Transcript Slide 1

Smart Panels – The future of
Photovoltaic Systems
Lior Handelsman, VP Product Strategy
and Business Development, Founder
July 29th, 2011
What is solar energy?
The solar system elements
The distributed architecture approach
SolarEdge Confidential
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www.solaredge.com
Smart Panels – The future of
Photovoltaic Systems
Lior Handelsman, VP Product Strategy
and Business Development, Founder
July 29th, 2011
What is solar energy?
The solar system elements
The distributed architecture approach
SolarEdge Confidential
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www.solaredge.com
Some Benefits of Solar Electricity
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Energy independence
Environmentally friendly
“Fuel” is already delivered free everywhere
Minimal maintenance
Maximum reliability
Reduce vulnerability to power loss
Systems are easily expanded
Cost steadily decreasing
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The Natural Resource – The Sun’s Irradiance
 The total solar energy absorbed by
Earth's atmosphere, oceans and
land: 3,850,000 ExaJoules per year
 In 2002, this was more energy in
one hour than the world used in
one year.
 In one year: twice as much as will
ever be obtained from all of the
Earth's non-renewable resources
of coal, oil, natural gas, and mined
uranium combined.
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Solar Energy Technologies
 Photovoltaic systems (photo = light; voltaic = produces voltage)
convert light into electricity using semi-conductor technology
 Thermal Power systems use the sun’s radiation to produce heat
which is then converted to electricity
SolarEdge Confidential
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Smart Panels – The future of
Photovoltaic Systems
Lior Handelsman, VP Product Strategy
and Business Development, Founder
July 29th, 2011
What is solar energy?
The solar system elements
The distributed architecture approach
SolarEdge Confidential
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www.solaredge.com
The Photovoltaic Effect
 Photons hitting a silicon mass free electrons from silicon atoms
 The freed electrons have extra energy, or “voltage”
 An internal electric field pushes the electrons to the top of the
silicon mass
 Electric current flows to other masses
or to the load
 The silicon masses never run out of
electrons
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Solar Cells
 Solar cells are thin wafers of silicon –
similar to computer chips but much
bigger and much cheaper.
 Silicon is abundant (sand), non-toxic
and safe
 The photons carry energy into the cell,
and the cells convert this energy into
current according to the photovoltaic
effect (the cells do not store energy)
 PV cell – definition: the basic
photovoltaic device that is the
building block for PV modules.
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Connecting cells to create a module (Panel)
 One silicon solar cell produces 0.5V
 36 cells connected together have
enough voltage to charge 12 volt
batteries and run pumps and motors
 72-cell modules are the new standard
for grid-connected systems having a
nominal voltage of 24V and operating at
about 30V
 PV module (panel) – definition: a group of PV cells connected in
series and/or parallel and encapsulated in an environmentally
protective casing.
 A module is the basic building block of PV systems
 Modules can be connected together to achieve any power
configuration
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SolarEdge Confidential
Photovoltaic Module Technologies
 Crystalline Silicon: The most common type of PV modules is that
made of c-Si cells
 Thin Film: made by depositing one or more thin layers (thin film)
of photovoltaic material on a substrate
 CPV - Concentrated Photovoltaics: lenses or mirrors and tracking
systems are used to concentrate the sun rays onto photovoltaic
modules
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What is an Inverter?
 Grid-Connected Inverters:
 Perform Maximum Power Point Tracking
(MPPT)
 Invert PV modules’ DC electricity to Grid
compliant AC electricity
 Operate only in conjunction with the
electric utility, synchronizing the output
phase, frequency and voltage with the
utility.
 Stand-Alone (Off-Grid) Inverters: Operate
from batteries, independent of the electric
utility.
