The Nepalese government has taken up the cause of expanding grid-connected solar PV projects. The goal is a better electricity supply, from which the country's economic development should benefit. As part of this initiative, a solar park with an output of eight megawatts is planned for the city of Bhrikuti and surrounding villages in the south-western lowlands of Nepal. The project developers of First Solar Developers Nepal have opted for Solar Solutions Pvt. Ltd. as the EPC contractor for this venture, who have been implementing solar projects in Nepal for ten years.
The inverter technology that feeds the solar power into the grid comes from German KACO new energy GmbH. First Solar Developers Nepal has opted for the CPSS system solution. This means: String inverters, DC combiners and a steel container with AC low-voltage distribution, medium-voltage transformer and switchgear are all delivered ready-for-use from a single supplier.
“We chose the blueplanet 125 TL3 inverter, which utilises innovative silicon carbide semiconductors. The thermal properties of the material have clear advantages. Fewer components allow a compact, resistant device and higher switching frequencies ensure high performance with a previously unattained degree of efficiency,” says Ronak Shah, Technical Sales Manager at KACO new energy.
Award-winning overall concept
In addition to the professional technical execution, which is to ensure the economic efficiency of the project, social aspects were also taken into consideration. The ground on which the solar park will be built is leased from a school. In this way, the project has a two-fold benefit: The income will benefit the school and the region will receive a sustainable, reliable electricity supply.
Based on these features, First Solar Developers Nepal applied for the 2018 Solar Shark Tank Competition. The competition was aimed at local project developers seeking a solid financial basis for their solar projects. Among 41 applications from 24 countries, the jury selected the Bhrikuti Grid-Connected Solar Project in February 2018 as the winner, which entitled them to a grant of 100,000 US dollars. The city of Bhrikuti is named after the Tibetan goddess for frowning, but from now on fortunes will surely smile on the region.
About KACO new energy
KACO new energy, headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of inverters for grid-connected solar power. The product line-up covers the full power range, from single units designed for a family home up to complete systems for solar parks producing megawatts of electricity. Since 1999, KACO new energy has supplied inverters with a cumulative power output of 13 gigawatts. The product range has been extended to include solutions for PV self-consumption and energy storage, devices for grid management, as well as products and value-added services for utility-scale projects. KACO new energy is the first company in the photovoltaic industry to achieve CO2-neutral production.
As reported here earlier this month, KACO new energy is to be acquired by Siemens in the first or second quarter of 2019. (mfo)
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