SolarEdge announces first US installation of newly-certified ground-mount inverter

The first commissioned DC-optimized SolarEdge 330 kW Inverter system in the US is a 1 MW ground mount solar system that was recently installed in Northern California, on a site owned by the Karuk Tribe. Designed to manage and distribute electrical power efficiently over long distances and to reduce Balance of System (BoS) costs, the system was installed by Arizona-based EPC company, SunRenu. The project is expected to produce approximately 1 575 000 kWh of solar energy annually and, according to SunRenu, is anticipated to offset approximately 96% of the site’s annual electricity use, reducing carbon emissions by around 1018 tpy.

Launched in the US in 3Q23 and now commercially available, the high-power, three phase DC-optimized SolarEdge 330 kW Inverter and its complementing H1300 Power Optimizer, enables the challenges often posed by shading and uneven terrain on expansive community solar, agri-PV, floating PV, carports and small-to-medium scale utility PV applications to be overcome. The solution is designed to help lower the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) by yielding more energy production over the system’s lifetime. It achieves this through 99% inverter efficiency, 2:1 Power Optimizers, 200% DC-oversizing, an integrated PID rectifier, as well as reducing BoS costs by up to 50% with fewer and longer strings.

"We selected SolarEdge's 330kW Inverter for the Karuk Tribe owned site as it mitigated voltage drop which, in turn, minimised power degradation and streamlined installation. Additionally, its higher power output substantially decreased the number of inverters needed, resulting in lower installation costs and balance of system costs.” said John McDonnell, Principal, SunRenu. “This advanced solution not only handled project-specific challenges but also provided module-level power electronics benefits, ensuring increased energy production, enhanced safety features and efficient monitoring. With Safe DC functionality and voltage regulation capabilities, SolarEdge's technology not only met stringent safety standards but also gained trust from the local utility company, aligning with the customer’s commitment to innovation, safety and operational efficiency.”

The SolarEdge 330kW inverter is expected to be available commercially in the UK from 2H24.

Christelle Barnes, UK Country Manager, SolarEdge, commented: “We are excited to introduce our new high-power DC-optimized 330kW inverter system in the UK later this year, bringing the benefits of lower LCOE with power optimisation, advanced safety and high-resolution monitoring to the agri-PV, floating PV and small-to-medium scale utility segments. With the UK solar industry seeking solutions that improve both scalability and economics for small-to-medium scale utility solar, we anticipate that DC-optimization will be critical in maximising value and return on investment for solar customers.”

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Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/solar/20022024/solaredge-announces-first-us-installation-of-newly-certified-ground-mount-inverter/