Inverter and PV System Technology

Transcription

Companies: xxx
Inverter and
PV System Technology
Industry Guide 2011
1
Inverter and PV System Technology 2010 · Industry Guide
Inverter and
Industry Guide 2011
Cover images
Front
Main image
Solar tree (source: SMA Solar Technology AG)
Small images, f.l.t.r.
Inverter board (source: KOSTAL Electric GmbH)
Solar cable connector (source: Tom Baerwald)
Central inverter power rack (source: Fronius Deutschland GmbH)
Back
Large-scale PV power plant (source: SMA Solar Technology AG)
2
Contents
Contents
Foreword
...........................................................................................................
5
Industry
Photovoltaic Plants and the Importance of Electrical Components . . . . . . . . . 8
Market Situation and Forecasts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
The PV Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Inverters and Their Influence on the Overall System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Plant Monitoring and Identifying Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Protection against Lightning and Overvoltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Cables and Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Planning and Grid integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Companies
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Business Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
ABB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Advanced Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
AEG Power Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Alteams Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
applied international informatics GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Answer Drives Srl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Bonfiglioli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Danfoss Solar Inverters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
DEHN + SÖHNE GmbH + Co. KG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Delta Energy Systems (Germany) GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Elettronica Santerno S.p.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Eltek Valere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Emerson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Enecsys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Finnveden Metal Structures AB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
KACO new energy GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Fronius Deutschland GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
KOSTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
M+W Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Mastervolt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Multi-Contact AG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Power-One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
RefuSol GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Satcon Technology Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Schneider Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
SIEL S.p.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
skytron® energy GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Siemens AG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
SMA Solar Technology AG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
SOLUTRONIC AG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
SOLON SE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Sputnik Engineering AG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
SUNGROW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Wieland Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Publishers
Solarpraxis AG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Sunbeam GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Important Notice, Picture Credits and Legal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
3
Foreword
Foreword
Dear Readers,
Why is it so, that efforts to refine and
improve photovoltaic systems must constantly be redoubled? Surely every plant is
a system that basically already works?
Well, photovoltaic plants are unquestionably fault-tolerant: Simply put, even
poor configurations will reliably generate
power for many years. In the early days of
photovoltaics, when off-grid systems still
dominated, questions as to whether the
power supplied would meet expectations
and whether the plant would actually
operate for as long as was planned were
immediately supplied with definite answers. If, for instance, the solar modules,
charge controller, battery and consumer
did not properly interact, a plant’s users
would, quite literally, be left in the dark, or
the battery would soon become defective
and the system unusable.
The explosive development of grid-connected markets made the situation even
more complex.
Great importance was initially attached
to stark cost reductions for solar modules, while in the inverter sector, efforts
centered on increasing efficiency and simultaneously decreasing costs. As long as
a power plant’s connected load was significantly lower than the capacity of the
entire grid, inverters were only required to
meet basic safety requirements.
Over the past two years, however, these
conditions have changed dramatically:
Despite the increased demands placed
upon electrical system components, huge
drops in module prices have resulted in
costs reductions being expected here, too.
In addition, as PV plants have entered the
MWp class, the monitoring of systems has
become an increasingly important factor.
Vast expansion, such as that taking place
in Germany, has brought with it the need
and opportunity for more system services
in the entire grid. So buzz words such as
“frequency maintenance” and “reactive
power supply” primarily illustrate how
photovoltaic systems now represent a
major part of the power grid.
Karl-Heinz Remmers,
CEO of Solarpraxis AG
4
power supply. While large, fossil-fuelled
power stations feed into the high voltage
grid at central points, PV systems supply
decentralized power, chiefly at low and
medium voltage levels. Their semiconductor technology allows them to react
quickly to grid instability and to assist in
stabilizing this extremely efficiently.
In terms of actual photovoltaic systems,
the high speed of innovation means
that system understanding is becoming
ever more important. How can different
module types best be connected with
inverters, and in such a way that they are
protected from damage? What safety
technology is required, and how can the
other components in the electrical system
work together cost-effectively? Where is
there a particular need for research and
development? Which components have
already been successfully used for which
parts of the system, and what characterizes intelligent system connection? What
can, and what must, monitoring achieve?
By publishing this brochure, and launching a conference series of the same name,
Solarpraxis aims to promote developments in how electrical systems interact,
both within photovoltaic plants and the
power grid, to demonstrate ideas and, of
course, to present the companies working in this field and their products. The
stimulus for this did not come from our
offices, but from the first-hand experience
gathered by our engineers every single
day in their planning, construction assistance, quality assurance, monitoring and
optimization work on photovoltaic plants.
This industry guide exemplifies how optimization and innovation provide proof
of the PV industry’s sustainability. We
welcome your interest and hope that you
enjoy reading.
With warmest wishes,
Karl-Heinz Remmers
As a consequence of this, inverters and
PV systems as a whole must provide
intelligent support and protection to the
systems that surround them. In future,
many photovoltaic plants will be a combination of off-grid system, delivering power
directly to those that generate it, and gridconnected facility, balancing out power
supply – the old boundaries are becoming
blurred. At the same time, photovoltaics
provides entirely new scope for structuring
5
Inhaltsangabe
The Industry
6
7
Photovoltaic Plants and the Importance of Electrical Components
Photovoltaic Plants and the Importance
of Electrical Components
As competition and political importance increase, so, too, do the demands placed on PV plants. Investors and lenders in particular are showing increasing interest in good product quality and coherent plant
design. In addition to the photovoltaic modules themselves, each and every system component is a crucial
factor in long-term profitability and operating safety when generating solar power. The careful integration
of all components is therefore becoming increasingly important for installation and operating companies,
and for investors.
2,117 kWp PV power plant, Mittelwasungen (Germany)
A photovoltaic plant (PV plant) which
feeds into the grid essentially consists of
the following components:
PV generator (solar modules)
Generator junction box (GJB)
Inverter(s)
Meters
Grid connection
DC and AC cabling
System variants result from the use of
different modules (crystalline silicon or
thin-film) and the way in which they are
connected (e.g. in series), as well as the
use of different inverters (with or without
a transformer). Novel technical developments, such as micro inverters or DC
optimizers, expand the range of potential
system configurations.
Fundamental differences in photovoltaic
system technology result from dividing a
PV generator into strings and connecting
these to one or more inverters. Dividing
the system into strings gives planners
more flexibility and enables factors such
as partial shading of the PV generator to
be taken into account.
Inverters are selected according to the
type and quantity of the modules connected as well as the voltage and output
of the individual strings. A hierarchy may
also be established between inverters. In
a large-scale PV plant, for example, partial
load operation can be better exploited
by coupling several central inverters in
a master/slave configuration. Here, the
master inverter disables or enables the
other inverters depending on the insolation, which changes during the course of
the day.
Inverters are crucial to the efficiency of the PV system.
8
9
Market Situation and Forecasts
PV system components (possible designs)
1.
8.
2.
3.
4.
5.
3.
1.
2.
1. PV generator (solar modules)
2. Solar module junction box
3. Solar cable connector
4. Generator junction box (GJB)
5. Inverter
6. Import/export meter
7. Grid supply
8. Monitoring solutions
9. Power optimizer
6.
00123467
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
9.
After the Fukushima nuclear incident in March 2011 market developments have become difficult to predict,
as many governments are considering changing their energy policy in favor of renewable energies. Before
Fukushima, in the first three months of 2011, the news from politics made PV market participants laugh and
cry at the same time. Good news of a thriving market in Italy was quickly counterbalanced by the government announcing “changing conditions”. The German market will remain the world leading market in 2011,
despite another mid-year FIT cut. Spain is not set to expand, whereas France is expecting significant growth.
Inverter manufacturing
7.
DC
AC
Intelligent coordination with the grid
Interaction with the public grid is an ever
more important factor in the efficiency
and use of PV plants. This is because the
days of photovoltaic power supply as a
one-way process, where current only flows
from the PV generator in one direction
(i.e. directly into the grid), are increasingly
coming to an end. Instead, self-supply
with solar power is gaining in importance.
It is only possible to coordinate these
functions by communicating with other
generators and consumers in the grid.
This leads us to another significant challenge facing photovoltaic power supply,
that of feed-in which fluctuates depending on the current solar radiation. The
storage of solar power, a task which could
previously be performed by the public grid
provided that the amount of electricity
fed-in remained low, now requires its own
In the future, the inverter will coordinate
system technology. If it cannot be used
various operating states: supplying power immediately, solar energy must be stored
to the grid, purchasing electricity from the in batteries, compressed air systems or
grid and self-supply with solar power. In
water reservoirs, and in the distant future
the medium voltage range, in particular,
could even be stored in the form of hyinverters are also increasingly undertakdrogen or methane. Every form of storage
ing tasks to stabilize the grid during voltis expensive. It is therefore important to
age fluctuations.
consume as much solar energy as possible
immediately in the grid by intelligently
coordinating generators and consumers.
Roof-mounted PV system
on a public building in
Berlin (Germany)
10
11
5,000
0
0
2010*
2009
2011*
PV installations (MW)
2012*
2013*
2014*
2015*
-20
10
20
2009
2010*
2011*
PV installations (MW)
2012*
2013*
Y/Y growth (%)
2014*
0
*estimated
As a result, an immediate halt has been
called to installation activity in Italy –
though this was strong throughout JanuIn Germany, on Febuary 2, 2011 the German ary and February – and only projects nearparliament accepted the environment
ing completion have been continued.
minister’s proposal of a mid-year FIT cut.
iSuppli expects Italy to install 4 GW in 2011
The amount of the FIT will be set accorddue to the growing installation capacity
ing to the quantity of systems installed
there, assuming government support conin March, April and May. According to
tinues, once the ongoing FIT negotiations
Californian-based market research firm
are concluded.
iSuppli, about 7.1 GW will be installed in
Germany under the new scheme.
France announced solar incentives to
support 500 MW new PV installations in
In the last quarter of 2010, installations
2011. In addition, around 30% of PV plants
in Italy grew much faster than expected
that have already received approval will
by industry consensus. On January 25,
be built during the next 18 months. These
1.85 GW were officially connected, and a
projects will benefit from high return
total of 2.85 GW were installed in 2010.
rates based on the earlier FITs. They will
On March 3, the Italian government
add to the annual target of 500 MW. IHS
announced that new FITs will be valid
iSuppli estimates that 1,300 MW will be
from June 1, with an annual cap yet to be
installed in France in 2011.
announced and ground installations on
farmland limited to 1 MW.
The solar markets in Spain and the Czech
Republic will not expand in 2011, and may
even shrink. Serious measures to reduce
solar investor business are on the way. The
Spanish government will reduce funding
for existing solar power parks by approximately 30%. In addition, FITs for new
ground installations will drop to 14 €ct/
kWh in 2011.
The Czech Republic is set to stop state
support for ground-mounted plants by
March 2011.
System cost breakdown
A PV system is built from several components. A typical cost breakdown for a
ground installation in Germany shows
that dominant single factors are modules,
representing 60% of the cost, and inverters and underconstruction each at about
10%. That breakdown is likely to remain
stable in the forseeable future.
Taking into account these multiple changes, iSuppli expects that in 2011 about 21
GW will be installed worldwide. Installations will grow by 31% compared to
2010. Looking forward from 2012 to 2014,
considerable market growth is not anticipated. The German market is expected
to contract from 7 GW to 5 GW.
2011*
2015*
CAGR 2015 VS. 2010 (%)
Czech Republic
397
1,331
350
350
–28
France
250
719
1,307
873
14
3,806
6,727
7,100
5,000
–11
Italy
720
2,850
4,100
2,750
9
Spain
70
250
345
1,000
41
0
2009
2010*
Micro inverters (MW)
2011*
2012*
2013*
Optimizers (MW)
2014*
*estimated
Source: iSuppli | © SOLARPRAXIS AG
Inverters
In the fourth quarter of 2009, inverters
were sold out and supply remained tight
until July 2010. The lead times increased
from 3 weeks to 30 weeks and prices
increased rapidly at wholesale level.
From September 2010 onward prices
stabilized, by November they started to
decrease: The wholesalers cleared their
stocks due to the slow pace of installation
in Germany. In parallel, all major suppliers expanded their capacities. Reviewing
the capacity announcements of inverter
companies, iSuppli forecasts that capacities will increase beyond 50 GW at the
end of 2011.
System cost breakdown 1 - 10 MW Germany (a-Si/µc-Si 9%)
* estimated
12
5
The original bottleneck in inverters has
disappeared, but has still not been fully
averted. It is the supply of components
which has to cope with several growing
markets. Suppliers of power devices confirm that devices can be supplied as long
as the forecast does not increase beyond
22 GW. Suppliers of passive components
are more reticent, mentioning that other
markets, such as the Chinese automotive
industry, are a black hole for electronic
components.
2010*
Source: iSuppli
2009
Germany
10
In terms of MW, the inverter market more than doubled in 2010 growing at 125%. As
installation growth cools off in 2011 and flattens in 2012, growth will slow to 26% and 2%
respectively.
Estimated PV installations in selected countries (MW)
Country
15
* estimated
** The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) predicted that a total of 14,300–16,500 MW would be installed in 2010.
National markets and
global development
17,760
12,580
25,800
40
5
0
Y/Y growth (%)
25,500
24,900
19,710
60
8,900
5,300
20
7,240
15
20
3,540
2,380
40
80
25
870
730
15,000
20
100
30
230
80
60
15,945**
25
120
Global annual shipments (gigawatts)
20,000
80
22,000
Global annual shipments (gigawatts)
20,897
30
35
Y/Y Growth (%)
25,000
22,956
100
27,798
30,000
120
Y/Y Growth (%)
PV installations (megawatts)
35,000
10,000
35
140
34,435
8,800
40,000
MLPM shipment forecast
140
31,460
30,940
PV inverter shipment forecast
31,000
Annual PV installation worldwide
8% EPC Margin
MLPM solutions
Module Level Power Management (MLPM)
solutions such as micro inverters and DC
optimizers are intensely debated. Manufacturers claim that they can harvest 3%
to 20% more kilowatt hours (kWh) of PV
power.
Approximately 150 MW of MLPM devices
were shipped in 2010, of which 80 MW
were micro inverters and 70 MW DC
optimizers.
Micro (or module) inverters have an early
lead in the MLPM market where initial
adoption has been heaviest in the US
residential market. iSuppli estimates that
the price drops for micro inverters will be
steeper than for string or central inverters,
and that micro inverters will cost US$0.05
per Watt more than string inverters by
2014.
Optimizers can be applied more broadly
because they still use an inverter and their
role is more that of a power booster which
improves energy harvest. They currently
cost about US$0.15/Watt (US$0.13/W by
mid year) and are expected to drop to
US$0.08/Watt by 2014. Optimizers initially entered the European, and to a lesser
degree, the North American residential
markets. Commercial applications have
become more popular in recent months.
6% Labour
6% Cabling & small parts
59% Modules
11% Underconstruction
10% Inverters
13
The PV Generator
The PV Generator
Electrically connected solar modules make up a PV generator, which generates electrical power dependent on insolation and temperature. The output of a solar generator is therefore not only determined by
the efficiency of its modules, but also by how well those modules exploit the strength and spectrum of the
insolation, and how they react to the module temperature.
Thin-film modules require a greater
surface area than crystalline silicon modules
to generate the same power.
The photovoltaic effect in solar cells can
be used to generate power. Solar cells are
made from a variety of different materials, with crystalline silicon being the
most common. Thin-film cells made from
cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium
selenide (CIS), amorphous silicon (a-Si)
and amorphous/microcrystalline silicon
(a-Si/_c-Si) are, however, also extensively
used. Several solar cells are connected
together to make up a module.
The electrical properties of crystalline
modules are markedly different from
those of thin-film modules and must be
taken into account in order to achieve the
highest possible yield in a given location.
Crystalline silicon modules
in a free-standing system
(left) and a roof-mounted
installation (top)
The bigger the area, the thinner the
module
Since modules made from crystalline
silicon are generally more efficient than
thin-film modules, they are used wherever space is at a premium, such as on
the roofs of single-family homes. Module
efficiency therefore solely affects the
space requirements for the PV plant: In
the case of crystalline solar modules, an
area of around eight to ten sqm is needed
to achieve an output of one kilowatt peak
(kWp), whereas for thin-film modules
the area required for the same output is
between twelve and 20 sqm – depending
on the technology used.
Cell material
14
Module
efficiency
Surface area need
for 1 kWp
Monocrystalline silicon
13–19%
5–8 m2
Polycrystalline silicon
11–15%
7–9 m2
Micromorphous tandem cell
(a-Si/μc-Si)
8–10%
10–12 m2
10–12%
8–10 m2
Thin-film
cadmium telluride (CdTe)
9–11%
9–11 m2
Amorphous silicon (a-Si)
5–8%
13–20 m2
Thin-film
copper-indium-diselenide (CIS)
Cells made from different materials have different
efficiencies. PV array surface area depends on the type
of cell used.
On the one hand this means that the
cost of support structures and installation is higher for thin-film solar modules,
and that the modules themselves must
therefore be somewhat cheaper in a
turnkey system of the same price. On the
other hand, the area required only has an
indirect effect on the specific yield of a PV
plant, which is indicated in kWh/kWp. To
calculate the specific yield, the electricity
output (in kWh) is related to the installed
system capacity (in kWp) so that module
efficiency becomes immaterial. All in all,
the specific yield and costs of photovoltaic
15
The PV Generator
Temperature coefficient
15
Bypass diode
Bypass diode
Relative change (%)
10
STC (Standard Test Conditions)
5
TC ISC aSi
TC ISC CdTe
TC ISC cSi
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
TC
PMPP
Uoc
Isc
-5
15
cell
2
cell
20
cell
22
TC UOC aSi
TC UOC cSi
25
35
Temperature (°C)
45
55
65
TC PMPP cSi
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
installations – and thus their profitability
– are roughly the same whether crystalline silicon modules or thin-film modules
are used.
cell
21
TC PMPP aSi
TC PMPP CdTe / TC UOC CdTe
Temperature coefficient
Power maximum power point
Volt at open circuit
Ampere short circuit
5
cell
1
Despite the lower efficiency observed in
laboratory simulations with high irradiance and at module temperatures of
25°C (standard test conditions, STC), the
electricity yield of thin-film modules can
The cost of land plays a secondary role
be relatively high under certain condiwhen installing ground-mounted systems, tions. On the one hand this is linked to the
as economies of scale come into play
temperature coefficient gradient, which
in such installations. Ground-mounted
is markedly different to that of a crystalplants are therefore often equipped with
line module. On the other, the specific
thin-film solar modules.
yield in kWh/kWp is a variable which is
not related to surface area, meaning that
Crystalline silicon solar cells are particuthe lower efficiency of individual modules
larly responsive to long-wave solar radiabecomes irrelevant for comparison.
tion. In contrast, thin-film modules make
better use of the short and medium-wave Temperature coefficient
range of the solar spectrum. In cloudy
The temperature coefficient of output
conditions, the spectrum that hits the
voltage is negative. This means that
ground has a higher proportion of shortthe module output and output voltage
wave light, which is best exploited by
decrease at high temperatures (higher
amorphous thin-film modules. CdTe, CIS
than the reference temperature T=25°C
and microcrystalline thin-film modules,
under STC) while they increase at low
on the other hand, are best suited to abtemperatures. The temperature coefficient
sorbing medium wavelengths. In general, of current is both very small and positive,
thin-film modules are ideal for sites which so currents will only alter to a very small
experience a high proportion of diffuse in- degree as a result of temperature fluctuasolation due to frequent cloudy weather,
tions.
or temporary or partial shading.
Here is an example with some typical values: Under STC, a given solar module with
crystalline silicon solar cells has a nominal
output of 200 Wp and the temperature
coefficient of output is -0.5%/K. This
means that the output of this module
would decrease by 5% for every temperature increase of 10 K. If this module were
to reach a temperature of T=55°C, the
output would drop by 15%, i.e. the module
would “only” supply 170 Wp. Inversely, at a
module temperature of T=5°C, the module
output would increase to 220 Wp.
Thin-film modules are characterized by a
lower temperature coefficient of output,
typically -0.3%/K. This means that at a
module temperature of T=55°C, the solar
module would only show a drop in output
of 9%.
Insolation can heat PV modules to as
much as 70°C. For this reason, they are
installed so as to ensure that air can circulate to provide sufficient rear ventilation.
Where rear ventilation is not possible, for
instance if the modules are integrated
into the roof or façade of a thermally insulated building, thin-film modules are better suited as their output is less dramatically impaired by high temperatures.
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
Bypass diodes prevent overheating
Since a single solar cell is only able to generate around 0.5 volts, a number of cells
are connected in series to form a string.
