A mandatory AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) is generating a race among manufacturers to adapt photovoltaic inverters – which have been carrying out detailed analyses in recent months and investing in extensive laboratory testing to meet the requirements of Inmetro Ordinance 515/2023.
From December 1, 2024, only the inverters that comply with the standard may be manufactured or imported in Brazil. However, no specific deadlines were established for the commercialization of equipment without AFCI already in stock.
A race for compliance is not limited to just manufacturers but also involves distributors, that are mobilizing to adapt to the new requirements of Brazilian legislationa, seeking to offer a diversified and updated portfolio of inverters equipped with AFCI technology.
Among the companies is Amara NZero Brazil, who stated that he is monitoring the market's evolution in search of robust and safe solutions for the photovoltaic segment. “With AFCI it would be no different. Since this topic was on the agenda at Inmetro, we have also adapted together with our partners to meet the regulatory requirement with quality and the appropriate certifications”.
“Therefore, all imports that we are receiving from manufacturers Solis and Sungrow are already 100% aligned with the respective Inmetro ordinance”, he pointed out. Thiago Mingarelli, technical manager at Amara NZero Brazil.
A Aldo Solar, through Jeferson Meneguite, the company's Product Coordinator, highlighted that in 2024 all inverters purchased by the same comply with Ordinance 515, both on-grid and hybrid.
“Our main challenge is to adjust inventory levels according to deadlines and to follow the rules as has always been done. We see that in the domestic market, manufacturers are more concerned than distributors, but Aldo is working together with suppliers to ensure that everyone complies with the rules,” he emphasized.
Among the equipment purchased by the distributor with AFCI, according to Meneguite, are Deye hybrids of up to 10 kW / 380 V, Growatt ones of up to 30 kW / 220 V and GoodWe inverters of up to 250 kW / 800 V, for example.
Already Bluesun He explained that he currently works with four brands of inverters, such as Growatt, Sofar, Solis and Deye – which are already adapting to meet the requirements of the Ordinance.
“Solis, for example, already had some models with AFCI, as did Sofar and Deye. In the case of Growatt, the X2 line is already being produced and sold in accordance with the standard,” he commented. Ricardo Mansour, founding partner of Bluesun.
“We are committed to ensuring that our portfolio is always aligned with the latest regulations, offering our customers safety and innovation,” Mansour stressed.
Other distributors
Concerning Bold Energy, the company emphasized that, since the publication of Ordinance 515/23 by Inmetro, they have begun working together with suppliers to ensure that inverters comply with the new AFCI protection requirements.
“Many of our products already have this functionality via software, and we are advancing in the process of adapting via hardware to fully comply with the new rules,” he said. José Vitor Salm, director of Bold.
“We are aware that this transition will still take some time for the market as a whole to absorb the existing stock of inverters. However, we believe that, by 2024, a good part of the equipment will already be adapted to the hardware requirements stipulated by the Ordinance”, he reported.
According to the executive, it is important to highlight that, although Ordinance 515/23 requires the implementation of AFCI via hardware, many of the inverters already in stock have a software protection functionality. “Therefore, investors operating with AFCI via software continue to be an effective solution until full adaptation is completed.”
Relating to BayWa re., Jefferson Miranda, commercial manager at the distributor, stated that they have already received the first batch of imported inverters that comply with the new regulations. “We still have some items in stock without the resource, but we are already working on some campaigns so that they can be sold and installed within the time allowed for adaptation”.
Already Serrana Solar reported that he has been selling inventory without AFCI for a few months. “In our planning, by the end of November, we will conclude all sales so that we can sell with AFCI.”
“For example, one of the brands we work with, Solis, we are already selling only with AFCI, and SAJ and Hypotench all the material that was shipped from China, and that arrives until the end of November, already comes with AFCI. Therefore, from December 1st, we will easily have all single-phase models complying with the standards of Ordinance 515/2023”, he said. Rodrigo Furlan, director of Serrana.
Levi Santos Cidral Junior, WEG Electrical Engineer, stated that, with the publication of Inmetro Ordinance 515/2023, which complements Ordinance 140/2022 which includes AFCI as a requirement, they are fully prepared to meet the new regulatory requirements.
According to the engineer, WEG has been offering photovoltaic inverter lines with the AFCI feature integrated as standard for years. “We recognized the importance of this technology for the safety of photovoltaic systems, even before it became mandatory.”
“Now, with the new regulation coming into effect from December 2024, we are proud to report that 100% of our DG (distributed generation) inverters are now equipped with AFCI,” he concluded.
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