Zeversolar globalization of markets, launching all kinds new inverters

Zeversolar company was  acquired by the German SMA Group, a subsidiary of SMA. Zeversolar executive vice president responsible for sales, marketing and the international service,Sven said: "We redefined Zeversolar from the company's website, technical data sheets, product manuals and product design, etc., to create a new brand positioning and image of our new. philosophy is "Energy for everybody" ".



This year, Zeversolar has successfully entered the European market, and the introduction of the newly upgraded inverter in previous year. At present, Zeversolar has launched or upcoming products: 1kW ~ 20kW string type solar grid inverters (the main push of the international market for houses, commercial power plants and other small power stations); 8kW and 10kW three-phase string type inverters; 500kW ~ 1MW concentrated solar grid inverter (main push Chinese market for large-scale solar power plants).PV inverter price is  trusted in the same industry, the latest technology, the highest configuration, the best price.



In addition to the inverter, Zeversolar also upgraded monitoring system. The PMU can be connected to the new Wi-Fi, and through the real-time network monitoring. Meanwhile,pv inverter company designs the free solar power plant, according to the parameters of the global environmental information and assembly to plan the most suitable plants.

In even more solid foundation under, Zeversolar also hopes to enter the Taiwan market. Sven considers Taiwan market steady and rapid development, has shipped about 20MW, was very good. For the future, Zeversolar 2015 show is expected to be launched first update of solar products and further develop the product string bridge inverter type and concentration between.

It’s Solar Balance-of-System Innovation That Will Drive Cost Reduction

 

Speaking to a room of 400 solar professionals, MJ Shiao, GTM Research Director, presented on the future of PV systems and technologies at this week's U.S. Solar Market Insight conference in San Diego.

"When I started in the solar industry in 2006," said Shiao, "we could buy modules for close to $4 per watt. Today, we can install a residential system [the costliest market segment] for the same price."

 

Residential system prices in the United States have fallen from $6 per watt in 2011 to $4 today. Module price reductions account for 43 percent of the drop in that same time frame.



Across all market segments, system costs have come down by between 33 percent and 50 percent. However, "it's a little aggressive to expect that trend to continue," cautions Shiao.

GTM Research forecasts system prices to continue to fall, but at a more moderate annual rate of about 20 percent to 25 percent over the next few years.


Source: GTM Research

Those reductions won't necessarily come from falling module prices, but will instead likely rely more on innovations in soft costs and solar balance-of-systems items like PV inverters and racking.

Shiao went on to describe a few technology trends shaping the inverter industry.

"We're in the age of module-level power electronics," he said. Microinverters and DC optimizers made up 55 percent of all U.S. residential systems installed in the first half of 2014. "Every major U.S. residential inverter supplier now has some form of module-level power electronics design."


Source: The Microinverter and DC Optimizer Landscape 2014: The Evolution From Market Niche to Market Success

"What is really exciting," he continued, "is that we're starting to see [module-level power electronics] creep into the commercial space with three-phase products, and module manufacturers are getting involved with AC module solutions."

This trend of decentralization is true for larger commercial systems as well. When wiring, laboring, combiner boxes and other costs are factored in for a large commercial system, a three-phase string inverter begins to look as good, if not better, than a central inverter.

Source: GTM Research

"You have to look at how your solar inverter price choices impact your total system cost," he said.

Shiao continued the second half of the presentation with trends and innovations in structural hardware.

The world's most powerful solar airport

With the popularity of solar energy and reduce costs, which acts as an increasingly important role in energy conservation, energy-hungry as the 24-hour operation - airports, except through other means to reduce energy consumption and emission reduction , the most common is to build solar power project. Then airports around the world, in the end someone high solar capacity it?

1, Shenzhen Airport in China

In November 2014, two 10MW solar power project officially started Shenzhen Airport. When this project is completed, with a total installed capacity of solar power will reach the airport 20MW, the annual power generation of about 20GWh, thus awarded as the world's largest airport aviation airports scale solar energy. Future, its solar power will account for over 10% of the airport's electricity load.


The first phase of the project's solar panels will be installed in the main installation of new cargo terminal at the airport bonded logistics park and aviation logistics park, the second phase project of the solar panels.

2, Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia


3, Colorado, Denver International Airport
 
In 2010, the total installed capacity of solar Denver International Airport reached 8MW. The airport first set in 2008 2MW solar power system, and then set 1.6MW solar power system in early 2010, the last in September 2010 to develop a new 4.4MW solar power generation facilities. Thus, the total installed capacity of solar 8MW, 6% of the airport to meet the demand for electricity.


4, Athens International Airport



2011, Athens International Airport invested 20 million euros of 8MW solar projects put into use. Its solar power project covers 160,000 square meters, generating 11 million degrees per year to meet 20 percent of the airport's electricity demand will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10,000 tons. Also worth mentioning is that its solar power system is comprised of Suntech completed within six months of construction.


5, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in United States

February 2012, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in three positions installed on the roof of a total of 5.4MW of solar panels to meet the airport's car rental center, two parking and toll plazas 51% of electricity demand, will save $ 4.7 million over the next 20 years. It is estimated that this solar project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 5500 tons per year. Its solar panels installed by SunPower.


6,Shanghai Hongqiao Airport in China


In 2010, the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 West freight station roofing installed capacity for solar modules 2.848MW, the annual average grid electricity is about 2.77GWh, annual savings for the grid of about 987 tons of standard coal.

7, Tokyo Haneda International Airport


2010 Tokyo Haneda International Airport began to solar power. Its power scale 2MW, annual power generation capacity 2GWh, can reduce the amount of 850 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Its approximately 28,000 square meters of solar panels set up in the Airport International Cargo Terminal top, about 10% of electricity consumption in the building supply.

8, California Fresno airport

In 2011, the Fresno airport solar plan into effect. Its on 9.5 acres (approximately 38,445 square meters) of land to install a total of 11,700 solar panels, with a total capacity of 2MW. 40 percent of its electricity for the airport daily electricity consumption.

9, Shanghai Pudong International Airport in China


November 2014, the Pudong airport completed 1.7MW solar power systems. The project is building integrated solar energy project, covering 15,000 square meters, is located between the airport's Terminal 1 and 2, will be used to meet the needs of airport parking and handling equipment, but also for airport outdoor air conditioning equipment shade.

10, Hawaii airport



In October 2008, announced the construction of the airport in Hawaii 779KW solar power system, by Hoku Solar company responsible for the design, construction and installation.

Huawei enjoys greatest 12-month gain in global inverter marke

Data released today by IHS reveals that China's Huawei has enjoyed the largest 12-month gains in the global PV inverter market.

While the telecommunications giant has made impressive strides in the sector, traditional pure-play inverter suppliers such as SMA and ABB have seen their stranglehold of the market loosened.

Germany's SMA remains the leading inverter supplier in terms of market share, but the first three quarters of 2014 have seen the inverter giant relinquish some 6% of its lead to rivals. ABB, in second place, has lost slightly more than 1% of the market.

According to IHS senior analyst for PV inverter research Cormac Gilligan, this latest shuffle is an indication that the balance of power in the inverter market is beginning to tilt away from Europe.


"Global PV inverter supplier rankings have changed substantially over the past 12 months, led by large gains from Japanese, Chinese and module-level power electronic suppliers," Gilligan said.

SMA’s limited exposure to the soaring Japanese and Chinese markets – coupled with declining orders in Europe – have undermined the company’s bottom line at the same time that Huawei has enjoyed dramatic growth in its domestic Chinese market.

The telecoms specialist is now one of the leading inverter names in China, and now shares the 4.8 GW of inverter shipments recorded in the country in Q3 2014 with other leading inverter manufacturers in china, such as Sungrow and TBEA Sunoasis.

"Suppliers with a major presence in the U.S., Japan, China and other high-growth markets were some of the biggest year-over-year gainers, while those that were heavily reliant on Germany, Italy and other countries that previously led the market lost considerable market share," added Gilligan.

Japan’s high-price domestic market puts it in first place in terms of global inverter revenue, which has had the knock-on effect of propelling its domestic inverter suppliers – such as Omrom, Tabuchi and TMEIC – up the global market share charts, with revenues largely drawn from Japan only.

The increase in market share of microinverter company Enphase and power optimizer specialists SolarEdge suggests that module level power electronics (MLPE) are an increasingly preferred option for installers and consumers, particularly in the U.S. and Europe where there appears to be robust demand for this type of technology.

