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Increasing ROI With Commercial-Scale Inverters Sponsored By:

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Page 1: Increasing ROI With Commercial-Scale Inverters Sponsored By:
Page 2: Increasing ROI With Commercial-Scale Inverters Sponsored By:

Increasing ROI With Commercial-Scale Inverters

Page 3: Increasing ROI With Commercial-Scale Inverters Sponsored By:

Sponsored By:

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This webinar will be available afterwards at www.solarpowerworldonline.com & via email

Q&A at the end of the presentation

Hashtag for this webinar: #SolarWebinar

Before We Start

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Moderator

Steven Bushong

Solar Power World

Presenters

Scott KolekAdvanced Energy

Jon FiorelliSolectria

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Opportunities for Increasing ROI of

Commercial PV InvertersScott Kolek – Product Manager - TX Inverters

AE Solar Energy

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Agenda

Brief introduction to Advanced Energy

‘Typical’ Large-scale Commercial PV

Installation

Technologies and Products for ROI

Optimization

Traditional

New

Emerging

Conclusions and Takeaways

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Advanced Energy Overview30-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• 1571 employees worldwide (as of May 2013)• Dedicated service organization

2012 revenue $452M• Ended 2012 with $172.2M in cash, having generated $110.8M of cash in 2012

Market capitalization $676.42M (as of May 13, 2013) • Two business units

• AE Thin Films: Power conversion solutions for thin-film plasma manufacturing

• AE Solar Energy: PV inverters and energy management solutions• Solid footing in growing solar inverter market

• Leadership in North America

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AE Solar Energy Global Footprint

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Transformer and transformerless PV inverters, integrated solutions, complementary BoS products, and O&M aimed at lowest cost of energy through

project life-cycle

Product Power Levels & Market Segments

Integrated SolutionsPower: 500 – 2MW

CentralPower: 35 – 500kW

StringPower: 12 – 24kW

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Traditional Large-scale Commercial PV

InstallationTypical Characteristics

• Rooftop mounted, 600 VDC Strings

• ~12 panels/circuit

• DC Combiner Boxes

• Pad/Ground-mounted Central Inverters, ~100KW to 500KW range

• DC:AC Ratio on order 1.1-1.25:1

• DC Sub combiners (fuses or breakers) integral to inverters

• Inverter-level and (sometimes) sub combiner monitoring

3MW Rooftop Solution, Ontario CA250kW & 500KW Central Inverters

2.4MW Rooftop Solution, Portland OR100kW & 260KW Central Inverters

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Traditional Methods – ROI ImprovementBoS Cost Reductions

Structural system – optimized for streamlined installation

Reduce install labor - pre-assembly, on-site assembly line, etc.

Reduce O&M Costs – Reliability, increased uptime

Wiring reduction methods (CPT, RPT)

MV Applications: Multiple inverters 1 Step up transformer

Increase Energy Harvest Increase panel performance

Inverters lifetime = module lifetime

Increased inverter reliability & uptime

Increased inverter efficiency

Trackers

MPPT – Wider range, improved algorithms

Use of modeling for design optimization

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New Methods – Distributed/String InvertersROI-Enhancing Benefits:

Optimal match of power conversion capacity to array capacity – using smaller 15-24kW inverter blocks

Eliminate DC Combiner Boxes (note: AC combiners still required)

Reduced cost of (commodity) AC aggregation equipment versus low volume/high cost DC equipment

Less mounting space. Compact size allows close-proximity mounting to array. No pad or rigging.

Multiple MPPT Trackers on each roof offset shading & less-than-optimal array orientations

Rapid field replacement serviceability

Build-in monitoring capability for each inverter

100kW Rooftop Solution, Piscataway, NJ20 & 24kW String Inverters

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New Methods – High DC:AC Ratio StringingROI-Enhancing Benefits:

Low (and lowering) cost of panels permit higher panel densities at small overall cost impact

Utilize higher DC:AC Ratios to increase time at full power and increase Capacity Factor (Actual Energy / Max. Potential Energy)

Achieve increased energy harvest in high temperature climates and less-than-optimal array mounting configurations

CEC efficiency & MPPT less relevant in high DC:AC ration systems.

