This article is sponsored by Chint Power Systems. In this Voices interview, Solar Power World spoke with Bryan Wagner, president and GM at Chint Power Systems America, to discuss the company’s leadership in three-phase string inverter technology. Wagner reflects on the evolution of string solutions for larger utility-scale projects, and how CPS is supporting EPCs through its new skidded string system.
Solar Power World: CPS America has emerged as a dominant market leader in three-phase string inverters over the last decade. How did that journey begin, and when did that focus really start to pay off and set the stage for your growth?
Bryan Wagner: I would say that focus really started at the inception of the company, which was around 2012 or 2013. We focused strictly on being the pioneers of three-phase string technology, string inverters for commercial and eventually utility-scale solar. That was our singular focus, and we’re still in that space today. Back then, central inverters were utilized on every single site, and string inverter technology was only really popular in Europe at that time. We started to see things take off when our 50/60kW rooftop inverter kept increasing with repeat orders and rave reviews from installers and asset managers. That’s when we knew our chosen course was right. We’ve done a good job of being the market leader now all these years later.
How have you seen string evolve more recently, and where do you think it’s headed?
We actually have our project shipping on a nearly 700-megawatt site. It’s in between 600 and 700 megawatts. In the recent years, maybe the last two to three years, we’ve been seeing our technology get adopted on larger and larger sites. We did a 100-megawatt site in Montana with our string inverter at the time—it was 275 kilowatts. And we’re also in the process of shipping a nearly 700-megawatt site. It’s definitely over 600 megawatts DC with our 350-kilowatt flagship inverter, which is going to Arizona. That’s where we see the evolution happening—more and more in the future headed toward larger and larger sites utilizing string, or basically any size site could start to use string.
How do you help an EPC new to string design feel confident and supported?
I think we have a lot of examples of past success and failure. With almost 30,000 sites and 1,200+ lifetime customers in America, we’ve been helping EPCs & Asset Owners install and service string inverter projects for more than a decade. Offering string inverters with a lot of variety and flexibility in different size products for different size projects gives a lot of advantages. We know the challenges and pain points they face, and we work with them to mitigate and plan for them. We listen to their ideas and involve them in our R&D process. We’re very proud of that collaboration because it continues to produce innovative solutions designed to directly benefit our customers in the field, and in their pockets.
We’ve recently launched a product called Skidded String, which is where you put the string inverters on a skid and ship that to the site. It helps save labor and can be quicker and more cost-effective to install. You’re combining the central inverter advantages and the string inverter advantages.
Tell us more about the new CPS skidded string solution. Does it deliver installation cost benefits, or long-term benefits as well?
I would say the advantage of the skidded string is that, number one, it comes with our 250-kilowatt string inverter, which is a 600-volt application. A lot of folks like that because 10 or 15 years from now, they can service that site with commercial off-the-shelf parts at 600 volts. The other advantage is combining the string inverter into an integrated system. You can factory integrate those electrical connections and then deliver that to the site.
There’s a lot of coordination, scheduling, and logistical steps involved in developing a large project or portfolio. This will be a real gamechanger for teams to consolidate many steps into one and move on to the next job quicker. Instead of having to spread the inverters and installation all across the array, say at the end of each row, you’re able to combine everything in one location. It helps not only your install timeline and costs, but it also saves future work for the operations and maintenance of the site longer term. You’re not having folks walk throughout the array; it’s just walking to each pad. So skidded string really has that flexibility and the service benefits that we think will be a big advantage as we move forward in the future.
There’s a lot of talk in the industry about AI and data centers creating more demand on the grid and energy costs increasing as utilities try to keep up. With the industry facing recent changes in regulatory policy and the rising demand, there will be plenty of challenges and opportunities. What advice do you have for those in the industry hoping to successfully navigate and lead their teams into the next era of the energy transition?
Know who you are, and who you aren’t. The industry is maturing and changing fast, and this is the time to focus on your strengths and what you can control. We may feel external pressure or experience setbacks, but we know solar and storage is and will be a major part of the solution going forward. I think with things like AI and data centers being built out with the hyperscalers, there is more demand on our grids and more demand for alternatives to gen sets and generators. In a way, these buildings are turning into their own mini power plants and very sophisticated solutions. Every building and every data center or AI-type unit will have its own load profile and its own energy footprint.
Opportunities will be there for batteries and microgrids to help meet grid demand. At CPS, we feel fortunate to have the right team in place who have invested in these areas and continue to deliver innovative solutions. Things like Gonzo, which is our C&I 125 kW / 261 kWh system, can be paired up to several megawatt-hours of product to help with things like demand response and battery backup. Those kinds of solutions will help in the future. We feel it’s much more similar to the past, like 2012 to 2014, right now. The industry was ripe for a new wave of visionaries and innovation to lead the way. Now is the time to be strategic and value relationships that will learn and grow with you.
Need a partner that’s built for today and ready for tomorrow? CPS America is a Tier 1 ESS Manufacturer and America’s #1 String Inverter Provider. To learn more, visit chintpowersystems.com.