Change Summary

• A new article for “Stand-Alone Systems” was added to address the operating parameters for electric power production sources in a stand-alone mode. Stand Alone Systems is a specialized area of work for electrical professionals and beyond the scope of this Captain Code document. However we provide this brief mention here to inform our readers of this emerging technology. If you are involved in this work we recommend reading article 710 in its entirety in NEC 70.

Expert Analysis

A stand-alone power system, sometimes referred to as a remote area power supply, is an off-the-grid system for locations that are not connected to an electricity distribution system. Stand-alone power systems will typically include one or more methods of electricity generation, energy storage, and regulation.

Stand-alone systems are becoming more prevalent due to emerging technology in energy storage and local generation. Unlike stand-alone systems, optional standby systems do not provide 24/7 power by definition. The lessons learned from tens of thousands of standalone PV systems should apply to any stand-alone power source.