2009-05-28 - A unique ABB turnkey concept for modular photovoltaic power plants is enabling solar energy operators to get new plants into production in record time and obtain what is thought to be the highest plant performance ratio* on the market.
By ABB Communications
The turnkey concept has been developed by ABB for the global photovoltaic market and draws on ABB’s long-established position as a market leader and technology pioneer in solar energy conversion.
Available in standard containerized 1-megawatt (MW) modules that are pre-assembled and factory-tested for rapid delivery, the concept includes patented optimization technologies and a unique set of tools based on powerful ABB algorithms that determine the optimal solution for any given site, as well as the expected costs, revenues and return on investment of developing that site.
One of the first companies to benefit from the concept is Global Capital Finance who selected the ABB solution for a 1-MW photovoltaic power plant at Totana in the province of Murcia in Spain – an installation that has immediately demonstrated some remarkable results.
Totana produces 2.2 gigawatt-hours of grid-quality electric power , and is able to displace about 1,350 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
The optimized solution at Totana achieves a plant performance ratio* of around 80 percent, about five percent higher than current alternatives. The combination of optimized ABB technologies throughout the process enables the plant to harness and convert maximum amounts of light into electricity at all times and in all types of weather.
This translates into more power produced and higher revenues for the customer.
ABB delivered, built and commissioned the solution in the record time of only four months – an achievement that enabled the customer to qualify for the maximum feed-in tariff of EUR 0.45 per kilowatt-hour of solar energy produced (compared to the much lower EUR 0.32 per kWh produced for plants completed after September 28, 2008).
ABB is a pioneer in solar energy and has delivered extensive power and automation solutions to solar power plants all over the world, including the two largest thermosolar power plants in Europe (Extresol and Andasol in Spain, both rated at 100 MW)
and the world’s first integrated solar combined cycle power plant, the 175 MW Hassi R’Mel in Algeria.
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*Plant performance ratio is the key variable in measuring the efficiency of a photovoltaic power plant. It measures the actual yield of the plant in relation to the theoretical yield. Actual yield can be diminished by a number of factors like poor light, cloud shadowing, dirty PV cells and malfunctioning equipment.