New Industry Products

Inverter Improves Large-Scale PV Plant Performance at Reduced System Cost

June 02, 2014 by Jeff Shepard

Bonfiglioli Vectron GmbH today announced global availability of the Ampt Mode™ version of its RPS TL inverter series. The new Bonfiglioli RPS TL inverters in Ampt Mode(TM) are deployed with dc optimizers from Ampt, LLC to increase PV plant performance at lower total system cost. At Booth B3.150 during Intersolar Europe 2014, Bonfiglioli will have its RPS TL inverter series on display along with Ampt's DC Optimizers. Both companies will be available to discuss how the combined solution minimizes costs and generates more energy over the system lifetime. Based on Bonfiglioli's modular concept, the new Ampt Mode series of inverters are available in powers ranging from 500 kVA to 1750 kVA, and as turnkey stations up to 3.5 MVA in a standard 40 ft. ISO container.

"Our new Ampt Mode inverter series is a natural extension of the Bonfiglioli product line," said Robert Lenke, head of product management of Bonfiglioli's Renewables Business Unit. "The combined solution has the ability to lower total system cost by reducing electrical BOS component costs compared to traditional systems while also increasing yield."

Bonfiglioli RPS TL Ampt Mode Inverters offer the following advantages: 100 percent longer strings at 1000 volt standard system voltage; 50 percent less string combiners and reduced DC cable cross sections; Up to 33 percent fewer PV stations thanks to increased inverter power, enabling station ratings of 3.5 MVA and higher; Increased yield using multiple maximum power point tracking (MPPT) tracking within strings.

"We are proud to partner with Bonfiglioli to bring a distinct advantage to large-scale system developers," said Levent Gun, CEO, Ampt. "Our solution combines the cost and grid management advantages of a central inverter with a maximum power point tracking capability that is more granular than string inverters. System designers no longer have to decide whether to deploy a central or string inverter design because our solution offers the best of both at a lower cost."

The RPS TL Ampt Mode series is based on Bonfiglioli's proven RPS TL inverter platform, which has been deployed worldwide in more than 2 GW of utility-scale photovoltaic installations, ensuring a bankable product and a developed service network for international projects. The modular inverter concept guarantees top-class system availability and excellent efficiency over the entire load range, paired with certified state-of-art grid management functions.

Bonfiglioli and Ampt are steering committee members of the HDPV Alliance whose mission is to lower PV energy costs using distributed DC power management. The HDPV Alliance uses defined standards, tested compatibility and shared best practices to enable members across the PV value chain to deliver products and services that optimize PV systems. HDPV-compliant systems lower total system costs while increasing performance.