How to Optimize your Solar Business with SolarEdge Expo... · 2015-04-20 · How to Optimize your...

How to Optimize your

Solar Business with SolarEdge

RE06

Optimize Your Business

• Maximize System

Size

• Flexible Design

• Less Truck Rolls

• Comprehensive

Service

Bouygues Construction

State of the PV Industry

Industry Climate

• Industry Growth

continues

• Non Utility

markets healthy

and expected to

growth in future

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Residential

Non Residential

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

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Q4

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Q2

Q3

2012 2013 2014

Growth In Select US Markets MW

Pricing Pressure

$4.0

$4.2

$4.4

$4.6

$4.8

$5.0

$5.2

$5.4

$5.6

$5.8

$6.0$/w

• Prices are going

down

• Since Q1 2012, -

25% drop in PV

system prices

$0.0

$/Wdc

Q1

Q2

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Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

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Q2

Q3

2012 2013 2014

$/W Pricing Trends Reported

Cost Breakdown of Modern PV

• Inverters Only 10% of System

• Nearly 50% of System is “Soft Cost”

– Overhead, Customer Acquisition

– Design, Engineering

– Permitting, Inspection

– Margin

• Margin on 6kW array is ~$3,000

– $100 is significant % of margin

– $1000 is critical Modules Inverter

Electrical Structural

Direct labor Engineering, Permitting, Inspection

Supply Chain, Overhead Margin

Changing the Industry Through

Topology

Inverter Topologies 2010

All inverters perform 2 tasks: 1. Extract Energy (MPPT) 2. DC/AC Inversion

Micro Inverter String Inverter

String-Level

Extract Energy

DC/ AC Inversio

n

Module-Level

Extract Energy

DC/ AC Inversio

n

Inverter Topologies 2010 Micro Inverter String Inverter

String-Level

Extract Energy

DC/ AC Inversion

$

Module-Level

Extract Energy

DC/ AC Inversion

$$

Inverter Topologies Today

Micro Inverter String Inverter

String-Level

Extract Energy

DC/ AC Inversion

$

Module-Level

Extract Energy

DC/ AC Inversion

$$

Optimized Inverter

DC/ AC Inversion

$ Extract Energy

Q1

Q2

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2012 2013 2014

Change in Product Mix

• 2/3 of installs

use MLPE – MLPE= Module Level Power

Electronics (Micro Inverters,

Power Optimizers)

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Traditional MLPE

0%

Move to Module Level Power Electronics %MS

SolarEdge Residential System

Power Optimizer

Inverter 3-11.4kW

Monitoring

SolarEdge Commercial System

Monitoring Communication and Control Gateway Firefighter Gateway

Inverter 9kW – 20kW

Power Optimizer 2:1 configuration

SolarEdge Overview

25%+ Market Share in the US Residential Market

3rd Largest inverter supplier to the US Residential market

85% Market Share of Global DC Optimizer Market

4.6M optimizers & 200k inverters representing 1.2GW+ power

Residential, Commercial, and Utility solutions

US Headquarters in Silicon Valley, California

Benefits Explained

More Energy with SolarEdge

Implications of String Current

• All modules in a strings operate at the same current

• Lower current modules either:

– Lower output of the entire string

– … Or are bypassed

100% 100% 100% 100%

Traditional String Inverter

Rule 1: Single current for the entire string

Power Loss In Traditional Inverters

• Light and temp affect output

– Current varies with light

– Voltage varies with temp

50% 50% 50%

Traditional String Inverter

Rule 2: Less light for 1 module drives down the string

50%

More Power with SolarEdge

Traditional String Inverter

SolarEdge frees the modules to produce maximum power They are no longer affected by neighboring modules

SolarEdge Optimized Inverter

More Energy By Design

Power optimizers enable installation of:

Modules in partially shaded areas

Strings of uneven lengths

Strings in multiple orientations and different roof facets

More modules on the roof

More power & Revenue Traditional inverter: 149.5 kW DC SolarEdge: 228 kW DC

Flexible Design

What is “Power”?

Current (I-Amps)

Voltage (V-Volts)

Power (W-Watts) =

Module Power Components

Voltage* Current* Power

35 V

7 A

245W

Module Power (input): Voltage and current depend on module & environment

*at maximum power

Module Power vs. Optimized Power

Voltage* Current* Power

35 V

7 A

245W

Module Power (input): Voltage and current depend on module & environment

*at maximum power

17.5V

14 A

Optimized Power (output): Can vary the voltage and current but yield the same power

