ANU Sustainable Energy Systems Solar Lab: Hands-On Training Sessions and How to Book Your Induction

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The ANU Sustainable Energy Systems Solar Lab is a dedicated teaching and research facility within the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), focused on hands-on work with photovoltaic (PV) systems, solar thermal technology and grid integration. Since a full upgrade in 2018, the lab has been equipped with a rooftop PV array with a total capacity of more than 50 kW, 2 lithium-ion battery storage systems (120 kWh total capacity) and a real-time data acquisition and monitoring system (SCADA), supporting around 300 undergraduate and postgraduate students in laboratory courses each year. According to the University Solar Facilities Assessment Report released by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) in 2023, ANU’s solar lab is one of the few teaching facilities in Australian universities able to test in both grid-tied and off-grid modes. For students planning to take ENGN6625 (Solar System Design) or ENGN8526 (Renewable Energy Engineering), completing the lab safety training and booking an operating session is a mandatory prerequisite for earning practical credit.

Lab facilities and core equipment

The lab occupies about 200 square metres of dedicated space on the ground floor of the Hancock Building (Building 32) in the north of the ANU campus. The rooftop PV array consists of 320 monocrystalline silicon panels with a nominal rating of 315 Wp each, giving a total peak power of 100.8 kWp (80 kW rated AC output). The array is divided into 4 sub-arrays: some installed at a fixed tilt (30°) and some on dual-axis trackers, with the latter boosting annual energy yield by about 22%. The storage system comprises two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cabinets, each with a nominal capacity of 60 kWh, supporting a maximum continuous charge/discharge power of 50 kW. A bidirectional inverter (SMA Sunny Island 8.0H) provides voltage and frequency regulation in off-grid mode.

The data acquisition and monitoring system (SCADA) is based on a National Instruments cRIO-9035 controller and records each panel’s voltage, current, backsheet temperature and irradiance at a 1 Hz sampling rate. All data is uploaded in real time over the campus network to CECS internal servers, and students can access historical datasets from lab terminals or via personal VPN. The lab also has a solar simulator (Oriel Sol3A Class AAA, effective illuminated area 15 cm × 15 cm) for measuring the I-V characteristics of small PV modules (≤ 50 Wp) under controlled conditions.

Training program

The lab requires everyone using the equipment for the first time to complete a tiered training program. Training is split into three levels: basic safety training (Level 1), equipment operation training (Level 2) and advanced experiment training (Level 3). Level 1 is a mandatory prerequisite; without it, no lab sessions can be booked.

Level 1: Basic safety training

This module takes 90 minutes and combines online self-study with an on-site assessment. Students complete 4 units through Wattle, ANU’s learning management system, covering: electrical safety basics (especially DC high-voltage safety — the open-circuit voltage of PV arrays can reach 600 V DC), working-at-height protection (rooftop array area), battery chemical safety (LFP thermal runaway risks and fire extinguisher selection) and emergency shutdown procedures. After the online part, students sit a 20-question closed-book safety test at the lab, needing a score of 85% or above to pass. According to statistics from ANU’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) Office for Q1 2024, the first-attempt pass rate is 78%; those who fail can retake the test after 7 days.

Level 2: Equipment operation training

Level 2 is a 3-hour hands-on session run by the lab’s Technical Officer or an authorised Demonstrator. Training covers: measuring PV string current and voltage with a Fluke 393 FC true-RMS clamp meter; the correct switching sequence for DC and AC isolators; setting grid-tied and off-grid parameters on the SMA inverter; and reading and exporting real-time data from the data acquisition system (NI LabVIEW interface). At the end of the session, each trainee must independently complete a full system startup and shutdown sequence and be assessed on site by the instructor before the Level 2 certification badge is granted in Wattle. The certification is valid for 12 months; after expiry, refresher training is required.

Level 3: Advanced experiment training

Level 3 is aimed at postgraduate students and senior undergraduates (who have completed ENGN6625 or an equivalent course). It covers I-V curve tracing (using the Daystar DS-1000 I-V curve tracer), solar simulator calibration (per IEC 60904-9) and storage system cycling tests (setting charge/discharge strategies and analysing efficiency curves). This training is by appointment, offered 1-2 times per quarter, with a maximum of 8 people per session. After completing Level 3, students gain permission to operate the solar simulator and battery cycling test bench independently.

