Utility-scale inverter from Satcon provides 98.5% efficiency

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  Satcon Equinox inverter

Product Briefing Outline: Satcon Technology has launched its next generation power conversion solution, Satcon ‘Equinox’. The Equinox 500 kilowatt solution is now available in both North America and Europe and is designed to improve system wide energy harvest and solar plant yield, enabling the large-scale solar industry's lowest Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE).

Problem: The challenges of multi-megawatt installations demand a specialized set of technological and system design expertise. The ability to limit power losses while operating in a wide-range of climate conditions enables highest returns for utility power investors.

Solution: Satcon's Equinox solution delivers a best in class efficiency of 98.5% and offers the high levels of system wide performance, uptime and reliability. Equinox comes complete with a NEMA 3R/IP54 enclosure and is available in three separate climate packages, enabling the large-scale commercial and utility-scale solar industry's broadest thermal operating range with fully rated performance at temperatures as high as 55 Celsius / 131 degrees Fahrenheit, and as low as -20 Celsius / -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Equinox's advanced utility ready features enable simplified grid interconnection and can be easily integrated into SCADA systems through standardized communication interfaces.

Applications: Utility-scale inverter applications.

Platform: The combination of fine grained power harvesting of each panel string along with a highly efficient central inverter design helps to ensure the Solstice platform will deliver more power over the lifetime of the PV system by increasing total system harvest optimization and system uptime and safety. This system is claimed to boost total system power production by 5-12% and lowers other balance of system material costs by 20-25% compared to a centralized inverter system.

Availability: October 2010 onwards.