245W

Voltage lower by 50%

Current higher by 200%

Power is the same

SolarEdge Solution

Single Stage Current Source Soft Switching Input Voltage Independent Loop

~

Single stage Power Source MPPT Independent Loop

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

SolarEdge Solution - Example

~ 5.7A

5.7A

Input voltage (regulated by loop): 350V Input current = 2000W / 350V = 5.7A

MPP Voltage (example) = 32v MPP Current = 200W / 32v = 6.25A

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Module Power = 200W

Total System Power = 2000W

SolarEdge Solution - Example

~ 5.7A

5.7A

35V

35V

35V

35V

Output voltage: 200W / 5.7 A = 35V

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

SolarEdge Solution - Example

~ 5.26A

5.26A

Total System Power = 1840W

Input voltage (regulated by loop): 350V Input current = 1840W / 350V = 5.26A

MPP Voltage (example) = 28v MPP Current = 40W / 28v = 1.43A

MPP Voltage (example) = 32v MPP Current = 200W / 32v = 6.25A

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

40W

SolarEdge Solution - Example

~ 5.26A

5.26A

38V

7.6V

38V

Output voltage: 200W / 5.26A = 38V

Output voltage: 40W / 5.26A = 7.6V

40W

38V

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

Power Optimizer

More Power per String (600V)

21 modules

13 modules

60% longer strings means lower BOS costs: less wiring, combiner boxes and fuses

More Power per String

(Commercial)

12,750 Watts / string (480 Vac grid)

Simpler System Design

Typical String Inverter SolarEdge

Limited string length (3k) Up to 5,250 W per string (240Vac)

Must match string lengths* Uneven strings work in parallel

Shaded modules affect entire string Only shaded modules are affected

Cannot mix modules types Can mix module size, bin and type

Locked in to same orientation/tilt* Any orientation/ tilt

* per MPP tracker

Cost Effective Maintenance

Lower O&M

• FREE Module level monitoring 25 years

• Pin point alerts for faster maintenance: “Know before you go”

• Email alerts for array issues

• Module issues don’t drive down string performance

• Quicker, lower cost inverter service than with micro inverters

Detect More Faults

1: Panel no. 17 in string 1 of inverter 3 is producing less power

Step 2: View power of panel no. 17 compared to others in string chart view

Step 3: Viewing voltage shows lower voltage for panel no. 17 compared to other panels in string. Likely reason: failed diode

Enhanced Safety

SolarEdge SafeDC™ Solution

• Optimizers and dc cables drop to 1 Vdc if inverter is off

• Array is de-energized to <30 Vdc

• No high Vdc during installation, maintenance or firefighting.

• Integrated Arc Fault Protection (Type 1) for NEC 2011 690.11

• Rapid Shutdown functionality available for NEC 2014 690.12

Courtesy of Eco Solar

SafeDC Solution

1V 1V

1V

1V

1V

1V

1V 1V

1V

9 Volts = 9 Modules

The Bottom Line

• Increase Revenue: More modules per rooftop;

Premium system sales without the premium

system cost

• Decrease Expenses: Lower BOS costs: Lower

design costs

• Mitigate Risks: minimal electronics on the

rooftop; “Know before you go” monitoring; 25 yr

warranty on optimizers; 12 yr warranty on

inverters (low cost upgrade to 20/25)

“With SolarEdge, we were able to install 25% more modules in areas that would not have made economic sense for a traditional string inverter.” -Josh Mason HEC

More Energy - Shading Tolerance

Microinverters: narrow operating range, lower shading

tolerance

SolarEdge: wide operating range, higher shading tolerance V

OLT

AG

E TR

AC

KIN

G R

AN

GE

More power recouped from partially shaded modules

Voltage <18V

Voltage <9V

Voltage = 27V

Min 8V

Max 48V

Min 22V

Max 36V

Min 27V

Max 39V

Flexibility - Modules Compatibility

SolarEdge support all types of modules

Microinverters ONLY 60

cell modules

60 Cell Modules 72 Cell 96 Cell SunPower

NE & X21 Series

Thin Film

A leading Micro-Inverter

includes 466 components

Reliability – Number of

Components

• A SolarEdge power

optimizer includes 186

components

There are 250% more components in a Micro-Inverter than a SolarEdge power optimizer

SolarEdge power optimizers - PCB Leading Micro-Inverter - PCB

Images to scale

Reliability – Component Selection

• SolarEdge power optimizers use ceramic capacitors which are more reliable

then electrolytic capacitors used by Micro-Inverters

• SolarEdge power optimizers use Application Specific Integrated Circuits

(ASIC) allowing for 1/3 the part count -> reduced failure rate -> extended life

time

SolarEdge system Micro-Inverter

and ASICs

Short lived electrolytic

capacitors & higher part

count

Inverter Cost: 40% to 60% Savings

Micro inverter

SolarEdge Residential

SolarEdge Commercial

Inverter Optimizer

SolarEdge costs include:

Fixed voltage inverter

power optimizers

25 years module-level monitoring

SolarEdge vs. Microinverters

Energy • Better in shading • Better power tracking range • No clipping

Reliability • Simpler design -

60% less parts and components • Solid state capacitors (for optimizers) • DC line communications

Flexibility • Works with most major brand

modules on the market: 60, 72, 96 cell modules, Sunpower, thin film

• String flexibility from 8-25 modules (vs. 1-16)

Cost • 30-50% cost reduction

SolarEdge power optimizers PCB

Leading microinverter PCB

* Picture to scale

Questions