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Inverter Characteristics
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DC Voltage ratings (130v – 1000v)
Power ratings (1kW – 1MW)
Efficiency (91% - 98%)
Grid Code Compliance (EU, NA, IL, JP…)
Grounding (Transformer / Transformeless)
Single / Three phase
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Residential / Farm house
PV “neighborhood”, Freiburg, Germany (5kW)
Cowshed, Israel (50kW)
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Commercial Buildings
Google HQ, USA (1.6MW)
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Utility Scale Solar Plant
Waldpolenz, Germany (40MW)
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Smart Panels – The future of
Photovoltaic Systems
Lior Handelsman, VP Product Strategy
and Business Development, Founder
July 29th, 2011
What is solar energy?
The solar system elements
The distributed architecture approach
SolarEdge Confidential
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www.solaredge.com
Traditional solar systems are like a multi-rider
bicycle with a shared chain…
The speed is limited by the performance of the weakest rider…
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Traditional Solar System
In traditional solar
systems panels are
Inter-dependant:
the inverter limits the
Current according to
the weakest panel in
The string
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How can we avoid “the weakest link” in the chain?
With personal transmission gear, each rider can maximize his
own potential, so the bicycle rides faster!
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Distributed Solar Power Harvesting System
In a distributed power
harvesting system Power
Optimizers optimize each
panel individually, so
stronger panels are no
longer limited by weaker or
shaded panels
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Inherent Problems of Traditional Inverters
Energy Loss
Module to Module Mismatch
Partial Shading
Under Voltage / Over Voltage
Dynamic MPPT Loss
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Inherent Problems of Traditional Inverters
Other Known System Drawbacks
Limited Monitoring
Limited Roof Utilization
Fire and Electrocution Hazards
Theft
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The Solution
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SolarEdge System Overview
 Module level monitoring
 Module level optimization
 Fixed voltage - ideal installation  Enhanced safety solution
Power Optimizer
Inverter
Monitoring Portal
Monitoring Server
©2011 SolarEdge
Internet
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1st Pillar – Module Level Optimization
Based on two self developed propriety ASICs SolarEdge designed
panel level optimizer which perform:
 Per-module Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)
 Advanced, real-time performance measurement
 Automatic Module shut-down for installer and firefighter safety
SolarEdge optimizer can be embedded by module manufacturers, or
connected by installers to any crystalized silicon and thin-film
module
©2011 SolarEdge
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2nd Pillar - Fixed String Voltage
String voltage is always fixed, regardless of temperature and string
length
 Easy to design. No string sizing
 Longer strings for savings on wiring and BoS
components
 Flexible design for maximum roof utilization:
⁻ Parallel strings of unequal lengths
⁻ Modules on multiple roof facets
⁻ Modules with different power ratings
String voltage is always optimal for DC/AC conversion
 Prevention of under/over voltage situations
 High inversion efficiency at all times
 Inverter components cost reduction
©2011 SolarEdge
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3rd Pillar – Fix Voltage Inverter
 Inverters specifically designed for power optimizers
 98% maximum efficiency
 Simpler design lead to Highest reliability at the minimal cost
 Built-in communication hardware
Single phase inverters
3kW – 6kW
Three phase inverters
7kW –©2011
12.5kW
SolarEdge
North America –
Single phase inverters
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3.3kW – 7kW
4th Pillar - Module-Level Monitoring
Automatic, accurate fault detection
 Faults located on site map
 No additional wiring
 Web and iPhone applications
The Result:
 Remote Diagnostics
 Operations and Maintenance cost reduction
 Increased system availability and production
 Proactive customer service
Click to watch on:
©2011 SolarEdge
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5th Pillar – Full Safety Solution
Electrocution Prevention & Fire Safety
 SafeDC™: Automatic module DC shutdown when inverter is not
operating
 Module and Inverter thermal shutdown
 Electric arcs are automatically detected by the new SolarEdge
power optimizers
The Result:
 Higher security for Installers, maintenance
teams, and firefighters
 Improved asset protection - roof, solar system
 Better suited for future insurance requirements
Click to watch on:
©2011 SolarEdge
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Unique Theft Prevention Solution
Stolen Module “Immobilization”
Stolen modules with embedded PowerBox can be digitally
locked to prevent re-use
Result:
Theft deterrence protects
your PV assets at no added cost
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Case Study:
London Olympics
Car park
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Car Park Comparative Analysis
 The PVsyst simulation software was used to analyze the possible system
design and energy yield of two systems:
 A traditional system using Sputnik SolarMax 30C inverters
 A SolarEdge system using Add On PowerBoxes and 3-phase inverters
 The physical layout (roof design, module tilt, height and distance) and
traditional inverter selection were done according to customer specifications.
