ABB can reduce logistics and installation costs by up to 65%

At Intersolar Europe, ABB's new PVS-175-TL array inverter, which delivers 185 kW of active power, received the award for the most innovative Solar inverter at the 2018 Intersolar Awards by industry experts. Saving up to 65 percent in installation and logistics costs in field applications, ABB PVS-175-TL offers the highest capacity in the 1500Vdc array inverter market. Thanks to the unique capabilities of ABB's new PVS-175-TL, active power of up to 185 kW can be generated. The judging committee was impressed by the product's high modularity, which increased its efficiency and reduced operating maintenance costs, and also praised the inverter for being the next step to improve overall efficiency in PV systems, ultimately awarding it "high power density" and "-20°C to 60°C operating temperature range". The innovative modular design, combined with all the key advantages of traditional array inverters, means up to 65 percent fewer inverters are required to complete the optimal power block without the need for an AC collection board. This saves up to 65 percent in installation and logistics costs, bringing the Unit Cost of Electricity Generation (LCOE) for plant-wide installations down to significantly lower levels. Equipped with advanced ABB Ability™ capabilities, the 3-Phase PVS-175-TL delivers an ultra-high power density of 185 kVA and 1.3 kW/kg at 800 Vac. This not only maximizes return on investment in large-strength field applications, but also reduces the System Balancing costs of small and medium-sized roof or site installations. Giovanni Frassineti, Group Manager of ABB Solar Division, said: "We are very excited to bring a scalable and versatile solution to the solar industry as the demand for higher voltage and higher power classes increases. We are delighted to have won such an important award in the industry, especially as the solar sector shifts towards new technologies to develop solar power generation in a reliable, safe and cost-effective way." "This end product not only supports higher power densities, but also improves installation with reduced commissioning time and provides the operator with advanced communication capabilities for condition-based monitoring and proactive maintenance." Quick and easy installation thanks to ABB Ability™, advanced monitoring and advanced digitalization, a design without the need for larger PV knee collection boxes are some of the outstanding advantages of the PVS-175-TL model. Exhibited for the first time at Intersolar Europe, the PVS-175-TL is a plug-and-play inverter that allows existing PV modules to be easily installed directly into the assembly system using the same process as installing a DC box. A dedicated installation application provides simple and fast plant installation instructions and handles all inverters in a single cluster and commissions them in less than 20 minutes. The high-performance PVS-175-TL provides: 1-High power density – 1500 Vdc capability saves up to 65 percent on installation and logistics costs.  2-It is installer friendly and the mounting systems of the existing PV module can be used for inverter assembly without the need for other devices such as DC and AC collection boxes, reducing OPEX (operating costs) by 30-40 percent with faster installation and saving time and cost in preparing and renting the plant. 3-More capacity without sacrificing versatility – Increases efficiency by increasing the design flexibility of the PV plant in complex installations with 12 MPPT input channels, the largest range on the market. Because design-friendly inverter solutions can be easily implemented into free-field ground-mounted installations, installers and developers no longer have to stick with legacy systems. 4-Modular and uncombiner design – 24 arrays can be connected directly to the cable chamber thanks to the integrated DC disconnect and optional AC disconnect AC cable connection section, eliminating the need for a separate DC disconnector box and AC coupler. 5-Advanced O&M – Thanks to the advanced cooling concept, advanced O&M can be provided throughout the life of the plant. The built-in fans (without heavy-duty inverter cooling fans) can be easily removed during planned maintenance periods, and the power module can be easily replaced without removing the cable box. This increases the service life and reliability of the product while reducing O&M costs. 6-Digitalization – The product with ABB Ability™ offers enhanced user experience, saves time in the field with remote monitoring and preventive maintenance, and makes the system future-proof with automatic updates, compatibility and integration with new IP protocols. Multiple data streams and services can run in parallel.