Ingeteam supplies 1.17 GW of inverters for the world's largest PV plant

09/12/2017 | Print view

201 of Ingeteams inverter stations will be installed at Sweihan PV project. - © Ingeteam — © Ingeteam

201 of Ingeteams inverter stations will be installed at Sweihan PV project.

Ingeteam Power Technology has been awarded the supply contract for the world's largest photovoltaic plant in Abu Dhabi. The Sweihan PV project is to have an installed power of 1,177 MW.

The energy produced is to be purchased by ADWEC (Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Company), the Emirate's electricity company, a subsidiary of ADWEA (Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority), for subsequent transmission, distribution and trading. The consortium of companies responsible for the development and operation of the Sweihan PV project, awarded the engineering and construction work to the Indian company Sterling & Wilson, which then selected Ingeteam's technology for this project.

201 inverter stations to supply 4.66 MW each

Therefore, in early 2018, Ingeteam will start to supply its new 1,000 Vdc Ingecon Sun PowerMax B series central inverters, capable of delivering a power output of up to 2,330 kW. These units are known as dual inverters due to the fact that they combine two power blocks with a common AC busbar, facilitating the direct connection with the medium voltage transformer. The solution provided in power station format comprises two dual inverters together with the other devices required for low to medium voltage conversion. Namely the LV/MV transformer together with an enclosure housing the medium voltage cells, auxiliary services transformer, low voltage switchgear, UPS and a cooling system with air conditioning.

The solution developed by Ingeteam, known as the Inverter Station, incorporates two 2.33 MW photovoltaic inverters for the supply of 4.66 MW. These new dual inverters are suitable for outdoor installation, being specifically designed to withstand extreme climate conditions, such as those present at Sweihan in Abu Dhabi.

Dual Inverter - © Ingeteam — © Ingeteam

Dual Inverter

Dust and sand tests

Moreover, Ingeteam has purchased a chamber to conduct dust and sand tests in accordance with the IEC 60068-2-68 international standard. This chamber makes it possible to conduct additional tests, such as the inverter response to sandstorms, which are extremely common at sites of this type. It has been used to check the correct operation of the inverter, as well as the efficiency of its "sand trap" system to prevent the ingress of particles into the inverter, while collecting the grains of sand and facilitating their subsequent removal. Thanks to this system, Ingeteam's PV inverters have been certified by an external body as able to withstand sandstorms, as described in standard IEC 60068-2-68.

The commissioning of the plant, for which Ingeteam is also responsible, is set to take place at the end of 2018. Once commissioned, the plant will save around 7 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

Scope of supply

For the project, Ingeteam is to supply:

201 power stations with a power output of 4,660 kWac. Each fitted with all the necessary equipment to inject medium voltage power: dual PV inverters, LV/MV transformer, medium voltage switchgear, auxiliary services transformer, UPS and low voltage switchgear.
402 dual photovoltaic inverters, each with a rated power output of 2,330 kW, pertaining to the 1,000 Vdc Ingecon Sun PowerMax B Series family.
Commissioning of the system.
Service level agreement, guaranteeing a 99% operational availability of the equipment supplied by Ingeteam during the first two years of the plant operation. (HCN)