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Empowering commercial customers to meet energy and business goals while reducing energy costs

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Nitsana Bellehsen

Senior Content Manager, Europe

April 20, 2023 Comments ()
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Empowering commercial customers to meet energy and business goals while reducing energy costs

“Our choice of SolarEdge has empowered us to adapt our business to the modern energy challenges we face. With this one decision, we have freed ourselves from unpredictable energy costs and significantly reduced our plant’s carbon footprint.”
Agostino Bizzotto, Legal representative, Andrea Bizzotto SPA

Energy Costs

Energy costs are a business game changer

Energy cost is no longer just a line on a company’s budget; it’s an uncertain asset that must be professionally managed in order to protect a company’s profitability.

Many of your commercial customers are facing the harsh reality of doing business in a volatile energy climate. When pricing a product or service, business owners add fixed costs to the calculation, and this includes electricity expenses. Unstable energy costs make it more difficult to accurately price inventory or services. The current situation with energy costs doubling and sometimes tripling within the same year can make it difficult for businesses to compete on price.

Increased public sensitivity to sustainability

At the same time, recent government CO2 restrictions impose an additional handicap on a company’s bottom line. Twenty-seven countries (and parts of the United States) currently impose a carbon emissions tax on polluting organizations. Suppliers to multinational corporations are often expected to maintain sustainable practices.

“We have recently undertaken to produce PV electricity on our agricultural building. We chose to install PV on the edifice, as we knew that the project would help us finance the construction. But we also really wanted to promote clean energy.”
Victor Kandel, farmer/businessowner

At the same time, customers prefer to patronize companies that share their values, especially in this age of social media. A recent PWC study found that 83% of respondents believed that companies should be actively shaping ESG goals, while 80% of consumers stated that they were more likely to buy from a company that stood up for environmental issues.  This data confirms that including sustainable practices in the way a business is managed are more than merely a “nice to have,” but are a critical pillar for business success.

Companies, therefore, need strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies to deal with these requirements in order to mitigate escalating costs, governmental requirements, and the effects of public perception. PV is a very powerful tool for businesses in this climate, as it can serve energy management and ESG goals simultaneously.

“We hope to attract the next generation of forward-thinking employees by demonstrating that AIP has invested in sustainable solutions. The state-of-the-art solar project fits in with AIP’s high-tech robotic automation, sophisticated engineering techniques, and community-oriented culture.”
Lori Schaefer-Weaton, President, Agri-Industrial Plastics Company

Not just any solar – SolarEdge

Companies choose to install SolarEdge solar energy systems because it makes business sense to them. SolarEdge technology is designed to generate more energy from solar modules which means that PV site owners can look forward to maximized energy yields, lower energy costs and a faster return on their investment.

“SolarEdge products offered major benefits for this commercial rooftop PV system, such as design flexibility and better yield in terms of production. SolarEdge technology allows panels to produce under shaded conditions without letting underperforming panels affect the rest of the panels in the string. While setting up the monitoring app, the panels can be designed exactly how they are placed on the roof. If any one of the 294 panels needs attention, it is extremely easy to find that panel. SolarEdge is one of the easiest platforms to implement. Their customer service and technical support were easy to engage with, which made the whole experience even better.”
Savi Narang, Director, Bright Source

Energy Costs

SolarEdge tools for success

The SolarEdge Designer software helps installers and site owners visualize how a roof or property could be optimally utilized, estimating how much energy the site would produce, even before the first solar module is installed. Proper planning and design are at the heart ensuring a great yield from the installation and the robust Designer software is a real game-changer for PV professionals. Designer is flexible and intuitive, providing a visual picture of the site, viable installation alternatives and estimates of site performance. In addition to serving as a powerful functional tool, Designer delivers spectacular data and visuals that help any price quote stand out to customers.

But what truly sets SolarEdge installations apart is the flexibility: because SolarEdge technology enables tracking the maximum power point on each individual module or pair of modules, it frees installers from having to install all modules in the same pitch and angle to the sun. This freedom allows installers to set up a site that produces more energy throughout the day. Similarly, a module in a SolarEdge system is not affected by the performance of other modules in the same string and can produce at its peak regardless of weather, module cleanliness, temperature, or module condition. In traditional systems, the lowest performing module in the string sets the production limit and each module can only produce to that amount.

