The Intelligent, Reliable Cloud-Connected Inverter for Utility-Scale Renewable Power Conext SmartGen Inverter TM solar.schneider-electric.com
2 solar.schneider-electric.com From Schneider Electric, your bankable partner in solar energy Schneider Electric helps you make the most of your energy: making it safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green. Being the trusted partner within the solar industry is an essential part of our vision on energy management, and I am personally committed to bring to our solar customers the best global technology, systems and service capabilities. I am very excited about our new Conext SmartGen solution platform, which is positioned to revolutionize solar power conversion. Jean Pascal Tricoire President & CEO, Schneider Electric
solar.schneider-electric.com 3 Introducing the Conext SmartGen Inverter Far more than a new inverter, the Conext SmartGen TM is the new paradigm for large-scale renewable power installations. It provides greater efficiency in power generation with lower short-term and long-term costs, and a far longer service life. It features built-in sensors and intelligence and connectivity to the entire plant. The SmartGen is the heart of Schneider Electric s Power EcoSystem TM a suite of supporting applications that provide remote control, visibility, and analytics for owners, operators and service staff.
4 solar.schneider-electric.com Why the Conext SmartGen inverter? Secure best ROI everywhere The Conext SmartGen is the result of a complete re-evaluation of inverter design, focused on delivering a consistently better Levelized Cost Of Electricity. It includes components and design techniques from heavy industry, transportation and other fields far beyond power electronics. Every component was analyzed and selected for cost, reliability, extended lifetime and ease of serviceability. Connectivity to the Cloud opens new opportunities for 30 years of optimized performance.
solar.schneider-electric.com 5 More power generation and a longer service life 30+ year service life More energy to the grid: conversion efficiency of 98.6% Peak, 98.4% CEC Maximum power in all temperature and irradiance conditions Superior reliability for reduced downtime Lower CAPEX 1500VDC system: fewer inverter stations, less equipment and less wiring High power density and integrated design for lower cost-per-watt Weatherproof enclosure: no external housing required Self-commissioning and Grid-simulation features for faster, easier setup Lower OPEX True Design for Service TM for faster, easier repairs Minimum 15 years before the first (and only) major service Cloud connectivity for fewer, shorter and more successful service calls: remote diagnostics, proactive service notifications, remote firmware downloads and more Predictive maintenance analytics for just-enough maintenance, in response to your site s actual conditions Deploy Everywhere All countries, all codes, all standards (future-proofed with generous margins) Any application PV and energy storage, on-grid, off-grid or microgrid Designed and tested for any environment hot, cold, dusty, humid or salty Secure Backed by a bankable company with 180 years of history Supported by a global team, with service personnel and parts depots in every major region Long-term service plans to minimize your risk
6 solar.schneider-electric.com SECURE CAPEX GENERATION BEST ROI OPEX EVERYWHERE Higher power generation over a longer service life 30-year service life driving a lower levelized cost of energy. Each component has been carefully selected for long life and high reliability for durability in harsh environmental conditions, we take into account worst case component stresses and proven design margins at every step. Best-in-class efficiency 98.6% Peak, 98.4% CEC, and low power consumption, deliver more GWh from the solar farm to the grid. Smart controls embedded in the SmartGen cooling system adjust its operating parameters to minimize losses. Maximum power harvest in all temperature and irradiance conditions. The SmartGen s unique MPPT algorithm delivers over 99.9% static and dynamic efficiency with a maximum MPPT voltage of 1500VDC. Superior reliability to reduce downtime and minimize production losses. Each SmartGen component was selected through Schneider Electric s proprietary Design for Reliability process, with reliability margins verified through reliability analysis, simulation and testing, at the component level, subsystem level and system level, including Multiple Environmental Over-Stress Testing (MEOST) and durability testing. 30years Lifetime by Design 98.6% Peak 98.4% CEC Extreme weather conditions Vibration Input/Output usage profiles Combines stresses 99.9% Static & dynamic MPPT efficiency MEOST Reliability Testing MEOST testing (Multiple Environmental Over-Stress Testing) applies extreme stresses, well beyond the operating range of the product, in order to expose any design and manufacturing weaknesses. 750-1500v MPPT voltage window
solar.schneider-electric.com 7 SECURE GENERATION CAPEX BEST ROI OPEX EVERYWHERE Lower CAPEX from product and system design through installation and commissioning Optimal design 1500 VDC means high power density more power in less space for significant hardware savings, from cooling and mechanical components, to busbars and wiring The recombiner/auxiliary power/ monitoring and control are all integrated inside the housing, which saves on wiring and on-site installation costs >500 kva/m2 DC Recombiner Integrated Monitoring and Control Panel Auxiliary Power Distribution Panel System cost savings Thanks to reduced string count and lower aggregate DC current in the array, 1500V systems reduce the number of DC cables and string combiners IP65/NEMA4X aluminum enclosure requires no external cover or housing Faster, easier cabling Designed to simplify, accelerate, and reduce error during interconnection and installation, the SmartGen features a wide, segregated compartment for DC cabling, a lateral AC connection for an easy hookup to a transformer and fast connectors for auxiliary power and communication. Water and dust sealed corrosion-proof enclosure Faster commissioning Self-commissioning functionality and Grid Simulation Mode get the system up and on the grid faster. Grid Simulation Mode uses one of the system s SmartGen inverters to establish a local power grid, allowing powered tests of the other inverters before the grid connection is available. Electric Grid Inverters disconnected from the grid Conext SmartGen Conext SmartGen Conext SmartGen Conext SmartGen Inverters to be commissioned see the grid formed by the Grid-Like Mode inverter Inverter in Grid-Like Mode forms the grid
