Back in 2008 when The Switch delivered its first inverter for a photovoltaic (PV) solar application, it was built like power converters have been for many decades. Variable speed drives for industrial applications, excitation systems – and more recently, power converters for renewable energy applications such as wind – have always had a logical indoor installation location.
In the controlled environment of an electrical equipment room, nacelle or tower, the equipment is not exposed to harsh conditions. As such, there’s no need for a high degree of protection. Because of this, it is common for IP 21/NEMA 1 or IP 54/NEMA 3 enclosures to be used.
In contrast, utility substations and switchgear have always been outdoor and naturally built to operate in such conditions.
Hey – all solar panels are outside!
When we first conceptualized our next generation of solar inverters we assessed the application and made a quite astonishing observation: “Hey, all the solar panels go outside!”
It was clear to us that a solar inverter, especially one used for large utility-grade installations, should be built for the outdoors. Then there’s no need for a building, electrical house or a container. There’s no need for air-conditioning, filtering, fire protection or other costly systems. As such, there’s no need to tie up time and money, upfront or for maintenance and service over the 20+ years of equipment lifetime.
Purpose-built for optimal levelized cost of energy
Based on this insight, we purpose-built our inverter to best suit the application. Our inverter features a unique IP 65 / NEMA 4 outdoor design with a totally self-contained cooling system. This makes the inverter suitable for easy and cost-effective installation in harsh conditions, eliminating additional housing, filtering and losses.
The inverter ships as one single, fully integrated, factory-tested “plug and produce” assembly. Altogether, this makes for a very cost-effective unit with a great contribution to optimal levelized cost of energy.
We are of the opinion that any electrical equipment should be built to maximize safe cost-effective operation and benefit to its owners over its lifetime. Now we can see that our pioneering idea of an outdoor design is gaining popularity, as other major inverter suppliers are starting to launch new outdoor models.
Benny Nyberg, Key Account Manager/Business Development
This story is featured in Switching on Frequently 01/2013.
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