“We were thrilled about the flexibility of SolarEdge technology and were impressed with the company’s exceptional level of commitment and support. SolarEdge proved highly capable and willing to take on this challenging project. SolarEdge was the only company that met our unique specifications for the installation.”
Markus Schäfer, CEO of Mein Solar GmbH

Energy Costs

System efficiency is critical when you’re running a business

Rapid return of investment and the amount of energy that site owners are able to produce is important to everyone who invests in solar production. However to businesses, this is a critical part of the decision making process. As much as they are interested in green goals, they are interested in supporting their financial success. A system that provides more energy due to increased inverter efficiency, and a generous 200% oversizing capacity (which, in short, means that the site owner can produce more energy for more hours during the day than the  inverter rating indicates), in addition to the ability to mitigate mismatch losses, will, quite simply, generate a better financial return while reducing a company’s energy cost.

“I decided to opt for the SolarEdge system. As a result, we’ve seen the Power Optimizers yield more over time.”
Andreas Jansen, Rehl Energy GmbH

“With SolarEdge MPPT technology combined with bifacial panels, we expect to generate more energy than initially estimated.”
Matt Bergan, Engineer, Kotzebue Electric Association

Energy Costs

There’s a reason why SolarEdge is chosen by so many for safety

Choosing a PV product that can safeguard staff and inventory is not only responsible but also critical for business. Many commercial customers install PV above their livestock, crops, product inventory, fuel or other resources that could potentially jeopardize their business if harmed. And of course the ultimate concern for staff safety, makes the issue of PV safety central to a business owner’s concerns. 

Before delivering a single product to the market, SolarEdge deeply researched potential risk factors in order to craft products designed to prevent hazards from occurring. Continually enriching the safety feature portfolio, SolarEdge products lead the market in safety, surpassing the most stringent industry standards and insurance requirements. Recently, SolarEdge released the S-Series Power Optimizers for commercial Installations which include groundbreaking technology that can detect irregular temperature in the connectors and eliminate potential issues before they can turn into an arc.

“SolarEdge’s Rapid Shutdown solution provides the best combination of technology and cost. Our client, Agri-Industrial Plastics preferred SolarEdge’s module-level monitoring capabilities.”
Amy Van Beek, CMO, Ideal Energy

Energy Cost

“We always recommend SolarEdge, even for large installations. If errors occur, I can locate them much faster with SolarEdge, thanks to the monitoring. With conventional systems, I must often unscrew and remove an entire string, that is 20, 25 modules in order to check each one and measure output. With SolarEdge, I can effectively see which module is causing a problem and I can focus on what the problem is. Just picture me inspecting roofs with 2000 square meters of modules.”
Andreas Jansen, Rehl Energy

Monitoring keeps PV online

In business, time is money. And time is even more expensive for manufacturers. If a fault did occur in such a large installation, finding and fixing it among the hundreds of panels would be difficult and time-consuming - time that costs the company a great deal of money in lost production hours. SolarEdge provides module-level monitoring on every module, giving system owners and installers full visibility of the property, with remote troubleshooting capabilities. Business customers who rely on the profitability of their investment and on dependable production, know that they will enjoy the most system uptime possible.

“Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing (TDEM) is a prototype of a green factory for Toyota R&D in Asia. When our customers understand the technology of SolarEdge which is different from traditional inverters, they fully appreciate the system’s module level monitoring, enhanced safety features and lower O&M costs“.
Teepawat Chandavimol, Energy Business Director for Solomon, Thailand

Empowering Your Customers for Success

Commercial PV installers are not merely selling a product. They are actually helping their customers achieve their business goals. Bring this thought to your next customer meeting and show them how you can help navigate the new energy reality. You have the tools to really make a difference, while also helping the planet.

“As the owner/operator of this project, the decision on what to build will impact our business for the next 25-years plus. It is in our best interests to best quality solution available.”
James Pochez, Director of Project Development, Sunlight General Capital

