectivity systems of the IT world such as
5V USB or 54V DC of Power-over-Ethernet systems. The highlights of the presentation are;
 Lighting of 5V USB : Charger
 Lighting with 12V/24 V ( Solar Panel + battery) : Street Lighting
 Solar powered / station in Germany
 Office Ceiling with 24V DC with Emerge alliance
 Lighting with 54V DC (24W/2400 Lm)
o Power over Ethernet
o IEEE 802.3 standards
 Lighting with 216 V DC Emergency Power
o 18 lead – acid batteries of 12 V in series
 Public lighting on DC Smart Grid
o 380 VDC or 350 VDC?
o 63% less cable loss compared with 230V AC

o ETSI standards
Lighting with 760 V DC
o Pilot in Netherland
Copy of presentation is available here
Day 2: 27th October 2015
Working Session 3 - Parallel Session 3B: Rural Homes / Electricity Access

Ravi Seethapathy, Adjunct Professor University of Toronto gave a presentation on LVDC: A Unique
Opportunity for Rural Development.
His presentation focused on Traditional Rural Electrification which has been very difficult due to its high cost
of extending distribution systems to remote areas. The rapid proliferation of distributed generation (Solar,
Wind, Mini-hydro, Biomass and Biogas) and Energy Storage technologies, has now allowed for micro-grid
architectures where such small systems could generate green power locally and operate isolated from the
main grid. The stability and power quality of such off-grid systems is being tackled and many solutions are
emerging. However, for most rural population (in developing countries) this has meant mere lighting and little
usage. Highlights of his presentation were:



About India Smart Grid Forum and his role as chair for WG9 on Renewables and Microgrids
About IEEE Smart villages
o Non IP based technology to reduce cost
o Plans to train young candidates
About Biosirus
o Advanced load control
o Advanced HVAC – R
o Advance lighting
o Off grid DC / AC Rural power
Copy of presentation is available here

Deven Sharma, Vice President – Operations, Simpa Networks, India gave a presentation on Enlightening
Rural India
His presentation was based on the Solar LVDC appliance generally available in Indian village family and what
Simpa provides currently the appliances, perception of the market in terms of needs with current products,
Seasonality of the demand and how the application changes for the same appliance; impact on energy usage,
Price points, customer’s willingness to pay for a premium product etc.
The highlights of the presentation were:





Nearly 50% of India’s rural population has little or no access to grid-based electricity and instead, relies
on kerosene as its primary source of lighting
Solar as a Service
Finances / Pay as you grow model
Battery standards are key
Dc load components, the battery and endurance testing, the speed of bringing a product to market,
and a need to allow solar simulations
Copy of presentation is available here

Harry Stokman, CEO, Direct Current BV, The Netherlands, gave a presentation on Realization of public DC
smart grids in the Netherlands
The presentation highlights were:






DC is important not only for the developing countries but also for existing grids in developed areas.
Several ongoing projects in the Netherlands such as public lighting and greenhouses, including photo
voltage farms, fully operating on DC and connected to a DC grid.
Hybrid grid planned in an industrial area at the airport
DC grids in social housing areas intending to move from a gas heated to full electrical renewable
energy area at the lowest cost for the society.
Standardization provides a national benefit
Transform the last mile of the public network to a DC grid that is not application-based but an open
system ready for the future.
Copy of presentation is available here

Kartik Wahi, Co-founder, Claro Energy, India gave presentation on LVDC Applications in Solar Pumping &
Current Challenges
The presentation highlighted that LVDC has great potential in solarizing irrigation pump-sets. The highlights
of his presentation are:




Aspects of LVDC applications in Agriculture
o Solar LVDC in irrigation – Assessing true potential of this application
Showcasing various business models that are being practiced on the ground
Benchmarking & Standardization (or lack thereof)
Sector overview – size of opportunity




Major Challenges towards scaling up
Recommendation on standardization for LVDC in agriculture
Irrigation As A Service (IAAS)
Lack of Industry Standards
Copy of presentation is available here

Keynote Address by Shri. Upendra Tripathi, IAS Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Highlight of his speech are:













Long History – Ministry of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy was established in 1982 and
Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1986
India has a National Institute of Wind Energy
Carbon tax collection has gone up from 50 to 400
20 KW to 100 KW solar power targets
Total 100 KW from renewable is the targets ( 40 KW roof top only)
73K MW funding available from World Bank, etc.
Rural solar appliances use is encouraged
Standards play an important role
BIS is the agency to ensure quality / compliant products are there in the market
Global solar alliances / DC to play an important role
Energy to all - India and China are major demand and supply market.
IEC could consider a local presence in India
Summary & Conclusion of the Conference







LVDC is not an objective but a means to reach an objective
Research organizations are trying to find solution to technical challenges
Industry is trying to find solutions to market needs
Regulators to make regulations for a sustainable solution
380 V/ Data Centers are important to address as first step: EU/US/Japan/China driving 380 V DC for
data Centers
More standards around renewable energy and safety are needed on top of what already exist
Residual current services: standards are not present
Copies of all presentation are available here and Event Details are available here