This has the disadvantage of making the
module extremely sensitive to partial
shading because, if the shadow of say a
chimney pot or an antenna is cast on a
cell, the affected cell will turn from power
generator into power consumer, becoming a weak link which restricts the power
output of the entire string.
Shaded cells do not generate electricity,
while the other, fully illuminated cells in
the string remain completely active and
drive their power through the shaded cell,
which converts that power into heat. In
extreme cases, this leads to a “hot spot”
being created in the cell, which can melt
a hole in the cell material. A bypass diode,
which bypasses the module string containing the shaded cell, is therefore used
to steer the electricity past the passive
cell.
Positioned in the module junction box,
a bypass diode usually bypasses 18 to
20 cells. Modules consisting of 36 cells
are therefore equipped with two bypass
diodes, while three such diodes are generally employed in modules with between
54 and 60 cells. As each diode bypasses
one string, even slight shading leads to
the output of all the series-connected
cells within a module being lost.
It would therefore be ideal if each solar
cell could be equipped with a bypass
diode. Unfortunately, the junction box
does not provide enough space for this. To
get around the problem, several manufacturers have started to laminate “string
bypass diodes” into their modules. This
allows a greater number of diodes to be
used than will fit in the junction box, and
shading tolerance is noticeably increased
as a result.
The reduced output and possibility of damage to cells
and modules caused by shading can be mitigated by
the use of bypass diodes. The diode short circuits the
affected area and allows the current to bypass it.
Overall, shading has the same effect as
sharply reduced insolation: a decreased
flow of current. This applies in principle
to both crystalline and thin-film modules.
However, the latter benefit from the striplike arrangement of their solar cells, as it
is relatively uncommon for long, narrow,
thin-film solar cells to become completely
shaded. The reduction in output of a thinfilm module is therefore usually proportionate to the shaded area.
Where losses are expected due to high
operating temperatures or shading, thinfilm modules are often given preference
over crystalline silicon models.
f.l.t.r.:
Thin-film cell made from cadmium telluride
CIS-based thin-film solar modules
Antireflection glass
Generator junction box
Temperature coefficient measurement
16
17
Inverters and Their Influence on the Overall System
1.
2.
3.
4.
1. Blocking diodes
2. DC switch
3. Surge suppressor
4. String fuses
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
Inverters and Their Influence
on the Overall System
Major discrepancies exist between power generation with PV modules and the requirements of the public
grid. The job of the inverter is to reconcile the systems with each other and to feed the solar power into the
grid with the highest possible efficiency. A PV installation’s yield is, therefore, just as heavily dependent
on the reliability and efficiency of the inverter as on the orientation, interconnection and quality of the PV
modules.
Inverters reconcile the PV system with the public grid.
Reflection losses
In order for yield to be increased even further, reflection losses must also be taken
into account. Modules with antireflection
glass are already in use, but are relatively
expensive. Reflection losses can, however,
be virtually eliminated if the PV generators are equipped to track the sun’s movement on a dual axis, though this involves
relatively high additional expense for the
mechanical system. Such outlay is really
only worthwhile if adequate additional
yield can be achieved, i.e. if the PV system
is installed at a site with a high proportion of direct insolation, preferably along
the earth’s sunbelt. This applies similarly
to concentrating sunlight with mirrors or
lenses.
Yield can also be increased by active
cooling. Here, cooling modules on their
rear side produces warm water or warm
air in addition to electricity. All in all, the
advantages of this method are, however,
too few for it to have become well-established.
18
Aging processes
Since they contain no moving parts, solar
modules age very slowly. As long as their
materials (glass, solar cells, plastics, aluminum) have been carefully selected, they
are also sufficiently weather resistant. If
a system is installed in such a way that
corrosion cannot take hold, it can achieve
a service life of 20 years or more. The
assembly frame should be designed to
ensure that there are no corners or niches
where dirt, leaves and other deposits
could collect, and standing water should
also be avoided. Different metals may only
be used together if it can be guaranteed
that no electrochemical reaction will
take place. This particularly applies to the
screws and clamps in the support frame
that holds the PV generator.
In the early days of PV technology, the
transparent conductive oxide (TCO) coating, applied to the illuminated upper face
of most thin-film modules to conduct
current, was often damaged by corrosion.
TCO corrosion is irreversible and leads
to severe output losses. Such damage
predominantly occurs in the event of high
voltages caused by earth leakage currents.
Grounding the generator’s negative pole
can prevent TCO corrosion, though it also
precludes the use of several inverter types.
Modules are connected in series to form a
string, and the voltages of each individual
module are totaled to give the string
voltage. Strings of equal length are then
connected in parallel to make up the PV
generator, where the output power of the
strings is cumulative. If the PV generator
consists of more than three strings, the
cables are consolidated using Y-adapters,
or joined in a generator junction box (GJB).
The GJB is located close to the modules
and connects the strings in parallel so
that only one positive and one negative
cable must be laid from each junction
box to the downstream inverter. It can
also perform additional safety-related
functions, such as that of string fuse
or overvoltage conductor. If thin-film
modules are used which are not reverse
current proof, blocking diodes must also
be employed. In addition, there are certain
components which may be positioned
in several different locations within the
system. For example, the main DC switch
could be a part of the GJB or could be
integrated into the inverter.
19
European Efficiency
I-V curve of a crystalline solar cell
100%
4
Cell current (A)
MPP
0,8
2
0,4
1
Cell power output (W)
3
η=91.8%
η=96.4%
η=94.8%
η=85.9%
1,2
Short circuit current
η=95.8%
η=96.0%
48%
50%
20%
13%
Open circuit voltage
The I-V curve of a crystalline silicon solar cell. The open
circuit voltage (VOC) is around 0.5 V. At the maximum
power point (MPP) of the curve, the voltage is about
80% of the open circuit voltage (VOC) and the current
is about 95% of the short circuit current (ISC).
The inverter is connected directly to the
public grid, and must therefore perform
several tasks simultaneously. The most
important of these are MPP tracking
and converting the solar modules’ direct
current into grid-compatible alternating
current.
An inverter is a power converter which
converts the direct current supplied by
the PV generator into alternating current
that has the same voltage and frequency
as the grid. If required, this conversion can
occur with a specified phase shift, in order
to feed reactive power into the grid (e.g.
in the event of grid failure) and lend it
support. Thanks to state-of-the-art power
electronics, converting direct current to
alternating current now only incurs minimal losses. The term “grid-tie inverter”
(GTI) is also used for the device, as it is
specifically geared toward the requirements of the public grid.
0
0
0,2
0,4
0
0,55
Cell voltage (V)
3%
0%
6%
P5 P10
P20
10%10%
P30
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
In order to ensure that it always feeds-in
the maximum power output, the inverter
automatically searches for the PV generator’s optimal operating point, or “maximum power point” (MPP). The MPP must
be continuously tracked, as the current
and voltage of the PV generator fluctuate widely. This is due to the constant
changes in insolation and temperature,
and means that the MPP moves back and
forth along the current-voltage curve (I-V).
The most efficient inverters available are
designed to always locate the MPP with
precision and to follow its movement immediately. Rapid control of the MPP in this
way enables the maximum possible output of the PV generator to be obtained.
European and Californian Efficiency
As a result of converting the direct current, losses are incurred which can be relatively high within the partial load range of
the inverter (0 to 20% of the rated power),
but which are usually less than 5% at the
rated output. Inverters usually achieve
maximum efficiency at around half the
rated output; some even reach over 98%.
The gradient of the efficiency curve is an
important factor in inverter design, as
they should be operated in the partial
load range for as few hours as possible
each year. The time curve of a PV generator’s output in a given location is crucial
here. Because the PV generator will only
rarely supply its full rated output, it is esIn addition to converting current and
pecially important to know the probability
detecting the temperature and insolation- of different outputs occurring.
dependent MPP, the inverter performs
further essential tasks: It plays a part
in system monitoring, collecting and
storing information, such as operating
data, which is necessary to analyze the
efficiency of the PV plant. It also displays
error messages and sends them to a
computer when required. Furthermore, it
monitors the grid connection and checks
if this has failed or been switched off.
P50
P100
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
The European efficiency standard (valid
for the type of irridiance level found
in Central Europe) is a method which
enables different inverters with different
efficacy curves to be compared by taking
into consideration the amount of time
the inverter can be expected to operate at
particular percentage loads/levels of solar
insolation:
η€ = 0.03 η5% + 0.06 η10% + 0.13 η20%
+ 0.1 η30% + 0.48 η50% + 0.2 η100%
For regions with high solar radiation – approximately 1,200 kWh/m3 annual global
irradiance upon a horizontal surface as
in South Europe – Californian Efficiency
leads to more appropriate results. According to different conditions of radiation its
formula is:
ηCEC = 0.04 η10% + 0.05 η20% + 0.12 η30%
+ 0.21 η50% + 0.53 η75%+ 0.05 η100 %
Dimensioning
Where moderate solar radiation is
prevalent, but full insolation only rare, an
inverter which has a much lower rated
output that that of the PV generator
should be selected.
Subdimensioning the inverter in this way
has the advantage that it will operate in
a higher output range most of the time,
and will thus be more efficient. The disadvantage of this system design is that the
inverter will more rapidly become overloaded if the level of insolation is high. If
this happens, energy will effectively be
wasted as a result of the internal output
limitations.
The operator must therefore decide
whether solar energy yield or economic
gain should take precedence. Optimum
profits can also be achieved with a
relatively small inverter, though at times
this may be overloaded and energy yield
will be diminished as a result. This setup
is, however, also less expensive, a saving
which can compensate for yield losses.
The inverter in this example has a European Efficiency
of 95.5%. The maximum efficiency is 96.4%, but it only
operates at this level of efficiency when the inverter is
operating at 50% of its nominal rating.
Owing to the poor efficiency curve in the
partial load range, it was initially widespread practice to design AC inverter output to be up to 25% lower that the rated
generator output under STC. However, in
view of today’s much improved efficiency
curves, it is now recommended that
such stark subdimensioning be avoided.
Moreover, the accuracy of weather data
has also improved, and it has come to
light that short radiation peaks occur
more frequently than expected.
Working on the basis that a maximum
0.5% of the energy generated should be
lost due to output limitations, it is now
recommended that an inverter’s rated
output should be no more than 10% lower
that the STC rated output of the solar
generator. Many renowned experts even
argue that the practice of subdimensioning inverters should be abandoned completely. Debates surrounding economically
viable system design are ongoing.
f.l.t.r.:
Central inverter
Home inverter and electric meter
Module inverter
String inverters
20
21
Central inverter
Module inverters
1.
1.
3.
2.
The PV array consists of several strings of seriesconnected modules. The whole of the installation is
served by a single central inverter.
Autonomous operation
The inverter input voltage is determined
by the number of modules connected in
series to form a string, the input current is
determined by the number of strings. The
inverter is connected directly to the public
grid and feeds output of up to 4.6 kilowatts (or more precisely: 4.6 kVA), usually
in single phase, into the low voltage grid.
Large-scale PV plants, however, require
three-phase inverters.
Thanks to their high efficiency and the
excellent quality of power they deliver to
the grid, self-commutated inverters have
gained a strong foothold in the market.
Such inverters contain a microprocessor
to create the on and off signals for the
electronic circuit breaker. This switching
frequency is much higher than the grid
frequency. By rapidly chopping the direct
current supplied by the PV modules,
signals are created which best simulate
sine function. During pulse pauses, the
current is temporarily stored in the input
capacitor.
Island inverter with battery
DC
AC
1. PV generator
2. Generator junction box
3. DC switch
4. Inverter
5. Grid supply
4.
5.
DC
AC
1. PV generator
2. Inverter
3. Grid supply
2.
3.
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
Because the inverter is not controlled by
the grid, but works autonomously, it also
feeds-in power when the grid is switched
off, for example in the event of maintenance work. In order to avoid endangering
the grid operator’s electricians, the system
is required to have a protective circuit
which automatically disconnects the
inverter from the public grid if its voltage
or frequency deviates from the authorized limits. Two automatic load break
switches are used to ensure safety. A common design concept for this automatic
disconnection device (ADD) is the “Mains
monitoring unit with allocated switching
devices connected in series” (MSD – see
chapter “Planning and Grid integration”).
Transformers
The use of transformers in inverters simplifies the conversion of alternating current to match the grid voltage level, but
involves magnetic and ohmic losses, and
increases the device’s weight. Furthermore, far from operating silently, it draws
attention to itself with a low-pitched
humming noise. For this reason, high
frequency transformers are often used
instead of 50 Hz models. They are smaller,
lighter in weight and more efficient, but
require more complex power electronics.
If the direct current supplied by the PV
generator is greatly above the crest value
of the grid voltage, the transformer becomes technically redundant. In addition,
buck-boost converters can be employed
to expand the input voltage range of an
inverter and adjust it to suit different PV
generators. Owing to their high efficiency,
transformerless inverters are now wellestablished on the market.
Since removing the transformer also
entails the loss of galvanic isolation, a
DC-sensitive fault protection switch needs
to be included. A further disadvantage
of removing the transformer is a slight
increase in electromagnetic radiation
(electrosmog). Inverters should therefore
be installed in a cool, dry place away from
living rooms or bedrooms.
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
Inverter concepts
Recent times have seen the construction
of ever larger PV plants. As the modules
used here are the same as those used in
smaller installations, tens of thousands
of them are required to build megawattrange solar power plants. The fact that
photovoltaic generation involves so many
small elements means that, depending on
the power rating, several options are available for feeding into the grid.
Alternatively, every module string can
In addition to module and central invertbe connected to one sole inverter. When
ers, string inverters provide a third option,
PV plants were still small, such central
enabling the MPP of each string to be
inverters were the norm. Today, particutracked individually. This solution is ideal
larly in large-scale PV plants, a variant
where strings receive different degrees of
of the central inverter with three to four
shading throughout the day, causing the
inverters in hierarchical order (master and operating points of individual strings to
slave) is used. While insolation is low, only move differently. Here, the electricity is
the master is active, but as soon as its up- fed into the grid by several, independent
per output limit is reached, as insolation
string inverters. A further variant of the
increases, the first slave is switched in. The string inverter is the multistring inverter,
characteristic curve of the master-slave
which combines several MPP trackers in
Today, inverters come in so many differunit is composed of the curves of the
one device.
ent sizes that, in principle, each module
individual inverters, and therefore displays
could be fitted with a customized inverter. higher efficiency in the lower output
Such module inverters essentially enable
range than a central inverter. To ensure
optimum adjustment to the MPP of each
that the workload is distributed evenly
individual module. The alternating current among the individual inverters, master
output of these “micro inverters” can be
and slave are rotated in a fixed cycle,
easily connected in parallel, eliminating
which could be that each morning the
the need for DC cabling. Though easy to
inverter with the fewest operating hours
install on the rear side of the module, the starts as the master.
devices have relatively low efficiency and
high specific costs. To date, these small
inverters are only used in special applications, such as installations with an output
Single string inverters
of between three and five kilowatts
1.
designed for consumption at source.
2.
DC
AC
Single-string inverters take a single string of seriesconnected modules. Each string has its own inverter.
22
Module inverters connect
single modules or pairs
of modules directly with
the grid.
1. PV generator
2. DC switch
3. Inverter
4. Grid supply
3.
4.
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
23
Stand-alone PV systems
System
Power range
DC loads
Simple DC motors, fountain pumps, fans
Pumps
cathodic protection
Pumps with power conditioning,
cathodic protection
AC loads
Larger AC pumps, or other AC drives
DC loads
Miniature appliances, pocket calculators,
watches
Mobile applications, telecom, medical
refrigeration, bus shelter lights, small SHSs
DC loads
Inverters are used in many different environments: both indoors and outdoors and
in almost all climate zones. The most important factor limiting where an inverter
may be installed is the maximum permissible temperature at rated power. Where
the ambient temperature could cause
this to be exceeded (e.g. if the inverter is
installed in an uninsulated roof structure),
active cooling becomes necessary.
However, the use of ventilators entails further risks, for example when inverters are
installed in agricultural buildings. Here,
if incorrectly installed, the ventilator can
draw grain dust or ammonia vapors into
the inverter, which can restrict ventilator
operation or induce corrosion.
In order to increase service life, particular attention must therefore be paid to
ensuring that an inverter’s individual
components cannot overheat. In addition,
they must be kept free from dust, damp
and aggressive gases.
DC loads
Remote homes, schools, hospitals - with additional
power source (diesel / wind) in larger installations
AC loads
PV module(s)
Inverter
Lead-acid or
NiCd battery,
capacitor
Additional
power source
(diesel, wind)
<0.1 W
1W
1W
100 W
1,000 W
>10,000 W
Inverter lifespan
Long-term experience suggests that an
inverter will operate fault-free for ten to
twelve years before extensive repairs or
full replacement become necessary. Despite technical developments to increase
the lifespan of inverters, this is still clearly
lower than that of the PV generator.
Autonomous DC loads, emergency telephones,
clocks (with load management)
DC loads
Product development: inverter
Optimization using individual
MPP controllers
Given that each module in a string has its
own MPP, controlling the MPP of a string
is always a compromise which results
in losses. Inverters with separate MPP
controllers have recently been developed
to get around this problem. These “power
optimizers” – sometimes also called
power maximizers – equip each module
with its own MPP controller, enabling it to
generate power at its optimum operating
point and thus allowing the inverter to
achieve a high level of efficiency. Opinions
on the actual efficiency of the different
systems are divided. Advocates argue that
they are particularly useful if a PV generator’s strings are exposed to different
levels of insolation in the course of a day.
Then, for instance, shading on individual
modules no longer impairs the yield of
the system as a whole.
Application
DC-DC converter
Charge controller,
battery monitoring
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
Inverters in off-grid systems
Inverters are now also increasingly used in
locations where it is not possible to feed
energy into the grid. Such island systems
are the traditional territory of photovoltaics. Here, electronic charge controllers are
employed to ensure that power supplied
by (usually stand-alone) PV modules
is stored in batteries as efficiently as
possible. DC power consuming equipment (such as lamps and refrigerators) is
connected to the charge controller and is
thus supplied either by the solar power
generated at a given moment or by power
stored in the batteries.
However, two serious disadvantages of
DC power consuming devices mean that
charge controllers require supplementation: As they are only manufactured
in small quantities, such devices are
relatively expensive and the selection is
very limited. On the other hand, many
inexpensive lamps, televisions and refrigerators already exist which, although
they require 230 Volt (V) AC voltage, are
well-suited to use with solar power supply
systems owing to their low energy consumption. Inverters are therefore needed
in order for such equipment to be used
in island systems. The devices are usually
connected directly to the battery. They
may also be connected to the load outlet
of the charge controller, though this could
become overloaded by the high initial current of certain devices (such as electrical
machines or compressor refrigerators).
It is therefore wise to choose island
inverters with integrated charge controllers. This solution has the disadvantage,
however, that the charge controller and
inverter can no longer be individually
matched to a given PV plant.
Island system in the European Alps
left: Regular maintenance
prolongs the system’s life
expectancy.
right: PV sytems are often
exposed to harsh weather
conditions.
24
25
Plant Monitoring and Identifying Faults
Plant Monitoring and
Identifying Faults
Every kilowatt hour counts, because only kilowatt hours that are fed-into the grid or privately consumed
are remunerated. It is therefore necessary to thoroughly monitor operational data. A plant’s operator can
only take prompt measures to eliminate operational faults and failures where these are signaled immediately. Merely reading the feed-in meter each month is not sufficient to recognize faults and to avoid the
loss of yields. Constant measurements are therefore necessary to ensure optimal operation.
Inverter test track
Simulation of extreme temperature conditions:
inverter in cold chamber
Many inverters record the most important operational data, evaluate the data
automatically and, in the event of a fault,
send the operator notifications via email,
text message or internet. This is sufficient
for basic plant monitoring. However, it
only allows obvious faults, such as fault
currents or total failure, to be recorded.
In order to determine whether a PV plant
is producing optimal yields, the plant
data needs to be measured continually,
and preferably compared with the actual
radiation values present. This is due to the
fact that currents and voltages, and consequently feed-in capacities, constantly
change depending on meteorological conditions. The operator can only determine
whether or not the PV plant’s operational
data indicate optimal functioning by
directly comparing them with insolation
data.
26
Measuring insolation and output
Solar radiation is established either using
pyranometers or PV sensors. A third –
more indirect – possibility is to compare a
plant’s data with meteorological data and
yields from PV plants in that locality.
Pyranometers measure insolation on horizontal surfaces with great accuracy. They
essentially consist of two hemispherical
glass domes, a black metal plate that acts
as an absorbing surface, the thermal elements positioned below this and a white
metal casing. Solar radiation heats the
absorbing surface, the warming of which
is directly dependent on the insolation.