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Agrivoltaics
New Guidelines for Safety in Agri-PV Installations
Nitsana Bellehsen | July 18, 2023
The recently released AgriSolar Best Practices Guidelines by Solar Power Europe officially recommends module-level power electronics for Agri-PV safety and supports other recent such documents that have been recently released, such as the Installation Guidelines for Agri-PV in Japan. This, of course, is not news to us at SolarEdge where module-level power electronics  (MLPE) is at the core of our PV system architecture and a key enabler for our advanced multilayer safety features.  Agri-PV (also called Agrivoltaics), for the uninitiated, is the dual use of land for agricultural and solar energy production Solar installations can be placed on trackers to ensure complete control of the amount of sun reaching the plants and maximum benefit to both solar and crop production. “… it is recommended to apply Module Level Power Electronics in Agri-PV systems to reduce risk of electric shocks and fires” Solar Power Europe (SPE), Best Practices Guidelines for Agrivoltaics Below, you can find a review of safety suggestions offered by the SPE Best Practices Guidelines, as well as “Agrivoltaics in India, Challenges and Opportunities”, as well as additional safety recommendations in a guideline document prepared by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Why is “Safety” critically important in Agri-PV? Safety is of course important in every PV installation. Maintenance staff, installers, and first responders must be able to work safely on a property. Similarly, the people and property populating both commercial and residential sites, require protection. In an Agri-PV installation, however, the situation is compounded by the combination of two ventures sharing one piece of land. Many ground-mount PV installations are gated to ensure that no outside individuals enter the site and interact with equipment or cabling. However, in agrivoltaic sites, farmers work in close proximity to the PV products using large machinery and irrigation, making gating impossible and increasing the potential risk of electrical shock. In some installations, animals share their grazing lands with PV panels, possibly leading to cable damage. This is significant, as the deterioration of cabling can result in fire risk. As a nascent industry, ensuring safety in Agri-PV is even more important. As the Best Practices Guidelines explains: “… incidents of fire and electric shocks could be detrimental to the growth and public acceptance of Agri-PV, especially in the early stages of the market, when dedicated binding standards and regulations are yet to be published or enforced.” Before regulation is enacted, the industry must self-regulate so it can grow effectively.  This is also emphasized by the recently published “Agrivoltaics in India, Challenges and Opportunities” document. One of the seven key findings in the document determines that: “on the agricultural side, farmers’ safety concerns due to the proximity to high voltage cabling, as well as constraints on the mobility of farm equipment, are the main challenges.” What can impact safety in Agri-PV? As in any electrical plant, electrical shock and fire are the two main safety risks in PV installations. As explained above given the dual-usage of land in Agri-PV sites, there is an increased risk of fire and electrical shock. Electric shock can occur when an individual (or animal) touches a high-voltage element. While the risk of fire is minimal in a PV plant, it can be caused by the creation of an electric arc. This can occur if there is a small gap in a connection, or when an electric current jumps between two wires, for example when the insulation is frayed or damaged. As mentioned, an Agri-PV site provides more opportunities for damage to the equipment, therefore leaving it open to additional safety challenges. Why is MLPE considered superior for safety? 1 – Visibility and control In conventional PV installations, solar modules are attached to each other in a string and interact with the inverter through that string. In such installations, there is no visibility of each module’s performance and it’s not possible to automatically identify the location of a fault if one occurs. This can waste valuable time when troubleshooting a safety issue and require costly on-site visits With MLPE, O&M staff are appraised of the exact location of any fault or issue, ensuring quick resolution, often remotely. The ability to monitor and manage each individual module provides important control of the entire system, which means that the system can be shut off when needed. With an agrivoltaic installation, the aim is to have as little intrusion as possible by maintenance staff, so as not to interact with the crops or interfere with farm operation. Because of the module-level visibility provided in MLPE systems, when intervention is necessary, the location is pinpointed and limits onsite maintenance visits. 2 – Arc fault detection The ability to determine the exact fault location and address it directly is critical in maintaining system safety. With MLPE, it is possible to determine the location of an arc and mitigate it. Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) explains the value of MLPE in Agri-PV installations very well: “...even if the electric circuit is opened in these locations [solar plants based on string inverters, nb], the solar cells will continue to generate power as long as the solar cells are exposed to sunlight. Voltage continues to be applied to the array side. Also, if a ground fault or short circuit accident occurs, a closed electrical circuit may form, and current may continue to flow. Therefore, even if you open the electric circuit in the connection box or stop the inverter, risk of electrical shock or fire remains. In order to prevent electric shock, it is necessary to reduce the voltage to, for example, 60 V or less. Methods for this include shielding the solar cells from light and using MLPE (Module Level Power Electronics) in which equipment is attached to each solar cell module.” SolarEdge improves on basic MLPE system safety We often say that safety is part of the SolarEdge DNA. When SolarEdge split the functionality of the inverter with the invention of the Power Optimizer, the key motivator was to make sure each module performs at its maximum potential But another equally important goal was increased system safety. Essentially, SolarEdge designs for safety, taking optimal advantage of MLPE with these features: SafeDC™ and Rapid Shutdown SafeDC™, integrated into every SolarEdge system, automatically brings the system to a touch-safe voltage level whenever the inverter is shut down. Why is this important? In conventional solar systems, shutting the inverter down with a safety switch or other device leaves high voltage on the modules and in the cabling as long as the sun is shining. In a SolarEdge system with SafeDC™, each panel is quickly reduced to 1V during grid failures or AC power shutdown, removing the risk of electric shock to maintenance workers, farmers or first responders. The feature also prevents secondary events. For example, if cabling has lost some insulation and an arc develops, SafeDC™ will operate automatically and prevent the arc from becoming a safety hazard. This is the only feature on the market that can handle such events. Sense Connect Sense Connect is one of the most significant safety features in the SolarEdge safety suite, embedded in S-Series Power Optimizers. They are designed to prevent arcs from forming. Before an arc can develop, the temperature in the connector will increase. Sense Connect is able to detect that change of temperature and alert the inverter to shut off. Coupled with the SolarEdge Monitoring Platform that indicates the location of the fault, this early warning system helps keep agrivoltaic installations safe. Temperature sensing in SolarEdge inverters enables monitoring the AC and DC side interface installation as well as aids in detecting bad connections before they turn into an arc. When abnormal temperatures are detected, the system will even shut down the inverter. Temperature sensing in inverter and Smart Reconnect Mechanism SolarEdge inverters are also equipped with temperature sensing to help identify a hazard and prevent it from escalating. Temperature sensing in SolarEdge inverters enables monitoring the AC and DC side interface installation as well as aids in detecting bad connections before they turn into an arc. When abnormal temperatures are detected, the system will even shut down the inverter. The smart reconnect mechanism can get the inverter up and working when safe, for minimal system downtime. Other important Agri-PV best practices for safety In addition to critical site protection as described above, several other practices should be adopted to keep Agri-PV safe. Signage Sometimes low tech is critical. Installing signs around the site can help maintain awareness of the installation and remind farmers and other site visitors to pay attention to their environment in order to protect themselves, the installation and crops. Cable placement Cables can be buried deep in the ground in order to keep them safe from roaming animals or machinery (and to keep the animals and machinery safe from them). Of course, plant roots and irrigation needs must be taken into consideration when determining placement. According to an Indian study, cabling for most of their pilot projects was installed overhead to avoid interaction with it. They concluded that it’s important to ensure that the overhead cables remain taut. Module height Placing modules at specific a height over the crops is important for ensuring plant crop health but also to keep the machinery safe. What’s the next step? When safety issues are addressed in the planning stages of an Agri-PV installation, the addition of solar energy production to an agricultural site can be an excellent opportunity for farmers to extract more value and profit from their land.
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Large Scale Solar
Typhoons, Floods, Sandstorms and Birds: SolarEdge Overcomes Large-Scale Solar Challenges in Taiwan
Gilah Krausz Nevo | June 19, 2023
  Constructing a vast ground mounted solar system and making it financially viable is hard enough. Add another layer of threats from Mother Nature and you’ve got a mega challenge. One sizzling hot example of this is a large-scale ground mounted PV plant that was recently installed at an abandoned salt production site in Taiwan using SolarEdge PV solutions. The plant has installed  77 MW of solar arrays— the size of 78 soccer fields. But besides  its considerable size, its location presents one of the world’s most challenging environments for solar. Typhoons and heavy rains lash the island each year, causing severe flooding and pounding it with strong sea winds that carry sand, dust and salt. And when the rain subsides, huge migratory seabirds flock to the wetlands. SolarEdge stepped up to the plate to overcome these extremely difficult conditions. The Big Idea of Large-Scale Solar Solar farms are emerging in all shapes and sizes, as solar PV becomes the lowest-cost option for new electricity generation in most of the world. One of the main types of solar installations increasing in popularity is the large-scale ground mounted solar farm. Ground-mounted PV plants are generally divided into categories according to the amount of power they can produce: Large-scale commercial: Over 1 MW Medium commercial: 100.1 kW-1 MW Small commercial: 10.1-100 kW   78 Soccer Fields of PV Power Shinfox Energy, an investment firm in Taiwan focusing on renewable energy, is a subsidiary of the Foxlink group which builds and provides O&M services for renewable power plants. Shinfox recently signed a 20-year lease agreement for a vast piece of land owned by the Taiwanese government, as part of Taiwan’s Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) incentive program. The plot, near the popular scenic spot of Qigu Mountain just outside of Tainan City, spans more