NEC 2014 has not yet been widely implemented, but inverter manufacturers are already working on meeting requirements for arc-fault detection and rapid shut-down.

Not only are they adapting to new rules, but manufacturers are innovating such as with new three-phase string inverters for commercial market. The lines between string, central, off-grid and microinverters are starting to blur as manufactures develop new designs that incorporate features of multiples inverter types. Some of the designs here are indicative of where we may see more inverters going next year and beyond.

String Inverters * Central Inverters * Microinverters * Off-Grid Inverters and Others

 

STRING

Advanced Energy: Horizontally Mounted String Inverter

The Advanced Energy (AE) horizontally mounted string inverter enables solar installers, site designers and project developers to conserve space and increase project yield using an innovative technique to install the AE 3TL inverter in a 0° to 30° orientation.

ABB: A Solution For Tricky Roofs

No roof is created equally. The 7.6, 8.6-kW ABB UNO transformerless smart inverters offer optimal energy production, upcoming grid-interactive requirements and installation flexibility (each MPPT channel can be loaded up to 71% of total rated power). This inverter offers dual MPPT, enabling maximum energy production for rooftop applications facing multiple angles and varying string lengths.

 

CPS America (Chint Power): Accelerating Three-Phase In Commercial And Small Utility

CPS America’s 23 and 28-kW string inverters feature dual-MPPT and 98% CEC efficiency listings (peak efficiency is 98.6%). This medium power series of grid-tied, transformerless inverters help to accelerate the use of 1000Vdc and three-phase commercial and small ground-mount utility applications.

 

Delta Products Corporation: A Lightweight But Durable Transformerless Inverter

The transformerless Solivia string inverter features a wide operating voltage range (140 ~ 550 V) and temperature range (-13 ~ 158°F (-25 ~ 70°C) ), high 97.5% CEC efficiency and integrated AFCI. It is NEMA 4 rated, has convection cooling, dual MPPT and is lightweight.

 

Fronius USA: A Field-Serviceable String Inverter

The transformerless Symo (10 to 24 kW) is a compact three-phase inverter for commercial applications. The inverter features Wi-Fi, high system voltage, wide input voltage and can mount easily for convenient installation and repair.

 

Ginlong (Ningbo) Technologies: A Mini Model Fulfills Many Needs

The Solis-Mini (700 to 2,000 W) is a single-phase transformerless inverter weighing less than 16 lb. The full-featured model offers dual CPU design, low input voltage (50 V), a NEMA 4X enclosure, apps for data monitoring and 127 Vac low voltage.

 

SolarEdge Technologies: Residential Owners Can Access Incentives Easily

SolarEdge’s single-phase inverters with revenue-grade data accuracy allow residential system owners to access regional and federal financial incentives easier. It has optional rapid shutdown functionality for rooftop safety by de-energizing PV source circuits to less than 30 V within 10 seconds.

 

Sungrow: A String Inverter For Utility Scale

The SG60KU utility string inverter can reach 99% peak efficiency, has built-in MC4 connectors and 2-to-1 junction, string level monitoring and MODBUS daisy chain. It can be tilted backward and installed horizontally due to unique thermal/air flow design.

CENTRAL

Bonfiglioli USA: Modular Central Inverter Increases Efficiency

Bonfiglioli’s RPS TL-UL inverter series optimizes ROI for medium to large-scale installations. The modular architecture increases energy efficiency, available either in multi-MPPT configuration for minimum mismatching losses, or in master-slave configuration for the high efficiency even at low irradiation levels.

 

Eaton: A Skid-less Inverter Station

Designed to lower the plant-levelized cost of electricity, the Power Xpert Solar 1670-kW inverter enables a skid-less inverter station to reduce equipment and installation costs. Energy harvest is increased through 98.5% CEC weighted efficiency and fault-tolerant design.

 

Ingeteam: A Single Power Block

The Ingecon Sun PowerMax Monoblock consists of three-phase central PV inverters with a single power block. It can achieve maximum efficiency values of 98.9%. DC and AC supplies are integrated in the same cabinet. It has 1,055 kVa rated power up to 50°C.

 

Nextronex: A Preassembled Solution

The Nextronex Ray-Max Power Podium in integrated inverter using Nextronex distributed architecture, which is battery storage and microgrid ready. It is a preassembled, prewired and precommissioned. It provides “plug & play” easy installation in the field supported by the Nextronex team.

 

Parker Hannifin: Smart, Efficient And Grid Friendly

Parker’s 890GT-S outdoor inverter handles 2 MW at 1000 Vdc input. Featuring grid parallel and island modes, fault ride-through, and full control of real and reactive power, the 890GT-S is grid friendly. Parker’s integrated refrigerant cooling system provides high efficiency and compactness.

 

Power Electronics: Freesun Modules Have Higher Efficiency

Power Electronics’ Freesun HEC and HEC+ 2nd generation of outdoor modular and redundant inverters are powerful and reliable air cooled utility-scale PV inverters. 1000-Vdc class upgrade inverters offer extended MPPt voltage range and maximum efficiency in three different AC output voltages 360Vac, 380Vac and 400Vac, covering all commercial and utility-scale PV facilities.

