As part of its commitment to support the generation of safe, clean and sustainable power, ABB will unveil new solutions resulting from its continued investment in developing innovative solar power conversion technology. A number of the innovations are part of the ABB Ability™ portfolio of connected and software-enabled solutions that enable customers to know more, do more and do better.
With one of the broadest portfolios in the industry, ABB’s solar conversion technology is suitable for power ranges from small kW to multi-MW, and is backed up by a comprehensive package of communication, monitoring and control solutions, designed to maximize solar power profits and support across the entire lifecycle of a project.
Giovanni Frassineti, head of ABB’s solar business, explained: “We firmly believe that solar technology should be a leading sustainable energy source for distributed power generation and building applications, driving growth in mature and developing economies.
“We are, therefore, committed to continual investment and innovation in this sector, leveraging the strong digital capabilities from across our business, as part of ABB Ability, to develop market-leading PV solutions and product platforms.”
One innovation is ABB’s pioneering 100 and 120 kW string inverter featuring multi-MPPT solutions for maximum plant design flexibility. The inverter will be available at the end of 2017, with a power and voltage range extension to 1500 Vdc to be released soon after. The inverter has been designed for large scale commercial and industrial PV installations, as well as for ground mounted projects. Featuring high energy harvesting and advanced cooling credentials, the inverter has been widely tested and demonstrated outstanding performance reliability. It requires minimal on-site interventions, reducing operating costs, as it has access to the Internet of things (IoT) via IP based communication, scalable cloud architecture and easy wireless commissioning via tablet/mobile device. Overall, it optimizes the total cost of ownership.
Joining the new string inverter will be ABB’s latest addition to the TRIO family, the TRIO TM. This 3 MPPT version features power ratings up to 60 kW, and has been designed with enhanced flexibility in mind to maximize the ROI in large systems. Easy and fast commissioning is guaranteed with an embedded web user interface through any WLAN device. Furthermore, a Sunspec compliant Modbus protocol allows easy integration with third-party monitoring and control systems.
Other products developed from ABB include the latest addition to ABB’s single-phase inverter family, the UNO-DM-PLUS series, which represents the optimal solution for residential PV installations. It is future-proof and flexible, with a compact design for power ratings from 1.2 to 5.0 kW, enabling integration with current and future devices for smart building automation. The presence of plug and play connectors and an easy commissioning routine enables simple, fast and cost-effective installation without needing to open the inverter cover, while the built-in user interface enables access to features such as advanced inverter configuration settings, dynamic feed-in control, and load manager.
Also being showcased is the new, integrated microgrid solution, MGS100. Built to perform in extreme environments, it has the ability to transform lives and businesses for the better in villages that struggle to access affordable and reliable electricity.
Combining solar power and battery energy storage, MGS100 removes the reliance on costly and potentially harmful biofuel and diesel generators, reducing overall operating costs and environmental impact while increasing the energy storage capacity of a system by up to 6 kWh.
In addition, ABB has continued to develop its PV inverter, REACT, equipped with a built-in 2 kWh battery that allows unused energy generated during the day to be stored and used when it is needed, with the ability to program up to four appliances based on the stored energy available. Compatible with ABB-free@home®, REACT features an integrated wi-fi port and an application for smartphones or tablets, which helps people to control and manage their energy use even when away from the home.
For utility scale power generation, ABB has developed the 1500 Vdc PVS980 central inverter. Now available with an extended power range up to 2300 kVA, the PVS980 central inverter is optimized for cost-effective, multi-megawatt PV power plants. Featuring an innovative, low-maintenance cooling solution designed for demanding applications and harsh environments, the PVS980 reduces maintenance costs while ensuring outstanding endurance and reliability. It also features a compact and modular design, is suitable for outdoor use and comes with a complete range of industrial data communications options, including remote control monitoring. The inverter is complemented with a compact plug and play solution, PVS980-MWS megawatt station, which is rated up to 4600 kVA.
Giovanni concluded: “All of our products have been designed to the highest ABB quality standards and with more than 25 years sector experience. We are happy to work with customers to enable the integration of solar into smart grids and buildings, driving progress and successfully providing greener, smarter energy for all.”
About ABB
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing more than a 125-year history of innovation, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization and driving the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 135,000 employees.
Find out more at www.abb.com
