Solar Integration: Inverters and Grid Services Basics
An inverter is one of the most important pieces of equipment in a solar energy system. It''s a device that converts direct current (DC) electricity,
Figure 1 shows typical power line communication options implemented in different solar installations. These installations can be divided into communication on DC lines (red) and communication on AC lines (blue).
highlight of this chain is the MV-inverter station, which comprises the switchgear, transformer, and inverter. With its broad portfolio of switchgear, Siemens offers the right solution for any application – reliable and maintenance-free, for any climate.
In order to provide grid services, inverters need to have sources of power that they can control. This could be either generation, such as a solar panel that is currently producing electricity, or storage, like a battery system that can be used to provide power that was previously stored.
In a large-scale utility plant or mid-scale community solar project, every solar panel might be attached to a single central inverter. String inverters connect a set of panels—a string—to one inverter. That inverter converts the power produced by the entire string to AC.
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