 

Santerno: Maximum Yield And Made In The USA

Santerno TG 760 1000V TL-NA solar inverters are manufactured in the USA for use in media and large utility-scale PV systems. These outdoor inverters are designed to deliver maximum yield for the lowest cost.

 

SMA America: Power Density Provides Simplified Logistics

The Sunny Central 2000-US inverter ‘s power density provides simplified logistics and 2,000 kVA of output power at 1,000 Vdc. It features a high DC-to-AC design ratio and nominal power operation from -25 to 50°C.

 

Solectria Renewables: Efficient, Reliable, Economic

Solectria’s SGI 500/750XTM inverters are highly efficient (98% CEC weighted efficiency), reliable and economic. The outdoor-rated inverters can be configured as 1 or 1.5-MW stations. They may also be configured with utility-scale options (ie. VAR support).

 

 

TMEIC Corporation: Reliability And Reduced Energy Costs

The Solar Ware Samurai outdoor PCS offers a stand-alone capacity of 1,883 kW. The inverter’s 99% maximum efficiency and hybrid cooling system with fanless operation up to 50% of the output power rating maintains high reliability and reduces energy costs.

MICROINVERTERS

APS America: Three-Phase Output For Large Projects

The APS YC1000-3 microinverter provides 277 to 480-V, 3-phase output for large commercial applications. It works with three or four PV modules (up to 310 W each), and connects 13 units in a daisy chain, linking up to 52 modules (60 or 72-cell) per circuit.

 

Darfon America Corp.: Up To 24 Inverters On A Breaker

Darfon’s MIG300 is designed to allow up to 24 inverters on a single two-pole, 30-A breaker, reducing balance of systems costs and installation time. It comes with a 25-year warranty and module by module monitoring.

 

 

Enecsys: Smaller, Lighter, More Power

Enecsys offers its smallest and lightest microinverter, weighing 2.3 lb (1.06kg). The 250NL supports most 60-cell modules up to 300 W STC. A single part number complies with all regions Enecsys supports and sustains extreme conditions, operating in -40°C to 85°C.

 

Enphase Energy: Catered To Three-Phase Commercial

The Enphase C250 microinverter supports 480-V, three-phase commercial installations for 72 and 60-cell modules. The C250 offers all the advantages of the microinverter family, with warranty options of 10 or 20 years for financial flexibility and peace of mind.

OFF-GRID AND OTHERS

American Electric Technologies Inc. (AETI): Integrated Solar Inversion System

AETI’s Integrated Solar Inversion Station is designed for utility grade solar projects 1 MW and above, using a modular suite of 1.0 and 1.5-MW solar inversion platforms and 15 and 38-kV utility interconnection platforms.

 

CEC Great Wall Energy: A Hybrid (Solar + Battery) System

The Satcon Galaxy 30-kW, 46 kVA hybrid power conditioning system is for DC inputs from solar power and energy storage. There are AC connections for the electrical load and any auxiliary AC source. Battery charging works from the solar array or the auxiliary AC source.

 

 

Ideal Power Converters: 3-Port Hybrid Product

This 3-port hybrid converter uses the manufacturer’s Power Packet Switching Architecture to deliver efficient, high-performance PV and energy storage integration. The model supports grid-tied and microgrid applications, at a ~90% reduced size and weight.

 

KACO new energy: The Advantages Of MLPEs And String Inverters

The KACO Ultraverter provides advantages of MLPEs and string inverters. It saves operational costs with a single part SKU from 1 kW to 11 kW. Commission, monitor and maintain your project with module-level conversion, integrated cellular data back haul, revenue-grade metering and installation tools.

Magnum Energy: No Stacking Required

The pure sine wave MS-PAE Series inverter / charger for demanding renewable applications can provide 120 and 240 V output in one unit, eliminating the need to stack two units together. Parallel up to four for up to 17.6 kW.

 

OutBack Power Technologies: A Future-Perfect Inverter

Radian inverters help users make the most of solar projects through GridZero technology, which maximizes renewable energy effectiveness while minimizing grid dependency. Advanced battery charge profiles allow compatibility with battery technologies such as lithium-ion and others.

 

Princeton Power Systems: Bi-Directional Design

The GTIB-100 has a bi-directional design for batteries, solar, on-grid and off-grid applications. The GTIB-100 has been chosen for many microgrid applications around the world during the past five years.

 

 

Schneider Electric: An Adaptable And Scalable Hybrid Solution

Conext XW+ is an adaptable and scalable hybrid solution for off-grid solar. It’s self-consumption providing long-term backup for homes, small businesses and remote communities. Features include: remote monitoring and configuration, modular multi-cluster to 102 kW and AC and DC coupled PV.

 

Tigo Energy and Fronius USA: The Strengths of String And MLPEs

The Fronius FE Inverter Line leverages the strengths of string inverters with Tigo’s module-level power electronics, integrated communications and monitoring and analytics. The line streamlines design, maximizes energy production, and reduces shade impact, all while allowing for significant design flexibility.