Europe’s most dynamic PV market, the U.K., has helped improve the market share of Schneider Electric – where the European inverter supplier is active – while its presence in France, India and Japan has also helped the company gain considerable market share over the past year. Indeed, Schneider Electric was the only European company to enjoy a positive 2014, growing its global revenue share by almost 2% in the first three quarters of the year – the third-best performance after Huawei and Tabuchi.

TMEIC, TBEA Sunoasis and Enphase Energy all gained between 1-2% in the first three quarters of the year, with Omron and SolarEdge boosting their market share by less than 1%.

Tuhao PV inverter top configuration

1,DC Clapper contactors

 
This is called the DC Clapper contactors, only ABB companies have. And in the original process, using magnetic blow extinguishing system design, there are super-extinguishing capability, on-off current of 4000ADC, voltage up to 1500VDC, especially suitable for harsh conditions, still require products with high performance industrial applications, but the price particularly expensive, a 1000V1200A2 level contacts, the price is about 18,000.

It is capable of the most critical performance IGBT, bus capacitors and other devices, such as a short circuit in case of emergency, disconnect the DC side at high currents, protecting people, components, safety equipment.

2,  EC centrifugal cooling fan

 
This is called EC centrifugal cooling fan, EBM production company. There are three kinds of cooling fan, AC AC fans, AC DC fan, and fan speed EC. AC AC input, the internal fans with integrated converter, external access to a PWM signal can achieve stepless speed control module built-in intelligent maintenance-free brushless DC motor, comes with RS485 output interface, 0-10V sensor output interface, 4 -20mA speed switch output interface, output interface and alarm signal output from the main interface. The product has a high intelligence, high-energy, high efficiency, long life, low vibration, low noise, and other characteristics can work uninterrupted.

The greatest feature of this fan is the frequency control function, according to the characteristics of photovoltaic power generation system, it is not every day than the speed of the fan switch 30% less, so it consumes less power than the other 35% of the fan, a 500KW solar inverter, a year can save 500 kWh. Less than other fan speed 30%, plus high-quality bearing service life of the fan speed is not more than 2 times.

3, Concept drives, fiber optic transmission.


CT-Concept, Switzerland is the world's large, medium power IGT drive technology and market leader, after 20 years of business, gradually occupies more than 80% of the global market share. CT-Concept launched a series of superb IGBT drive, high-end technology, functional excellence, high quality, cost-effective ideal to meet customers' most demanding and meticulous. Especially SCALE series IGBT drive, using original SCALE ASIC chipset driver for the global market and establish the authority of the industry standard.

This driver board the biggest feature is the use of magnetic and optical isolation technology transfer program, the usual way of light isolated magnetic isolation and quarantine, isolation optocoupler isolation mode due to the relatively low voltage, there are aspects of the transmission delay, aging and reliability, etc. issue. The use of pulse transformer isolation methods (magnetic separation) can achieve relatively high isolation voltage, and high reliability transformers, transmission delay is small, can achieve higher switching frequency, and there is no problem of aging.

Using optical fiber transmission, you can completely avoid the signal generator to the electrical interference between the driver board.

4, laminated busbars and the perfect combination of DC link film capacitors


Powder coating type busbar using anti-aging, corrosion resistance, high-performance insulation powder, with a smooth and shiny appearance and excellent electrical properties. DC from custom capacitor and the IGBT is not more than 10mm.

By the partial discharge is caused by the air gap between the positive and negative, so to minimize the air gap, there are two methods: 1, the adhesion between the busbars and the insulating sheet closely as possible, leaving no air gaps between the two, busbars and insulation sheet to be very clean, can not have any dust and dirt.

Stray inductance generated voltage spikes, voltage spikes higher, the greater the damage to the IGBT, the greater the loss of the system. Commonly used methods to reduce the stray inductance has three: one is the distance between the positive and negative currents as short as possible, two positive and negative direction is current as possible down overlay, 3 is the distance between the capacitor to the IGBT as short as possible.

5, ClassH level Reactor


Magnetic material with a thickness of 0.23mm loss low gold-oriented silicon steel, silicon steel thinner, the less iron loss. Using very thin silicon steel, making high-frequency loss in the core losses to a minimum point.

