SMA America announces the Sunny Highpower PEAK3 125-kW as an ideal solution for ground-mount projects with 480 VAC interconnection. This 1,500 VDC inverter that can connect to the grid at 480 VAC without an additional transformer. The PEAK3 125-kW is most applicable in community solar, agricultural aggregate metering and other large distributed generation projects.
“This solution was strategically designed to address a growing need for reduced installation and operational costs,” said Chuck Ellis, VP of sales for SMA America. “The Sunny Highpower PEAK3 delivers the highest energy production and offers valuable cost savings for all large-scale ground mount PV systems.”
For PV system developers and integrators, designing plants with PEAK3 and SMA’s centralized, modular system architecture reduces balance of system costs and speeds installation and commissioning. Unlike other 1,500 VDC inverters, the PEAK3 125 kW with 480 VAC output requires no additional stepdown transformer to interconnect with 480 VAC services. Compared with 1,000 VDC string inverters that have traditionally been used in systems with 480 VAC interconnections, PEAK3 offers significant savings in both inverter and installation costs.
For PV system owners, the PEAK3 delivers the highest energy production when compared either to other 1,500 VDC or 1,000 VDC string inverters by eliminating the need for an additional step-down transformer and by reducing line losses throughout the system. Using fewer transformers and inverters reduces lifetime service costs by limiting potential points of failure, while the centralized, modular plant architecture simplifies operations and maintenance, further reducing costs.
SMA also offers the PEAK3 150-kW with 600 VAC output for even greater cost savings in large-scale PV plants with medium-voltage interconnections. Project owners are encouraged to speak with an SMA sales representative to determine which solution is best for their specific requirements.
News item from SMA. Updated on March 25
Is this a newer version being lauched? I’ve seen the 125kW, 480VAC, inverter from SMA on the market for at least a couple of years already.
How would this compare to Enphase IQ or other products?
Im just an old construction worker that follows scientific technology. This sounds like a great money savings for the intermediate solar applications. Now if a viable affordable battery back up system were available to homes and small business then pge might ugrade there antiquated system in California too. Being a Californian resident all my life i have seen changes but systems lacking thr total package this is a great step to help bring solor on board
Delta Energy already has an inverter with 1500v/480v specs. Their 125kw inverter at 600v can also run at 100kw and 480v. These are already available and operational in the field.
Thanks for letting me know, Drew. I edited the article and headline to reflect that.
Is anyone developing solar inverters converting 1500 V DC directly to local distribution voltages from 600V to 35,000V without an intermediate 480V 3 phase conversion? I would have thought this would have resulted in smaller inverters with lower system costs!
@Gary We are! Solis-125k-5G-EHV 1500VDC 600VAC.
Hi Bernie,
> 150% DC/AC ratio Is listed as the oversizing ratio. I was wondering what the “greater than” sign quantifies to in this case. Interested in these inverters for a 480V commercial project.
Thank you
There are kind of new solutions from Huawei and ABB. Multi MPPT inverters with 600V or 800V output. If installed on a utility project, it lowers the low voltage costs using a voltage like 800. Medium voltaje would not be possible for a small unit, even central inverters use transformers to meet grid voltage from 13kw to 34.5kv
Typically to switch power from a D.C. buss to an A.C. output waveform (60 cycles) the inverter itself is a 1.67 to 1 D.C. buss to A.C. output. For 600VAC output you’d need a 1,000VDC buss input, the 1500VDC will work well. For 35,000VAC, the D.C. buss would have to be 58,450VDC nominal.
This is why some of the 600VDC inverters of the past have needed a step up transformer to feed a 480VAC circuit. The transistor switching technology has continued to increase over the years. I have not come across a specification of a 60,000VDC switching transistor. Some of the really big VFD motor drives can go up to 12,000 H.P. and have 15KV D.C. input busses, but not a 60KV D.C. buss. I’m not saying it’s impossible, I’m just saying it would become a specifically designed and Engineered system, that is probably not mass produced. You’re better off with an off the shelf inverter with a step up transformer for the higher A.C. voltage outputs.