DC:AC ratios 1.75-2:1 are available.

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Emerging Methods – 1000V DC for

CommercialUL-Listed installations are happening

• Utility, commercial ground mount and rooftop

Many developers & EPC’s going to 1kV DC• Both central and string• Projected to become mainstream solution for large

commercial applications

No NEC barriers, AHJ roadblocks clearing• 1000 VDC on commercial rooftop and ground mount

today with minimal challenges• Ambiguity in code slowly being cleared up,

acceptance accelerating

1000 VDC equipment selection growing• Driven by growth of Utility segment• Including modules, inverters, combiners, BOS

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ROI-Enhancing Benefits: 20 modules per 1000 Vdc string vs. 12 per string at 600 Vdc in same location =

• ~40% less strings for same power, ~40% less combiner boxes, ~40% less home runs

Conductor savings• “Amps cost $, volts are free” : This is almost true, 1000 Vdc PV wire costs

more that same gauge 600 Vdc wire, but it carries far more energy • ~40% less conductor costs. • Lower voltage drop losses• Less losses from strings to combiners

1000V DC Commercial PV – The Upsides,

Downsides

Downsides: Requirement to meet >600V (multiple) sections code can complicate AHJ

approval 1000V equipment availability still biased towards large scale utility applications

(but changing…) Additional permitting and inspection “hoops” may offset benefits Short cable length & restrictive wiring applications may limit benefits Additional safety & training considerations for higher/1000V

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Farther out – PV/Battery & Intelligent

MicrogridsConcept:• Battery storage + PV

array become ”dispatchable” power supply asset

• Enterprise Controls intelligent dispatch generation sources + load controls to optimally-reduce energy costs

• Reduce size and usage of diesel gens for standby power. Reduce UPS.

• Participate in Energy Markets and sell excess electricity when prices high

Utility Supply

Solar PV

PCC

Enterprise Level Control

Facility Loads

Facility Grid

Battery Storage

Standby Generators

Utility Master Control

+++

---

Inverter

Hybrid PV/Battery System

Load Shed/Add

Rev. meter,Grid/Island

Start/StopLoad LevelCharge/

DischargeLoad Level

Load LevelpF Level

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How AE is Addressing the ChallengesContinued Product Development

• 1000V Solutions• Distributed/String solutions

Forward-thinking R&D and Technology Partnerships• SEGIS-AC and SEGIS: 4 years and counting

• Partnering with industry leaders to develop collaborative solutions: PGE, PEPCO, SAFT, NPPT, Sandia, NREL, etc

• 3+ year relationship with Schweitzer Engineering Lab (SEL) to advance technologies and products related to utility, facility, and PV system integration

• Closed-loop controls, advanced anti-islanding, reliability and stability, cyber-security

Thinking beyond the Inverter• PowerStation packaging, hybrid power system, energy storage, advanced

inverter master controllers, etc.

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Thank you for your attention!

AE Solar Energy Headquarters20720 Brinson BlvdBend, OR 97701www.advanced-energy.com/solarenergy

Scott KolekProduct Manager – TX InvertersAE Solar Energy+1.970.492.2028 [email protected] 

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Increasing ROI with Commercial Scale Inverters

Jon FiorelliApplications Engineer

Solectria Renewables

[email protected]

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Topics Covered

1. Design Considerations…2. Inverter Integrated Options…3. Post-Inverter Installation

Considerations…

…that impact ROI

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Design Considerations

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Design Considerations

There are dozens of design decisions Cost/Benefit Analysis

Financial Model Keep in mind that there are many

design decisions that are difficult to quantify

There are very few “Rules of Thumb” Project Goals and Challenges Vary Financial Models Vary

