inverter repowering: fundamentals and showcases · inverter repowering: fundamentals and showcases...
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Inverter Repowering: Fundamentals and Showcases O&M and Asset Management Conference 2018
6th December, 2018
we service | new energy
we service | new energy Dec-18 2
Agenda
Introduction to greentech
Introduction to inverter repowering
Case study
Summary
we service | new energy
greentech is an independent service provider for PV assets Our Company in a Nutshell
Dec-18 3
Specialist for PV Operation: O&M and Asset Management
One of the biggest ISP (Independent Service Provider) for
PV O&M and asset management *
600 MW / 200 projects under management
Experienced management and a qualified team of more than
50 employees
Modular and comprehensive service portfolio
High degree of innovation, process and IT-driven business
Active in 12 countries
Hamburg Milton
Keynes
Leipzig
* GTM Research, 2017: “Global Solar PV O&M 2017-2022” Memberships & certification:
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greentech covers all Responsibilities for managing PV assets Three columns of services
Dez-18 4
Full Service Provider
Monitoring
Reporting
Incident Management
Inspection
Maintenance
Testing
Controlling & Reporting
Corrective Maintenance
Module Cleaning
Landscape Management
General Management
Administration
Financial Accounting
Contract Management
Claim Management
Insurance Management
Asset Management Operation & Maintenance
Commercial Advisory
Business Consultancy
Repowering & Optimisation
Service Solutions
Technical Advisory
Component Solutions
Today‘s Focus
we service | new energy Dec-18 5
Component
Solutions
Business
Consultancy
Technical
Advisory
Repowering &
Optimisation
Helping PV companies
and asset owners to
improve their operations
Providing specific and
reliable PV components
for new-build or retrofit
Applying our technical
knowledge to increase
safety and performance
Delivering proven
concepts for increasing
yields and lifetime
Profitable PV projects with the support of an experienced Partner greentech Service Solutions
Increasing service
quality and optimising
the costs-benefit ratio
Commercial
Advisory
Today‘s Focus
we service | new energy Dec-18 6
Agenda
Case study
Summary
Introduction to greentech
Introduction to inverter repowering
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Significant amount of ageing inverters from installed PV Capacity Annual installations
Dec-18 7
Evolution of global annual PV capacity installed between 2000 & 2016
Source: SolarPower Europe: Global Market Outlook
Many inverters installed
Increasing failure rates
Introduction to inverter repowering
Expiring warranties
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Some Manufacturers have left the PV market leaving customers exposed Press clippings
Dec-18 8
Introduction to inverter repowering
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Increasing efficiency of inverters offers potentially higher yields Efficiency and technical development
Dec-18 9
Efficiency Increase
Improved Availability
Introduction to inverter repowering
Development of module & inverter efficiency from 1990 until today
Higher Design Flexibility
Advanced Features
Less Maintenance
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
efficiency of inverters efficiency of polychrystalline silicon modules
Own graphical creation / Data source: SMA 2018: SMA Academy Presentation; Fraunhofer Institute 2018: Photovoltaics report
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Inverters show a significant price decrease Price of development and outlook
Dec-18 10
Adaptation of: http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/IRENA_Power_to_Change_2016.pdf
Global weighted average total system costs breakdown of utility
scale solar PV-systems: 2009 - 2025
Continuous competition
and price pressure
Falling inverter prices
Introduction to inverter repowering
we service | new energy Dec-18 11
Agenda
Case study
Summary
Introduction to greentech
Introduction to inverter repowering
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Annually 120,000 kWh yield loss due to inverter failures Introduction to site
Dec-18 12
Plant Data
Total capacity 7 MWp
CoD 2012
Feed-in Tarif €0.2207/kWh
Plant type Ground mount
Module type Thin film 77.5Wp & 82.5Wp
Inverter type 424 string inverters 13kW – 20 kW
Specific yield / year 973kWh/kWp
Case study
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How to deal with systematic inverter failure? Three technical concepts
Dec-18 13
Repair:
Existing inverters
Partial Revamping:
Similar inverters
Partial Repowering:
New generation
inverters
Three technical concepts
Frequent inverter outages due to internal insulation defect
Yield loss & decrease of technical availability
Ca. 1.76 % yield loss per year (€26,400 - p.a.)
Ca. €43.000,- repair and corrective maintenance (28 inverters p.a.)
