maximize pv rooftop space & energy output with horizontal string inverter accessory
TRANSCRIPT
Maximize PV Rooftop Space and Energy Output
with Horizontal String Inverter Accessory
q This webinar will be available afterwards at www.solarpowerworldonline.com & email
q Q&A at the end of the presentation q Hashtag for this webinar: #SolarWebinar
Before We Start
Steven Bushong Solar Power World
Moderator Presenters
Efrem Tagliamonte Advanced Energy Industries
Tucker Ruberti Advanced Energy Industries
Maximize PV Rooftop Space & Energy Output with Horizontal String Inverter Accessory
About AE
PV Industry Leader with Proven Reliability • Invented transformerless 3-Phase string inverters • 230,000+ units and 3+ GW installed since 2007 • Estimated 99.8% global fleet availability
30-year Focus on Power Conversion Solutions • Founded in 1981 in Ft. Collins Colorado • 5 major sites: Fort Collins, Colorado; Bend, Oregon; Toronto, Ontario; Metzingen,
Germany, and Shenzhen, China • Dedicated solar applications and service organization
Profitable, Diversified and Public (AEIS:NASDAQ) • Solar Product Line: PV inverters and energy management solutions • Precision Power Product Line: Power conversion solutions for thin-film and industrial
applications • Consistently profitable and no debt
String Inverters – NEC 2011/2014 Combiner
Fused Recombiner
Inverter
1000VDC Integral Combiner AFCI Compliant Rapid Shutdown Floating Design
Inverters:
3TL evolving to meet all code requirements, at lower costs
NEC 2014 Key Issue 690.12: Rapid Shutdown of PV Systems on Buildings
• PV system circuits on builds must comply with new rapid shutdown rules only if they are more than 10 feet from a PV array, or extend more than 5 feet into a building
• The rapid shutdown requires that the array conductors be limited to 30 volts and 240 watts within 10 seconds
• This effectively requires either string inverters, or contactor combiners with remote disable functions because the rapid shutdown is not practical or economical
3TL “Rapid Shutdown” Challenges
• Using the inverter as the combiner and disconnect creates challenges: • Direct sun exposure • Snow and moisture • Inverter shade contribution to the array
Easy to Install - Horizontal
1 – Mount the inverter to the horizontal bracket 2 – Attach the sunshade and display window cover 3 – Attach the fan bracket to the inverter 4 – Wire the fan to the analog sensor terminal 5 – Attach side panels
Enables reliable compliance with “Rapid Shutdown”
Challenge – Sun and Snow Exposure
Challenge – Shading from Inverter
Deep Dive – Side by Side Comparison
Improved Thermal Performance vs Vertical
String Inverter Horizontal Mounting Benefits • Eliminate combiner boxes and fused recombiners of central
inverters • Enable cost effective compliance with NEC 2011 and NEC 2014 • Provides a OEM-engineered solution for mounting string inverters
on roofs • Improves thermal performance and protects from rain and snow • Minimizes shade and maximizes roof space for power generation
String Inverters – Energy Delivered
=
Energy earnings impacted by inverter performance
DC Power
X X X
Inverter Efficiency
MPPT Efficiency
Inverter Availability
DC Power
More energy harvest or fewer inverters - more flexibility to choose
= DC Power x Inverter Efficiency x MPPT Efficiency x Inverter Availability
Widest range in the industry q Max DC Ratio – 1.75 q Wide MPP – 200V wakeup
DC Power – Rooftop Case 1 – Fixed AC
Same AC
$1.9M Earned in 20yrs
DC ratio allows $ Generation on ↑ WDC
DC Power – Rooftop Case 1 – Fixed DC
Same DC
$100k Savings Now
DC ratio allows $ Material Savings on ↓ WAC
Inverter Efficiency
Widest range in the industry q CEC Efficiency – 98.0% q Real-world Efficiency
Beats PVSYST models using 3-level curve by 1-2%
= DC Power x Inverter Efficiency x MPPT Efficiency x Inverter Availability
Wide performance band, Forgiving design flexibility
Inverter Efficiency – Modeling
PVSYST doesn’t have enough resolution
PVSYST Efficiency Curves
Inverter Efficiency – In Practice Real-world Performance
q String voltage and inverter efficiency aligned in optimal region
q A shift for project design flexibility still yields acceptable performance
Design Flexibility
MPPT Efficiency
MPP Tracking Leader q Published to EN 50530 q Real-world 99.7 - 99.9% precision
= DC Power x Inverter Efficiency x MPPT Efficiency x Inverter Availability
More time harvesting, less time waiting
Inverter Availability Proven In the Industry
q High MTBF Proven reliability over 3+GW Fleet
q Fast MTTR Simplified spares stocking – just inverters Simplified service requirements – inverter swap RMA warranty process – ship back defect for a new unit
= DC Power x Inverter Efficiency x MPPT Efficiency x Inverter Availability
Simplified Planning in Operations
Availability Review Uptime Detail: q Operation per year = 8760 Hrs x .5 (for daytime only) = 4380 Hrs/Yr q Down time for planned maintenance per inverter = 0 Hrs/Yr q Downtime for unplanned maintenance per inverter = 1.8 Hrs/Yr
Example for 100 Inverters:
Estimated Uptime= Operational Time/Total Time =(1− 100 x 1.8/100 x 4,380 ) x 100%=𝟗𝟗.𝟗𝟔% q Safe contingency for guaranteed performance is 99.5% without a maintenance contract. q 20 Year O&M cost $216k for the total project in parts + labor
Increased uptime, Decreased O&M Costs
To find out more…
Home Page: http://solarenergy.advanced-energy.com/ Solar Products: http://solarenergy.advanced-energy.com/solar-inverters String Calcs: http://aedesign.advanced-energy.com/Default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f Reference Library: http://solarenergy.advanced-energy.com/en/reference_library.html
Questions? Steven Bushong Solar Power World [email protected] Twitter: @Solar2Steven
Efrem Tagliamonte Advanced Energy Industries [email protected]
Tucker Ruberti Advanced Energy Industries [email protected]
q This webinar will be available at www.solarpowerworldonline.com & email
q Tweet with hashtag #SolarWebinar
q Connect with Solar Power World
q Discuss this topic on EngineeringExchange.com
Thank You