8 solar.schneider-electric.com SECURE CAPEX GENERATION BEST ROI OPEX EVERYWHERE Lower OPEX enhanced diagnostics, just-enough maintenance and faster servicing True Design for Service: most components are in easy reach, and replaceable in one hour or less for heavier components, there s a built-in crane.* 15 years, minimum, before the first (and only) major service, at the mid-point of product lifetime. Predictive maintenance powered by Conext Power Cloud TM data analytics The inverter s sensors and built-in intelligence feed information to the Power Cloud, a massive database with advanced analytics that forecast the service life of individual components, and can predict failures in advance allowing proactive service calls and just-enough maintenance and parts replacement, to reduce service costs and minimize downtime.* Remote diagnostics and troubleshooting enhance first time fix rate. From any location, service personnel can use Conext Viewer TM software and the PowerCloud infrastructure for detailed access to logs, alarms and diagnostics. Before a major fault shutdown, the SmartGen inverter sends a last breath data package to allow remote staff to analyze the situation. 15years (minimum) before the first major service JUN 2025 Advanced analytics forecast the service life of individual components Remote firmware and configuration upgrades Firmware and configuration changes are downloaded remotely through the Cloud, enabling system-wide changes without the need for an on site service visit. Conext Viewer software reveals the entire inverter status on a mobile screen, for intuitive interaction and faster, more effective service. Conext Viewer can be connected locally or through the Cloud. Locally, or remotely, service personnel can view the inverter s status, logs, alarms and analytics * For more imformation see our brochures: True Design for Service TM and Power of Data
solar.schneider-electric.com 9 SECURE CAPEX GENERATION BEST ROI OPEX EVERYWHERE Deploy Everywhere any environment, any standard, any application Any environment From the coldest winter to the hottest, dustiest summer, or the humid, salty air of an equatorial island. The SmartGen is dual-loop liquid cooled, with components that have been tested well beyond their operating range, in extreme humidity, in pressurized water tests, dust chamber testing, and salt-fog and seismic conditions. Any standard The SmartGen inverter meets North American (UL) and International (IEC) safety and EMC standards. It is compliant to all major electrical codes, and grid interconnection standards. It has proven capabilities in a broad range of voltage, frequency and ride-through events with ample margins around these very demanding requirements. Its firmware can be reconfigured for compliance with new standards that may arise in the future, ensuring compatibility over its 30-year service lifetime. SAFETY EMC GRID CODES Worldwide compliance Desert Any application The SmartGen product line is a DC agnostic technology platform that includes models for solar, energy storage, and microgrid applications, including grid-tie and grid forming functionality. Power Generation GRID-TIE OFF-GRID Ocean Power Transmission & Distribution End User Microgrid Islanded Operation Continental CHP Tropical
10 solar.schneider-electric.com SECURE CAPEX GENERATION BEST ROI OPEX EVERYWHERE A secure solar investment, with a bankable partner As a company with a 180-year history, Schneider Electric protects and maximizes your solar investment. We have the R&D and manufacturing depth to develop some of the industry s most advanced and reliable equipment, and the corporate stability to back it up with some of the strongest warranties. A Schneider Electric service contract, and our global network of authorized support and field service technicians, is your assurance of performance over the life of your investment. The advantage of the Schneider Electric global manufacturing and supply chain We are a global manufacturer with over 220 factories worldwide, and we leverage our in-house industrial operations, from factory to delivery, to ensure the highest standards at the lowest possible cost. In addition to our robust design for quality and testing standards, our leading product reliability is enabled by our stringent production standards and quality management. Our quality standards also extend to our supplier network. Our carefully-selected long-term partners are committed to exceeding our expectations; they are at our side on the path of continuous improvement, to ensure that any component of a Schneider Electric solution meets our rigorous standards. Schneider Electric Service and Support dedicated to maintaining the value of your solar investment Protect your solar investment and maintain your system s efficiency and profitability with a Schneider Electric service contract. Wherever your system is installed, there is a Schneider Electric support team on call, trained in your system s technology, and your local power requirements and regulations. We maintain parts depots in every major region. Schneider Electric Service currently supports over 4,500 commercial clients and over 300,000 solar power installations around the world. Global specialist in energy management 160,000+ total workforce in 100+ countries 43% sales in new economies 180 years of history 5% of Group revenues devoted to annual R&D spend 2.1 billion adjusted net income #1 solar O&M service provider amongst inverter manufacturers #18 in Gartner Supply Chain Excellence 2016 global ranking 27 billion in consoldated revenue Make the most of your energy #1 or #2 player in 90% world group sales
solar.schneider-electric.com 11 Part of the Power EcoSystem The SmartGen inverter is the center of Schneider Electric s Power EcoSystem, a family of components and systems that communicate with each other, and with operations staff, service staff, owners and Schneider Electric, to ensure that your power system is performing optimally, and returning the most value for your solar investment. Power Plant Controller Ensures that requests and compliance requirements from the utility are met. In hybrid power networks, the Power Plant Controller administers the generating resources to maximize the profitability of power generation while ensuring load stability. Conext Advisor 2 Web-based software for control-room administration and performance management of PV power plants. Conext Advisor 2 provides secure, cloud-connected monitoring and control accessible from computers, mobile devices, even smartphones. Its efficient, task-oriented interface enables decision-making and optimization of one or many PV plants. Conext Power Cloud Cloud-based data mining and data collection for SmartGen Power Systems, where data from globally-deployed systems is analyzed for predictive maintenance, and to provide enhanced remote service and technical support. Conext Viewer Configuration and service software for Conext SmartGen inverters and Power Systems, including diagnostics, troubleshooting tools, and contextualized help. It allows local and remote connections, from computers and mobile devices.
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