20 percent more AC power with Converteam new 1,500V DC (OC) PV central inverter 

Berlin, 27 May 2011 – Power conversion specialist Converteam is to present a new generation of photovoltaic (PV) inverters at the Intersolar 2011 (hall B4, booth B4.370) in Munich, Germany. The new inverter works with a DC input voltage of up to 1,500V (DC) offering higher efficiency under partial load conditions and higher power. This results in significant cost savings for the infrastructure of photovoltaic power plants.

Converteam raised the nominal power of the new ProSolar inverters up to 825kVA thanks to improved control and lower switching losses of the IGBT semiconductors as well as the use of higher DC-link voltages. These features provide almost 20-percent power increase which can be implemented without having to modify the overall dimensions of the existing inverter portfolio. Furthermore, the inverter grid behaviour is also adapted to meet tougher demands. The 3-level topology of the power electronics generates a particularly low share of harmonics. This reduces grid filter complexity and guarantees the customer excellent grid behaviour of his PV plant even with a weak transmission grid. 

With this system voltage of 1,500V(DC) providing a 20-percent power increase, new PV plants can be built and operated at lower cost and with higher efficiency. In practical terms the customer will use smaller cross-section cables, fewer generator connection boxes and less cabling at the DC end. This enables a further reduction in the Balance Of System (BOS) costs. 

Converteam inverters are available as indoor cubicle solution or as an outdoor hermetic inverter. The advantage of the outdoor variant is to save material, air-conditioning and transport costs compared to the expensive container solution, and to allow operations in harsh ambient conditions. The inverters are separated from the housing for PV components and can hence be positioned close to the PV modules, thus reducing DC cables costs.

Converteam has been manufacturing solar inverters since 2009 with orders for central inverters for a total power of 60 MW in 2010. This success proves that the photovoltaic farm operators and installers value the decades of experience in the production of powerful frequency inverters which Converteam is now bringing into the new photovoltaic segment for large-scale energy generation.

Converteam PV inverters with a power of more than 500kW have been granted the certificate according to the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) guideline for its capacity to ensure the stability of the national grid. Since 1st April 2011, this unit certificate has been mandatory in order to obtain project-specific plant accreditation and  grid connection permit for new photovoltaic plants in Germany.

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