Insolation can thus be ascertained from
the temperature difference between the
absorbing surface and the white metal
casing. The advantage of high measuring
accuracy is, nevertheless, opposed by a serious disadvantage: Due to their thermal
functionality, pyranometers are relatively
sluggish, which means that they are
incapable of accurately detecting rapid insolation fluctuations caused, for example,
by broken overcast. Moreover, insolation
recorded on a horizontal plane must be
converted to the module plane in order
to obtain meaningful radiation values for
evaluating a PV plant’s yields.
PV sensors installed in the module plane
offer an alternative to accurate, but slow
and expensive, pyranometers: Here,
there is no longer a need for the insolation measured to first be converted from
horizontal to module plane. A PV sensor
consists of a solar cell which supplies
power in proportion to insolation. This
power is, however, also dependent on
the operating temperature of the solar
cell, which means that a temperature
sensor is necessary in order to offset
thermal effects and determine the exact
insolation. However, owing to its limited
spectral response, the solar cell cannot
detect certain portions of the insolation,
and reflection losses may also occur. PV
sensors are therefore much less accurate
in their measurements of insolation than
pyranometers. Despite this, they are often
used to monitor PV plants. This is because
a PV sensor can be selected to correspond
to a plant’s modules. For example, a PV
plant consisting of CIS thin-film modules
is monitored by a PV sensor with a CIS
solar cell. This simplifies the comparison
of instantaneous values, which means
that operational faults and defects can be
recognized quickly.
27
Plant Monitoring and Identifying Faults
System inspection
PV sensor
With both pyranometers and PV sensors,
additional measurement of the modules’
operating temperature is necessary to
convert the insolation data to the target
value. This is because, with the same
insolation, a module supplies a much
greater output on a cooler day than on a
warm one.
Insolation data obtained from satellite
pictures may also be consulted in order
to determine whether the PV plant is
running efficiently. The yields are recorded hourly and sent to a server via the
internet once a day. There, the data are
compared to the yields expected. This
method achieves an average accuracy –
although not very quickly – comparable
Comparisons with regional meteorologito plant monitoring with PV sensors. If a
cal data mean that pyranometers and PV
fault is identified, it often cannot be rectisensors are no longer required. Yield simu- fied immediately because the target value
lations are calculated using data supplied and actual value of the yield are only
by neighboring meteorological offices and compared once a day.
compared with the actual yield. Operators
can also check their own performance
data by examining the yield of nearby PV
plants. Both methods have the disadvantage that faults often go unrecognized for
hours or even days.
Another method of monitoring a plant
is the continuous comparison of output
supplied by the individual module strings
(string monitoring). If all the strings have
been installed with the same orientation,
then their output should always be the
same. If it is possible that partial shading could occur, this is known in advance.
Therefore, if a string unexpectedly falls
behind the others this means that there
must be a fault. String monitoring is a
quick, simple and effective method of
identifying yield losses.
If the operational data are saved on the
internet, a service provider can take over
the task of monitoring the plant and then
inform the operators of any faults which
occur, or even independently take measures to rectify them.
Causes of faults resulting in
yield reduction
Yield losses can generally be attributed to
three causes of faults. Component faults,
installation faults and faults caused by
external influences.
Component faults are more frequently
found in inverters than modules. These
can be due to production faults, aging or
thermal overload of the inverters. Such
faults often lead to the complete failure of either the PV plant or the part of
the generator connected to the defective inverters. An increasing number of
inverter manufacturers are, therefore,
now providing long-term guarantees and
service contracts. PV modules are not as
badly affected by thermal overload as inverters, but rather by external influences,
although this happens over relatively long
periods of time. Crystalline solar modules
can supply power for 30 years without
showing significant signs of aging.
Production faults are often identified in
the factory, meaning that broken cells or
incomplete lamination only rarely appear
in a PV plant as component faults.
Installation faults rarely result in complete plant failure but only in partial yield
reduction. Sometimes, installation faults
only start to take effect after a certain
time, which means that they are recognized far too late. If, for example, modules
are installed so close to one another that
there is no longer an expansion gap, the
glazing may crack due to the effects of
temperature and wind. Individual modules or even whole strings will continue
to fail as a result of electrical connections
not being installed carefully enough.
Insulation can also be adversely affected
by installation faults. For this reason, it
is wise to use an automatic insulation
monitor, which is integrated into some
inverters.
External influences primarily affect PV
modules. Over the decades, UV radiation
from the sun will lead to light aging. The
darkening of the plastic film (browning)
can lead to a reduction in module output
(degradation). Weather-induced aging
is only observed relatively rarely in the
plastics, in which the cells are embedded.
Cell damage occurs more often, which
is caused by shading and subsequent
excessive heating (hot spot). Bypass or
string diodes may be damaged by thermal
overload or overvoltages. Inverters are not
normally directly exposed to meteorological conditions although they are adversely
affected by circuit feedback, for example.
Test plant
Pyranometer
28
Satellite image of global irradiation
29
Protection against Lightning and Overvoltage
Surge protection measure
- DC cables of the same
string bundled together to
avoid loops in which voltage surges can be induced.
Surge protection measure
Protection against Lightning
and Overvoltage
Highly excessive voltages and currents can threaten the operation of a PV plant. Such surges are mainly
caused by lightning strikes, but also by faults in the grid. Ensuring a path to earth for any lightning or currents caused by overvoltage is an extremely important factor in PV plant protection.
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
External lightning protection
In principal, a PV plant does not generally increase the risk of a building being
struck by lightning. A separate lightning
protection system does not necessarily
need to be constructed simply because a
PV plant has been installed. Nevertheless,
VdS (the German institute for fire protection and security) recommends installing
a lightning and overvoltage protection
system for all plants with a capacity of
ten kilowatts or more. In a given case,
the risks should be assessed in order to
enable a decision in favor of or against the
construction of a lightning and overvoltage protection system. If the building
on which the PV plant is constructed is
already equipped with a lightning protection system (e.g. a public building), the PV
plant must be integrated into the protection concept.
External lightning protection includes
all measures for arresting lightning and
conducting it to ground, and consists
of a lightning current arrester, a down
lead capable of carrying lightning and a
grounding system which distributes the
lightning current in the earth.
Priority must be given to preventing
the lightning from directly hitting the
modules. This is first and foremost necessary when the PV generator has been
installed in an exposed area (elevated
on a flat roof, for example). Rods or wires
are used as lightning current arresters,
and the core shadow of these should not
be cast on the modules as far as this is
possible. Somewhat smaller air terminal
rods are, therefore, placed in front of the
solar modules and somewhat larger ones
are placed behind the modules. The exact
number and spacing of the air terminal
rods is given by the class of protection
desired and is calculated using methods
such as the “rolling sphere method”.
Indirect effects
The probability of indirect lightning
effects occurring is significantly higher
than that of a direct lightning strike. This
is because every lightning strike within a
one kilometer radius can generate current
flow in the modules, module cables and in
the main DC cable by means of induction. Conductive and capacitive coupling
are also possible and can equally cause
overvoltage.
An integrated lightning protection system
comprising measures and equipment
within the PV plant and in the building
is, therefore, required. Its fundamental
purpose is to prevent inductive coupling
and provide a path to earth for currents
caused by overvoltage.
In order to keep coupling in the module
cables to a minimum, the area of the open
conductor loops in the generator circuit
must be as small as possible. The outgoing and return lines of the strings are,
therefore, laid as close as possible to each
other. The use of shielded single lines also
reduces the risk of lightning effects.
Surge protection devices (SPD) not only
prevent inductive coupling but also the
occurrence of grid-side overvoltage, and
are normally built into the generator
junction box. Because varistors used as
voltage dependent resistors can age due
to leakage currents, the combination of
two varistors and a spark discharger in Y
connection is considered the safest longterm protection against overvoltage.
30
31
Cables and Connectors
The electrical connections in a system may be inconspicuous, but their effects should not be underestimated. As a relatively large number of electrical connections are required in order to connect the modules
of a PV plant to the inverter, the losses at contact points can add up. Long-lasting, secure cable connections
with low contact resistances are necessary to avoid defects, losses and accidents.
Lightning damage
Solar cables
Reverse current and electric arcs
Increased currents can also occur if there
is a voltage drop in a string, caused for example by shading or a short circuit. If this
happens, the parallel-connected strings
will function like an external power
source which drives a fault current in the
direction of consumption (reverse current)
through the modules of the defective
string. If the reverse current resistance of
the modules is exceeded they will start
to heat up, so string diodes are used to
prevent such reverse currents. Many PV
plants today are, however, built without
string diodes, as most modules now have
higher reverse current resistance and will
easily withstand reverse current of 10 to
20 amps.
Since direct current and DC voltage are
generated in a PV plant, there is a danger
that non-self-extinguishing arcs could
be created, which could cause fire. This
danger is not present in an alternating
current circuit because the regular zero
crossing of the alternating current’s sine
curve immediately extinguishes any
electric arc created. The electrical connections in the DC circuit of a PV plant must,
therefore, be extremely secure, because a
loose connection can lead to sparking and,
consequently, trigger an electric arc. As a
result, when laying the DC cables of a PV
plant it is standard to protect them from
short circuit and ground leakages. This is
achieved by tidy cable routing (e.g. not
running unprotected over sharp edges)
and the use of separate positive and
negative cables, as well as double cable
insulation.
String fuses in the GJB can also generally
prevent the cables from becoming overloaded in the event of faults. These are
intended to reduce the risk of electric arcs.
32
33
PV connector for toolfree assembly
Module with cable connection
A PV plant’s electrics consist of the DC
cables between modules, generator junction box and inverter, and the AC cable
running from inverter to grid. DC cabling
is composed of two single-core, doubleinsulated cables and is almost exclusively
laid outside, which means that the insulation must be weatherproof. A three-core
AC cable is used for connection to the
grid if a single-phase inverter is used, and
a five-core cable is used for three-phase
feed-in.
Individual modules are connected using
cables to form the PV generator. The
module cables are connected into a string
which leads into the generator junction
box, and a main DC cable connects the
GJB to the inverter. In order to eliminate
the risk of ground faults and short circuits,
the positive and negative cables, each
with double insulation, need to be laid
separately.
The cross-section of the cables should be
proportioned such that losses incurred
in nominal operation do not exceed 1%.
String cables usually have a cross-section
of four to six square millimeters.
Solar cables, which are UV and weather
resistant and can be used within a large
temperature range, are laid outside.
Single-core cables with a maximum
permissible DC voltage of 1.8 kV and a
temperature range from -40°C to +90°C
are the norm here. A metal mesh encasing the cables improves shielding and
overvoltage protection, and their insulation must not only be able to withstand
thermal but also mechanical loads. As a
consequence, plastics which have been
cross-linked using an electron beam are
increasingly used today.
Losses add up
Connection technology has needed to
develop rapidly over the last few years, as
inadequate contacting can cause electric
arcs. Secure connections are required
that will conduct current fault-free for as
long as 20 years . The contacts must also
show permanently low contact resistance.
Since many plug connectors are required
in order to cable a PV plant, every single
connection should cause as little loss as
possible, so that losses do not accumulate.
Given the precious nature of the solar
power acquired from the PV plant, as little
energy as possible should be lost.
Terminal screws and spring clamp connectors are gradually being replaced by special, shock-proof plug connectors, which
simplify connection between modules
and with the string cables.
Crimp connection (crimping) has proven
itself to be a safe alternative for attaching
connectors and bushes to the cables. It is
used both in the work carried out by fitters on the roof and in the production of
preassembled cables in the factory. Here,
litz wire is pressure bonded with a contact
using a crimping tool, which causes both
to undergo plastic deformation creating a
durable connection.
A recently developed special plug makes
it possible to secure connections without
the use of a special tool. In this instance,
the stripped conductor is fed through the
cable gland in the spring-loaded connector. Subsequently, the spring leg is pushed
down by thumb until it locks into place.
The locked cable gland thus secures the
connection permanently.
Plug connectors are now also available
with cables welded on. Such connections
cannot, however, be carried out during
installation work on the roof, but only during production in the factory.
Another recent development are preassembled circular connection systems
for the AC range. These are intended to
reduce the high levels of installation work
required when several inverters are used
within one plant.
Individual, customized, mounted branch cable leads
Solar cable
Solar cables are single-cored, double-insulated and
must withstand extreme weather conditions.
34
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
35
Planning and Grid Integration
PV systems are decentralized power suppliers and
push forward the development of smart grids.
Integrating increasing amounts of solar energy into the public power supply puts various demands on PV
plants. For example, special protective devices are required to prevent the risk of danger in the event of
mains interference. The more PV plants feed into the public grid, the greater the demands placed on the
grid services that they must perform.
The importance of grid-related functions has increased significantly.
Guidelines and standards regulate exactly
how PV plants should be connected to the
public grid, which gives rise to two highly
important requirements. Firstly, when
solar power is fed into the grid the power
quality of the grid should not be reduced.
Secondly, personal safety must be ensured
in the event of mains interference. Another requirement has also recently gained
importance: PV plants should support
the power grid and perform grid-related
control functions.
High demands on grid feed-in
The further away the feeding point
from large power plants, the greater the
requirements that are placed on grid
feed-in. If PV plants feed into a rural grid
structure or grid branch lines, this may
cause an increase in voltage that exceeds
the specified limits.
When a large amount of energy is consumed, the voltage in these weak grid
spurs decreases, meaning that the act of
feeding in decentralized solar power supThe requirements for power in-feed are
ply counteracts this decrease in voltage
clearly defined: The grid requires sinusoiand, in turn, supports the grid. Increased
dal alternating current with stable voltage consumption and increased feed-in do
and frequency, and the harmonic comnot, however, always occur at the same
ponent limits are regulated in guidelines
time, which means that measures need to
and standards. Modern inverters meet
be taken to inhibit excessive increases in
these power quality requirements, yet in
voltage.
some cases limits may be exceeded.
Disconnection devices
Voltage and frequency stabilities are high The grid operator stipulates that a protecin the fully-developed, close-meshed grid
tive device be used between the power
supplied by large thermal power stagenerating plant and the grid, which
tions, and solar power can usually also be can disconnect the plant from the grid
injected without problems, even in large
when necessary. Its primary function is to
quantities.
ensure personal safety, because if the grid
is shut down to carry out repair or maintenance work, power generating plants
could continue to feed energy into the
grid and put the safety of staff at risk.
Until 2004, only the use of an MSD as an
ADD was permitted in Germany. The MSD
measures grid impedance and is able to
recognize power failure and cutoff on the
basis of impedance jumps. Since 2005,
other grid monitoring methods have been
authorized: These include evaluating the
harmonic components, measuring the deviation of grid frequency and three-phase
voltage monitoring.
A single-phase ADD is sufficient for PV
plants with a feed-in capacity of up to 4.6
kVA, while a three-phase ADD is required
for plants with a feed-in capacity from
4.6 to 40 kVA. Larger plants are mostly
equipped with manual disconnection
devices.
Grid operators prefer ADDs with threephase voltage monitoring, while the MSD
is now only used for single-phase feed-in
due to its method of measuring impedance and the associated measurement
pulses which cause interference.
This task is performed by an automatic
disconnection device (ADD) or a manual
disconnection device to which the grid
operator has permanent access. An ADD
recognizes grid failures and cutoffs, as
well as changes to voltage and frequency
which exceed the authorized limits, and
disconnects the PV plant from the grid.
36
37
Structure of the German power grid
Ultra-high voltage 220-380 kV
Power stations
Heavy industry
European power union
Regional power suppliers
Wind farms
Transformer
High voltage 80-110 kV
Static and dynamic support
In Germany, large-scale PV plants which
feed into the medium-voltage grid must
provide certain grid services in accordance with the country’s Medium Voltage
Directive (Mittelspannungsrichtlinie). In
addition to a device facilitating power reduction, these include static and dynamic grid support. Control algorithms are
therefore developed for inverters in order
to control voltage and frequency fluctuations. The directive came into force on
January 1, 2009, although transitional
periods apply. It is to be expected that
similar requirements will be incorporated
into the Low Voltage Directive (Niederspannungsrichtlinie), which is currently
being revised, so that small PV plants will
also need to provide grid services in the
near future.
Static grid support is required when grid
voltage rises or falls slowly. Support is
provided by supplying reactive power
and limiting active power dependent on
the frequency. Dynamic grid support is
predominantly required when voltage
dips occur in the upstream high-voltage
grid. The PV plant should not then shut
down immediately, but should remain
on the grid for a time (fault ride through,
FRT) and feed-in reactive current to support the grid voltage dynamically. Only
when the grid ceases to function for several seconds is the PV plant shut down.
38
Rail
Large industrial plants
Solar community in Freiburg (Germany)
From July 1, 2011, static grid support will
be prescribed by law in Germany. This
applies to all inverters that feed into the
medium and low voltage grids which
have an output of 3.68 kVA or above (230
V x 16 A). Once the transitional period
expires on January 1, 2012, practically all PV
plants that are connected to the grid will
be required to perform this grid service.
These increased requirements on systems
technology bring with them the advantage that it will now be possible, even in
weak grids, to install a far greater amount
of PV capacity before the grid needs to be
expanded.
The low-voltage grid offers great potential for conserving and displacing power,
which can be optimized by decentralized
feed-in systems. Microgrids generating
their own power, which are connected to
one another by the public grid, can play
a decisive role in this and can complement the grid integration of photovoltaic
systems.
Decentralization and consumption at
source
Using intelligent control engineering, a
variable, virtual, large-scale power station could be developed in connection
with decentralized feed-in systems and
electricity consumers. As elements in this
power plant, PV plants would contribute
to reducing the purchase of electricity
from the public grid. Moreover, PV plants
could improve supply security through
short-term island operation.
In future, inverters could take over grid
management tasks and provide energy
services. In addition to stabilizing voltage
and frequency, these include controlling
the power factor and the targeted production of harmonic components to improve
grid quality.
For this reason, bidirectional network
interfaces are required to enable the
necessary communication and to link the
large number of decentralized suppliers
and consumers together in “smart grids”.
Due to the decentralized nature of solar
power generation, it is obvious that users
generating power should themselves
consume as much of this as possible
at source. This reduces grid feed-in and
the need to transport power over great
distances.
Large-scale PV plants
Transformer
Medium voltage 6-60 kV
Large factories and residential areas,
hospitals, office buildings,
shopping malls…
Medium-sized industrial plants
Cogeneration plants
Low voltage 230-400 V
Agriculture
Transformer
Small-scale PV plants
Small and medium-sized enterprises
Small towns, individual households
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
In an average household, 20-30% of
energy is consumed at times when solar
power is generated. Simple measures
could be used to increase this proportion
by a further ten percentage points, for
example by logging consumption as well
as generation using the automatic plant
monitoring system, which will compare
39
Possible grid disturbances
0
0
Voltage
0.2
Some power supplies, such as those
used in older computers but also in
other recent appliances and compact
fluorescent light bulbs, cause
changes in sine waves.
0.4 0 Time (s)
0.2
0.4 0 Time (s)
When “capacitive” power appliances
are switched on, brief disturbances
arise. Battery chargers are examples
of capacitive loads. But these loads
have to be very great indeed for the
disturbances to have an impact.
0.2
A large power consumer can put
such a great load on the grid that
voltage drops. Inverters can only
compensate for such disturbances if
the devices can store electricity.
0.4
© SOLARPRAXIS AG
0 Time (s)
8 MWp power plant in Alamosa, Colorado, USA
both graphically. Users could then better adapt their consumption to match
generation and maximize their own
consumption of the solar power.
In Germany, the personal consumption of
solar power by those who generate it has
been encouraged since 2009 as part of
the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG).
Only energy consumed concurrently with
The inverter could be fitted out so that
its production, i.e. the actual energy that
it automatically switches on individual
is not fed into the grid but is directly conhousehold appliances (washing machines, sumed in close proximity to the PV plant,
dishwashers, dryers, etc.) as soon as
is considered to be for “own consumpenough solar power is generated. These
tion”. It is not possible to balance out yield
appliances would be equipped with
produced throughout the year with yearly
remote-controlled sockets and their perconsumption. In order to check concurrenformance data stored as profiles. The PV
cy, a production meter is required in adplant and the power network in the home dition to a reference meter and a feed-in
would thus be unified, and electronic
meter. The actual consumption at source
appliances would be supplied with either is calculated from the difference between
pure solar power or a mix of solar and grid production and feed-in.
power depending on insolation.
If feed-in is single-phase but individual
consumers have a three-phase connection, differences will arise which impact
badly on the evaluations of own consumption. Three-phase feed-in is, therefore, an advantage.
The next step is to bring together energy
consumption control and battery storage – either as a stationary battery bank
or in mobile format in an electric vehicle.
