FIMER’s PVS-350-TL string inverter and PVS-260/PVS-300 modular conversion platform cater for all utility-scale PV projects

Problem

While string inverters are becoming increasingly popular for utility projects, more traditional central architectures are still prevalent, currently accounting for almost 40% of the market. A solution was needed that could cater for all utility project needs, including future storage requirements.

Solution

FIMER’s new platforms – a high-power multi-MPPT inverter, the PVS-350-TL, and the PVS-260/PVS-300 modular conversion platform – are designed to cater for both decentralised and centralised applications, covering 100% of utility customer needs.

The PVS-350-TL is the most powerful and power dense multi-MPPT string inverter in the solar industry, optimized for decentralised PV system architectures with a maximum efficiency of ɳMAX > 99% to ensure the highest energy yield. It also has the smallest footprint when compared to other similar products, and significantly reduces the risk of downtime that can occur with central inverters.

For centralised system architectures, the PVS-260/PVS-300 provides a fully-modular solution engineered with a single-MPPT string platform. It can easily replace central inverters in more traditional designs, significantly improving performance and lowering BoP costs. This optimises the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE), achieving a 2.3% reduction of LCOE of a modular conversion architecture compared to a central solution. It also has higher system availability, above 99.9% compared to 99.5% maximum from central solutions.

Applications

All utility-scale solar projects.

Platform

The PVS-350-TL offers record-high AC capacity combined with a DC front-end optimised for the latest PV modules. With a record-high capacity and power-to-weight ratio exceeding 3kW/kg, it delivers up to 350kVA at 800Vac. It reduces logistics and installation costs and also the electrical balance of system costs for free field utility-scale ground mounted PV installations. MV stations of up to 15% higher capacity can be combined with the PVS-350-TL, increasing the single power block capacity and reducing the overall number of stations per MWac of installed power. The inverter comes equipped with 12 MPPTs, each rated 45A Impp and 60A Isc and has been specifically optimised for the connection of two strings of the latest ultra-high power PV modules based on M10 (182x182mm) and G12 (210x210mm) cells.

The DC/AC ratio can be optimised to fully exploit the benefits of these new module formats while offering maximum system yields (ηMAX > 99%), enabling additional cost savings on trackers compared to traditional 166mm modules. Quick and easy to install, existing PV module mounting systems can be used to install the inverters.

The PVS-260/PVS-300 modular conversion platform has a large capacity combined with super-compact design single MPPT power block, to enable system designers to keep a ‘centralised’ system architecture if preferred. All power electronics are also concentrated nearby to the other critical AC power assets to simplify control and routine maintenance.

By combining the power modules in a factory pre-assembled and pretested MV station, the new platform can compete with multi-megawatt scale station designs of the latest central inverters, allowing system designers to apply the modular architecture to systems of any size.

Availability

Latin America, USA, Australia, Asia, EMEA.