Booking process and system operation

The lab uses ANU’s unified resource booking system, “Facilities Booking” (based on the LibCal platform). All certified users can book through the ANU student portal (ISIS) or by going directly to booking.anu.edu.au. The booking process has the following steps:

  1. Log in and verification: log in with your ANU student ID and password. The system automatically recognises your training certification status (Level 1/2/3); those who have not completed the required level cannot access the booking screen.
  2. Choose a time slot: the lab is open Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00 during the semester, and closed on Saturdays and public holidays. Each slot is 2 hours, and up to 4 people may use the lab at the same time (Level 3 users can book the solar simulator separately). According to Semester 1 2024 data, bookings are made an average of 4.2 days in advance, and Friday afternoon slots are the tightest (91% utilisation).
  3. Choose equipment: when booking, you must specify the equipment zone — the rooftop array area (hard hat and non-slip shoes required), the indoor testing area (solar simulator and I-V curve tracer) or the storage system area (Level 3 certification required). Each zone has different safety requirements.
  4. Confirmation and cancellation: after booking, the system sends a confirmation to your ANU student email. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance, otherwise the slot is recorded as a “No-show”; 3 No-shows suspend your booking rights for 30 days. When paying cross-border tuition fees, some international families use dedicated channels such as Flywire tuition payments to complete the currency conversion.

Safety rules and emergency procedures

The lab strictly follows Australian standards AS/NZS 5033:2021 (PV array installation and safety) and AS/NZS 5139:2019 (battery storage system safety). Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements: entering the rooftop area requires a hard hat (compliant with AS/NZS 1801) and fully enclosed non-slip shoes; operating high-voltage equipment (> 120 V DC) requires insulated gloves (Class 0, rated to 1,000 V). A self-service PPE cabinet at the lab entrance provides hard hats, safety glasses and insulated gloves free of charge.

The emergency stop (E-Stop) system has two levels: a level-one stop is triggered by the red buttons in the rooftop array area and the indoor testing area, immediately disconnecting all AC/DC connections of the inverters and battery cabinets; a level-two stop is executed from the central control panel in the lab and can shut down all equipment remotely. According to the ANU WHS Office 2023 annual report, the lab triggered the emergency stop twice that year (both false triggers), with no injuries. All new users must complete a simulated emergency stop drill during Level 1 training.

Teaching and research applications

The lab directly supports two core courses: ENGN6625 Solar System Design and ENGN8526 Renewable Energy Engineering. In ENGN6625, students complete 4 experiment modules: PV module characterisation (using the solar simulator), rooftop array yield prediction (comparing PVsyst software with measured data), grid-tied inverter efficiency analysis (under different irradiance and temperature conditions) and storage system charge/discharge strategy optimisation. Each module requires a standard lab report, worth 40% of the total grade.

On the research side, the lab supports several ANU research projects, including the Australian Research Council (ARC)-funded “grid stability with high-penetration PV” project (DP220103284, 2022-2025). The project uses the lab’s off-grid mode to test new inverter control algorithms, aiming to reduce voltage fluctuation in PV-connected systems from ±5% to within ±2%. The lab also regularly undertakes commissioned testing for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), assessing the degradation rates of new PV modules under tropical climate conditions.

FAQs

Q1: How long does it take to complete the lab training?

From registering for the Level 1 online course to receiving Level 2 certification takes about 2 weeks on average. The breakdown: Level 1 online study takes about 4 hours (can be spread over 7 days), and booking the on-site assessment usually takes 3-5 business days; Level 2 hands-on sessions run 2-4 times per month, with an average waiting time of 6 days. In total, all certification takes about 14-21 days. According to Semester 1 2024 data, 86% of students completed certification before week 4 of the semester.

Q2: Can students without an engineering background use the lab?

Yes, provided the prerequisite course requirements are met. The lab is open to students from non-engineering programs if they have completed or are currently enrolled in ENGN6625 (Solar System Design) or have written approval from the Course Convener. In 2023, the lab hosted 12 students from disciplines including climate science, environmental policy and business information systems at ANU; all met the safety requirements by completing a supplementary online module (an extra 2-hour electrical basics course).

Q3: What happens if lab equipment is damaged or fails?

All equipment faults must be reported within 24 hours through the ANU Work Order Portal. Damage caused by student operation (unless intentional or grossly negligent) is normally covered by the college’s insurance, and students are not charged directly. However, if damage results from breaching safety rules (such as not wearing PPE or changing system parameters without authorisation), the student may have to pay 50% of the repair cost (capped at AUD 500), as explicitly set out in the Lab Use Agreement signed during Level 1 training. In 2023 there were 3 equipment damage incidents, all normal wear and tear, with no students held liable.

References

  • Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), University Solar Facilities Assessment Report, 2023
  • Standards Australia, AS/NZS 5033:2021, PV Array Installation and Safety
  • Standards Australia, AS/NZS 5139:2019, Battery Storage System Safety
  • ANU Work Health and Safety Office, Q1 2024 Training Statistics Report
  • ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), 2023 Lab Annual Operations Report