1 july 29 th, 2011 smart panels – the future of photovoltaic systems lior handelsman, vp product...

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July 29th, 2011

Smart Panels – The future of Photovoltaic Systems

Lior Handelsman, VP Product Strategy and Business Development, Founder

SolarEdge Confidential

What is solar energy?

The solar system elements

The distributed architecture approach

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2SolarEdge Confidential




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July 29th, 2011



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Some Benefits of Solar Electricity

Energy independence Environmentally friendly “Fuel” is already delivered free everywhere Minimal maintenance Maximum reliability Reduce vulnerability to power loss Systems are easily expanded Cost steadily decreasing


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The Natural Resource – The Sun’s Irradiance


The total solar energy absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, oceans and land: 3,850,000 ExaJoules per year

In 2002, this was more energy in one hour than the world used in one year.

In one year: twice as much as will ever be obtained from all of the Earth's non-renewable resources of coal, oil, natural gas, and mined uranium combined.

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Solar Energy Technologies

Photovoltaic systems (photo = light; voltaic = produces voltage) convert light into electricity using semi-conductor technology

Thermal Power systems use the sun’s radiation to produce heat which is then converted to electricity


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The Photovoltaic Effect

Photons hitting a silicon mass free electrons from silicon atoms The freed electrons have extra energy, or “voltage” An internal electric field pushes the electrons to the top of the

silicon mass


Electric current flows to other masses or to the load

The silicon masses never run out of electrons

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Solar Cells

Solar cells are thin wafers of silicon – similar to computer chips but much bigger and much cheaper.

Silicon is abundant (sand), non-toxic and safe The photons carry energy into the cell, and

the cells convert this energy into current according to the photovoltaic effect (the cells do not store energy)

PV cell – definition: the basic photovoltaic device that is the building block for PV modules.


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Connecting cells to create a module (Panel)

One silicon solar cell produces 0.5V 36 cells connected together have

enough voltage to charge 12 volt batteries and run pumps and motors

72-cell modules are the new standard for grid-connected systems having a nominal voltage of 24V and operating at about 30V


PV module (panel) – definition: a group of PV cells connected in series and/or parallel and encapsulated in an environmentally protective casing.

A module is the basic building block of PV systems Modules can be connected together to achieve any power

configuration

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Photovoltaic Module Technologies


Crystalline Silicon: The most common type of PV modules is that made of c-Si cells

Thin Film: made by depositing one or more thin layers (thin film) of photovoltaic material on a substrate

CPV - Concentrated Photovoltaics: lenses or mirrors and tracking systems are used to concentrate the sun rays onto photovoltaic modules

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What is an Inverter?


Grid-Connected Inverters: Perform Maximum Power Point Tracking

(MPPT) Invert PV modules’ DC electricity to Grid

compliant AC electricity Operate only in conjunction with the

electric utility, synchronizing the output phase, frequency and voltage with the utility.

Stand-Alone (Off-Grid) Inverters: Operate from batteries, independent of the electric utility.

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Inverter Characteristics

DC Voltage ratings (130v – 1000v) Power ratings (1kW – 1MW) Efficiency (91% - 98%) Grid Code Compliance (EU, NA, IL, JP…) Grounding (Transformer / Transformeless) Single / Three phase


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Residential / Farm house


PV “neighborhood”, Freiburg, Germany (5kW)

Cowshed, Israel (50kW)

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Commercial Buildings


Google HQ, USA (1.6MW)

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Utility Scale Solar Plant


Waldpolenz, Germany (40MW)

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Traditional solar systems are like a multi-rider bicycle with a shared chain…


The speed is limited by the performance of the weakest rider…The speed is limited by the performance of the weakest rider…

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Traditional Solar System


In traditional solarsystems panels areInter-dependant:the inverter limits theCurrent according tothe weakest panel inThe string

In traditional solarsystems panels areInter-dependant:the inverter limits theCurrent according tothe weakest panel inThe string

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How can we avoid “the weakest link” in the chain?


With personal transmission gear, each rider can maximize his own potential, so the bicycle rides faster!With personal transmission gear, each rider can maximize his own potential, so the bicycle rides faster!

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Distributed Solar Power Harvesting System


In a distributed power harvesting system Power Optimizers optimize eachpanel individually, so stronger panels are no longer limited by weaker orshaded panels

In a distributed power harvesting system Power Optimizers optimize eachpanel individually, so stronger panels are no longer limited by weaker orshaded panels

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Energy Loss

Module to Module Mismatch Module to Module Mismatch

Partial ShadingPartial Shading

Under Voltage / Over VoltageUnder Voltage / Over Voltage

Dynamic MPPT Loss Dynamic MPPT Loss

Inherent Problems of Traditional Inverters

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Other Known System Drawbacks

Limited MonitoringLimited Monitoring

Limited Roof UtilizationLimited Roof Utilization

Fire and Electrocution HazardsFire and Electrocution Hazards

TheftTheft

Inherent Problems of Traditional Inverters

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The Solution

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Power Optimizer

©2011 SolarEdge

SolarEdge System Overview

Inverter

Monitoring Portal

Module level optimization Fixed voltage - ideal installation

Module level optimization Fixed voltage - ideal installation

Module level monitoring Enhanced safety solution

Module level monitoring Enhanced safety solution

Monitoring Server Internet

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1st Pillar – Module Level Optimization

©2011 SolarEdge

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String voltage is always fixed, regardless of temperature and string length

String voltage is always optimal for DC/AC conversionPrevention of under/over voltage situationsHigh inversion efficiency at all timesInverter components cost reduction