Conventional batteries are only of limited
suitability for this purpose because high
storage losses and low efficiency lead to
costs of 20 to 30 euro cents per kilowatt
hour saved. These costs can be reduced by
higher consumption of energy at source,
improved load displacement and, above
all, by increased conservation.
Across the pond:
a view on the United States
In the United States, transmisson lines run
from 138kV to 765kV whereas distribution
lines run as low as 4kV. However, compared to European countries for example,
the main challenge for feeding solar
power into the U.S. grid is not different
voltage levels, but rather the complexity
of its structure.
The electric grid in the United States is a
collection of many regional grids that are
owned and operated by private companies but governed by state and federal
governments. Figuring out interconnection and the wholesale power market
rules can be daunting for new entrants
into the solar market.
The country is roughly divided into three
main power grids: Western Interconnect,
Texas Interconnect and Eastern Interconnect. Each region is further divvied up by
grid operators who coordinate and monitor these transmission networks and who
sometimes also oversee the wholesale
electric market. Ten large grid operators
serve two-thirds of the consumers in
the United States and more than 50% in
Canada.
In California, the largest solar market in
the nation, the California Independent
System Operator manages about 80% of
the grid. Utility-scale project developers
typically apply to the California ISO for
the rights to connect their projects to the
transmission network. The application
involves hefty fees; sometimes developers have to help pay for new transmission
equipment in order to send power from
their projects in remote areas to cities. For
commercial and residential PV customers,
they apply to their utilities for connecting
their systems to the part of the grid that
is called the distribution network. The
United States has more 3,200 public and
private utilities.
The anticipated growth in solar and other
renewable sources has prompted FERC,
states, grid operators and utilities to
examine whether they need to expand
and upgrade the transmission networks.
More renewable power projects require
a greater grid capacity. The intermittent
nature of solar and wind makes it tricky
for grid operators to predict and manage
supply and demand.
Many transmission projects have been
proposed mainly to accommodate the
increase of renewable electricity. In February, the U. S. Department of Energy announced its first-ever loan guarantee for
a transmission project called One Nevada
Transmission. The DOE is providing a loan
guarantee of $343 million to NV Energy
and Great Basin Transmission to build a
235-mile transmission line to connect the
northern and southern service territory
of NV Energy for the first time. The 500
kilovolt line, which will cost about $500
million in total to build, will be able to
ferry 600 megawatts of electricity and
allow NV Energy to manage geothermal
power from the north and solar power
from the south.
Rising personal consumption of solar power
has made battery storage (right) a new and
promising market segment.
40
41
Companies: xxx
Companies: xxx
The Companies
42
43
Overview
Overview
Overview
Companies presented at a glance (in order of appearance)
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page 51
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page 72
page 52
page 53
page 54
page 73
page 74
page 75
page 56
page 57
page 58
page 76
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page 68
page 89
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Alteams Group
54
Answer Drives Srl
53
applied international informatics GmbH
56
Bonfiglioli
57
Danfoss Solar Inverters
58
DEHN + SÖHNE GmbH + Co. KG.
59
Delta Energy Systems (Germany) GmbH
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60
Elettronica Santerno S.p.A.
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Eltek Valere
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62
Emerson
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63
Enecsys
64
Finnveden Metal Structures AB
66
Fronius Deutschland GmbH
65
KACO new energy GmbH
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69
KOSTAL Industrie Elektrik GmbH
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68
70
71
Mastervolt
72
Multi-Contact AG
73
Power-One
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74
RefuSol GmbH
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Satcon Technology Corporation
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Schneider Electric
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SIEL S.p.A.
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80
Siemens AG
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79
skytron® energy GmbH
82
SMA Solar Technology AG
92
Solarpraxis AG
84
SOLON SE
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KOSTAL Solar Electric GmbH
M+W Group
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89
Wieland Electric
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Communication services
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Charge regulators
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Accumulators
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SUNGROW
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Sunbeam GmbH
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Sputnik Engineering AG
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SOLUTRONIC AG
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Software/IT
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AEG Power Solutions
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Planning and grid integration
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51
52
Connection technology
(cables, plugs, switches, DC combiner
boxes, DC distribution boxes/GJB)
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Lightning and overvoltage protection
(LOP)
●
Monitoring/supervision
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Power optimizers
●
Module/micro inverters
Advanced Energy
Power plant control
50
Housing
●
Inverter components
●
Module/micro inverters
Inverters
ABB
Company (in alphabetical order)
Island inverters
String inverters
48
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46
Multi string inverters
Central inverters
Business Areas
Module level
power management (MLPM)
Business Areas
PV generators (modules, junction boxes ...)
Business Areas
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47
181 kW PV power plant on the
roof of the ABB factory in Finland
(opposite, top)
Business areas: inverters,
monitoring/supervision, LOP,
connection technology
Companies: xxx
ABB
Inverters for the Entire Spectrum without Losing a Watt
Comprehensive solar inverter offering based on decades of experience
in power technology products, supported globally by a range of lifecycle services
1 MWp PV power plant in
Slovakia
ABB Oy, Drives
Address: Hiomotie 13
00380 Helsinki · Finland
Phone: +358 10 22 11
Email: feedbackmaster.solar@fi.abb.com
Web: www.abb.com/solar
Year founded: formed in 1988,
merger of Swiss and Swedish engineering
companies with predecessors founded in
1883 and 1891
Employees: 124,000 (ABB Group)
48
ABB has been working for decades to offer
products and solutions to reduce the environmental impact of energy systems. Now
with the growth in photovoltaic (PV) power systems, ABB is once again providing
leading-edge solutions from low voltage
components to frequency converters, medium voltage transformers, switch gears,
and now solar inverters. Whether the PV
power systems are industrial, commercial
or residential, ABB’s high-quality products,
systems and services provide optimum return on investment.
Powerful solar inverters with
global presence
The ABB solar inverter utilizes over 40 years
of advances in inverter and power converter technology that has contributed to ABB
becoming the world leader in frequency
converters and one of the biggest suppliers of wind turbine converters. ABB offers
a complete portfolio of solar inverters from
small transformerless single-phase string
inverters up to hundreds of kilowatts transformerless central inverters. The portfolio is
complemented by the megawatt station: a
containerized turnkey solution designed
for large-scale solar power generation. Furthermore, ABB solar inverters are supported through a worldwide sales and services
network that provides a complete range of
life-cycle services.
ABB central inverters for
photovoltaic power plants
ABB central inverters are aimed at PV
power plants and large industrial and
commercial buildings. Based on ABB’s
market-leading technology platform in
frequency converters – the most widely
used frequency converters in the market
– the inverters comprise proven components with a long track record of performance excellence in demanding applications and harsh environments. Equipped
with extensive electrical and mechanical
protection, the inverters are engineered to
provide a long and reliable service life of
at least 20 years. A wide range of options
like remote monitoring with string current
measurements, fieldbus connections and
integrated DC cabinets are available. ABB
central inverters were brought onto the
market in 2009. Rapidly increased interest
from the market has confirmed that there
is strong demand for compact and modular inverters based on a proven technology
platform, that deliver high maximum efficiency and extremely low auxiliary power
consumption. The inverters are available
from 100 to 500 kW.
ABB string inverters for
residential buildings
ABB string inverters are designed for PV
systems installed on residential, commercial or industrial buildings. The inverter’s
all-in-one design includes the necessary
protection functions built into the inverter, reducing the need for costly and spaceconsuming external protection devices
and larger enclosures. The result is a more
compact, reliable, safer and cost-effective
solution, especially in installations using
multiple inverters. The heart of the inverter is the intuitive control unit equipped
with a graphical display. It offers a comprehensive range of key functionalities that
are easy to use with the built-in assistants
and help menu. The control unit has three
different mounting options. It can be integrated in the inverter housing or mounted
separately on a wall to monitor inverter
performance from outside the installation
room. It can also be wirelessly connected
so that the inverter can be installed in a remote part of the site and monitored wirelessly from inside the main building. The
inverters are available from 3.3 to 8 kW.
Turnkey solution for large-scale
solar power generation
The ABB megawatt station design capitalizes on ABB’s long experience in the development and manufacture of secondary
substations for electrical authorities and
major end-users worldwide in conventional power transmission installations.
A station houses two 500 kW ABB central
inverters, an optimized transformer, medium voltage switchgear, monitoring system and solar generator terminal boxes,
which connect a photovoltaic power plant
to a medium voltage electricity grid easily
and rapidly. All components within the new
megawatt station are part of ABB’s product portfolio. The steel-framed insulated
container comes complete with a concrete
foundation, also designed and produced by
ABB. The station’s thermal insulation enables operation in harsh temperature and
humidity environments and is designed for
at least 20 years of operation.
ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and
industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental
impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs
about 124,000 people.
ABB central inverter, PVS800, 500 kW
ABB solar inverter product portfolio
ABB string inverter, PVS300, with control unit
49
planning and grid integration, software/IT
Advanced Energy
AEG Power Solutions
Advanced Energy’s Solaron® and PV Powered™ inverters enable utilityscale, commercial and residential solar power project owners and developers to maximize the lifetime value of their power plants. Customers
count on AE’s global scale, 30 years of power experience and balance sheet
confidence for optimum project financing and life-cycle performance.
With over 60 years experience in providing power systems, AEG Power
Solutions now supplies turnkey solutions for the photovoltaic industry
with a wide range of PV inverters and containerized solutions.
Built in cooperation with abakus solar AG, a solar plant
in Derching, Germany, delivering 1.10 MWp
AE’s power stations generate electricity dependably,
optimize levelized cost of
energy (LCOE) and help
stabilize grid operation.
AEG Power Solutions – Competence Center
Warstein-Belecke, Germany
Solaron 500 kW inverter
manufacturing team
Advanced Energy
Address: 20720 Brinson Blvd.
Bend, OR. 97701 · USA
Phone: +1 541 312-3832
Fax: +1 541 312-3840
Email: sales.support@aei.com
Web: www.advanced-energy.com/renewables
Year founded: 1981
Employees: 1,800
17.2 MW solar field with AE Solaron inverters
50
Business areas:
inverters, housing,
power plant control, MLPM,
connection technology,
planning and grid integration,
software/IT,
charge regulators
Customer experience
We are committed to providing an unparalleled customer experience that encompasses every aspect of interaction
with us. Our industry-leading lead times
mean that our customers receive their
products when we say they will; we keep
our word. We put our extensive PV system
and power conversion experience to work
in each customer engagement. At AE, we
are much more than a technology provider; we are an extremely reliable partner in
every customer’s success.
grid stability and smart grid controls. AE
delivers both technology and commercial
innovation to generate project life-cycle
economic value for our customers.
Innovation
Advanced Energy is consistently first to
market with products and services that
set the standard for what comes next. We
pioneer improvements in power conversion, power architecture, O&M services,
Solar site services
AE delivers whole-site operations and
maintenance service plans that increase
the reliability of customers’ PV systems,
regardless of whether inverters were purchased from us or elsewhere. AE global
services is dedicated to responding quickly
to issues, whether that means rolling a
truck, providing phone support or anything in between. We provide application
engineering support and warranties for up
to 20 years, partnering with customers for
the entire project life-cycle.
Maximum energy harvest
The PV Powered and Solaron inverters are
reliable, provide high uptime and have up
to 98.6% efficiency. They are designed to
last at least 20 years with an architecture
optimized to deliver the lowest possible
levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Simply
put, AE delivers life-cycle performance.
The central solar inverters are designed especially for utility-scale applications both
on industrial building roofs and in groundmounted installations. A “power stack”
with advanced design measuring and
control technology, which provides an inverter efficiency factor of 98.7% (certified
by Fraunhofer ISE), is at the heart of the
inverter. The Protect PV.250 and PV.500
inverters exceed expectations for their
Solar Inverter
power class. The innovative FPGA circuits
Protect PV.250
ensure flexible, precise and rapid controls needed to meet virtually all national
ing medium-voltage transformer failure
grid standards.
without detriment to the inverters, enviThe “Copain mode” using two inverters in ronment or personnel. The solar panel outa master-slave arrangement enables ver- puts are collected using combiner boxes to
satile power production and maintains a produce appropriate voltages and currents.
balance in the usage of the two units. The The infrastructure is integrated via commuPV inverter can be configured to take ad- nication links between the combiner boxes,
vantage of the “active earthing” capability inverters, sensors (temperature, radiation,
pyrano, weather) and data logger. PV.GuarD
with thin-film solar modules.
software allows the monitoring of power
The TKS-C container solution includes me- plant data via the web.
tering and monitoring components as well
as a robust communications infrastructure. With facilities across Europe, the Middle
The container station comprises a pair of East, Asia, China and North America, AEG
Protect PV.250 or PV.500 solar inverters Power Solutions is on hand for worldwide
along with a medium-voltage transformer collaboration with all potential partners,
and switchgear. The container is a purpose- including EPC, consultants, operators and
built safety structure capable of withstand- investors.
AEG Power Solutions GmbH
Address: Emil-Siepmann-Straße 32
59581 Warstein-Belecke · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)2902 763-141
Fax: +49 (0)2902 763-1201
Email: solar@aegps.com
Web: www.aegps.com
Year founded: 1946
Sales volume: 400 million Euro
(in 2009, worldwide)
Employees: > 1,500 (worldwide)
Combiner box PV.IcX
51
Business areas: inverter components, housing
Business area: software/IT
Alteams Group
Enclosure designed for
outdoor conditions
(top picture)
Conductive gaskets (FIP)
improve electronic isolation (EMC, bottom picture).
Die Cast Aluminum Solar Inverter Enclosures
Alteams Group is your partner for developing advanced cast aluminum
enclosures. Our involvement early on in product R&D phase ensures:
design optimization for mass production and quick time to market.
applied international informatics
GmbH
SPEED Solar Sheds Light on All Your Business Processes
Customized SAP ERP solution for module and power plant builders and
inverter technology
Minimizing enclosure size
often requires better heat
transfer solutions.
Alteams Group
Address: P.O. Box 91
40351 Jyväskylä · Finland
Phone: +358 201 339-500
Fax: +358 201 339-501
Email: solar-inverter@alteams.com
Web: www.alteams.com
Year founded: individual foundries date back
to 1943 – Alteams Group founded in 2002
Employees: 1,500 (worldwide, 2010)
The # 1 choice in cast aluminum
enclosures
Alteams Group is a global leader in the
supply of cast aluminum enclosures for
communication networks base stations,
motion control systems and other electronics systems. We have extensive experience in tooling development and mass
production of enclosures to protect electronics and software, such as:
• heat transfer solutions
• environmental protection (IP class)
• electronic isolation (EMC)
• corrosion protection (alloy selection and
surface treatment)
Alteams globally serves customer needs
in product segments such as network RF
filters, microwave radio units, frequency
converters, solar inverters, and electric motors – just to mention a few.
Design for cost and quality –
assisting your R&D team
Our goal is to partner with your R&D
team to optimize cast aluminum enclosures – considering both functionality
and mass production conditions from the
beginning of the product design phase.
Alteams’ involvement will:
• shorten the overall product design pro-
52
cess by anticipating potential casting
production issues
• minimize necessary manufacturing steps
and processes
• ensure stable product quality and conformance to your requirements with
proper tool design and process selection
Alteams Group has the product design and
manufacturing expertise to ensure your
next-generation solar inverter will be in
the top of its class.
One partner for global supply and support
Alteams Group has manufacturing
facilities in Europe, China, and India. Together with our logistics centers in Europe
and captive tool manufacturing facility in
China, Alteams can ensure control of your
IP and the entire supply chain to successfully deliver your product to your factory.
Our European commercial and technical
presence – supported by expert manufacturing site personnel – ensures Alteams’
promise to our customers: Global Partner
– Local Commitment.
Alteams Group – your ‘one stop shop’ for
advanced cast aluminum enclosures ready
for your assembly lines.
ai informatics is a provider of complete IT
solutions and has been a reliable partner
for companies in the manufacturing industry for more than 35 years.
ai informatics specializes in guiding customers through all phases of the IT application and infrastructure life-cycle: from
design and implementation to application
support and operations in the ai informatics
data center.
In SPEED Solar, ai informatics has brought
to market the first qualified SAP business
all-in-one solution for the solar industry.
This pre-configured and integrated software package is designed to meet the specific requirements of companies in the PV
industry. It can be used anywhere in the
world, and is both scalable and futureproof.
SPEED Solar can be customized, particularly for the following tasks:
• power plant construction
• variable end products, stochastic production
• uniform and universal use of watt-peak
and unit as terms in basic reporting
areas
• transparency in sales planning, general
production planning and long-term
planning
• serial number and batch management
• document management and CAD integration
• integrated quality inspection
• standardized consolidation system
(IFRS-compliant and local GAAP-based
reporting)
• contact management and customer
service
• material flow optimization
• variable feedback from production –
easy connection to shop-floor systems
• multi site
applied international informatics GmbH
Business Campus München: Garching
Address: Parkring 4
85748 Garching bei München · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)89 255495-0
Fax: +49 (0)89 255495-205
Email: doris.brandner@aiinformatics.com
Web: www.aiinformatics.com
Year founded: 1975
SPEED Solar is, however, more than just SAP
software that supports your value-added
processes. ai informatics can offer SPEED
Solar as a highly customized solution for
all your specific needs with best practice To see the full range of our professional
templates, effective project management services or get in touch with us, visit
and implementation at a fixed price.
www.aiinformatics.com.
We look forward to talking to you!
53
Business areas: inverters, housing,
power plant control, MLPM,
connection technology, planning and grid
integration, software/IT
Answer Drives Srl
Ansaldo Sistemi Industriali SpA’s Answer for Solar Power
Answer Drives Srl, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ansaldo Sistemi Industriali, now ranks among the top ten solar inverter suppliers in Italy
thanks to the success of the Solargate5000.
Robust containers reduce installation time and prolong equipment life.
Answer Drives Srl – an Ansaldo Sistemi
Industriali SpA company
Address: SS 11 – Cà Sordis, 4
36054 Montebello, Vicentino (VI) · Italy
Phone: +39 0444 449268
Fax: +39 0444 449276
Email: info@answerdrives.com
Web: www.answerdrives.com
Year founded: 2007
Employees: 60
54
Answer Drives Srl, established in 2007,
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ansaldo
Sistemi Industriali with the specific mission to conquer the emerging renewable
energy market. At the beginning of 2009,
the company launched its plug-and-play
solution for large-scale solar power stations, the Solargate5000. The inverter
quickly caught the market’s attention and,
in less than a year, the company sold and
installed more than 50 MW of inverters.
According to the Italian magazine “Affari
& Finanza” (Business & Finance), based on
2010 sales, Answer Drives Srl is now the
10th largest player in the Italian solar energy market.
The company’s attention to customer requirements led it to launch a water-cooled
version of the inverter in 2010, in response
to the high demand for photovoltaic
plants in extremely hot climates. The inverter system can be supplied in a panel
or in a totally enclosed container-housing
that greatly reduces installation time. The
containers are extremely robust and well
able to withstand rugged environmental
conditions. “Our containerized solutions
have been very well received by the market,” stated Elio Piovano, Sales Manager
for Answer Drives Srl. “In response to our
customers’ demand for a twenty-year
guarantee on solar power plants, we have
designed our containers to withstand the
test of time. Furthermore, our Group’s
experience as a system integrator and industrial automation provider has allowed
us to design a highly rationalized layout
that facilitates product maintenance and
inspection.”
The unique feature of the Solargate5000
is that it was specifically designed and
developed for large-scale, grid-connected
photovoltaic power plants with a strong
focus on:
• photovoltaic power plants distributing
power directly to the grid system
• industries wishing to install a photovoltaic plant to produce power using onthe-spot trading with the grid system
The inverter’s active front end ensures
extremely low harmonics (THDLca < 3%),
maximizing grid stability and ensuring
near unity power factor and a maximum
The Solargate5000 for high-power solar plants with an installed base of more than 50 MW
efficiency of 98%. The Solargate inverter
family comprises four classes of inverters
available in two versions – low voltage
(400 V) for net-metering installations and
medium voltage (15/20 kV) for commercial
applications. The inverters are certified
according to EN61000-6-3, EN61000-6-4
and are also CE compliant. The grid connection meets CEI 0-16 and Real Decreto
RD1663/2000 standards, and the interface
is user-friendly and intuitive. The backlit
graphic display with 3 LEDs and 20 keys
is very easy to navigate and read. In their
standard configuration, the Solargate inverters can operate in temperatures from
-10°C to 40°C; we can also supply inverters
for temperatures up to 50°C (max – with a
1% derating per °C). And, of course, the inverter is equipped with a series of protection devices to safeguard and guarantee
constant performance.
