Gantner has been selected numerous times to supply complete monitoring solutions for new, large solar power plants in e.g. Egypt, Denmark, Thailand and the Netherlands. In the past 12 months we have repeatedly confirmed our position as a leading global player in utility scale PV industry.
After participating in two 50MW projects in Kazakhstan previously, Gantner will now provide its complete monitoring solution to the biggest solar farm in Central Asia, Saran, expanding its exposure in the country by another 100MW. This includes the Q.reader as data logger and power plant controller, DC combiner boxes, meteo stations and Gantner.webportal, a SCADA system.
Thanks to the dropping cost in solar energy production and an increasing global awareness of the advantages of clean energy, we are confident that the recent upward trend in solar industry will continue for several years. Now the application of solar energy is not only justified by its advantages to the environment but has also become economically competitive.
Witnessing significant growth in PV in most geographical regions, the installed assets and investments require reliable and effective data monitoring solutions to meet the rising expectations of the plants’ stakeholders.
A monitoring system should serve to reduce risks for investors and to provide reliable information about O&M, track record and plant performance, as well as provide the ability to control the plant. Optimized PV production certainly leads to increased asset value.
In the following we will guide you through the main components of a monitoring solution emphasizing recent technological challenges and trends.
Combiner boxes (DCBs)
In a photovoltaic system the connection of modules in series to strings is made on the modules themselves, while the parallel connection of the strings is provided inside string combiner boxes (DCBs). DCBs accommodate, along with the interconnection systems, also main switch disconnectors, surge protection devices and components necessary for string protection.
The string combiner boxes can be classified according to the number of strings collected (typically 8 to 32 string inputs), voltage and rated current. Different product types are offered and each can be individually composed according to specific installation conditions.
Gantner is permanently working to further improve its DC combiner boxes. The latest additions are DC combiner boxes engineered for the Australian market, with three parallel string inputs, 50A fuses and DC main switches, which comply with the Australian standard AS5033.
In terms of the technological development we expect the final breakthrough of plants with 1500V DC system voltage, which enables higher power output capability by up to 50 percent, thus decreasing system losses and balance-of-plant costs. The application of higher voltages affects the solution design as well as insulation requirements. Components need to ensure safe processing of 1500 V DC power, as well as reduced power losses, reduced number of poles, integrated heat dissipating and advanced arc extinguishing technologies.