2nd Pillar - Fixed String Voltage

©2011 SolarEdge

Easy to design. No string sizing Longer strings for savings on wiring and BoS

components Flexible design for maximum roof utilization:⁻ Parallel strings of unequal lengths ⁻ Modules on multiple roof facets⁻ Modules with different power ratings

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Inverters specifically designed for power optimizers

98% maximum efficiency

Simpler design lead to Highest reliability at the minimal cost

Built-in communication hardware

3rd Pillar – Fix Voltage Inverter

©2011 SolarEdge

Single phase inverters3kW – 6kW

Three phase inverters7kW – 12.5kW

North America – Single phase inverters

3.3kW – 7kW

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Automatic, accurate fault detection

Faults located on site map

No additional wiring

Web and iPhone applications

The Result:

Remote Diagnostics

Operations and Maintenance cost reduction

Increased system availability and production

Proactive customer service©2011 SolarEdge

4th Pillar - Module-Level Monitoring

Click to watch on:

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5th Pillar – Full Safety Solution

©2011 SolarEdgeClick to watch on:

Electrocution Prevention & Fire Safety SafeDC™: Automatic module DC shutdown when inverter is not operating Module and Inverter thermal shutdown Electric arcs are automatically detected by the new SolarEdge power

optimizers

The Result: Higher security for Installers, maintenance

teams, and firefighters Improved asset protection - roof, solar system Better suited for future insurance requirements

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Unique Theft Prevention Solution

Stolen Module “Immobilization” Stolen modules with embedded PowerBox can be digitally locked to prevent re-use

Result: Theft deterrence protects your PV assets at no added cost

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Case Study:London Olympics Car

park

©2010 SolarEdge

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Car Park Comparative Analysis


The PVsyst simulation software was used to analyze the possible system design and energy yield of two systems:

A traditional system using Sputnik SolarMax 30C inverters A SolarEdge system using Add On PowerBoxes and 3-phase inverters

The physical layout (roof design, module tilt, height and distance) and traditional inverter selection were done according to customer specifications.

Wiring needs were calculated for both cases

Yingli YL235P-29b 235Wp modules 954 modules x 235Wp = 224.2 kWp

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Shading Simulation


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System Design


SolarEdge SolarMax

Inverters 17 x SE12k 8 x SolarMax 30C

Modules per string 28 / 29 19 / 20

Strings per inverter 2 6

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SolarEdge Site Layout


Inverters are located at the end of the rows for convenient access

cable entrance

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SolarMax Site Layout


Combiner Boxes are located at the end of the rows 12 strings per Box

cable entrance

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PVsyst Energy Calculation


SolarEdge

SolarMax

SMASolarEdge SolarMax

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SolarEdge Benefits


SolarEdge SolarMax

Peak power 224.2 kWp 224.2 kWp

Combiner Boxes DC - 0, AC - 1 DC - 4, AC - 1

Wiring 815m (4mm2DC)++928m (AC)

2673m (4mm2 DC)+176m (12mm2 DC)

Shading loss 2.5% 8.4%

Annual AC energy 184 MWh (+10%) 167 MWh

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Car Park Comparative Analysis, Shading Avoidance


In the same field we increase the distance between module rows and remove modules that are subject to shading from the lift shafts for a large portion of the day, to obtain a system with little shading.

Significantly decreasing the shading required eliminating 55% of the modules;, the installation is still not shading-free.

Yingli YL235P-29b 235Wp modules 420 modules x 235Wp = 98.7 kWp

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Shading Simulation


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System Design


SolarEdge SolarMax

Inverters 8 x SE12k 3 x SolarMax 30C

Modules per string 26 / 27 / 49 20

Strings per inverter 2 / 1 7

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PVsyst Energy Calculation


SolarEdge

SolarMax

SolarEdge SolarMax

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SolarEdge Benefits


SolarEdge SolarMax

Peak power 98.7 kWp 98.7 kWp

Shading loss 1% 4.5%

Annual AC energy 82 MWh (+6.5%) 77 MWh

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SolarEdge Mission

Distributed power harvesting and inversion systems that revolutionize solar energy harvesting by providing:

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SolarEdge at a Glance

Founded in late 2006

150 employees. Offices in Germany, California, Japan and Italy

Over 65 patents filed, 4 granted

$ 59M raised from Lightspeed VP, Walden International, Opus Capital, Genesis Partners, Vertex Capital and GE

Thousands of installations worldwide

50 MW of products shipped during 2010 (250K Optimizers)

Expecting to ship over 150MW of products during 2011 (above 750K Optimizers)

©2011 SolarEdge

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Strategic Alliances with Panel Manufacturers and Installers Worldwide

47©2011 SolarEdge

Agreements with Two WW Contract Manufacturers

2010: 250,000 of Optimizer units were shipped (50MW)

2011: over 750,000 to be shipped (>150MW)

Mass Production

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The only commercially available solution to solve all following pressing needs, while reducing the cost of energy

©2011 SolarEdge

Value Proposition Summary

Maximum Energy GainGround mounted system: 2-5%, commercial 2-10%, residential 2-25%

Real-time module-level web monitoring Increased uptime and remote maintenance

Constraint-free site designOptimal site-area utilization at reduced cost

Automatic module shut-down Unique electrocution prevention and fire safety

Module theft detection and immobilization

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Thank you

©2011 SolarEdge

Email:Twitter:Blog:

[email protected]/SolarEdgePVwww.solaredge.com/blog

Website:www.solaredge.com

1 july 29 th, 2011 smart panels – the future of photovoltaic systems lior handelsman, vp product...

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