In addition to offering state-of-the-art
technology, as part of Ansaldo Sistemi
Industriali, Answer Drives Srl also offers
customers the guarantee that they will
receive the support they need for the entire life-cycle of the plant. Ansaldo Sistemi
Industriali can trace its history back 150
years. This is a strong indicator of the company’s long-term continuity and commitment; both important aspects in assessing a supplier of large-scale power plants.
Ensuring customers make a return on their
investment is a fundamental part of corporate philosophy.
Answer Drives Srl is based in Montebello
Vicentino (VI), Italy. With sales of roughly
75 million Euro and a workforce of 60, the
company is rapidly expanding into overseas markets including China and the US.
Being highly focused and part of a large
multinational organization, with the experience and structure to guarantee the
long-term commitment that customers
in the solar market have come to expect,
are two of the keys to Answer Drives Srl’s
success.
The GT3000 inverter – the basic building block of the
Solargate5000
Being part of a large group offers customers better
guarantees for future needs.
55
planning and grid integration, software/IT,
communication services
Business areas: inverters, monitoring/supervision
Bonfiglioli
Danfoss Solar Inverters
The Bonfiglioli Group develops and manufactures a wide range of
solar inverters and system components for photovoltaic systems,
from 30 kW compact devices to 1.6 MW turnkey solutions.
Always One Step Ahead
Based on the TripleLynx inverter platform, the TripleLynx Pro string inverter introduces new unique facilities. Planning and installation is made
easier, operational efficiency and ease of use have been further improved.
One of the largest plants
in the world. Bonfiglioli
inverters: 46 MW
TripleLynx Pro is easy to
install and configure,
weighing only 35 kg and
featuring an integrated
web server.
The TripleLynx Pro is based
on the strong TripleLynx
platform with 1000 VDC,
3ô400 VAC and 98%
efficiency.
Bonfiglioli string connection box and
RPS Log communication module
Bonfiglioli S.p.A.
Address: Via Giovanni XXIII, 7/A
40012 Lippo di Calderara di Reno –
Bologna · Italy
Phone: +39 0516473111
Fax: +39 0516473126
Email: photovoltaic@bonfiglioli.com
Web: www.bonfiglioli.com
Year founded: 1956
Employees: 2,800
RPS Bonfiglioli inverters
With more than 50 years’ experience in
system solutions for industry, 25 years in
power electronics and 10 years in PV panel
applications, the Bonfiglioli Group, headquartered in Bologna (Italy), has laid the
foundations for competitiveness and for
the production of advanced, innovative
products.
Thanks to the Bonfiglioli Vectron German
center for solar inverters, the Group has
been able to develop a range of high-efficiency products for energy conversion in
the photovoltaic sector. Bonfiglioli’s compact solutions portfolio includes specific
inverters for all types of systems with outputs between 30 and 170 kWp, for indoor
and outdoor use, as well as a transformerless modular system and the RPS Stations
turnkey solution. The RPS Modular series
offers modularity from 280 to 1,460 kWp at
56
a maximum efficiency level of 98.6%, flexibility in terms of planning and extreme efficiency. It is also easy to install. Thanks to
its comprehensive grid management functions and choice of “Multi MPPT” or “Master Slave” configurations, Bonfiglioli is able
to meet the changing requirements of its
customers and of the market.
Bonfiglioli inverters come with a life expectancy of over 20 years and can be controlled via the web from anywhere in the
world. The Group is active with a dedicated
sales and after-sales network in all countries where energy is billed and is able
to assist customers in every phase of the
product’s life-cycle. Flexible and scalable
production puts the Group in a position
to respond quickly to customer needs and
product innovation. Thanks to Bonfiglioli’s
continuous improvements and technological innovations, the installation and
operation of photovoltaic systems is made
easier, more reliable, safer and more economical.
Centralized and remote monitoring
The TripleLynx Pro facilitates highly effective system surveillance using centralized
system configuration and monitoring. This
is made possible by the integrated web
server, master inverter functionalities and
high-speed Ethernet connection.
One service access point for the entire
network
Centralized access makes it possible to
work more effectively with central system
settings replication, message setting and
export of log data directly to a PC.
The single point of entry to the network
also makes it faster and easier to pinpoint
Integrated monitoring makes it possible to and remedy errors, or simply just to implemonitor the system from anywhere in the ment repetitive routine updates.
world, once connected to the internet.
The comprehensive integrated web Time-saving technology and productivity
server then facilitates a centralized review enhancements
of status information, plant performance, All in all, the TripleLynx Pro inverter is the
and inverter settings for the entire net- ideal solution for boosting the productivity
work. Reports in the form of numeric or of PV systems. With the TripleLynx Pro ingraphical data display performance sta- verter, installation, surveillance and service
tistics on a daily, monthly or annual basis, processes are streamlined by innovative,
without the need for external loggers or integrated monitoring and by the master
other units.
inverter functionality.
With the ability to define one inverter as
the master, system access becomes considerably faster and more efficient. Simplifying routine surveillance means that
data from the entire network of inverters
can be viewed by accessing the master
inverter only. Furthermore, the master
inverter can be configured to send daily
yield reports for the entire site and, when
required, alarms via email or SMS.
Danfoss Solar Inverters A/S
Address: Ulsnaes 1
6300 Graasten · Denmark
Phone: +45 7488 1300
Email: solar-inverters@danfoss.com
Web: www.danfoss.com/solar
Year founded: 1933
Employees: 26,000 (worldwide)
The TripleLynx Pro features an integrated web server,
providing online access whenever needed.
57
Business area:
lightning and overvoltage protection
Business area: inverters
DEHN – Global Specialist in Lightning and Surge Protection
Located in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region, DEHN + SÖHNE is a
globally active family-owned company specialized in the field of surge
protection, lightning protection/earthing and safety equipment.
Delta Energy Systems (Germany)
GmbH
SOLIVIA stands for “SOLar Inverters for Versatile and Intelligent Applications”. The third generation of our solar inverters offers innovative
and exciting SOLIVIA features that make your life easier.
Lightning protection systems
and surge arresters to protect
your investment
DEHN + SÖHNE Neumarkt –
headquarters and manufacturing plant
German site located in Teningen
SOLIVIA solar inverters
from Delta
Technologies for photovoltaic power generation made in Germany set the global
trend. It is therefore no surprise that the
most innovative products with regard to
the safety of PV installations come from
Germany.
Address: Hans-Dehn-Straße 1, Postfach 1640,
92306 Neumarkt · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)9181 906-0
Fax: +49 9181 906-100
Email: info@dehn.de
Web: www.dehn.de
Year founded: 1910
Employees: 1,381 (DEHN Group)
58
DEHN + SÖHNE is a leading provider of
surge and overvoltage protection for
PV systems. For more than two decades
Test laboratory with worldwide
DEHN + SÖHNE has been setting trends in
unique performance parameters
this area of protection technology worldwide. From kilowatts to megawatts, DEHN
+ SÖHNE protects your investment against of damage caused to protective devices
faults and damage caused by lightning by installation or insulation faults in the
PV circuit. It clearly reduces the danger of
and surges.
fire occurring as a result of an overloaded
Based on decades of experience in apply- arrester, by putting it into a safe electrical
ing surge protective devices in PV systems, state without disturbing the operating
the DEHNguard® M YPV SCI surge arrester state of the PV installation.
embodies the continuing progress and revDEHN + SÖHNE offers innovative lightning
olution in device and system security.
The proven DEHN + SÖHNE technology and surge protection products, protection
for fault-resistant Y protective circuits, and concepts tailored to customer needs as
patented combined disconnecting and well as engineering and testing services in
short-circuiting devices with Thermo Dy- the company’s impulse current laboratory.
namic Control and an additional backup Finding and taking new paths in lightning
fuse, allow for safe and easy replacing of and surge protection has been the focus
the protection modules in case of overload of the lightning and surge protection spewithout disconnection from supply. This cialist DEHN + SÖHNE for more than 100
synergy of technologies reduces the risk years.
Delta Energy Systems, a subsidiary of Delta
Electronics Group – the world’s leading
manufacturer of switch-mode power supplies – has been investing in the research
and development of solar inverter products at its German location since 1999. The
result of this is something to be proud of –
reliable solar inverters with high efficiencies and state-of-the-art, high-frequency
topology. At the center of the company’s
activities is the designing of new equipment with steadily improving efficiencies,
low no-load losses and high reliability.
tory of producing a wide range of cuttingedge power conversion devices at these
locations for computer, medical, telecom,
industrial and renewable energy applications.
Service and support are two of our core
competencies. Our highly motivated and
up-to-date solar team is able to offer Delta
customers a fast service via the Solar Support Hotline set up for this purpose.
Since 1994, Delta has grown by 18% annually. More than 60,000 people work for
The wide product range is comprised of Delta all over the world in sales, developmodels with various power classes for ment and production.
versatile applications, which makes it suitable for all commonly used solar modules.
Delta offers string and central inverters
with transformer as well as transformerless models. The third generation SOLIVIA
solar inverters are appealing due to new
features and improved product properties.
Integrated country specific software, maximum efficiency of up to 98.1% and wide
operating temperature ranges are particularly characteristic for the SOLIVIA models.
Delta has invested in state-of-the-art, certified production facilities to manufacture
the high-quality solar inverter product
line. The company has a long-standing his- The modular central inverter CM 100
Address: Tscheulinstraße 21
79331 Teningen · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)7641 455-0
0180 10 SOLAR (76527)*
Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm
(CET – apart from official bank holidays)
*3.9 ct/min from German landlines,
prices for cell phone networks may vary
Fax: +49 (0)7641 455-318
Email: sales@solar-inverter.com
Web: www.solar-inverter.com
Year founded: 1928
Employees: approx. 180 employees at
the German location in Teningen
(60,000 worldwide)
59
monitoring/supervision, LOP, connection
technology, software/IT, charge regulators,
Eltek Valere
Santerno: Giving Energy More Value
Your best partner for high efficiency photovoltaic plants
A Global Power Conversion Specialist with
Leading Technology and Products
Drawing on 40 years of experience in power electronics,
Eltek Valere is committed to meeting the power conversion needs
of the photovoltaic industry.
Santerno headquarters
in Italy
Address: S. S. Selice 47
40026 Imola (Bo) · Italy
Phone: + 39 0542 489711
Fax: + 39 0542 489722
Email: info@santerno.com
Web: www.santerno.com
Year founded: 1970
Employees: > 250
Sunway M XS,
transformerless inverter for
single-phase application
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Established in 1970, Elettronica Santerno
S.p.A. specializes in the design and manufacture of inverters for renewable energy
sources, industrial automation and hybrid
traction drives.
Headquartered in Italy, it has subsidiaries and sales offices in Spain, Germany,
Brazil, Russia, India, China, the US and Canada. A wide commercial network, with over
40 distributors and service centers all over
the world, ensures a comprehensive and
high-quality service.
Santerno is one of the world’s leading
companies in the solar energy field, with
1.2 GW of solar inverters installed worldwide. Santerno offers a comprehensive
range of high-tech solutions and digital inverters for use in both grid-connected and
stand-alone systems with low, medium or
high outputs of up to 1.35 MW AC power.
The Sunway M XS is the ideal solution
for PV plants ranging from 2 to 9 kWp.
Light-weight and very simple to install
thanks to its transformerless architecture,
the Sunway M XS features an easy to use
interface with a color touchscreen display,
an integrated data-logger and wireless
connectivity. The user can communicate
with the inverter using special applets for
mobile phones.
TG 900 TE, three-phase
inverter for low and
medium voltage applications
For bigger systems, Elettronica Santerno
offers a wide range of three-phase inverters on the market. Equipped with
an external or a built-in transformer, the
Sunway T line is very robust and features
easy configuration and maintenance,
thanks to easy-to-reach components and
an enhanced remote monitoring service.
With the Sunway Station, Elettronica
Santerno offers a complete plug & play,
modular solution: Compact and versatile,
it is tested for transportation to and direct
installation in the plant, with no need for
demanding civil works. Santerno backs its
customers by offering the comprehensive
assistance and engineering support necessary for on-site configuration and commissioning.
Eltek Valere’s Renewable Energy Division
has transferred the company’s expertise
in HE technology into a new area, photovoltaics, and focuses on the field of solar
power generation. It is the knowledge
and experience from other sectors that
enables Eltek Valere to take a competitive
stance in the rapidly growing renewables
market. The company’s core competency
in power electronics, established logistics
Eltek was founded in Norway in 1971 as a
chain and its global network of sales and
specialist in telecom energy systems.
service experts provide great advantages
Through a strategy of mergers and acqui- in this market.
sitions Eltek Valere has become the fastest growing company in the DC power Eltek Valere offers a complete panel-toindustry. The company now has offices in grid product range, from string and cenover 30 countries worldwide and business tral inverters to accessories for monitoractivities in more than 100 countries.
ing and control. The THEIA central inverter
range is designed for use in medium to
Eltek Valere develops and markets enlarge-scale photovoltaic plants, is fully
ergy systems for the telecom, renewables certified and provides the performance
industrial, and e-mobility sectors and and reliability required for stable and efis one of the largest suppliers of power ficient energy harvesting. The competiconversion electronics worldwide within tive, highly efficient and complete family
its market segments. With a core compe- of THEIA string inverters covers any need,
tency in high efficiency (HE) energy con- from residential installations to utilityversion, Eltek Valere offers an extensive scale PV plants. The range includes both
range of high power density, flexible and isolated and transformerless models,
cost-efficient rectifiers, converters and in- ranging from 2 to 21 kW, all certified and
verters.
available in all major markets.
Business areas:
inverters, monitoring/supervision, software/IT
The THEIA HE-t defines a new level of
efficiency (97.3%), flexibility and user-friendliness
for isolated string inverters.
Eltek Valere AS
Address: Graaterudveien 8
3036 Drammen · Norway
Phone: +47 32 20 32 00
Fax: +47 32 20 32 10
Email: salesre@eltekvalere.com
Web: www.eltekvalere.com
Year founded: 1971
Employees: approx. 2,000
61
monitoring/supervision, LOP
Business areas: inverters, MLPM
Emerson
Enecsys
Ten Mission-Critical Reasons for
Selecting Emerson’s PV Inverter Solutions
Micro Inverters That Reliably Deliver up to 20% More Energy from
Solar PV Systems
In the drive for lower costs, improved reliability and safety, and simplified installation, there is growing demand for Enecsys micro inverters.
Emerson’s 12,000 sqm inverter manufacturing facility
(below top)
Emerson 1 MWp inverter panel (below bottom)
10.9 MWp solar plant in Southern Spain
Micro inverters that deliver up to 20% more
energy from solar PV systems
Enecsys’ headquarters in
Cambridge, UK
Control Techniques UK
Address: 79 Mochdre
Newtown SY16 4LE · United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)1686 612300
Email: controltechniques@emerson.com
Web: www.controltechniques.com
Control Techniques Germany
Address: Meysstraße 20
53773 Hennef · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)2242 877-0
Email: controltechniques.de@emerson.com
Web: www.controltechniques.de
Employees: 125,000 (Emerson)
62
1. The resources to deliver
on our promises
Emerson is a Fortune 500 company
with outstanding bankability in the
eyes of the financial community.
2. Designed for long life
Emerson’s standard mass-produced inverter modules are used in both industrial and PV systems. The modules are
based on an established design that is
proven to be robust.
3. Higher efficiency, more frequently
Emerson PV inverters are efficient.
Thanks to our unique modular inverter solution, we switch on sooner and
switch off later, efficiently generating
more energy at lower irradiation levels
than single-inverter solutions. Peak efficiency can occur at loads as low as 5%.
4. Energized to meet your deadlines
Emerson understands the time pressures associated with PV plant installations; our project management teams
work tirelessly to ensure that you meet
your start-up deadlines.
5. Tolerant to faults
Emerson inverters are fault-tolerant.
In the event of an inverter module trip,
the inactive module is isolated allowing the system to operate under partial
load. System redundancy can also be
specified for critical applications.
6. Wherever you are, so are we
Emerson employs more than 127,000
people; with resources located within
engineering centers around the world,
project engineering and support for
our energy conversion products can be
guaranteed.
7. As much or as little as you need
Emerson can provide as much or as
little of the PV inverter system as you
need, from a single inverter to a complete solution incorporating string connection boxes, transformers, shelters,
medium voltage switches and SCADAs.
8. Complete peace of mind
Emerson’s extended warranties and
service contracts of up to 20 years are
available to ensure that the highest
energy yield is maintained over the lifetime of the plant.
9. Ready for PV industry growth
Emerson is geared up to mass produce
standard modules with high availability to support the growth of the PV industry.
10. In service around the world
Operational plants worldwide underline our experience and flexibility in applying Emerson technology to PV generating equipment.
The Enecsys micro inverter, installed on
the racking at the back of solar modules,
converts the DC power from a solar module to high quality AC power for supply to
the electricity grid. The patented Enecsys
micro inverter offers a unique and compelling value proposition compared to conventional string inverters and other micro
inverters:
instead of less reliable electrolytic capacitors. This results in high reliability and a
life expectancy of 25 years. Operating performance and efficiency are maintained
from –40°C to +85°C.
Simplified PV array design and installation
– solar modules can be installed on any
available roof space without complicated
adjustments for shading issues. InstallaMaximized energy harvest – the power tion does not require specialized high voltharvested from each solar module is maxi- age DC procedures resulting in lower costs.
mized thanks to Maximum Power Point
Tracking and performance monitoring Enhanced monitoring capability – perfor each solar module and not a string of formance monitoring is carried out for
modules. The degradation in performance each solar module, a capability not availof any one module, resulting from mod- able with string inverters. This provides usule mismatch or shadows caused by trees, ers and installers with real-time specific inchimneys or debris, does not degrade the formation to ensure system optimization.
performance of the solar array, resulting in
an increased energy harvest of up to 20%.
Improved safety – as power conversion
from DC to AC is done at each solar module, there is no need for high voltage DC
wiring of string inverter systems, making
the solar system intrinsically safer.
Enecsys Europe GmbH
Address: Louisenstraße 65
61348 Bad Homburg · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)6712 855-2430
Fax: +49 (0)6172 855-2440
Email: info@enecsys.com
Web: www.enecsys.com
Year founded: 2003
Employees: 50
Online and real-time performance monitoring for
each solar module enables
PV system optimization.
Increased lifetime and reliability – patented rugged topology and design enable
the use of long-life, thin-film capacitors
63
Business area: housing
Lightweight Housing for Solar Inverters
As inverter volumes increase, it is becoming more and more important
to find a reliable and trustworthy supplier of metal housings, which
has an extensive range of production machinery and is able to cope
with increasing capacity demands – now and in the future.
Dedicated to High Performance and Reliability
Our vision is a power supply that comes from 100% renewable sources:
Our high-performance solar inverters help make this a reality.
KACO new energy Powador inverters are used around the world in
solar systems with all types of modules and of all sizes.
Business areas: PV generators, inverters,
monitoring/supervision,
connection technology, software/IT
Solar plant in Heilbronn,
Germany, powered by
Powador inverters
Taking responsibility for a
sustainable world: carbonneutral inverter production
at KACO new energy in
Neckarsulm, Germany
Example of an extreme deep-drawing:
cutting deck for lawn mowers produced using
Finnveden’s 2,000 metric ton hydraulic press
Address: Box 9148, August Barks gata 6B
400 93 Göteborg · Sweden
Phone: +46 31 73459-00
Email: sales@finnveden.com
Web: www.finnveden.com/fms
Year founded: 1982
Employees: 800
Finnveden Metal Structures produces both
high-quality die cast as well as deep-drawn
metal housings, in addition to other metal
components. With five production sites
in Europe, a uniquely extensive range of
machinery and a highly skilled staff accustomed to working to precision requirements, Finnveden is able to meet these
growing demands.
fer technology and hydraulic presses for
deep-drawing. Components are pressed
in a range of different types of steel, including high strength carbon alloys. Sheet
thickness: 0.5-10 mm.
As a well-established subcontractor for
the automotive sector and general industry, Finnveden is used to high demands on
quality, delivery precision and lean producDie cast
tion. The company is quality certified acFinnveden specializes in larger, more com- cording to ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949 as
plex components – with a high pressure well as the environmental standard ISO
die casting capacity that ranges from a 14001.
clamping force of 200 to 2,750 metric
tons. This is the equivalent of cast goods During the development phase, Finnveden
weighing up to approximately 20 kg. The often assists customers by proposing defocus is on lightweight design, and com- sign improvements and changes which
ponents are therefore cast in both alumi- can result in less CNC machining, weight
num and magnesium alloys. CNC machin- reduction and lower costs: all things that
ing is carried out in-house and surface the solar industry could benefit from.
treatment is available from Finnveden’s
external partners.
Sheet metal
The sheet metal stamping machinery has
a capacity of up to 2,000 metric tons and Head office: Göteborg, Sweden.
contains mechanical presses with trans- Production in Sweden and Poland.
