Requirements for PV Inverters in Germany and USA

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1 California Solar Business Delegation to Germany German American Chamber of Commerce Inc. October 24, 2007 Requirements for PV Inverters in Germany and USA Dr. Bernd Engel, Vice President Technology, SMA Technologie AG

2 Content 1. Introduction: SMA Technologie AG 2. Solar inverters and plant configurations 3. Comparison of requirements in the US and Germany 4. Outlook and Conclusion 2

3 Content 1. Introduction: SMA Technologie AG 2. Solar inverters and plant configurations 3. Comparison of requirements in the US and Germany 4. Outlook and Conclusion 3

4 Growth through technology leadership» Established 1981 Revenue SMA-Group» 300 Mio. EUR revenue in 2007» Export share >25 %» 1,750 employees worldwide» 135 trainees» 1.0 Giga-Watt production in 2007 Amounts in million EUR 4

5 Well positioned in key solar markets» SMA is a global player 5

6 SMA An engine of technological innovation» Trendsetter for more than 25 years» Solar inverters for all applications and power ranges» World class efficiency (98 %)» Relied on to produce 3 Giga-Watt worldwide 6

SMA spends 10 % of its revenues on R&D» 300 engineers to develop new technologies and innovative products» 6 new products per year» Highly flexible production in

7 SMA spends 10 % of its revenues on R&D» 300 engineers to develop new technologies and innovative products» 6 new products per year» Highly flexible production in Europe s centre (Kassel, Germany)» Unique test centre comprises SMA s engineering experience of the last 25 years» Inverter price reduced by 50 % every 5 years 7

8 Content 1. Introduction: SMA Technologie AG 2. Solar inverters and plant configurations 3. Comparison of requirements in the US and Germany 4. Outlook and Conclusion 8

9 Cost breakdown of a PV plant Modules 59% Inverter 8% Mounting structure 4% Assembly 5% AC and DC cabling 5% 2% Transport 17% Operating costs (20y) Source: Meyer, Kampschulte, Staffelstein

10 Structure of a grid-connected PV system module DC cabling = AC cabling mounting structure ~ PV inverter: heart (and brain) of the PV system grid 10

11 PV system configuration: Central inverter PV strings Central inverter AC bus SC 1000MV: 1 MW concrete station with direct feed-in on 20 kv 11

12 References SUNNY CENTRAL» Power Plant Waldpolenz Brandis, Germany» World s largest photovoltaic installation» 36 MWp» 62 x Sunny Central 500HE 12

13 PV system configuration: String inverter PV strings PV string DC bus Central inverter AC bus string inverter AC bus 13

14 Advantages of the String technology» No cost-intensive DC cabling and distribution» Inverters produced in high quantity series» High efficiency inverters with η > 98 % available» More energy yield due to several MPP-Trackers» Easy planning, installation and service 14

15 Content 1. Introduction: SMA Technologie AG 2. Solar inverters and plant configurations 3. Comparison of requirements in the US and Germany 4. Outlook and Conclusion 15

16 Comparison of Requirements in the US and Germany Countries USA MOW (e.g. Germany, France, Spain, Greece, Italy, Korea) Standards UL, NEC utility standards IEC, EN, DIN etc. utility standards DC Voltages V DC grounded (no transformerless inverters used) V DC ( transformerless inverters established) AC Voltages Financial Incentives Single phase: 120V, 208V, 240V, 277V, Three phase: 208V, 240V, 480V, MV 60 Hz Tax credits (Fed.), investment subsidies according CEC efficiency (CA), net metering feed-in tariffs (CA) Single phase: 230V Three phase: 400V, MV 50 Hz (60Hz Korea) Feed-in Tariff, net metering 16

17 Installation in USA» DC (and AC) switch is required in USA» DC and AC conduits are used in residential and most of the commercial applications» No DC PV connectors used 17

18 Installation in USA» DC (and AC) switch is required in US» DC and AC conduits are used in residential and most of the commercial applications» No DC PV connectors used» In new inverter designs integrated DC (and AC) switches are used 18

19 Installation in MOW» DC and AC cables used without conduits» DC connectors are accepted for easy installation» DC switch is required according IEC 60364» SMA Electronic Solar Switch is offering» Higher safety» Lower cost» Easier Installation 19

20 Content 1. Introduction: SMA Technologie AG 2. Solar inverters and plant configurations 3. Comparison of requirements in the US and Germany 4. Outlook and Conclusion 20

21 Progress in Price and Production Quantities SMC 11000TL 21

22 Conclusion» SMA has a complete portfolio for PV inverters for USA and most of the world» SMA prefers if possible - transformerless inverters because of» higher efficiency» lower cost 22

23 Let s be realistic and try the impossible! 23

24 The Photovoltaic Inverter The Heart of every Solar System 24

Dr. Bernd Engel. Frank Greizer Joachim Laschinski Dr. Mike Meinhardt Dr. Matthias Victor. 20 th European PV Conference Barcelona 2005

Dr. Bernd Engel. Frank Greizer Joachim Laschinski Dr. Mike Meinhardt Dr. Matthias Victor. 20 th European PV Conference Barcelona 2005 Dr. Bernd Engel Co-Authors: Günther Cramer Frank Greizer Joachim Laschinski Dr. Mike Meinhardt Dr. Matthias Victor 20 th European PV Conference Barcelona 2005 >> Contents 2 1 Introduction 2 10 Years String