Mission Possible: Yaskawa - Solectria Solar’s Solution to Replacing Failing Central Inverters

The Problem

Many inverters installed in the last 10+ years are now failing and are no longer protected by the original product warranty. With limited possibilities of extending warranty coverage, system owners need a simple way to swap out obsolete inverters and maintain solar power production. Most manufacturers still in business no longer offer 600 VDC transformer isolated inverters. Although other models may be available, retrofitting an existing project to a new inverter can be costly and time-consuming.

The Solution

Yaskawa - Solectria Solar has the answer: Solectria’s time-tested 600V central inverter line provides the simplest solution to replacing an existing inverter and restoring the site’s production to the highest level possible. Yaskawa - Solectria Solar manufactures a complete lineup of 600V central inverters, ranging from 50 kW to 500 kW. Units up to 100 kW are configurable at 208, 240, 480 or 600 VAC 3 phase. Their central inverters come with a standard 5-year warranty, with 10, 15 or 20-year extensions available. These warranties are backed by Yaskawa Electric, a $3.6 billion global leader in factory automation solutions.

Key to the Yaskawa - Solectria Solar’s solution is the ease of replacement. Yaskawa - Solectria Solar central inverters are NEC rapid shutdown compliant when paired with ARCCOM string combiners. A wide range of subcombiner options are also available to tailor the inverter to the existing project infrastructure. If grid support functions are required the 600 VDC SGI line offers real power curtailment, reactive power control, voltage ride-through and frequency ride-through.

Integrated monitoring down to the subarray level is also available with no additional equipment.

Communication is handled via Modbus, allowing for a drop-in solution for a site’s existing monitoring system. Cellular communication is also available for remote locations or where high communication uptime is paramount.

How to Begin Your Replacement

The easiest way to get started on replacing a central inverter is to reference as-builts of the project. These plans will hold the vast majority of information needed to accurately specify and quote a Yaskawa - Solectria Solar replacement inverter solution. If this information is not available, a site visit is required.

Inverter information required to specify a project include:

• Nominal Power

• AC Voltage

• Array Configuration

  • Grounding (pos, neg or bipolar)

  • String sizing

  • Module degradation

• OCPD ratings

• Grid supporting function

• Monitoring

Yaskawa - Solectria Solar’s application engineering team will work with you to review site designs to ensure a replacement seamlessly integrates into the existing system. For more information on the process of replacing a central inverter, Yaskawa - Solectria Solar has provided access to their webinar recording found HERE.

To get started on installing or replacing a central inverter, contact your Greentech Renewables Account Manager today.