EN 
PT_BR 
The growth of the photovoltaic sector in scope utility scale in the world and the consequent increase in the size of plants, has made it necessary to consider these installations as true production centers, where the efficiency of each component and O&M (operation and maintenance) strategies have a decisive impact on the LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) of the plant and, therefore, the real profitability of the investment.
In this context, the choice of the inverter represents one of the fundamental points of the project, as they not only have the function of converting the direct current from the solar panels into alternating current with the maximum efficiency possible, but must incorporate all the electronics and logic control systems necessary to provide advanced network support functions, operating securely, respecting local connection requirements and maximizing the effectiveness of installation management thanks to continuous and reliable monitoring. This is evidently with the aim of optimizing investment costs, management and O&M costs.
The choice of inverters and integrated conversion solutions therefore becomes a strategic element to maximize the project's ROI (return on investment).
Considering this scenario, the Enertronica Santerno, an Italian company with a global presence in the production of inverters in the industrial automation sector, as well as in the photovoltaic area and energy storage systems based in Italy, is one of the main global players producing inverters and integrated conversion units specific to power plants of large dimensions. Through its own technology and direct customer support, it is increasingly expanding its presence in Latin America.
The TG1800 1500V TE centralized inverter represents the result of a great know how accumulated in the field, with years of experience in solving failures related to network management through the inverters themselves and the power plant controllers installed in large photovoltaic plants in more than 30 countries. It is a complete, versatile solution, perfectly capable of managing support functionality in complex networks, respecting the most demanding design guidelines.
This inverter model was designed with particular attention to CAPEX and OPEX, facilitating the sizing of the photovoltaic array thanks to project flexibility, and considerably reducing generation costs resulting from the agility and simplicity of intervention in the maintenance phase.
Conceiving central inverters as systems designed for large installations, characterized by their greater power and low cost, these components are equipped with devices that allow monitoring and optimization of the plant's operation.
With a reduced CAPEX, central inverters guarantee a better LCOE, and when they are integrated into skid stations (integrated solutions with the presence of auxiliary power components and accessories) can represent a further reduction in O&M and logistics costs. The solutions turn key They offer the advantage of a system guarantee, in addition to reducing installation costs and reducing intervention times in the event of failures.
The Sunway TG 1800 1500V TE solution, specially designed for applications utility scale, allows achieving a mean time between repair (MTBR – mean time between repair) among the lowest on the market, creating a great advantage in the amount of energy produced, with a significant effect on LCOE and maintenance costs through the repair feature and immediate reactivation.
The presence of integrated solutions represents a reality for builders of photovoltaic plants in Latin America, where one of the main suppliers of solutions turn key is Phase I of Parque São Gonçalo (475 MW), in the city of São Gonçalo do Gurguéia, in the State of Piauí, northern Brazil.
For this installation in Piauí, which to date is the largest photovoltaic plant in Latin America, Enertronica Santerno supplied 78 units of Sunway Skid TG 5400 1500V, each characterized by a nominal power of 5.7 MVA, consisting of 5 modules. outdoor inverters with independent MPPT.
This conversion unit was supplied together with MT transformers, MT cabin, auxiliary systems, as well as an integrated monitoring system capable of remotely transmitting the operating parameters of each conversion station, with direct and effective support to the manager in forecasting and solution of possible adversities.
All conversion units have the characteristic of having a platform designed by the innovation and development team, which includes an oil collection box, which can be integrated into the system and easily transported inside a container. Furthermore, based on the requirements and needs of the project, it is possible to replicate the platform in situ, with low construction costs and positioning activities.
Furthermore, an important aspect that must be addressed is the high temperatures that can impact the system's performance. Enertronica Santerno, in addition to having systems in the North and Northeast of Brazil, also supplied inverters and PCU (power conversion units) in arid areas such as Jordan and California; locations where temperatures can exceed 50 °C.
A critical variable for the operation of the photovoltaic inverter can also be high altitudes, which can cause serious problems regarding the cooling process of the inverter's critical components, which requires, in many cases, a delimitation of the maximum power, with negative effects. under the LCOE.
In this sense, the know how Enertronica Santerno's technology, represented by its integrated solutions, also had positive success in Chile (more than 500 MW in PCU installed), a country where many plants are present at high altitudes.
Therefore, the TG 1800 inverter was designed to maintain its characteristics unchanged up to 2700 meters above sea level, due to the careful analysis of statistical data collected over decades, referring to the performance of the products themselves, which allowed Santerno engineers to understand and manage the critical parameters required for the optimal choice of state-of-the-art electronic components.
An important example of Santerno's continued expansion in Latin America was the recent supply of power conversion solutions to the largest power plant in Colombia (190 MW). The peculiarity of this installation is that Skids 8000 will be used, an integrated system with 4 TG 1800 modules, which constitute an upgrade in generation quality, with a reduction in O&M activities.
Within this vast context, where in Brazil Enertronica Santerno holds around 15% of the supply of inverters in the centralized generation segment (Brazil has around 3 GW of installed power), it is clear how important it is to carry out a careful assessment of the analysis of future performance of a plant, which can generate, in addition to greater precision during the economic assessment phase, also a reduction in the risks created by system failures.
Therefore, a clear view of the evolution of inverters in recent years and the condition for more agile and easy integration with the installation's generation and monitoring systems, demonstrates how much the characteristics of today's central inverters offer a clear advantage towards a best CAPEX and OPEX of the project.