1 2 3
Yie
ld in M
Wh
Comparison actual yield and expected yield
Actual
yield
Expected
yield PR
Situation
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(€50,000)
(€40,000)
(€30,000)
(€20,000)
(€10,000)
€0
Costs Yield loss
Dec-18 14
Concept 1: Continuous Repair of existing Inverters Current repair approach without repowering interventions
Costs and yield loss weaken the business case
Unforeseeable downtimes of inverters
Yield loss due to downtimes and repair times
No repowering potential
No future proofing for post subsidy operation
Approx. €606,496 - for residual operational time
Annual expenditures for inverter repairs
Technical concept & economics Consequences
Continuous field operations and repair costs
No review of system or components required
Reactive repair and maintenance interventions
Approx. two weeks downtime / repair time
Case study
€43,321- p.a.
2019 2032
Continue with current repair process
through manufacturer
Limited spare inverters due to availability
Linear costs and yield losses
Repeat annually
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-200,000 €
-150,000 €
-100,000 €
-50,000 €
- €
Costs Yield loss
Dec-18 15
Concept 2: Revamping with technically similar inverters Replacement with new similar inverters
No economic advantage compared to as-is-situation
No increase of efficiency
Slightly less yield losses
No future proofing for post subsidy operation
Approx. €935.184,- for residual operational time
Annual expenditures for inverter exchange
Consequences
Easy replacement without complex considerations
Implementation in existing communication & control system
No new plant certificate required
No mechanical & electrical alterations required
Case study
€168,878,- in year 1
€10,088,- in year 2 & 3
Exchange of old 84 inverters with new
technically identical inverters
Storage of old devices as spare parts
Same revamping every approx. 3 years
2019 2032
Technical concept & economics
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-120000
-100000
-80000
-60000
-40000
-20000
0
20000
Costs Yield increase
Dec-18 16
Concept 3: Repowering with larger new generation inverters Replacement with new inverters
Similar costs but significant yield increase!
Approx. €608,334 - costs for residual operational time
Yield increase of ca. 1% over time (increasing number of
more efficient inverters) -> €210,446 - revenue increase
Future proofing for post subsidy operation (+10 years)
Consequences
Case study
€10,088 - in year 2 & 3
€104,948 - € in year 1
Increasingly more yield
Exchange of old 84 inverters with new
larger inverters
Storage of old devices as spare parts
Same Repowering after approx. 3 years
More complex but more efficient too
Mechanical, electrical and communication alterations
required
New plant certificate may be required for each repowering
period Yearly expenditures & revenues
2019 2032
Technical concept & economics
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Choose wisely! 1% more Yield with the same Investment Economic differences between concepts
Dec-18 17
Repair:
Existing inverters
Partial Revamping:
Similar inverters
Partial Repowering:
New generation inverters
Approx. €606.496
Expected yield for residual operation
Approx. €935.184
Expected yield for residual operation
Approx. €608.334
Expected yield for residual operation
2019 2032
we service | new energy Dec-18 18
Agenda
Case study
Summary
Introduction to greentech
Introduction to inverter repowering
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Inverter 1 Inveter 2 Inverter 3
When is inverter repowering advisable? Key considerations
Dec-18
Indications for the consideration for inverter repowering
19
Decreasing overall performance of inverters
Certain inverters lag performance in comparison to
others
Warranty expired or claims not successful
Required parts are not available or too expensive
Alternative repair measures not feasible
Regulatory changes (e.g. active power management)
Optimizing a PV-plant for post feed-in tariff
Example Inverter: Performance Deviation & Outages
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Yield assessment & identification of
performance issues
Determination of optimization areas
What to take into account for an inverter repowering project? Technical and regulatory aspects
Dec-18 20
Assessment of different technical solutions Schematic repowering project
Technical aspects
Inverter compatibility
DC and AC design
Mechanical design
Data communication
Power management
Regulatory aspects
DNO requirements
FIT requirements
Technical Conformity Review Technical & economic evaluation
Implementation
Project management
Execution of repowering measures
Constant quality control
Solution Design
Technical & legal analysis
Specific repowering concept
Potential
Analysis
Technical feasibility study
Commercial analysis
Risk assessment
Performance
Assessment
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What to take into account for an inverter repowering project? Commercial assessment
21
Assessment of profitability
Input Parameters greentech Repowering Tool
Assessment of additional yield:
Comparison of As–is and To-be scenarios
Re-Investment Case: Calculation of
economic KPIs, such as IRR, net present
value and break even time
Sensitivity Check:
Analysis of interdependencies of most
relevant parameters
Yield in kWh
Yield without repowering
Additional yield
Year
Additional profit CAPEX Cumulated cash value
Plant data
Technical data
Cost structure
Financial data
we service | new energy Dec-18 22
£ ?
Why would you pass on +1 % yield increase? Outlook
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