SPONSORED: One answer to helping push forward the commercial-scale solar market could be borrowed from experiences with utility systems, inverter innovation, writes SolarEdge's Lior Handelsman.
Sungrow’s 1500VDC string inverter is designed to significantly reduce installation and balance of system costs for utility-scale PV systems. Sungrow was the first inverter manufacturer to introduce a 1500VDC string inverter with its SG80HV, which has a power output of 80KW. The latest inverter, SG125HV, puts 125kW of capacity in a suitcase-sized cabinet weighing just 68kg. At a higher rated voltage, the SG125HV is claimed to further reduce installation and balance of system costs.
German PV inverter manufacturer KACO new energy said it expected shipment volumes in 2017 to reach almost 2.5GW after booking 600MW in the first quarter.
Major PV inverter manufacturer SMA Solar Technology came through another tough year with unit volume sold a record 8.23GW in 2016 but ASP pressure ensured sales were down. The bright spot was its commercial solar business unit, which bucked lower sales in the residential and utility-scale sectors with 27% growth, year-on-year.
At the beginning of August, major PV inverter manufacturer Sungrow Power Supply Co., raised around US$400 million in new capital via a private placement of shares with multiple Chinese banks.
Sungrow Power Supply Co officially released the world’s first 1500V string inverter. The SG80HV has a power output of 80KW rated at 1500VDC. With a 2.5MW PV power block design and the ability to lift the maximum efficiency to 99%.
Delta Americas has unveiled its M80U PV inverter, said to be the first wall mount 80kW string inverter on the market and designed for commercial and utility-scale applications.
Huawei Technologies decided to enter the PV inverter market, bringing its ICT know-how and hardware to a market already burdened by overcapacity and declining margins. In a few short years, instead of floundering, Huawei soon became the market leader in China.