KACO new energy has been one of the
leading manufacturers of solar inverters
for many years. Because a long inverter
service life is a prerequisite for calculable,
reliable yields, we invest in top-quality
components and first-class workmanship.
This ensures that our Powador inverters
will continue to perform well for years,
guaranteed – for up to 25 years.
Ready for the change to renewable
energy
Each of our Powador inverters is equipped
with a broad range of country settings so
that it can easily be installed worldwide.
Our product portfolio covers the full power
spectrum, from a single-family home to a
solar park producing megawatts of electricity.
Our Powador three-phase inverters provide sinusoidal alternating current with
120° phase shift for perfectly harmonious
feeding into the grid. Depending on the
installation, transformerless Powador TL3
units or galvanically isolated Powador TR3
units are available.
Powerful Powador XP central inverters
form the heart of large, megawatt-range
solar parks. The fully digital controller
makes operation and maintenance userfriendly and allows for a multitude of
monitoring and communications options.
The redundantly designed power supply
for the controller and a powerful cooling
system for critical components provide for
extreme reliability.
Address: Carl-Zeiss-Straße 1
74172 Neckarsulm · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)7132 3818-0
Fax: +49 (0)7132 3818-703
Email: info@kaco-newenergy.de
Web: www.kaco-newenergy.de
Year founded: 1998
Employees: > 500
The large spectrum of our transformerless single-phase inverters spanning up
to 10 kW allows system operators and installers tremendous freedom in planning:
All units can be combined with one another as needed and, due to the finely graded
power levels, can be matched exactly to
the power of the PV generator.
Powador 14.0 TL3 three-phase inverters are able to perform
like powerhouses when it comes to grid management.
64
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monitoring/supervision, software/IT
Companies: xxx
Fronius – A Technology Leader
State-of-the-art technology in high-performance electronics, the use
of high-capacity processors and the interconnection of stand-alone
devices are the keys to success for Fronius.
Assembly of the Fronius IG
TL transformerless inverter,
available in power classes
from 3 to 5 kW
Address: Am Stockgraben 3
36119 Neuhof-Dorfborn · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)6655 91694-0
Fax: +49 (0)6655 91694-50
Email: pv-sales-germany@fronius.com
Web: www.fronius.com
Year founded: 1945 foundation of Fronius
International
Sales volume: 329 million Euro (2009)
Employees: 2,677 (2009)
Fronius IG TL: transformerless PV inverter with
standard system monitoring
66
Since 1995, Fronius has
been producing and distributing highly-efficient
grid-connected inverters.
One of Austria’s largest solar electricity plants (3,600
sqm) at the Fronius facility
in Sattledt
Fronius, a company headquartered in Austria, has been conducting research into
new technologies for converting electrical
energy since 1945. That is more than 60
years of experience, progress and constant
innovation. In addition to its solar electronics division it is also involved in battery charging systems and welding technology, enjoying international success in
both fields. Its outstanding products and
services have made Fronius a technology
leader on the world market.
Quality and high-tech
Fronius Solar Electronics stands for quality and high-tech to generate, convert and
harness energy in a regenerative way.
The solar electronics division has been in
existence since 1992. Its products are sold
through a global network of sales partners.
The division develops and produces highpowered inverters for mains-coupled solar
power plants of any size. The product range
is rounded off with an extensive selection
of components for professional plant monThe use of renewable energy and conser- itoring, data visualization and analysis, all
vation of resources are firmly established of which can be used separately.
in the Fronius philosophy and are clearly
integrated in all activities, for example Grid-connected inverters
throughout all the processes at the com- Solar energy is converted into electricity
pany’s production and logistics site in and fed into the public grid. Efficient, reliSattledt, Austria: Electricity is supplied by able, high power inverters form the heart
a 615 kWp photovoltaic system and heat of any PV system. In the development of
comes from the site’s own biomass plant. PV inverters, Fronius has thought out
new technologies, searched for innovaThe German subsidiary – Fronius Deutsch- tive solutions and has found completely
land GmbH – was founded in 1993. Since new answers. The result: highly functional
2006 it has been based in Neuhof, at the mains-connected inverters, which interact
center of Germany. There, all three divi- optimally with all solar modules.
sions, solar electronics, battery charging
systems and welding technology, are con- With its new technologies and creative
solidated under one roof.
ideas, Fronius is continually setting new
standards around the world. Its latest
Fronius Service Partner program for PV
installers
Only by working together as a local distributor and manufacturer is it possible
to maintain a hold on the dynamic photovoltaics market in the long term. Success
through working together is the main concern of this partnership so that reliability
and quality remain the most important
purchase criteria. Fronius and the Fronius
Unique system design with the
Service Partners know each other personFronius MIX™ concept
ally and maintain a cooperative relationFronius’ flair for innovation is also reflected ship.
in its MIX™ products, which obtain maximum energy from the sun and provide a re- PC board replacement concept
liable yield, even when there is little direct The core of the Fronius Service Partner
sunlight. Fronius inverters are renowned program is the PC board replacement confor their extreme reliability, efficiency and cept, which offers decisive competitive adpower. Fronius employs the very latest pro- vantages to Fronius Service Partners. With
duction and testing methods to ensure the the service case, the PC board replacement
very highest quality before its products are concept allows trained partners to servshipped to customers around the world.
ice Fronius PV inverters directly on the PV
system – without replacing the inverter. In
Fronius also places a great deal of empha- case of an error, Fronius Service Partners
sis on user-friendliness and outstanding are able to immediately put a PV system
customer service. All Fronius devices have back into operation.
a modular design that makes installation
considerably easier. All plant monitoring
components can also be retrofitted easily
(Plug&Play) to guarantee maximum flexibility.
group of products, “Fronius IG TL”, confirms
this trend: It includes the first transformerless inverter, which is both the most
future-proof device of its class and the one
that will generate the highest yields. It is
the only inverter that uses a standard USB
stick, not only to handle plant monitoring
but also to deliver software updates for
the inverter.
Assembly of the Fronius IG Plus –
optimal product quality is ensured
via highly-sensitive screening tests.
Fronius IG Plus: reliability
and maximum earnings
security
67
Business areas: PV generators,
Business area: inverters
KOSTAL
Intelligent Photovoltaic Solutions for Every Requirement
PIKO inverters –
communication
at its best
PIKO inverters –
quality that
pays off
Hagen/Westphalia –
home of KOSTAL Industrial Electronics
The KOSTAL team –
a strong partner
Smart
connections.
Automatable PV module
junction box
KOSTAL Industrie Elektrik GmbH
(KOSTAL Industrial Electronics)
Address: Lange Eck 11
58099 Hagen · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)2331 8040-4800
Fax: +49 (0)2331 8040-4811
Email: Info-industrie@kostal.com
Web: www.kostal.com/industrie
Year founded: 1995
68
KOSTAL Industrial Electronics and KOSTAL
Solar Electric – simply a smart connection
The almost 100-year-old KOSTAL Group is
an independent, internationally active, German family company. KOSTAL Industrial
Electronics was founded back in 1995 under
the umbrella of the KOSTAL Group. One of
the company’s core product segments is the
photovoltaic sector. In addition to customerspecific and universal connection technology for PV modules, KOSTAL’s activities focus
on its “PIKO” range of solar inverters.
The KOSTAL “Smart connections.” philosophy is based on the long tradition of
a family company, extensive experience,
top quality and real partnership. When
all these factors interact harmoniously,
“Smart connections.” are established between the company and its customers.
PV module junction boxes – products that
make connections
KOSTAL Industrial Electronics has been
developing and producing connection
technology for PV modules for over a decade. Initially the focus was on customerspecific solutions, for companies including SolarWorld AG. Using this extensive
know-how, the company was then able to
extend its portfolio of PV module junction
boxes with a wide range of products for
universal use, for example a junction box
with a leadframe.
Various automatable solutions have recently also been successfully launched on
the market. As a company with a proactive
approach to quality, KOSTAL is not simply
satisfied with what it has achieved in the
past; it is already actively working on the
next generation of connection technology.
PIKO inverters: communication at its best
KOSTAL Solar Electric offers an extensive
range of PIKO products in various power
classes through to central inverters, with
the emphasis on three-phase feed concepts even in the lower power classes. The
high input voltage range and the independent MPP trackers in all of the PIKO inverters provide maximum flexibility in the
field of application and simple handling.
All inverters in the KOSTAL PIKO range include a comprehensive communication
system. Each PIKO also has an integrated
data logger which stores the data of the
PV system for up to a year. Further communication options range from the provision and monitoring of all important data,
with the aid of the integrated interfaces,
to the control of external devices. The PV
system can be monitored both locally
and remotely using the web server, PIKO
Master Control, and the PIKO Solar Portal.
KOSTAL Solar Electric is expanding, and is
pursuing a clear strategy with the focus on
prime markets via local distribution companies. With subsidiaries in Spain, Italy, France
and Greece, KOSTAL offers sales, service and
training on site in the local language.
The KOSTAL knowledge campaign provides its customers and partners with
new perspectives by providing the latest
information on experience gained and
new developments. A proactive exchange
of knowledge and information allows customers and partners to quickly and directly keep up-to-date with the latest developments.
KOSTAL Solar Electric GmbH
Address: Hanferstraße 6
79108 Freiburg i. Br. · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)761 47744-100
Fax: +49 (0)761 47744-111
Email: Info-solar@kostal.com
Web: www.kostal-solar-electric.com
Year founded: 2006
69
Business areas: inverters, monitoring/
supervision, LOP, connection technology,
software/IT
M+W Group
Mastervolt
M+W Solar Inverter - The All-rounder for Solar Power Plants
The MW inverter is developed for mid and large-scale PV systems,
focusing on an intelligent and effective way to enlarge and optimize
the power output of the PV system.
Maximum Yield – Worldwide
For 20 years, Mastervolt has been developing, manufacturing and
distributing technologies for independent electricity generation. As
early as 1993, Mastervolt launched its first photovoltaic inverter, the
Sunmaster 130. Mastervolt is, thus, a true pioneer in the solar industry.
Part of a 14.5 MWp
PV free field installation
in Italy
1 MWp container solution
with MW inverter
Sunmaster XS series
solar inverter
M+W Solar GmbH
A Company of the M+W Group
Address: Lotterbergstraße 30
70499 Stuttgart · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)711 8804-2094
Fax: +49 (0)711 8804-2029
Email: info.solar@mwgroup.net
Web: www.mwgroup.net
Year founded: 1912
Employees: 6,000
M+W Group offers life-cycle services for
high-tech projects in the fields of advanced technology facilities, life science
industries, energy & environment technologies and high-tech infrastructure.
M+W Solar, a company of the M+W Group,
is specialized in consulting, design, construction, project management and operation for turnkey, large-scale PV power
plants worldwide.
M+W Solar’s optimized and cost-effective
inverter concept
The new M+W Solar central inverter
concept sets new capacity and flexibility standards in the construction of largescale PV power plants.
M+W Solar offers two types of central
inverter: MW 125 (maximum PV power
140 kWp) and MW 65 (maximum PV power
70 kWp).
Thanks to the string connection box with
its single string MPP tracker, it is possible
to connect varying amounts of PV modules
and different slopes and orientations for
each string. The new concept also allows
the usage of different PV module technologies without negative mismatch effects.
MW 125 inverter
70
M+W Solar inverter concept for largescale PV power plants
The modular M+W Solar’s inverter concept
is suitable for PV systems ranging from
65 kWp to well above 10 MWp. It combines
high technology with intelligent single
string MPP trackers to offer a solution for
complex PV park demands.
All single PV module strings can be
tracked through the web-based string
monitoring system worldwide.
The advantages are:
• single MPP tracking for each string
• no mismatches
• DSP processor
• less DC-loss
• high efficiency at low power
• 250 kg in weight
• web-based string monitoring system
M+W Group is able to support you anywhere in the world thanks to its extensive
range of services and long-term experience.
Working together with M+W Group gives
you the maximum possible security of
having a strong and reliable partner for
future-oriented solutions.
Today, Mastervolt has branches in over 80
countries on all continents of the world.
Since January 2011, Mastervolt has been
a subsidiary of Actuant, a globally active
technology group. The association with a
financially strong, listed corporation will
allow Mastervolt to continue the growth
course and to bring innovative products
and technology to the market even faster.
Flexible technology optimized
for installers’ needs
Mastervolt supplies photovoltaic inverters
ranging in output from 1.3 kWp to 25 kWp.
The technology used in all of the company’s devices is designed to achieve the
highest yields, even in variable weather
conditions or in combination with a multitude of different PV module types. A variety of plant sizes and different types of
solar modules can, thus, be covered with
relatively few inverter types. This flexibility reduces training times and storage requirements for installers and distributors
alike. Owing to their low weight and versatile assembly accessories, Mastervolt products are optimized for easy installation.
Business operations tailored to
collaboration
Mastervolt has also tailored its business
operations to achieve the best possible
collaboration with its partners and installers. The company guarantees a unified and transparent price structure. All
products, including inverters for largescale solar power plants with capacities of
several MW, are solely available through
Mastervolt’s distribution partners.
Mastervolt International BV
Address: Snijdersbergweg 93
1105 AN AMSTERDAM ZO ·
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 (0)20 3422-100
Fax: +31 (0)20 6971-006
Email: info@mastervolt.com
Web: www.mastervolt.com
Mastervolt’s Masterlog
monitoring module
71
Buisness areas: PV generators,
Multi-Contact AG
Power-One
PV Connector Systems MC3 & MC4. Rely on the Original!
With over 15 years of experience in the field, Multi-Contact is highly
sensitive to the PV industry’s connection requirements, offering efficient, reliable solutions for all kinds of installations.
Aiming High with Power-One
Power-One is now the world’s second largest manufacturer of solar
power inverters, featuring its Aurora® product range from small residential string inverters to large commercial/utility central inverters.
German PV installation at Betzweiler im Schwarzwald
Manufacturing the Aurora® inverter
Multi-Contact AG
headquarters – Switzerland
Type of MC Multilam, based
on the torsion spring principle
Multi-Contact AG
Address: Stockbrunnenrain 8
4123 Allschwil · Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)61 306 55-55
Fax: +41 (0)61 306 55-56
Email: basel@multi-contact.com
Web: www.multi-contact.com
MC4QUICK – suitable for
toolless connection
Swiss-based connector manufacturer
Multi-Contact, founded in 1962, pioneered
the MC3 (first PV connector in series production) in 1996, followed by the MC4 in
2002. MC has since developed a broad
range of PV-specific products such as connectors, solar cables and junction boxes
for crystalline and thin-film panels, providing complete cabling solutions from
panels to inverters. Based on the unique
MC Multilam Technology, the connectors
are characterized by particularly low contact resistance, minimal power loss, high
corrosion resistance and long product life.
As dynamic industries bring forth unprecedented requirements, Multi-Contact specializes in customized solutions.
Cost-efficiency is becoming increasingly
important in the PV industry, resulting in
a higher level of automation as well as
the need to ensure quick and easy installation on-site. Multi-Contact answers this
MC4QUICK – lockable in
conformity with NEC 2008
demand with its latest product developments. The new PV connector MC4QUICK
has been designed for quick, tool-free assembly. An integrated spring-clamp connection allows easy, safe and fast installation and provides a reliable contact and
strain relief in one simple step. The snap-in
locking provides highly secure connections
and can be unlocked with a screwdriver.
Assembly work in solar parks or on sloping roofs can be considerably simplified
with Multi-Contact’s customized mounted
branch cable leads. They are packed in a
manner appropriate to their length (rolled,
bundled and/or welded into plastic film)
and only need to be unpacked and connected at the place of installation. “Endless leads”, i.e. where cables are cut to the
required length on site just before installation, are also possible. This version is suitable for relatively large installations with
regularly spaced PV modules.
The year 2010 saw remarkable growth for
Power-One in the renewable energy industry. Power-One grew from being ranked a
top ten manufacturer of PV inverters to
number two globally.
This growth has been consolidated with
operations now established on three continents and production sites in Italy, the
US, Canada and China. These manufacturing facilities are complemented with design centers in Italy, the US and China with
tailor-made products for the local markets.
Power-One’s Aurora® solar inverters range
from residential units of 2 kW up to large
commercial and utility grade scale applications of up to 1.3 MW in size.
Aurora® products offer some major benefits enjoyed by its many customers and
installers.
Wide working input range to accommodate any panel string size, multiple powerpoint trackers (MPPT) to accommodate
sub arrays with different orientations or
made from different PV panels, and rugged construction to fit any type of installation without putting restrictions on where
and how the inverter should be installed.
To date, Power-One has shipped more
than 3 GW of inverters worldwide with
an equivalent of 750 million (full power)
power-on hours.
The next twelve months will see many new
products launched, sales offices opened
and initiatives to keep Power-One’s Aurora® brand at the forefront of the renewable energy power inverter industry.
Within the Power-One team, there is a
motto which is felt to be very appropriate
to the company’s ethos: “At Power-One, we
aim high so you can too.”
Power-One Inc.
Address: 740 Calle Plano
Camarillo, California, 93012 · USA
Phone: +1 805 987 8741
Email: sales.NA@power-one.com
Web: www.power-one.com
Year founded: 1973
Sales volume: In 2010, Power-One achieved
net sales of 1.05 billion USD, an increase of
143% compared to 2009.
Employees: > 3,200
Power-One GmbH
Address: Denzlinger Straße 27
79312 Emmendingen · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)7641 955-2020
Email: sales.germany@power-one.com
Power-One Italy S.p.a
Address: Via S. Giorgio 642
52028 Terranuova Bracciolini, Arezzo · Italy
Individually customizable
branch cable leads: PV-JB/BC...
72
Power-One’s Aurora®
Central Inverter
Phone: +39 055 9195-396
Email: sales.italy@power-one.com
73
Business areas: inverters, power plant
control, monitoring/supervision, LOP,
connection technology, planning and grid
integration, software/IT, accumulators,
charge regulators, communication services
RefuSol GmbH
Satcon Technology Corporation
Highly Efficient Inverters and Accessories for PV Systems
RefuSol GmbH is one of the world’s technologically leading manufacturers of photovoltaic inverters. These inverters reach a top efficiency
of up to 98.2%.
Satcon Technology Corporation offers one of the most advanced power
conversion solutions and system design services for large-scale solar
projects. Today, more than 2 GW of Satcon solutions have been deployed worldwide.
Reference system at the
company’s head office in
Metzingen
Satcon Solstice: complete system solution that
increases energy production by 5-12% and reduces
system cost
The ready-for-use REFUSOL PowerBox in
power ratings from 500 kW to 1.3 MW
RefuSol GmbH
Address: Uracher Straße 91
72555 Metzingen · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)7123 969-0
Fax: +49 (0)7123 969-165
Email: info@refusol.com
Web: www.refusol.com
Year founded: 1965
As a specialist in power electronics,
RefuSol GmbH has produced high-quality
converters in Germany for more than 45
years. Drawing on these many years of experience, the first line-commutated photovoltaic inverter was developed as early
as 1997. In 2010, RefuSol produced inverters with a PV power of more than 1 GW.
and fast data exchange. These interfaces
can be connected to the company-owned
monitoring portal REFULOG. The internet
portal allows all the important operating
parameters of the solar plant to be visualized and provides comprehensive evaluation options. In higher power classes, the
product range includes the central solar
inverters REFUSOL 100K to 630K. Using
RefuSol focuses its attention on the devel- these central inverters, the company offers
opment, manufacture and distribution of the ready-for-use REFUSOL PowerBox – in
efficient photovoltaic inverters. At 98.2%, power ratings from 500 kW to 1.3 MW.
the excellent efficiency of these inverters
results in a leading position in current test With its staff in Germany and Europe, its
series. This high efficiency results from the subsidiaries in the US and Korea, and its
wide input voltage range, fast MPP track- sales and service partners in the most iming and innovative circuit topology. Owing portant PV markets, RefuSol has gained
to these features, the yield of each pho- worldwide presence.
tovoltaic system can be maximized even
with low incidence.
RefuSol’s innovative product range comprises string and central inverters with an
output range from 4 kW to 1.3 MW. These
inverters are used on all continents under
a variety of climatic and geographical conditions. The three-phase 8 kW to 20 kW
string inverters do not require transformers and are particularly characterized by
their light-weight, compact design. Integrated standard interfaces ensure safe
74
Innovative,
efficient and
compact –
REFUSOL string
inverters
For over 26 years, Satcon has designed and
delivered power control solutions that enable utility businesses and energy companies to convert clean energy into efficient
and reliable power. Satcon’s photovoltaic,
stationary fuel cell and energy storage
solutions have delivered millions of gridconnected kilowatt hours of energy in
some of the world’s largest installations.
