The existing Conergy IPG C family with 200 and 300 kilowatt (AC) devices is now getting a big brother: the IPG 350C is the same size but even more powerful. The whole family is up to two percentage points above most of the competitors devices with a peak efficiency level of 98.7 percent and a European efficiency level of 98.5 percent, making them some of the best products on the market.
The integrated generator junction box saves on space, installation time and installation costs. And this muscleman is easy to get started: the installer just programmes in all the necessary regional grid parameters via its large, colour touchscreen, ensuring smooth operation in all European countries.
Conergy's central inverter series has also gained a new half-brother, the IPG 250C: this 250 kilowatt inverter is a transformer device, unlike the other inverters of the IPG C family. "With the IPG 350C and 250C we are reacting to the demands of our customers for more powerful devices and the highest possible flexibility", says Conergy's Product Manager Eike Frühbrodt.
"Often different countries have specific requirements. For example, since March we have been offering the Italian market a special inverter with a dry resin transformer with the IPG 250C we are now extending our portfolio once again and have a tailored solution to suit just about every country."
The whole IPG C family complies with all the requirements of the German Renewable Energies Act (EEG) and medium voltage regulations, so that smooth commissioning can be guaranteed.
The EEG regulations on output reduction which came into force on January 1, 2011 place two demands on solar power plants, and hence also on inverters: remotely controlled output regulation in the event of a grid failure and the cosine phi regulation which governs the real power and reactive power which is fed in.
In addition, the medium voltage regulations stipulate that the inverter can no longer just shot off as it did in the past in the event of a grid failure such as a short-circuit. "The device has to feed energy into the grid, even though the grid is not able to accept it", continues Frühbrodt. "In this way the devices support the grid dynamically and maintain it artificially by feeding in reactive power."
This places a lot of pressure on the components, particularly the inverter. This is why the IPG C inverter is fitted with highly effective ventilation and cooling systems to ensure a long life even under extreme conditions.
The solar experts also only use components which can withstand very high temperatures. This is why the IPG C devices do not necessarily need an additional undershelf for cooling but can be placed directly on the ground due to their good ventilation and cooling properties. This ensures that the device is kept cool but also that it is easy to assemble and not expensive to install.