than 550,000 square meters. What was once the site of a 300-year-old abandoned salt production plant is now a 77 MW large-scale commercial solar site that produces renewable electricity (see Case Study). This green electricity will be sold to the utility company for 20 years of dependable revenue. Reduced Module Mismatch Effects and More Energy When Shinfox decided to finance the project, they looked for a PV solution that could yield maximum energy output, minimize operating costs, and keep service crews safe. Finding a solar energy system that could deliver the most amount of electricity at such a large site was easier said than done, given the typically high module mismatch rate. Tens of thousands of modules meant potentially significant revenue loss. The SolarEdge DC-optimized solution was chosen for its proven ability to maximize energy yield by minimizing power losses caused by module mismatch. The SolarEdge inverters and Power Optimizers continuously track MPPs (Maximum Power Points) and adjust current and voltage at module level. With this built-in module mismatch mitigation mechanism, underperforming modules don’t affect other modules on the same string, which results in higher energy production. By contrast, with central or traditional string inverters, underperforming modules reduce the output of all other modules on the string. SolarEdge addressed several module-mismatch scenarios related to Taiwan’s weather and environment: Partial shading from clouds, dust, salt and sand carried by the South China Sea winds, especially during tropical cyclones, all accumulate on the panels and over time reduce their performance. Another stubborn and aggressive form of soiling comes from birds, due to the plant’s location along a main migration route. Thermal mismatch: The lower the temperature of the module’s surface, the greater its output, which can affect output efficiency by as much as 10-25%. Each module’s temperature can differ according to its position on the row. Uneven module aging: Over the 20-year FIT period, normal wear and tear will inevitably degrade each module at different rates, which increases mismatch power losses. Most module manufacturers specify that during the warranty period, degradation reduces the power output of each module by as much as 20%. The drops in output cause mismatches in a string, which could lead to inconsistent production. Micro-cracks: With fluctuating temperatures and heavy winds, modules are subjected to thermal and mechanical stress, which can cause micro-fractures in the silicon wafers, decreasing power generation.   Remote, At-a-Glance Troubleshooting Saves O&M Costs   Maintaining the modules was another major concern for Shinfox, which needed to secure the highest long-term return on their investment. To do that, they had to minimize operating costs. Typically, thermal imaging drone cameras are used at large solar sites for inspecting and diagnosing PV panels. SolarEdge avoided these high expenses, saving potentially up to 50% in overall O&M costs. The SolarEdge Monitoring Platform, accessed remotely from any computer, receives granular data from the Power Optimizers, each automatically tracking the performance of every four modules and of the inverters. By receiving real time notifications, O&M personnel can quickly pinpoint faulty modules and troubleshoot remotely, which translates into fewer and shorter site visits. The modular design of the Three Phase inverter with Synergy technology saved further costs. If one inverter unit should fail, the others are unaffected and will continue to operate independently until the faulty unit is replaced. These units are lightweight, requiring only two people to lift them, making forklifts unnecessary. SolarEdge also saved more on DC cabling and combiner boxes by supporting as many as 60 modules per string. This reduces incidents of insulation faults associated with moisture (which is common in warm and humid climates), resulting potentially in up to 40% increase of BOS savings. Keeping People and Assets Safe During the Rainy Season   Service crew safety was a top priority, especially because of the heavy rainstorms that cause flooding during the East Asian rainy and typhoon season when the site turns into a huge retention pond. While the basin helps limit overflowing of the surrounding streams, floodwater reaching knee level or higher could pose a serious electrical hazard to maintenance crews. SolarEdge technology, safe and reliable by design, complies with stringent international safety standards. The SolarEdge IP65-rated inverters are water and humidity resistant with a wide temperature range, and they comply with the UL 1699B standard for Arc Fault Circuit Protection. In addition, the built-in SafeDC™ feature can automatically reduce the output voltage of each module to a touch-safe level of 1V within up to 5 minutes, providing extra protection to maintenance and firefighting crews. The automatic Arc Fault Detection prompts the inverter to shut down when an arc fault is detected, reducing the risk of fire due to faulty or improperly connected cables. Sunny Future Ahead for Supersized Solar Farms Net zero is the internationally agreed upon goal to reduce global warming by the second half of this century. The IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) concluded the need to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C. To achieve this important goal urgent action is needed, and in the energy sector this will require major transitions. The world will have to generate on average 25% more solar PV each year from 2022 to 2030. That’s a serious undertaking, given the limited available areas that are suitable for large-scale solar farms. One solution will be to utilize areas with sub-optimal soil and weather conditions for large-scale ground mount solar farms. SolarEdge, in addition to its installations in Taiwan, has vast experience in large-scale PV all over the world, such as in the U.S., the Netherlands, Poland, Japan, Turkey and Israel.
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