Satcon Solstice: A first-of-its kind DC architecture solution that offers the benefits of
a large-scale central inverter and localized
micro inverter. It increases energy production by 5–12% compared to a centralized
inverter system, and reduces balance of
system costs by up to 20%.
Satcon Prism: Factory-integrated MW solution optimized for utility-scale PV instalFounded in 1985 by a group of engineers lations
from MIT and the Charles Stark Draper laboratory, Satcon is built on a foundation of Energy Equity Protection: Maximizes sysworld-class technical expertise. The com- tem performance over the lifespan of the
pany is responsible for a number of indus- PV project. Warranties and service plans
try firsts, including the first single cabinet can be extended to 20 years including
PV inverter, the first high-efficiency power preventative maintenance, performance
conditioning system for commercial PV in- management and uptime guarantee
verters and the first 1 MW PV inverters.
plans.
Satcon
Address: 27 Drydock Avenue
Boston, MA 20210 · USA
Phone: +1 617 897 2400
Fax: +1 617 897 2401
Email: sales@satcon.com
Web: www.satcon.com
Year founded: 1986
Employees: 1,000
Today, we offer a complete range of PV in- Satcon Worldwide: USA, Canada, South
verters and services to the markets:
Korea, China, Switzerland, Czech Republic,
Germany, Italy, France, Greece
Satcon PowerGate: One of the most widely
deployed large-scale solar PV inverter solu- Satcon became a publicly traded company
tions. Available in 18 models (from 30 kW on the NASDAQ in 1992 (NASDAQ: SATC).
to 1 MW) with 1 GW installed to date.
Satcon Equinox: Industry-leading 98.5%
peak efficiency, combined with the industry’s widest thermal operating range
Satcon Prism: factory-integrated MW solution
optimized for utility-scale PV installations
75
connection technology, planning and
grid integration, charge regulators
Companies: xxx
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric headquarters in
Paris (France) (top left)
Armadillo House installation at Solar
Decathlon Europe 2010 (bottom left)
1 MW installation (right)
The Global Specialist in Energy Management
The history of Schneider Electric: Founded in 1836, Schneider Electric
has transformed itself into a global specialist in energy management.
With its roots in the iron and steel, heavy machinery, and ship building
industries, the company now works in the field of electricity and automation management.
10 MW installation from Martifer Solar in Moratalla (Spain)
Schneider Electric SA
Address: 35 rue Joseph Monier
92506 Rueil-Malmaison · France
Phone: +33 (1)14 1297-000
Fax: +33 (1)14 1297-100
Email:
renewableenergy@schneider-electric.com
Web: www.schneider-electric.com
Year founded: 1836
Sales volume: 19.6 billion Euro in 2010
Employees: > 110,000
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100
countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market
segments including leadership positions
in energy and infrastructure, industrial
processes, building automation and data
centers, as well as a broad presence in
residential applications. Focused on making energy safe, reliable and efficient,
the company’s 110,000 plus employees
achieved sales of 19.6 billion Euro in 2010,
through an active commitment to help
individuals and organizations “Make the
most of their energy.”
zation in this field. The renewable energies
business of Schneider Electric is focused
on designing and developing renewable
energy products and solutions, and providing best-in-class, global customer service
and technical support.
Renewable energies
Schneider Electric offers a PV Box, a prewired equipment package for large PV
power plants, which is designed to meet
the growing demands on large-scale, gridtied solar farms and large commercial
rooftop solar installations. The PV Box is
a complete solution for electrical distribution, security, monitoring and control,
available from one vendor. A PV Box typically consists of solar inverters, DC combiner boxes, step-up transformers and a
In October of 2008, with Schneider Electric’s
purchase of Xantrex Technology, a significant milestone was reached in the
company’s expansion into the renewable energies sector. Combining Xantrex’s
knowledge and expertise in renewable
energies and Schneider Electric’s depth of
experience in energy management was
critical to the future success of the organi-
76
Make the most of your energy
Schneider Electric provides complete solutions from panel DC output to grid connection, including monitoring, supervision, servicing and maintenance for large
PV power plants as well as for commercial
and residential installations.
medium voltage switch gear housed in a
prefabricated building to allow quick field
wiring from both the solar arrays and the
utility grid connection point. Other items
can be added to the package including
climate controls, security equipment, array string monitoring, SCADA monitoring equipment and power metering, with
operation and maintenance offerings also
available.
The PV Box can be customized to meet
specified power needs. The Schneider
Electric Xantrex GT100E, GT250E, GT500E
and GT630E can all be integrated within
this solution. The inverters are designed
to be easy to install and operate, with automated start-up, shutdown and fault detection. They integrate user-configurable
power tracking that matches the inverter
to the array, and adjustable delay periods
which allow users to customize system
start-up and shutdown sequences.
30 kW for residential and commercial
markets. All inverters are easy to install
and service. The single-phase inverters are
available with or without transformers
and are suitable for outdoor and indoor
installations. Thanks to the company’s
complete solutions, Schneider Electric is
able to optimize the energy efficiency of
installations.
The Schneider Electric solution for off-grid
and back-up installations includes inverter/chargers, charge controllers (with or
without MPPT tracking), DC/AC breakers
and related accessories. The Xantrex XW
inverter/charger has unsurpassed surge
capacity to prevent drops during power
surges. It can be configured for single and
three-phase installations up to 36 kW and
allows dual AC inputs for the grid and a
generator.
For more information about Schneider
Electric and its renewable energy soluSchneider Electric offers DC/AC kits and tions, please visit
grid-connected, single-phase and three- www.schneider-electric.com.
phase inverters ranging from 2 kW to
Solutions for residential installations
Solutions for PV power plants
77
software/IT
Business areas: power plant control,
connection technology,
software/IT
SIEL S.p.A.
The International Energy Expert
Customized project capability and continued product support –
two of SIEL S.p.A.’s highlights in its relentless international activity
within the renewable energy field
Continuity since 1977
Integrated monitoring, control and supervision – complete singlesource DC distribution and control equipment for utility scale photovoltaic installations
SIEL’s testing team
SUPERVISORY LEVEL
control room
· Central
and maintenance
· Supervision
· Reporting and billing
PVGuard
Control
Room
DATA HOSTING
· Long-term data storage
Broadband Communication
Utility Substation
CONTROL LEVEL
performance control
· Plant
acc. to IEC 61850
· Automation
Interfacing
and protection
· Transformation
· Metering
·
SIEL’s interior with TL Inverters in
the background
kWh
Power Utility Bus
·
·
·
DC/AC LEVEL
DC/AC power inversion
Centralized logging of
all field and inverter data
Condition monitoring
Ethernet
Inverter Stations
~
~
skylog
~
~
~
~
=
Power Generation
The Italian company SIEL S.p.A. works internationally in two crucial fields of modern civilization, i.e. power protection and
renewable energies.
SIEL S.p.A.
Address: Via I Maggio, 25
20060 Trezzano Rosa (MI) · Italy
Phone: +39 02 909861
Email: info@sielups.com
Web: www.sielups.com
Year founded: 1983
Employees: 110
SIEL’s product portfolio includes PV inverters for stand-alone, grid-connected and
hybrid applications, namely single-phase
inverters from 1.5 to 6 kWp, three-phase BT
inverters from 10 to 500 kWp, three-phase
In its headquarters located at Trezzano TL inverters from 80 to 500 kWp, PS500
Rosa, Milan, SIEL has been one of the main and PS1000 power stations and one of the
international producers of certified ISO latest products called SIAC SOLEIL 10TL.
9001-2000 emergency power supply systems for public and private mission-critical SIEL’s offer can meet every request in terms
applications in financial, industrial, tele- of power and usage, supported by a range
communication, healthcare, data centers of on-going maintenance services such as
and other organizations since 1983.
installations telemanagement, multianIn 2000, SIEL successfully approached nual maintenance agreements, specialthe market of PV and wind energy with ized consulting, a free-call help desk and
the extensive production of single-phase the fast provision of original spare parts
inverters, high-power solar three-phase from the company’s many world subsidiinverters and wind turbine inverters un- aries.
der the company brands of SIAC SOLEIL
and SIAC WIND WAVE.
SIEL co-operates in many international
projects on a regular basis. Over 900 MW
of SIAC SOLEIL inverters are already installed throughout Europe.
SIEL’s commitment in promoting and
sustaining green energy involves every
aspect of company life, through the
adoption of governance and social responsibility criteria.
FIELD LEVEL
Power generation
Field data measurement
Condition monitoring
The merger of skytron® energy with
Wuseltronik, a 1977 spin-off of Berlin Technical University, has evolved into three
decades of unique expertise in the use of
solar energy. It is not without reason that
we pride ourselves in being “pioneers of
energy”.
Pioneering spirit, continuity and longstanding experience, all combined with
our vision for trendsetting power plant
technology — this is our motivating force,
and is driving the development of our integrated monitoring and control system for
photovoltaic power plants.
Today installed all over the world in utility
scale solar installations, skytron’s control
system meets the criteria for grid stability
and security. It ensures dynamic adjustment of the feed-in power in response to
the grid operator’s demand.
From string current monitoring in the generator field to supervisory control room
services allowing remote supervision of
photovoltaic installations — skytron’s solutions are independent of the module
and inverter technology used.
Intersolar Award 2008
for skytron’s advanced
string current monitoring and power plant
SCADA system
Central Data Logging
skylog
~
~
=
skylog
=
skylog
=
Field Bus
·
·
·
skycontrol
skycontrol
CANopen
Combiner Boxes
Sensors / Actuators
Temp.
Wind
o
F
I
o
C
Radiation
Current
Tracking
Voltage
String Inverters
~
~
~
~
=
~
~
=
=
ArrayGuard
V
StringGuard®
High-precision current monitoring
skyCONNi
Sensor system field data measurement
ArrayGuard®
Intelligent combiner boxes
Address: Ernst-Augustin-Straße 12
skylog
High-resolution real-time data logging
Fax: +49 (0)30 688 3159-99
skycontrol
Closed-loop control of feed-in parameters
for grid stability
PVGuard®
SCADA system for multi-vendor multi-site
power plant supervision
PV Asset Management
Control room and complete O & M
services
12489 Berlin · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)30 688 3159-0
Email: info@skytron-energy.com
Web: www.skytron-energy.com
Year founded: 1996
Employees: 47
Enrique de la Cruz (left), Martin Sauter (right)
Managing Directors, skytron® energy GmbH
Mr Glauco Pensini, Administrator (left)
and Mr Enrico Pensini, SIEL’s President (right)
78
79
Companies: xxx
Business areas: inverters, monitoring/supervision, software/IT
Siemens AG
We Are Shaping a Green and Sustainable Environment for
Future Generations
Siemens technology covers the entire photovoltaic value chain, from
glass and silicon materials to module production, field installation, PV
inverters and integrated automation systems.
Test plant at production location
in Fürth, Germany
Siemens AG is a global powerhouse in the
fields of electronics and electrical engineering, operating in the industry, energy
and healthcare sectors. For over 160 years,
Siemens has stood for technical achievements, innovation, quality, reliability and
internationality. Around 410,000 employees develop and manufacture products,
design and install systems and plants, and
offer customized solutions.
In addition to the environmentally compatible design of our products and the energy efficiency of our production facilities,
our Environmental Portfolio also plays a
major role in protecting the climate.
In fiscal 2010, the Portfolio generated revenue of about 28 billion Euro.
These products and solutions helped
our customers reduce their CO2 emissions
by 270 million metric tons in 2010 – which
is a multiple of the amount of CO2 that
Siemens itself produced with its own business activities.
SINVERT reference project,
France – La Réunion
SINVERT reference project,
solar park Vreden, Germany
The SINVERT inverter
family PVM
80
Top performance is in our nature
With many years of global experience in
the planning, installation and maintenance of photovoltaic power supplies, Siemens offers best-in-class solutions.
The Siemens portfolio encompasses products and solutions catering to the entire
photovoltaic value chain: from products,
systems and concepts for glass and silicon
manufacture through automation solutions for module production to finished
components for photovoltaic facilities.
Our photovoltaic portfolio is completed
by high-efficiency SINVERT inverters and
connection components such as reliable
switchgears and high-performance transformers.
SINVERT – photovoltaic inverters from
Siemens
With their high level of availability and optimized efficiency, SINVERT inverters provide a reliable basis for operating a photovoltaic plant efficiently throughout its
entire life-cycle. SIEMENS PV inverters with
their peak efficiency of > 98% are available
for a broad market spectrum (commercial
and power plants).
SINVERT PVM inverters are available in the
range from 10 to 20 kW for small to medium-sized plants in the “commercial” market segment. The three-phase inverter series is characterized by its compact design,
its robust nature and its long service life.
SINVERT PVS inverters from 350 to
2,400 kW are available for medium to
large photovoltaic plants in the “power
plant” market segment.
Sunny prospects for the future of your PV
plant
The functioning and yield of the entire
photovoltaic plant can be monitored and
visualized in a user-friendly manner using
SINVERT Webmonitor or SIMATIC WinCC
industrial software. Remote realtime monitoring enables faults to be detected immediately; this functionality also enables
configuration changes to be made remotely, thus minimizing the service costs for
the customer. Furthermore, the software
provides comprehensive verification of all
occurrences and measurements, such as
the current energy yield or data after the
commissioning of the PV plant.
Complimentary SINVERT Select layout
software is available for determining the
optimum configuration for a PV plant. It
calculates all feasible combinations for
most of the PV modules available on the
market together with Siemens inverters
and provides you with an easy means of
analyzing and optimizing these calculated
combinations.
In addition to professional hardware
and software, the portfolio is rounded off
by consultancy, studies and maintenance
concepts.
Siemens AG
Industry Sector, Industry Automation
Address: Würzburger Straße 121
90766 Fürth · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)911 750-0
Fax: +49 (0)911 750-2246
Email: sinvert.automation@siemens.com
Web: www.siemens.de/sinvert
Year founded: 1836
Employees: 410,000
81
Business areas: inverters, monitoring/supervision, software/IT
SOLUTRONIC AG
The Future of Solar Technology
Solar inverters for any module type and power class, grid-connected
installations and island or backup operation: Global market and technology leader SMA offers a comprehensive range of products.
Inverters “Made in Germany”
Accredited top quality, exceptional efficiency, intelligent communication functionalities and high-level standard feature specs – all characteristics that make Solutronic inverters stand out from the crowd.
SMA’s carbon-neutral
inverter factory
Majorcan photovoltaic
installation
Innovative, safe, userfriendly: the SMA Sunny
Tripower
Address: Sonnenallee 1
34266 Niestetal · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)561 9522-0
Fax: +49 (0)561 9522-100
Email: info@SMA.de
Web: www.SMA.de
Year founded: 1981
Employees: > 5,000
82
Alpine farm with SOLPLUS
inverters and DE-ICING BOX
Because of its special corporate culture, SMA has
been awarded several prizes for being an outstanding
employer.
More than 600 developers work on optimizing existing and developing new products at SMA. One of the latest product
innovations is the Sunny Tripower, which
was awarded the Innovation Award at the
Symposium “Photovoltaische Solarenergie”
2010. In addition to three-phase feed-in and
over 98% efficiency, this inverter contains
five technological innovations that make
it even easier and safer to use while reducing system costs. The inverter preferred for
large-scale installations is the Sunny Central 800CP, which offers top performance
while requiring little space – this product
received the Intersolar Award 2010.
Technological edge, excellent quality and
a wide range of services have steadily increased the demand for SMA inverters. The
company took the world’s largest carbonneutral inverter factory into operation in
2009. The factory’s energy concept was
honored with the first prize at the International Energy Efficiency Award 2010. In
2010, SMA was able to once again double
production capacity to 11 GW.
Sustainability and social responsibility are an intrinsic part of SMA’s mission
statement. Its carbon-neutral factory is
proof of the possibility of CO2-neutral,
highly modern industrial production
and serves as a role model. The new SMA
Solar Academy, which provides free training to around 15,000 installers per year,
also stands for sustainability. The building
is provided with energy from renewable
sources, independently from the grid, using an SMA island system.
SMA is headquartered in Niestetal/
Kassel, Germany, and is represented by 15
subsidiaries on four continents. The first
international production site was opened
in 2010 in Denver, Colorado to supply the
North American market and was followed
by another facility in Ontario, Canada.
Established in 2004, this German PV expert specializes in developing and marketing grid-connected solar inverters. Its
main technical focuses are product efficiency, sophisticated electronics and intelligent installation monitoring.
SOLPLUS inverters from Solutronic cover
power ratings from 2.5 to 12 kW and are
built exclusively in cooperation with renowned partners in Germany.
To optimize their efficiency, all SOLPLUS
inverters are equipped with a microprocessor-controlled MPPT controller that allows
the ideal operating point to be set with
great precision. In addition, all SOLPLUS
inverters are kitted out with a data logger,
Ethernet connector and RS485 ports.
Particularly noteworthy is the use of SOLPLUS string inverters in large-scale photovoltaic installations. The big advantages of
these units are that they are far easier to
install, maintain and monitor than central
inverters, there is no need for expensive
string boxes and Solutronic is able to supply them very quickly.
The Majorcan PV installation pictured
here comprises a total of 504 SOLPLUS 55
inverters arranged in 28 subsystems, each
with 18 inverters, and has a total power
output of just under 3 MW DCp. Each of
these subsystems is connected via RS485
to a master inverter, which collects all the
yield and monitoring data and then forwards this to the server that requested it
via the local network (using TCP/IP). The
integral data logger allows each individual inverter to be accessed directly and its
technical data to be monitored, even from
Solutronic’s headquarters in Germany.
This allows malfunctions or failures to be
detected very quickly. All data collected
is recorded and forwarded by the company’s own server. The SOLPLUS+ graphics
application is then used to generate easily understandable graphics that facilitate
monitoring of the installation as well as
referencing and archiving.
SOLUTRONIC AG
Address: Küferstraße 18
73257 Köngen · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)7024 96128-0
Fax: +49 (0)7024 96128-50
Email: info@solutronic.de
Web: www.solutronic.de
Year founded: 2004
Employees: 45
Endurance test on
SOLPLUS inverters
(left)
Majorcan inverter
shed (right)
83
power plant control,
planning and grid integration
Companies: xxx
SOLON SE
Experience, Quality and Innovation: The Solar System House SOLON SE
SOLON SE is a globally active solar system house. The portfolio includes
photovoltaic systems, project planning for and construction of largescale roof-mounted systems and turnkey solar power plants, as well as
the production of solar modules.
SOLON power plant on the
roof of car maker Opel in
Rüsselsheim, Germany
SOLON SE
Address: Am Studio 16
Phone: +49 (0)30 81879-0
Fax: +49 (0)30 81879-9999
Email: solon@solon.com
Web: www.solon.com
Year founded: 1997
Employees: 800
Fixed tilt SOLON solar power plant in Hegnenbach,
Germany
84
Ideal solar power plant
monitoring for maximum
output: SOLON Vega
SOLON production of
solar modules in Berlin,
Germany
As a solar system house, SOLON works daily to make photovoltaic systems even more
efficient, profitable and, hence, more competitive. Our extensive range of services
covers the development and distribution
of PV system solutions for private homes
and industrial roofs, and the planning and
construction of large solar power plants.
In addition, we offer monitoring, operation and maintenance services. This is how
we ensure maximum yields throughout a
plant’s entire service life.
The most recent example: In early 2011, we
were able to complete the world’s largest
roof-mounted system with a capacity of
12.5 MW on top of a logistics center in Italy.
The decisive components and processes
have been standardized and all modules
precisely aligned thanks to our experience.
This allows us to guarantee maximum reliability and offer a safe investment across
the plant’s entire service life.
SOLON SE is a Berlin-based company with
offices in Germany, Italy, the USA and
France. We employ approximately 800
people.
We are one of the most experienced solar
firms in the market: To date, SOLON has
produced and installed solar modules and
solar power plants with an overall output
of more than 1 GW worldwide, even under
the toughest geographical and climatic
conditions. As a customer, you benefit directly from this experience: through total
reliability and perfect planning, starting with the project development stage,
during construction and commissioning.
Whatever your scheme is, SOLON has the
perfect solution for every roof.
Optimized yield and grid capacity of solar
power plants
SOLON has developed a web-based remote
control system for solar power plants in order to allow constant access to the yield of
a PV system, detect errors and minimize
downtimes: SOLON Vega. It allows owners
and operators to retrieve realtime information and important data about the plant’s
current output. Detailed analyses make
it possible to precisely identify possible
module row failures and fix them faster.
This guarantees high yields throughout
the entire service life. The evaluated data
is available in the most common transmission protocols used by grid operators
and can easily be integrated into existing
systems. SOLON Vega also calculates plant
yields for the following day and reports
them to the grid operator if weather fore-
cast data is fed in. This makes it possible
to better control grid capacity – which grid
operators are increasingly beginning to require.