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String SizingUse Max Allowable String Size to: Reduced BOS Costs (Fewer strings means fewer combiner

boxes and fewer source and output circuits) Reduce System Losses (fewer circuits and higher

voltage/lower total current) Maximize Production for System Life Ensures that max

power voltage of the array will stay within the Max Power Point Tracking range of inverter as modules degrade during the lifetime of the system

Of course, using max. number of modules is not always possible or preferred for other reasons (complex layout, odd string size, carport…)

Next Stage in Design Evolution: 1000V Systems

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String Sizing - Design Temperatures

Consider using…

ASHRAE Temperature (Extreme Annual Mean Minimum Design Dry Bulb Temperature) for larger max string size NEC 2011 690.7(A) Informational Note Read: “Array Voltage Considerations”,

B. Brooks, SolarPro Oct/Nov 2010 CHECK WITH INSPECTOR!! SolarABC’s Map Tool

www.solarabcs.org/about/publications/reports/expedited-permit/map/

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String Sizing Example

Use Solectria PV System Builder (www.solren.com)• Location: Atlantic City, NJ• Array Size: 600kW DC • Module: Sharp NU-U235F1• Inverter: PVI 500

Record Low/Average High

-23°C/29°CÞ 13 Modules Per StringÞ 196 Strings

ASHRAE

-16°C/33°CÞ 14 Modules Per StringÞ 182 Strings

THAT’S ONE LESS 14-STRING COMBINER!!

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Oversizing Historically, designers oversize by 10% to 25%

optimize kWh/kW (Specific Yield) -> High Module Prices

Times have change: Cheaper Module Prices (More production for less

incremental cost, same fixed cost) Time-of-Use Utility Rate structures

Limiting factor is short circuit current Designers can vary tilt angle, power density, and

encroach into shaded regions Definition of “Best” Ratio => Optimizes financial model

(IRR, NPV, LCOE) Perform Oversizing Analysis using simulation program

(PVsyst, PV*SOL, SAM) which feeds financial model

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Other Design Decisions

Inverter Location (longest run DC or AC?) Inverter Efficiency Module Specs: Efficiency, IP rating, Loading specs Module Tilt Angle/Orientation/Inter-row separation/Power

Density Small vs. Large Combiner Boxes Copper vs. Aluminum Wiring

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Inverter Integrated Options

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Inverter Integrated OptionsSave field labor, equipment costs, and engineering/procurement overhead by having inverter options factory integrated.

Examples: Subcombiners (Fuses, Breakers) Revenue Grade Meter Monitoring

Gateway Card Zone Level Monitoring (troubleshooting value) Same company for inverter/monitoring

(troubleshooting value)

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Post-Installation Considerations

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Post Installation Considerations

Means to Ensure UPTIME and Minimize DOWNTIME Perform Preventative Maintenance Inverter Provider Preventative Maintenance Plans Inverter Provider Uptime Guarantee Monitoring with Fault Notification Alerts Fault Action Plan (Installer, O&M Provider, Inverter

Company) Spare Parts?? (Ground Fault Fuse, Subcombiner Fuses) Service and Maintenance Friendly Design (Site Plan

Placards, Shade structure, Service receptacles)

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Jon Fiorelli – Applications Engineer

[email protected]

Don’t forget that Application Engineers can help increase ROI:

**Product Knowledge**

**Project Experience**

Thank You!

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Questions?Solar Power WorldSteven [email protected] Phone: 440.234.4531Twitter: @wtwh_renewables

SolectriaJon [email protected] Phone: 949.933.6828

Advanced EnergyScott [email protected] Phone: 1.970.492.2028

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Thank You This webinar will be available at

www.solarpowerworldonline.com & email

Tweet with hashtag #SolarWebinar

Connect with Twitter: @SolarPowerWrld

Facebook: …/SolarPowerWorld

LinkedIn: Solar Power World Group

Discuss this on EngineeringExchange.com

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