Conductive material of high quality magnet wire of 0.05mm outsourcing double Nomex, the wire only has a very low resistivity, while its temperature levels also increased to 220C.

Insulation material used using Dupond (DuPont) Company quality aromatic type Nomex paper, pressed glass insulation sheet.

Crystal Electric PV inverter sent solar power for Kadwa Patidar community

Crystal Electric brought green solar electricity for Kadwa Patidar communities in the UK. Kadwa Patidar community originally built by a member from India in 1975, and they work hard to raise funds for the construction of the community, to 1993, the community has been able to have a variety of cultural activities organized by the conditions, including religious festivals, sports events, cultural performances and more.

The community hall porch roof and install a total of 276 high-efficiency solar module, project totaling 69kW, could be generating over 200 degrees every day, not only to meet the community's electricity every day, but also for 85% of the electricity transmission grid. 4 three-phase PV inverter MPPT tracking with high accuracy and high conversion rate of the community to provide a steady stream of clean solar power, with an estimated annual generation 57000 degrees. From energy conservation, government subsidies and sell electricity generating revenue, the annual total of about earns £ 11400. This calculation, the investment can be recovered in seven years.

Peter the manager of the community project is very satisfied: "The community in people's daily life plays an important role in people's wedding here, meetings, visits to the theater, to throw a party and so now they find these activities. solar power is the conversion, which is really amazing! "

2014 top 10 PV Inverter manufacturers: Asian Suppliers Tighten Grip as European Leadership Weakens

The number of Asian companies appearing among the world’s top 10 PV inverter manufacturers doubled in 2014, with four from China and Japan appearing within the charmed circle, compared to just two in 2012 and none in 2011.

Rising demand for PV inverters from Asian markets has resulted in domestic suppliers accounting for a growing share of the global market. China and Japan together represented 35 percent of global PV inverter revenue in 2014, unlike just 12 percent in 2011. Capitalizing on the high-entry barriers to international suppliers in these booming regions, Asian suppliers have succeeded in dominating their domestic markets and have now been catapulted into the global top 10, as shown in the attached table.



Chinese-based inverter manufacturer Sungrow continued to command a leading position in the fast-growing Chinese market. In last year’s final quarter alone, the company shipped over 2 gigawatts (GW) of inverters, the majority to its domestic market. China underwent an intense rush to complete photovoltaic systems before the end of 2014 in order to beat a scheduled decrease in the feed-in tariff rate.

Sungrow’s shipments nearly equaled a record held by Germany’s SMA Solar Technology, which achieved almost 2.4 GW of global shipments during a single quarter in 2010. But even though Sungrow shipped more inverters in megawatt terms in the final quarter of 2014 than any other supplier, extremely low average prices for central inverters in China meant that it was only the second largest supplier in revenue. Even so, this marked a notable increase considering that Sungrow had not appeared in the top 10 during any other single quarter in 2014.

East heads West

While the domestic business of these four Asian suppliers has enabled them to achieve significant share in global market revenues, all have minimal sales outside of their home markets.

“Although Asian suppliers have had a huge impact on the global rankings due to their success in local markets, their bearing on international markets outside of China and Japan has currently been quite limited,” noted Wilkinson. “Just the same, the economies of scale, expertise and brand strength that they have now been able to achieve makes them well placed for international expansion, and the world is likely to see many of these suppliers play a greater role in markets outside Asia over the next two to three years.”

Western suppliers lose ground

In contrast to the success of Asian suppliers, the competitive position of Western firms has worsened considerably. In 2008 eight of the top 10 spots were held by Europeans—and the remaining two also had strong European connections; but only four remained in that echelon as of last year. IHS also noted that three of the largest manufacturers in 2008 have also been acquired, while one has exited the industry altogether.

The decline of the PV market in Europe has placed European suppliers in a very vulnerable position. Many of these suppliers relied heavily on Europe as the backbone of their business and were highly exposed to the rapid shift in demand from Europe to other regions. Annual PV inverter revenues from Europe have halved in the last two years, creating an extremely tough competitive environment, and many of the leading names from five years ago have vanished from today’s list of leading suppliers.