What is photovoltaic inverter abandonment

What happens if a PV inverter fails?

As a reference, according to a 2018 Sandia National Lab report, inverters are the cause of up to 91% of the faults in major utility projects . When one or more inverters fail, multiple PV arrays are disconnected from the grid, significantly reducing the project’s profitability.

Should PV systems be replaced by inverters?

As the number of PV systems already in operation for several years grows, demand for “revamping” by replacement off all the inverters in a project is estimated at several gigawatts per year and expected to increase rapidly through the 2020s. There are a number of reasons why project owners are taking interest in this strategy.

How important are inverters in a solar plant?

However, the plant’s inverters are the operational heart of the solar project and critical for ensuring uptime. It is imperative to note that a piece of equipment that costs 5% within a PV plant may be responsible for 90% of plant downtime.

Why do inverters fail?

Consequently, inverters may fail due to improper maintenance or no maintenance. However, once again, they may also fail due to defects in the design or manufacturing of the inverter’s third party or OEM consumables. #5 Manufacturing: Finally, even the best designed inverters with the best supply chains can have poor assembly lines.

Why do project owners want to buy a new inverter?

There are a number of reasons why project owners are taking interest in this strategy. In some cases, older inverters may simply be underperforming, or may be struggling to get hold of replacement parts for models no longer manufactured or suppliers that have since left the market.

What happens if an inverter is rated incorrectly?

Example: if an inverter manufacturer designs its power stack with an IGBT that is rated to be used at a maximum ambient of 35° Celsius, but the inverter is running full power in 45°C conditions, then the manufacturer designed the inverter with incorrectly rated IGBT. As a result, there’s a high potential for this IGBT to prematurely age and fail.