 Wiring needs were calculated for both cases
 Yingli YL235P-29b 235Wp modules
 954 modules x 235Wp = 224.2 kWp
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Shading Simulation
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System Design
SolarEdge
SolarMax
Inverters
17 x SE12k
8 x SolarMax 30C
Modules per string
28 / 29
19 / 20
Strings per inverter
2
6
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SolarEdge Site Layout
 Inverters are located at the end of the rows for convenient access
cable entrance
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SolarMax Site Layout
 Combiner Boxes are located at the end of the rows
 12 strings per Box
cable entrance
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PVsyst Energy Calculation
SolarEdge
SolarMax
SMA
SolarMax
SolarEdge
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SolarEdge Benefits
SolarEdge
SolarMax
Peak power
224.2 kWp
224.2 kWp
Combiner Boxes
DC - 0, AC - 1
DC - 4, AC - 1
Wiring
815m (4mm2DC)+
+928m (AC)
2673m (4mm2 DC)
+176m (12mm2 DC)
Shading loss
2.5%
8.4%
Annual AC energy 184 MWh (+10%)
167 MWh
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Car Park Comparative Analysis, Shading Avoidance
 In the same field we increase the distance between module rows and remove
modules that are subject to shading from the lift shafts for a large portion of
the day, to obtain a system with little shading.
 Significantly decreasing the shading required eliminating 55% of the modules;,
the installation is still not shading-free.
 Yingli YL235P-29b 235Wp modules
 420 modules x 235Wp = 98.7 kWp
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Shading Simulation
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System Design
SolarEdge
SolarMax
Inverters
8 x SE12k
3 x SolarMax 30C
Modules per string
26 / 27 / 49
20
Strings per inverter
2/1
7
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PVsyst Energy Calculation
SolarEdge
SolarMax
SolarMax
SolarEdge
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SolarEdge Benefits
SolarEdge
SolarMax
Peak power
98.7 kWp
98.7 kWp
Shading loss
1%
4.5%
Annual AC energy
82 MWh (+6.5%)
77 MWh
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SolarEdge Mission
Distributed power harvesting and
inversion systems that revolutionize
solar energy harvesting by providing:
 Up to 25% more energy
 Optimal site-area utilization at reduced cost
 Real-time panel-level web monitoring
 Unique electrocution prevention and fire safety
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SolarEdge at a Glance
 Founded in late 2006
 150 employees. Offices in Germany, California, Japan and Italy
 Over 65 patents filed, 4 granted
 $ 59M raised from Lightspeed VP, Walden International, Opus
Capital, Genesis Partners, Vertex Capital and GE
 Thousands of installations worldwide
 50 MW of products shipped during 2010 (250K Optimizers)
 Expecting to ship over 150MW of products during 2011 (above
750K Optimizers)
©2011 SolarEdge
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Strategic Alliances with Panel Manufacturers and Installers
Worldwide
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Mass Production
Agreements with Two WW Contract
Manufacturers
2010: 250,000 of Optimizer units were
shipped (50MW)
2011: over 750,000 to be shipped
(>150MW)
©2011 SolarEdge
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Value Proposition Summary
 The only commercially available solution to solve all following
pressing needs, while reducing the cost of energy
Maximum Energy Gain
Ground mounted system: 2-5%, commercial 2-10%, residential 2-25%
Constraint-free site design
Optimal site-area utilization at reduced cost
Real-time module-level web monitoring
Increased uptime and remote maintenance
Automatic module shut-down
Unique electrocution prevention and fire safety
©2011 SolarEdge
Module theft detection
and immobilization
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Thank you
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SolarEdgePV
Blog:
www.solaredge.com/blog
Website:
www.solaredge.com
©2011 SolarEdge
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