SMA's New Central Inverter Yields Better Return-on-Investment for Commercial, Utility Solar Projects
UL Listed Sunny Central CP-US Features 1,000 VDC Maximum System Voltage and Integrated Grid Management.
- (1888PressRelease) August 15, 2012 - ROCKLIN, Calif., and TORONTO - The newest inverters in SMA's Sunny Central family, the Sunny Central 500/630/720/750/800 CP-US, are now available for utility and commercial applications. The UL listed Sunny Central CP-US series is the most cost-effective, efficient inverter line of its kind and reflects SMA's commitment to developing commercial and utility-scale technology that offers superior performance and lowers the overall cost of PV-generated electricity.
"SMA's goal was to create an efficient, versatile central inverter that could be used for a variety of applications," said Jurgen Krehnke, president and general manager of SMA America and president of SMA Canada. "Its CEC record efficiency, UL listing and unique feature set means developers can utilize this solution for both commercial and utility scale applications."
The Sunny Central CP-US is rated for maximum system voltages up to 1,000 VDC and 10 percent over nameplate output capacity at ambient temperatures up to 25 C, which translates to substantial balance of systems cost savings while still delivering optimum performance.
The inverters also offer industry leading CEC inverter efficiencies up to 98.5 percent and peak efficiencies up to 98.7 percent, the highest in the utility-scale power class. Sunny Central CP-US inverters are equipped with an outdoor enclosure featuring SMA's patented OptiCool technology, which enhances system performance and durability and simplifies installation.
The CP-US inverters are among the first to be UL listed at 1,000 VDC, allowing them to be installed in both behind-the-fence utility-scale projects as well as outside-the-fence commercial systems where listed products are required by NEC. They also feature an integrated AC disconnect in compliance with NEC 2011 requirements.
The Sunny Central CP-US is also available in a UL listed, ungrounded array option which is able to continuously detect ground faults on both the positive and negative conductors. The flexibility of the Sunny Central CP-US series will appeal to solar professionals who need a solution for installations that vary in scale. Multiple power classes offer exceptional flexibility when sizing a system.
The inverters feature advanced grid management functions including reactive power supply, frequency-dependent active power limitation, and low voltage ride through. When paired with an external step-up transformer, the Sunny Central CP-US can be interconnected either at medium voltage through the utility distribution grid or at low voltage to three-phase commercial services.
They are also compatible with SMA's Medium Voltage (MV) Power Platform and Power Plant Controller for utility-scale applications. Northland Power Inc. is currently installing MV Power Platforms equipped with Sunny Central CP-US inverters for a project in Ontario, Canada, which will total 130 MW upon completion.
About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of €1.7 billion in 2011 and is the global market leader for solar inverters, a key component of all PV plants and, as an energy management group, offers innovative key technologies for future power supply structures. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented in 21 countries on six continents. The Group employs more than 5,500 people worldwide, plus a number of temporary employees that varies on a seasonal basis. SMA's broad product portfolio includes a compatible inverter for every type of module on the market and for all plant sizes, as well as monitoring and energy management systems.
The product range includes both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. SMA is therefore able to provide ideal technical inverter solutions for all plant sizes and types. Since 2008, the Group's parent company, SMA Solar Technology AG, has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for excellence as an employer and achieved first place in the nationwide "Great Place to Work®" competition in 2011 and 2012. www.SMA-America.com/www.SMA-Canada.ca
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