SOLON Vega is made from industrial
components that are suitable for extreme
temperature ranges. This makes the system extremely robust and weatherproof.
includes all services of the SOLON Quorum
package with added informational depth
for the yield and operating analyses, and
the package price covers repairs.
In addition, closing a SOLON operating
and maintenance contract extends the
warranty period for solar plants from two
to five years for both packages.
Innovative monitoring and maintenance
concepts
Once a plant has been constructed and
connected to the grid, owners and builders
are proud of their successfully concluded
project. However, smooth, optimal operation is just as important as planning and
construction. Considering a minimum
lifetime of 25 years, small operating errors
and inaccuracies can easily lead to more
severe consequences. SOLON, therefore,
offers plant owners two different operating and maintenance concepts that ensure
maximum outputs throughout the entire
lifetime:
SOLON Quorum includes remote-controlled plant monitoring with error, yield
and operating analyses, optimization recommendations, inspection, maintenance
and operation. SOLON Quest is a more comprehensive premium solution providing
a full-service package for plant owners. It
A photovoltaic system is a long-term investment that is intended to generate
stable revenues for several decades. The
quality of SOLON products pays off – our
customers get more out of their investment.
Masate, Italy: The SOLON built
solar power plant with a capacity of 1 MW
Made by SOLON: the world’s
largest roof-mounted system
with a capacity of 12.5 MW
(Interporto di Padua, Italy)
85
Companies: xxx
Quality “Made in Switzerland”
Sputnik Engineering AG has been serving the solar energy market
since way back in 1991, and during this time has pioneered significant
advances. Founded in the Swiss town of Biel, from the very outset the
company has focused its efforts on the development, production and
sale of inverters for grid-connected solar power plants.
Swiss quality with high efficiency:
With our SolarMax inverters, we set standards in
terms of quality, reliability, and maximum yields.
Address: Höheweg 85
2502 Biel/Bienne · Switzerland
Phone: +41 32 346 56 00
Fax: +41 32 346 56 09
Email: info@solarmax.com
Web: www.solarmax.com
Year founded: 1991
Employees: 330 (2010)
86
High-quality products made in Switzerland
have enabled Sputnik Engineering to grow
from a start-up into one of Europe’s leading inverter manufacturers in an astonishingly short space of time. At present, the
company has some 330 employees at its
Swiss headquarters and at subsidiaries in
Germany, Spain, Italy and France, as well
as at its branches in Belgium, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom.
Sputnik Engineering AG’s SolarMax inverters are among the industry’s best, offering
high efficiency, an intelligent cooling concept, an attractive, easily-mounted casing and a user-friendly graphics display.
Sputnik Engineering has the right device
in its program for every application – from
residential buildings to agricultural sites
and including solar power plants with outputs measured in MW.
SolarMax string inverters are ideal for
small and medium-size solar plants. Their
high efficiency – as much as 98% – enables
them to deliver the very best yields. Medium and large-scale solar plants, on the
other hand, are fitted with SolarMax central inverters.
Sputnik Engineering AG has 20 years’
experience in the development of central
inverters.
All SolarMax inverters are extremely robust and absolutely reliable – and the
price/performance ratio is more than impressive. Every device contains the expertise gained over 20 years of development
work. Extensive type and safety testing
and a hassle-free package deal ensure stable and reliable operation for the entire life
of the solar plant.
Service at its very best
SolarMax customers who call the technical help line obtain advice from highly
qualified technicians – who handle calls
in five languages. The service team finds
and eliminates errors by remote diagnosis
or by sending a technician to the site. Retailers, wholesalers, electricians and operators of solar plants benefit from courses
and training sessions designed by Sputnik
Engineering for their own products and
provided either at the company’s headquarters, at one of its branches, or directly
at the customer’s premises. The experts at
Sputnik Engineering AG are always available for their customers with advice and
support. All requests are answered rapidly, frankly and directly, because Sputnik
Engineering believes in solid customer
service and long-term customer relations.
Coping with enormous challenges: The highest solar
power station in the world on the Jungfraujoch in
Switzerland runs with SolarMax inverters.
(above)
Top level service: Our customers get perfect, all-round
service all over Europe – in German, English, Spanish,
French or Italian.
Under the brand name
SolarMax, Sputnik
offers its customers
inverters for every
application.
87
software/IT, charge regulators,
Sungrow manufacturing
shop (below right)
One corner of the PV
power plant in Brindisi, Italy
(below, top left)
Roof in Melle, Germany,
150 kW (below, bottom left)
SUNGROW
Wieland Electric GmbH
Inverters: Key Elements Affecting Performance and Energy Output
Sungrow specializes in the design and manufacture of inverters for
PV systems. Continuous, major investments have been made into the
research, development, manufacturing and marketing of a wide range
of high-quality, efficient inverters around the world.
A Well-Engineered System for PV Installations – Watt for Watt
Wieland Electric was founded in 1910 and is one of the pioneers of electrical connection technology. The product range includes over 20,000
components for industrial automation, building installation and the
electrical infrastructure for renewable energies.
inverter components, housing,
connection technology, software/IT
Reference project under
Californian sun
Plug and play components for
DC and AC
Headquarters
SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.
Address: No.2, Tianhu Road, New and High
Technology Industrial Development Zone,
Hefei, Anhui · China 230088
Sungrow Business Hotline:
Phone: +86 551 532 7834/7845
Fax: +86 551 532 7856
Email: info@sungrow.cn
Web: www.sungrowpower.com
Europe Region
Address: 27, Avenue de l’Opera,
75001, Paris · France
Phone: +33 17038 5270
Email: lgarreau@sungrow.fr
SunGrow Canada Inc
Address: 895 Edgeley Blvd, Vaughan,
Ontario L4K 4V9 · Canada
Phone: +1 905 760 8618
Fax: +1 905 760 1158
Email: info@sungrow.ca (Business)
service@sungrow.ca (After-Sales)
Web: www.sungrow.ca
88
Sungrow is a private, high-tech company
established in Hefei, China, in 1997. More
than 10% of the annual revenue is invested in research and development. As a global supplier of renewable energy inverter
products, Sungrow operates in China, Europe and in the Asia Pacific region.
Sungrow held a market share of 43% for
PV inverters in China in 2010. That year, the
company entered the market in Germany,
Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain,
France, the UK, Australia, South Korea and
India. A US office was setup in California, an AP office in Hong Kong and a factory in Toronto, Canada. Forbes identified
Sungrow as one of the SMEs with the highest growth potential in China. Moreover, in
2010 the company’s Nay 4 KW PV inverter
received an “A” rating from Photon.
Meeting market demands and serving
our customers are Sungrow’s reasons for
being. We provide excellent service, highquality and low-cost products in order to
enhance our customers’ competitiveness
and profitability, and we are deeply devoted to the research and development of
innovative inverter technologies.
For 2011, Sungrow will release its new
products, which are mainly targeted toward the European, North American and
Australian markets.
In the EU market, the updated
SG2K5TL/3KTL/4KTL series, which is lighter
in weight, lower in cost and has an IP65
protection rating, is sure to become a favorite of clients. In the commercial inverter
market, the new SG20KTL/30KTL series,
which features efficiency of over 98%, easy
wiring and installation, an anti-theft design, a serial port and Ethernet communication, will be available from May and September 2011, and will meet BDEW medium
voltage regulations. These features make
this series the most competitive product
collection in its power range. In the central
inverter product range, the new SG125K3,
designed to be used outdoors, and the
latest SG630KTL achieve efficiencies of
over 98.5%, and have a film capacitor design that guarantees high reliability. The
SG1260KS 1 MW transformerless turnkey
solution, with its integrated switchgear,
combiner box, protection and SCADA system, covers every requirement and even
goes beyond the expectations of our customers.
With its gesis® system, Wieland has, by its
own account, been the European market
leader in pluggable installation systems
for buildings for more than 30 years.
The internationally oriented family-owned
company is represented in more than 70
countries worldwide.
Today the long-established company sets
milestones worldwide in electrical installation technology. Products are manufactured to the highest environmental and
quality standards. Because: Contacts are
green.
Wieland connects!
Wieland Electric GmbH has been a specialist in electric connection technology for
more than 100 years. The family business
located in Bamberg produces contacts for
many industries and provides ingenious
indoor and outdoor connector systems
used in building installations, among other products.
Professional electrical installation
solutions for PV
The gesis® AC-SOLAR system, designed for
the pluggable connection of inverters, combiner boxes and tracking motors, was developed for the AC side of photovoltaic systems. The mechanically coded RST 25i3/i5,
3 and 5 pole, round connectors provide for
easy plug connections and save valuable
time at the construction site. Cable assemblies are available prefabricated to the
required length, or field-assembled. More
than 45 leading manufacturers already
equip their photovoltaic inverters ex factory with pluggable Wieland device connections so that both installers and builders
can profit from the benefits provided by
easy electrical connections.
Wieland Electric develops, builds and distributes standard and project specific
gesis® RAN SOLAR combiner boxes for the
AC and DC sides of photovoltaic systems.
The best of 40 DC connectors
The prefabricated PST 40i1 PV connectors
from Wieland Electric were test winners in
the PHOTON trade magazine product test
2010.
Wieland Electric GmbH
Address: Brennerstraße 10–14
96052 Bamberg · Germany
Phone: +49 (0)951 9324-0
Fax: +49 (0)951 9324-198
Email: info@wieland-electric.com
Web: www.wieland-electric.com
Year founded: 1910
Employees: 2,200 (2010)
From the module to the grid:
Wieland provides the complete solution!
89
Companies: xxx
Companies: xxx
The Publishers
90
91
Business area: communication services
Business area: communication services
Solarpraxis AG
Sunbeam GmbH
Engineering, Conferences and Publishing for Renewable Energies
Communications for Renewable Energies
Specializing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, Sunbeam
offers technically oriented communication services which are
perfectly tailored to the dynamic environment of the European
renewable energy market.
Design and production
of prime print products
Solarenergie in Deutschland
Solar Energy in Germany
2010 2011
■
Solarwärme
engineering the solar age
Informationen für Vermieter
Drei Jahre
Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft
engineering the solar age
Dass die Photovoltaik heute flügge ist, hat sie nicht nur den
Herstellern von Solarzellen und -modulen zu verdanken. An der
beispiellosen Erfolgsgeschichte der Solartechnik sind vor allem
auch die Maschinen- und Anlagenbauer beteiligt.
“engineering the solar age” provides information about key
applications, technologies and, most importantly, the key
players in the fields of machine engineering, automation and
factory design.
„engineering the solar age“ stellt aktuelle Anwendungen, Technologien und vor allem die wichtigsten Macher aus den Reihen der
Maschinenbauer, Automatisierer und Fabrikplaner vor.
■
That the photovoltaics industry is now able to spread its
wings is not only thanks to the manufacturers of solar cells
and modules. Plant and machinery manufacturers also have a
share in solar technology’s unprecedented success story.
Suppliers for Photovoltaics | Maschinenbau und Ausrüster der Photovoltaikindustrie
2010 2011
Der Photovoltaikmarkt wächst zügig weiter. Nach Angaben der
European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) ist die installierte Leistung photovoltaischer Anlagen 2008 global von fast 16
auf ungefähr 23 Gigawatt gestiegen. Bis Ende 2010 prognostiziert
EPIA eine Steigerung um mindestens weitere 10,1 Gigawatt.
Suppliers for Photovoltaics | Maschinenbau und Ausrüster der Photovoltaikindustrie
Solar – so heizt man heute
The photovoltaics market continues to grow at a rapid pace.
According to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association
(EPIA), in 2008 the installed photovoltaic capacity worldwide
rose from almost 16 to approximateley 23 gigawatts. EPIA predicts an increase of at least 10.1 gigawatts by the end of 2010.
Ident-No. 105634
We combine high-quality communications with
expertise in technologies and markets in the field of
renewable energy.
Solarpraxis AG
Address: Zinnowitzer Straße 1
Phone: +49 (0)30 7262 96-300
Fax: +49 (0)30 7262 96-309
Email: info@solarpraxis.de
Web: www.solarpraxis.de
Year founded: 1998
Sales volume: > 5 million Euro
Employees: 53
Pictures in lower row:
The engineering department generates up-to-theminute knowledge (left).
Solarpraxis’ conferences
are valued industry platforms (center).
Solarpraxis communicates
expertise and practical
knowledge to professionals (right).
92
Solarpraxis is one of the leading knowledge service providers in the renewable
energy sector. The Berlin-based company
has been providing clients with expertise
and professional services in the fields of
engineering, conference organization and
publishing for over twelve years.
Engineering
The engineering department of Solarpraxis
generates up-to-the-minute knowledge
and processes it for your customers using a
targeted and project-orientated approach,
operating in areas such as expert opinion
reports, training, technical hotlines, technical documentation and planning for solar installations.
Conferences
Solarpraxis’ conferences are valued industry platforms, which offer decisionmakers in the renewable energy industry
opportunities for targeted networking
and information exchange. They are wellestablished, close to the market and customer-oriented. Using a combination of
specialist presentations and topical panel
discussions, they present practical knowledge relating to market development, financing and policies. Industry representatives are given the opportunity to share
ideas, to follow and discuss the latest developments, and to meet representatives
from politics, the press and the financial
world.
Publishing
With two B2B magazines published
monthly, Solarpraxis reports on the latest
developments within the solar industry:
“pv magazine” focuses on the European,
Asian and North American solar markets while “photovoltaik” (with Alfons W.
Gentner Verlag) deals with the German PV
industry.
Generally in collaboration with the relevant technical associations, Solarpraxis
AG and Sunbeam GmbH jointly publish
industry guides for various sectors of the
renewable energy industry. These provide companies with the opportunity to
present their products and services. An editorial section sets out the essential facts
and figures relating to each sector plus the
latest technological and economic developments.
Since 1998, Sunbeam has been providing
in-depth market knowledge and excellent
contacts with industry associations and
the media. We offer our expertise in the
following domain areas:
Communications
With over twelve years of experience in
renewable energy, Sunbeam has acquired
expertise in all relevant technologies as
well as an extensive media network in
the field. The company has successfully
conducted a variety of campaigns for governmental departments and offers a wide
spectrum of services to corporate clients,
ranging from PR concepts and consultancy
to the complete management of all press
contacts.
New media
Sunbeam is one of the leading German
agencies for information-oriented, accessible websites. The agency has won a prestigious BIENE award and ranks top in relevant listings for the content management
system TYPO3. Two team members are also
the authors of renowned specialist books
on the design and implementation of web
presentations.
Design
Sunbeam values visual communications
as a key success factor in the renewable
energy market, and thus offers comprehensive expertise in presenting complex
matters to technically oriented target
groups. In our work for companies, associations and governmental departments we
specialize in editorial design for periodical
magazines, high quality brochures and extensive industry guides.
Added value
Sunbeam operates through all media channels connected to public relations, new
media and design. Clients benefit from
our experience both in the management
of individual formats and the creation of
integrated marketing solutions. Examples
of this cross-media approach include our
widely distributed press reports on solar,
wind and bioenergy (“PresseTrend”) and
various services for print to web and/or social media publishing.
Sunbeam GmbH
Address: Zinnowitzer Straße 1
Phone: +49 (0)30 72 62 96 - 300
Fax: +49 (0)30 72 62 96 - 309
Email: info@sunbeam-berlin.de
Web: www.sunbeam-berlin.de
Year founded: 1998
Sales volume: 1.2 million Euro
Employees: 18
93
Companies: xxx
Companies: xxx
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and Legal Information
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Cover front Main image
Cover front Small images, f.l.t.r.
KOSTAL Electric GmbH, Tom Baerwald,
Cover back SMA Solar Technology AG
p. 8 Gehrlicher Solar AG
p. 9 small
p. 9 large Sputnik Engineering AG
The texts and illustrations in this brochure p. 10 KACO new energy GmbH
were produced with the greatest posp. 11 Sputnik Engineering AG
sible care and to the best of the author’s
p. 16 left First Solar Manufacturing
knowledge. As errors cannot be ruled
p. 17 left CENTROTEC Sustainable AG
out and both texts and illustrations are
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to the following: Solarpraxis AG gives no
p. 20 left Juwi/ Richard Kliche
guarantee with regard to the timeliness,
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p. 21 left
information provided in this brochure.
DORFMÜLLER-SOLARANLAGEN GmbH
Solarpraxis AG accepts no liability for
damages, material or non-material, which p. 21 right Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.
p. 22 SMA Solar Technology AG
are incurred through the use or non-use
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p. 24 top Sputnik Engineering AG
caused directly or indirectly by the use of
p. 24 bottom left SMA Solar Technology AG
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except where deliberate or grossly negligent culpability may be proven. Company p. 25 IstockPhoto/ Neil Harrison
p. 26 SMA Solar Technology AG
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p. 27 SOLUTRONIC AG
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p. 33 BELECTRIC Solarkraftwerke GmbH
Solarpraxis AG
Zinnowitzer Straße 1
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Inverter Market
Tracker —
Microinverters and Power
Optimizers Special Report —
Inverter and
Microinverter Teardown —
The Battle for the
Heart of the Systems.
Can Moore’s Law
Be Disruptive Again?
Understanding the Cost
Structure of Market Leaders.
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© 2011 Solarpraxis AG
Idea and concept
Solarpraxis AG
To learn more:
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Ute Bartels, Jessyca Groß, Lena Kuhn,
Sandra Steinmetz
Industry profile editors
Dr Detlef Koenemann, except
p. 41: Ucilia Wang
Ch. 2: Dr Henning Wicht/iSuppli
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Photovoltaics and Solar Thermal
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Services to give you a head start
p. 41 Suntech Power
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94
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95
Companies: xxx
Companies: xxx
Inhaltsangabe
Inverter and
Industry Guide 2011
1
2011 edition
Benefits for you
Scope of services
provided by Solarpraxis AG
References
Date of publication
Prices
Contact
Industry guide
Inverter and PV System
Technology 2012 2nd Edition
The industry guide is expected to be released following the Solarpraxis conference
„Inverter and PV System Technology“ in January 2012 in Berlin.
This high-quality, English-language publication will assess both the upstream (production
and supply chain) and the downstream (planning, distribution, installation and operation)
aspects of the electrical system. It is targeted at system integrators, distributors, project
developers, top planners and investors. Besides corporate portraits it includes an overview
of market conditions, advances in technology, new areas of application and perspectives.
Customer contacts and image building for your company
Worldwide presence in the booming regions of the PV industry
Internet presence in English at www.pv-system-tech.com
At least 40 brochures for your own marketing purposes (larger quantities on demand,
individual corporate and product presentations can be reprinted)
Use of the information graphics in the brochure for press purposes, making the brochure
a pool of information for the press and multipliers
Text editing, graphics and typesetting
High-quality design and printing of the industry guide
Print run of 12,000 copies
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Please find the complete content of the industry guide “Inverter and PV System
Technology“ 2011 under www.pv-system-tech.com. Besides, Solarpraxis AG has also
produced various other promotional brochures for the renewable energy sector
More at www.renewablesinsight.com
Scheduled to April 2012, Thin-Film Industry Forum 2012, Berlin
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Conferences 2011/2012
Photovoltaics and Solar Thermal
Top marketing for your brand to the sector
Solar Industry Forum UK 2011|12–13May2011,London,UK
Solar meets Glass – 2nd Industry Summit for Logistics, Quality and Materials|13April2011,Berlin,Germany
Thin-Film Industry Forum 2011|14–15April2011,Berlin,Germany
Conferencia de la Industria Solar – España 2011|13–14October2011,Madrid,Spain
12th Forum Solarpraxis|17–18November2011,Berlin,Germany
PV Power Plants 2011 – USA |1–2December2011,USA
2nd Inverter and PV System Technology Forum |January2012,Berlin,Germany
SMEThermal |February2012,Berlin,Germany
Conferenza dell’Industria Solare – Italia 2012 |February2012,Rome,Italy
PV Power Plants 2012 – EU |March2012
Street, Postcode, City
Phone
96
Mail
www.solarpraxis.com
97
In the on-going discussions about cost
reductions and technical optimization in
photovoltaics, usually the focus lies on
the modules. However, it is important to
optimize the entire system as a matched
unit, not just the individual components;
in this way, the efficiency of the whole
PV system can be increased and the price
reduced at the same time.
42
“Inverter and PV System Technology”
takes a close look at the electrical components of the system and its interactions,
gives an overview of market conditions
and presents the latest technical developments. Corporate portraits of 36 international companies round off this comprehensive industry guide on PV system
technology.
recommended by
www.pv-system-tech.com
klimaneutral
gedruckt

Inverter and PV System Technology

Transcription

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