Schneider Electric pulls out of utility-scale PV business

The French power electronics specialist is pulling out of the utility-scale segment to strengthen its profile in the residential and C&I space.
The French company has announced a switch in focus for its PV offering. | Image: Yann Caradec/Flickr

French multinational Schneider Electric has confirmed to pv magazine it will pull out of the utility scale PV inverter business. In response to inquiries about the matter, a company spokesperson said: “After a careful analysis of the renewables market, Schneider Electric has updated its strategy.”

To date, the company has been active in all PV market segments. In utility scale, Schneider has two central inverter solutions: the Conext Core XC 1000V and Conext SmartGen 1500V systems. Additionally, Schneider offers string inverters for its utility-scale business with 60 kW and 125-kW ratings at a voltage of 1,000 V and 1,500 V, respectively.

Schneider also provides large-scale storage solutions and a range of power electronics such as LV Switchboards and the PV Minera transformer for substations, as well as integrated substation solutions. The PV Box product combining an inverter, combiner box, MV/LV-transformer and switchgear in an integrated container could also be pulled from the market in the wake of the strategic change of focus. According to company information, the product was initially designed for commercial and industrial and utility scale plants, with smaller options of 500 kW and 750 kW available.

Still in the PV game

“Schneider Electric will stop serving the utility scale segment,” the company spokesperson said. However, that does not mean farewell to the entire PV market. Schneider said it is seeking to position itself in the “renewables space towards the residential and C&I segments, leveraging the full Ecostruxxure portfolio”, in reference to the company’s internet of things platform.

Regarding current projects and associated services, the spokesperson stressed all commitments will be “maintained and fulfilled”. In December, Schneider announced it would deliver its Conext SmartGen central inverters and provide operations and maintenance services to the 45 MW Minami and 70 MW Bizen projects in Japan. Construction on both projects is scheduled to start this year.

In terms of distributed generation, Schneider offers a range of solutions for mining and other C&I applications as well as for island and mini-grids. It believes such applications leverage its Ecostruxxure platform.

This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].

Written by

Comments

» Schneider Electric launches off-grid-capable solar charge controller – pv magazine Internationalsolarequipmentinstaller.com
Oct 08, 2020

[…] is the ability to keep loads running during power outages—a point which power electronics company Schneider Electric‘s newest product claims to improve […]

» The best string configurations to avoid mismatch losses from rooftop PV shading – pv magazine Internationalsolarequipmentinstaller.com
Mar 18, 2020

[…] particular analysis is not limited to SMA inverters … this can easily be extended to Schneider, Huawei, Fronius and other inverter companies,” the researchers stated. “The focus is limited […]

» Solar NGO Electriciens sans frontières awarded Zayed energy prize – pv magazine Internationalsolarequipmentinstaller.com
Jan 13, 2020

[…] involved in installing 75 solar street lamps. The project was rolled out with French multinational Schneider Electric. Some 22 locals were trained in solar installation and maintenance as part of the […]

Wood Mackenzie expects more consolidation in inverter business – pv magazine USA
Aug 08, 2019

[…] The authors of the report also pointed to complicating factors such as the sale of ABB’s inverter business to Italy’s Fimer and the Schneider Electric’s exit from the large-scale inverter business. […]

ABB to Exit Solar Inverter Business, at a Cost of $470M
Jul 10, 2019

[…] in March, Schneider Electric confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business, to reposition toward the residential and commercial and industrial segments, as well as its […]

ABB to Exit Solar Inverter Business, at a Cost of $470M – One Mile Up Solar
Jul 10, 2019

[…] in March, Schneider Electric confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business, to reposition toward the residential and commercial and industrial segments, as well as its […]

ABB to Exit Solar Inverter Business, at a Cost of $470M | Industry news
Jul 10, 2019

[…] in March, Schneider Electric confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business, to reposition toward the residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) segments, as well as […]

ABB to Exit Solar Inverter Business, at a Cost of $470M | Strategic Solar Group
Jul 10, 2019

[…] in March, Schneider Electric confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business, to reposition toward the residential and commercial and industrial segments, as well as its […]

ABB to Exit Solar Inverter Business, at a Cost of $470M | Ecology Way
Jul 10, 2019

[…] in March, Schneider Electric confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business, to reposition toward the residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) segments, as well as […]

ABB to Exit Solar Inverter Business, at a Cost of $470M – Solar Power News
Jul 10, 2019

[…] in March,” Schneider Electric affirmed it is exiting the utility-scale inverter company , to reposition supporting both commercial and residential and industrial (C&I) segments, as […]

ABB to Exit Solar Inverter Business, at a Cost of $470M • My Capital Market
Jul 10, 2019

[…] in March, Schneider Electric confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business, to reposition toward the residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) segments, as well as […]

» What Recent PV Inverter Headlines Say About the Evolving Market Landscape – Greentech MediaSolar Equipment Installer
May 12, 2019

[…] third piece of news came from Schneider Electric, which finally confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business. The company is repositioning itself toward the residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) […]

What Recent PV Inverter Headlines Say About the Evolving Market Landscape | Strategic Solar Group
Mar 12, 2019

[…] third piece of news came from Schneider Electric, which finally confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business. The company is repositioning itself toward the residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) […]

What Recent PV Inverter Headlines Say About the Evolving Market Landscape
Mar 11, 2019

[…] third piece of news came from Schneider Electric, which finally confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business. The company is repositioning itself toward the residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) […]

What Recent PV Inverter Headlines Say About the Evolving Market Landscape • My Capital Market
Mar 11, 2019

[…] third piece of news came from Schneider Electric, which finally confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business. The company is repositioning itself toward the residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) […]

» What Recent PV Inverter Headlines Say About the Evolving Market Landscape – Greentech Media NewsSolar Equipment Installer
Mar 11, 2019

[…] third piece of news came from Schneider Electric, which finally confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business. The company is repositioning itself towards the residential and commercial and industrial […]

What Recent PV Inverter Headlines Say About the Evolving Market Landscape – German Jamison
Mar 11, 2019

[…] third piece of news came from Schneider Electric, which finally confirmed that it is exiting the utility-scale inverter business. The company is repositioning itself towards the residential and commercial and industrial […]