How to Optimize your
Solar Business with SolarEdge
RE06
Optimize Your Business
• Maximize System
Size
• Flexible Design
• Less Truck Rolls
• Comprehensive
Service
Bouygues Construction
State of the PV Industry
Industry Climate
• Industry Growth
continues
• Non Utility
markets healthy
and expected to
growth in future
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
Residential
Non Residential
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2012 2013 2014
Growth In Select US Markets MW
Pricing Pressure
$4.0
$4.2
$4.4
$4.6
$4.8
$5.0
$5.2
$5.4
$5.6
$5.8
$6.0$/w
• Prices are going
down
• Since Q1 2012, -
25% drop in PV
system prices
$0.0
$/Wdc
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2012 2013 2014
$/W Pricing Trends Reported
Cost Breakdown of Modern PV
• Inverters Only 10% of System
• Nearly 50% of System is “Soft Cost”
– Overhead, Customer Acquisition
– Design, Engineering
– Permitting, Inspection
– Margin
• Margin on 6kW array is ~$3,000
– $100 is significant % of margin
– $1000 is critical Modules Inverter
Electrical Structural
Direct labor Engineering, Permitting, Inspection
Supply Chain, Overhead Margin
Changing the Industry Through
Topology
Inverter Topologies 2010
All inverters perform 2 tasks: 1. Extract Energy (MPPT) 2. DC/AC Inversion
Micro Inverter String Inverter
String-Level
Extract Energy
DC/ AC Inversio
n
Module-Level
Extract Energy
DC/ AC Inversio
n
Inverter Topologies 2010 Micro Inverter String Inverter
String-Level
Extract Energy
DC/ AC Inversion
$
Module-Level
Extract Energy
DC/ AC Inversion
$$
Inverter Topologies Today
Micro Inverter String Inverter
String-Level
Extract Energy
DC/ AC Inversion
$
Module-Level
Extract Energy
DC/ AC Inversion
$$
Optimized Inverter
DC/ AC Inversion
$ Extract Energy
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2012 2013 2014
Change in Product Mix
• 2/3 of installs
use MLPE – MLPE= Module Level Power
Electronics (Micro Inverters,
Power Optimizers)
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Traditional MLPE
0%
Move to Module Level Power Electronics %MS
SolarEdge Residential System
Power Optimizer
Inverter 3-11.4kW
Monitoring
SolarEdge Commercial System
Monitoring Communication and Control Gateway Firefighter Gateway
Inverter 9kW – 20kW
Power Optimizer 2:1 configuration
SolarEdge Overview
25%+ Market Share in the US Residential Market
3rd Largest inverter supplier to the US Residential market
85% Market Share of Global DC Optimizer Market
4.6M optimizers & 200k inverters representing 1.2GW+ power
Residential, Commercial, and Utility solutions
US Headquarters in Silicon Valley, California
Benefits Explained
More Energy with SolarEdge
Implications of String Current
• All modules in a strings operate at the same current
• Lower current modules either:
– Lower output of the entire string
– … Or are bypassed
100% 100% 100% 100%
Traditional String Inverter
Rule 1: Single current for the entire string
Power Loss In Traditional Inverters
• Light and temp affect output
– Current varies with light
– Voltage varies with temp
50% 50% 50%
Traditional String Inverter
Rule 2: Less light for 1 module drives down the string
50%
More Power with SolarEdge
Traditional String Inverter
SolarEdge frees the modules to produce maximum power They are no longer affected by neighboring modules
SolarEdge Optimized Inverter
More Energy By Design
Power optimizers enable installation of:
Modules in partially shaded areas
Strings of uneven lengths
Strings in multiple orientations and different roof facets
More modules on the roof
More power & Revenue Traditional inverter: 149.5 kW DC SolarEdge: 228 kW DC
Flexible Design
What is “Power”?
