Converteam Photovoltaic solutions now certified according to German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) guideline

Berlin, 5 May 2011 – Converteam's Solar inverter has been certified according to the technical guideline of German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) as central inverter for photovoltaic applications with a power of more than 500kW fulfilling the stringent BDEW requirements for decentralized power generation equipment. The certificate was issued by Germanischer Lloyd.

Since April 1st 2011, the certificate has been mandatory for the grid connection permission of new PV plants in Germany. This is also a precondition for project-specific plant certification to ensure that photovoltaic plants, just like conventional power plants, will actively contribute towards the stability of power grids. Converteam Medium Voltage PV solutions fulfill the required grid stabilization by offering a number of features such as stable voltage and frequency control as well as secured continuous operation of a PV plant in the case of dynamic grid faults.

"The certificate is now a must for medium-voltage grid connections", noted Dr. Stephan Krämer, Vice President Business at Converteam, and said: "As a leading manufacturer of frequency inverters for the wind power industry, we already have the comprehensive expertise required to ensure optimum adaptation of our systems to the needs of grid operators. We are pleased to pass this expertise on to our customers in the photovoltaic industry."

All the simulations and tests necessary for the unit certificate were completed in just three months at Converteam's Berlin-based test lab for frequency inverters under the supervision of the accredited DEWI GmbH measuring institute from Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The comprehensive test bed and simulation equipment in Berlin is used to adapt its inverter technology to international requirements and to implement efficient system solutions. PV inverters are tested with a power of up to 1.5MW under harsh operating conditions. The low-voltage ride-through test equipment, for example, enables tests that ensure continued reliable operation of Converteam’s Solar inverters during a grid fault.

"The comprehensive results from the test lab become part of validated simulation models which then help to support our customers' subsequent equipment certification process," explained Dr. Krämer.

Converteam is active in the solar inverter industry since 2009. With more than 60MW of inverter orders in 2010 Converteam has been capable of bringing decades of experience in high power frequency converters in the new utility scale solar PV segment. Its global supply chain can supply converters to key markets form its facilities in France and Germany, soon to be followed by the US and India.

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