Solutions

The grid-forming technology as an essential part of the energy transition

Renewable energy can cover a growing energy demand. However, can it also ensure system stability when conventional power plants are increasingly being shut down? Large battery storage systems with grid-forming inverters play a key role here. What was previously performed by the inertia mass of the system generators in conventional power plants, is now managed by the power electronics of inverters in the increasingly renewable energy supply.

Solutions

PV oversizing for increased profitability (3/3)

After demonstrating the advantages of PV oversizing or overdimensioning and investigating the key factors for success, we now explore the key strategies for making the most of the available solar energy, focusing on the critical roles of the inverter, battery storage, and intelligent energy management. The ultimate goal is to help homeowners achieve greater self-consumption and returns on their solar investment.

Solutions

PV oversizing for increased profitability (1/3)

Maximizing the cost efficiency of a PV installation is crucial. Homeowners want to recover their investment as quickly as possible. For installers it’s an important argument to win over customers for solar. In this three-part series, we’ll delve into the advantages of PV oversizing or overdimensioning of residential PV installations and focus on the considerations that installers have to take into account.

Solutions

PV oversizing for increased profitability (2/3)

In the first article of this blog series, we talked about the advantages of PV oversizing or overdimensioning. However, success hinges on key factors like quality inverters, string configuration, and diligent monitoring. In this article, we explore these critical considerations empowering installers to optimize PV systems effectively.

Solutions

Energy transition in rural areas open up opportunities for municipalities

Many small rural municipalities harbor enormous potential for the energy transition. The share of renewable energies can continue to increase if the existing infrastructure is further expanded and modernized. In these municipalities, waste heat and water can also make a bigger contribution to the energy supply.

References

Putting the energy transition in the hands of local citizens: the Bundorf PV farm

Right in the heart of Germany there is now a beacon of hope in the form of a PV farm showcasing how cities and local communities can transition to a renewable energy supply. But what makes this project in Bundorf so unique? The PV farm is one of the largest in Germany to involve public participation. Citizens can take part in the project through an energy co-operative and thus collectively drive forward the energy transition in their region.

Solutions

Agrivoltaics: Blue-green model for the future

Agrivoltaics is a blue-green glimmer of hope in an era of climate change. It refers to the simultaneous use of an area for agricultural production and the generation of electricity from photovoltaics. Until now, agricultural land and ground-based PV systems have mostly existed separately. Anyone who purposefully combines the two forms of land use can benefit from positive effects.

Solutions

Safety of PV systems: Your questions, our answers

The safety of a PV system depends, among other things, on the design of the overall system. Modern string inverters with integrated features enable a slim system design. This avoids potential sources of error, for example through additional cabling effort when installing module electronics. In a webinar "Analyzing PV system safety and the promise of optimizers" in June 2022, Dr. Heribert Schmidt from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and SMA expert Hannes Knopf discussed the influence of different system designs on the safety of PV systems. Afterwards we received so many exciting questions on the topic, which we would like to share with you. Our colleague Hannes Knopf answered the most frequently asked questions here.

Solutions

Grid stability and secure returns with renewable energies

The energy transition will succeed only if the majority of our electricity is generated from renewable energy sources. But these are subject to weather-dependent fluctuations. The SMA Energy System for battery-storage power plants provides grid-forming capability, which is currently provided by decentralized power plants, and feeds green electricity with a stable frequency into the utility grid. This turns power plant owners and operators into key players on the electricity market.

Solutions

Inverters for high-current modules:
the great I_DC max misconception

The PV industry is using high-current modules to combat rising system costs. This type of module consists of M10 or larger PV cells, which can accommodate correspondingly high MPP currents (>12 A). Read on to find out what needs to be taken into account in the choice of inverter and what kind of misconceptions can commonly be encountered, as well as the difference between short-circuit current and maximum input current.