As distributed energy resources scale globally, designing grid-feeding protection systems that ensure safety, compliance, and grid stability have become crucial. Protection schemes, regional standards, and fast project workflows must align seamlessly to keep pace with demand.
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In this Q&A, experts from ABB, a global leader in electrification solutions for energy transition, share insights on grid feeding system designs. We ask Solar Solution Manager Flurina Heuberger and Analyst Maciej Maselek how ABB partners are succeeding in this fast-changing landscape.
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What are the trends shaping the evolution of Distributed Energy Resources (DER)?
Flurina: DER deployment has transitioned from the pilot phase to wide deployment and is now a proven technology being installed every day as electrification needs continue to grow. Looking at photovoltaics alone, installed solar capacity grew to 653 GW dc in 2025, a 15.6% increase compared to 2024, and solar installations are projected to grow to over 8 TW installed capacity by 2034. Storage installations grew 23% in 2025 to 92 GW. A significant trend we're observing is the collocation of solar and storage, which is becoming the dominant mode of DER deployment.
What impact do DER have on the grid?
Flurina: Rising DER sources are reshaping grid dynamics and challenging existing infrastructure. Grid feeding protection prevents faults and islanding, but adapting to grid codes and varying infrastructures and architectures is time-consuming. This is why designing flexible solutions is key to maintaining grid stability while keeping projects on schedule.
Why is automatic disconnection so critical when integrating DER into the grid?
Flurina: When DERs remain connected during a grid fault, they can magnify the problem instead of helping solve it. If a small utility grid issue occurs and DERs continue to pump power into an unstable system, it can escalate into a major disruption. Grid-feeding systems detect voltage and frequency deviations instantly and isolate the DERs, preventing cascade failures and protecting both grid stability and worker safety.
How does ABB’s Application Configurator speed up the selection of grid feeding systems?
Maciej: Selecting the right products for grid feeding systems can be time-consuming and complex. Engineers often need to navigate extensive datasheets, technical catalogs, and multiple product families. This effort becomes frustrating when system requirements are well understood, but identifying the matching products from hundreds of options is not easy.
ABB's Application Configurator transforms this experience. Instead of spending hours manually evaluating protection devices, interface relays, and other required products, the tool enables you to generate a complete and validated bill of materials in just minutes.
Through a guided workflow, it simplifies every step of the design process. It reduces engineering complexity, minimizes the risk of mis-sizing or compatibility errors, and removes the need to constantly cross-reference multiple catalogs. Based on the grid feeding system parameters you enter (such as grid code standards, generation power, backup and interface devices, inverter details, short-circuit levels, and connection configuration), the configurator automatically proposes the optimal electrical architecture using ABB's full product portfolio.
It ensures proper grading, selectivity, and protection coordination across the entire grid feeding system. The whole process becomes streamlined, accurate, and completely free of guesswork.
How does the Application Configurator work?
Maciej: Application Configurator simplifies configuration through four simple steps. Users provide key system inputs and based on these parameters, the configurator automatically filters out irrelevant or incompatible products.
Leveraging ABB's built-in expertise and pre-validated combinations, the tool recommends the most suitable protection devices, interface relays, disconnecting devices, surge protection, accessories, and communication or monitoring options for compliant grid-feeding systems.
The configurator automatically checks critical technical aspects such as selectivity, protection coordination, short-circuit withstand ratings, interface protection requirements, and compatibility between products. This reduces design errors and ensures a safe, reliable, and standard compliant grid feeding system.
Users can still adjust quantities, swap components, or add accessories at any stage, and the configurator instantly updates the recommendations. The result is a complete, validated bill of materials tailored specifically to your grid feeding project.
How much does Application Configurator cost?
Maciej: Application Configurator is free for anyone to use, whether you're an existing ABB customer or new to ABB solutions. Simply create an account, input your project details, and start configuring immediately. No prior ABB relationship is required, and there is no cost.
Flurina Heuberger is a Solution Product Manager at ABB Electrification, where she focuses on business strategy and innovation in Solar, BESS and Hydrogen Sector.
Maciej Maselek is the Functional Analyst for the Application Configurator at ABB Electrification. With his expertise in functional Analyst, he ensures seamless user experience and efficient application configuration.