Current (I-Amps)
Voltage (V-Volts)
Power (W-Watts) =
Module Power Components
Voltage* Current* Power
35 V
7 A
245W
Module Power (input): Voltage and current depend on module & environment
*at maximum power
Module Power vs. Optimized Power
Voltage* Current* Power
35 V
7 A
245W
Module Power (input): Voltage and current depend on module & environment
*at maximum power
17.5V
14 A
Optimized Power (output): Can vary the voltage and current but yield the same power
245W
Voltage lower by 50%
Current higher by 200%
Power is the same
SolarEdge Solution
Single Stage Current Source Soft Switching Input Voltage Independent Loop
~
Single stage Power Source MPPT Independent Loop
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
SolarEdge Solution - Example
~ 5.7A
5.7A
Input voltage (regulated by loop): 350V Input current = 2000W / 350V = 5.7A
MPP Voltage (example) = 32v MPP Current = 200W / 32v = 6.25A
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Module Power = 200W
Total System Power = 2000W
SolarEdge Solution - Example
~ 5.7A
5.7A
35V
35V
35V
35V
Output voltage: 200W / 5.7 A = 35V
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
SolarEdge Solution - Example
~ 5.26A
5.26A
Total System Power = 1840W
Input voltage (regulated by loop): 350V Input current = 1840W / 350V = 5.26A
MPP Voltage (example) = 28v MPP Current = 40W / 28v = 1.43A
MPP Voltage (example) = 32v MPP Current = 200W / 32v = 6.25A
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
40W
SolarEdge Solution - Example
~ 5.26A
5.26A
38V
7.6V
38V
Output voltage: 200W / 5.26A = 38V
Output voltage: 40W / 5.26A = 7.6V
40W
38V
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
Power Optimizer
More Power per String (600V)
21 modules
13 modules
60% longer strings means lower BOS costs: less wiring, combiner boxes and fuses
More Power per String
(Commercial)
12,750 Watts / string (480 Vac grid)
Simpler System Design
Typical String Inverter SolarEdge
Limited string length (3k) Up to 5,250 W per string (240Vac)
Must match string lengths* Uneven strings work in parallel
Shaded modules affect entire string Only shaded modules are affected
Cannot mix modules types Can mix module size, bin and type
Locked in to same orientation/tilt* Any orientation/ tilt
* per MPP tracker
Cost Effective Maintenance
Lower O&M
• FREE Module level monitoring 25 years
• Pin point alerts for faster maintenance: “Know before you go”
• Email alerts for array issues
• Module issues don’t drive down string performance
• Quicker, lower cost inverter service than with micro inverters
Detect More Faults
1: Panel no. 17 in string 1 of inverter 3 is producing less power
Step 2: View power of panel no. 17 compared to others in string chart view
Step 3: Viewing voltage shows lower voltage for panel no. 17 compared to other panels in string. Likely reason: failed diode
Enhanced Safety
SolarEdge SafeDC™ Solution
• Optimizers and dc cables drop to 1 Vdc if inverter is off
• Array is de-energized to <30 Vdc
• No high Vdc during installation, maintenance or firefighting.
• Integrated Arc Fault Protection (Type 1) for NEC 2011 690.11
• Rapid Shutdown functionality available for NEC 2014 690.12
Courtesy of Eco Solar
SafeDC Solution
1V 1V
1V
1V
1V
1V
1V 1V
1V
9 Volts = 9 Modules
The Bottom Line
• Increase Revenue: More modules per rooftop;
Premium system sales without the premium
system cost
• Decrease Expenses: Lower BOS costs: Lower
design costs
• Mitigate Risks: minimal electronics on the
rooftop; “Know before you go” monitoring; 25 yr
warranty on optimizers; 12 yr warranty on
inverters (low cost upgrade to 20/25)
“With SolarEdge, we were able to install 25% more modules in areas that would not have made economic sense for a traditional string inverter.” -Josh Mason HEC
More Energy - Shading Tolerance
Microinverters: narrow operating range, lower shading
tolerance
SolarEdge: wide operating range, higher shading tolerance V
OLT
AG
E TR
AC
KIN
G R
AN
GE
More power recouped from partially shaded modules
Voltage <18V
Voltage <9V
Voltage = 27V
Min 8V
Max 48V
Min 22V
Max 36V
Min 27V
Max 39V
Flexibility - Modules Compatibility
SolarEdge support all types of modules
Microinverters ONLY 60
cell modules
60 Cell Modules 72 Cell 96 Cell SunPower
NE & X21 Series
Thin Film
A leading Micro-Inverter
includes 466 components
Reliability – Number of
Components
• A SolarEdge power
optimizer includes 186
components
There are 250% more components in a Micro-Inverter than a SolarEdge power optimizer
SolarEdge power optimizers - PCB Leading Micro-Inverter - PCB
Images to scale
Reliability – Component Selection
• SolarEdge power optimizers use ceramic capacitors which are more reliable
then electrolytic capacitors used by Micro-Inverters
• SolarEdge power optimizers use Application Specific Integrated Circuits
(ASIC) allowing for 1/3 the part count -> reduced failure rate -> extended life
time
SolarEdge system Micro-Inverter
and ASICs
Short lived electrolytic
capacitors & higher part
count
Inverter Cost: 40% to 60% Savings
Micro inverter
SolarEdge Residential
SolarEdge Commercial
Inverter Optimizer
SolarEdge costs include:
Fixed voltage inverter
power optimizers
25 years module-level monitoring
SolarEdge vs. Microinverters
Energy • Better in shading • Better power tracking range • No clipping
Reliability • Simpler design -
60% less parts and components • Solid state capacitors (for optimizers) • DC line communications
Flexibility • Works with most major brand
modules on the market: 60, 72, 96 cell modules, Sunpower, thin film
• String flexibility from 8-25 modules (vs. 1-16)
Cost • 30-50% cost reduction
SolarEdge power optimizers PCB
Leading microinverter PCB
* Picture to scale
Questions