Energy Management Eos-Array Launch Package 03-09 09 Michele Brena March, 2009
Contents INTRODUCTION Why this launch? Markets of interest Expectations THE PRODUCT Relevant technical data Product vs. Price Positioning Features and Benefits THE MARKET Competitors Relevant applications Market tools related and available CONCLUSIONS
Introduction Why this launch? To provide a complete control solution to the solar photovoltaic (PV) plants which is easy to install and to configure. To provide a flexible control solution which is suitable to be used in all PV plants from the very small 10kW up to megawatts installations. To strengthen our position in the Renewable Energy market providing now a complete solution which includes not only the energy metering and Inverters but also the control part. To support and exploit the huge business opportunities given by the European and Californian action plan to reduce both energy consumption and CO 2 so to meet the Kyoto protocol.
Introduction Markets of interest Renewable energy Solar market segment Expectations To strengthen our market position by providing a complete control solution for photovoltaic plants to be supplied to installers and engineering companies depending on the size of the plant; To confirm Carlo Gavazzi in its leading position as a provider of innovative solutions for energy management now also in the Solar renewable energy.
The Product VMU: Relevant Technical Data All modules Dimensions: 1-DIN module for DIN-rail mounting RS485 communication port (Modbus) on VMU-M only Front diagnostics LED s Universal 12 to 28 VDC power supply Protection degree (front): IP40 Operating temperature: -25 C to 55 C Storage temperature: -30 C to 70 C culus approved (December 2008)
The Product VMU: Relevant Technical Data VMU-M unit Local display: 6-DGT readout Local bus: up to 15 mixed VMU-S, VMU-P and VMU-O units Two temperature inputs: Pt100 or Pt1000, 3-wire (-50.0 to +200.0 C) or two digital inputs: protection trip status and one either trip protection or energy counting Clock: European or American format selection with Daylight-saving enabling (internal battery) Real and virtual alarm management Data stamping format: date, time and V, A, W, Wh, PV cell temperature, environment temperature, irradiation, wind speed, string efficiency and DC/AC efficiency Data stamping interval: selectable 1-5-10-15-30-60 minutes Events stamping: string alarm and other variable alarms DC/AC efficiency measurement
The Product VMU: Relevant Technical Data VMU-S unit Local bus: up to 15 VMU-S units in the same bus Direct measuring input: 16A/800VDC Accuracy: ±0.5 RDG (V-A), class 1 (kwh DC energy metering) Data format: 4-DGT and 6-DGT Measurements: V, A, W, Wh Diagnostics functions: antitheft control, fuse blow detection, wrong PV panel connection String control String efficiency measurement Power supply: self-power supply from VMU-M unit Screw terminal: up to 10mm 2
The Product VMU: Relevant Technical Data VMU-O unit Local bus: up to 7 VMU-O units (up to max. 15 mixed units) Two digital inputs for Trip of protection detection, remote input disable or others Two digital outputs for Alarm notification as a String alarm or as a digital input status changing (OR function); activation of a lighting system (by means of the internal clock or as a remote control); activation of a module washing system (by means of the internal clock, as a remote control or as a changing of efficiency of the PV panels). Output type: relay, SPST type (AC 1-5A @ 250VAC, DC 12-5A @ 24VDC, AC 15-1.5A @ 250VAC, DC 13-1.5A @ 24VDC) Power supply: self-power supply from VMU-M unit
The Product VMU: Relevant Technical Data VMU-P unit Local bus: one VMU-P unit per bus PV cell temperature measurement (Pt100-Pt1000, 3-wire) Environment temperature measurement (Pt100-Pt1000, 3-wire) One irradiation input (120mV) One wind speed input (0 to 1000Hz max.) Accuracy ±0.5 RDG Data format: 4-DGT Power supply: self-power supply from VMU-M unit
The Product Features and Benefits Control system based on modular concept easy to adapt to any solar application. INVENTORY REDUCTION Compact size: minimum 2-DIN module for minimum string control (up to 16 DIN modules in case of maximum configuration 280mm). Integrated string fuse protection. SPACE OPTIMISATION No need of local key-pad programming since all parameters can be set in an easier and quicker manner using Eos-ArraySoft software. Simplified installation since there is no need of auxiliary bus wiring. SIMPLIFIED SET-UP
The Product Features and Benefits RS485 for easy and quick data transmission to remote acquisition system. Local RGB LED on board of the VMU units for easy colour code diagnostics. Antitheft control, fuse blow detection, wrong PV panel connection for plant control and maintenance. Protection trip and breaker status detection by means of two digital inputs. Alarm notification and automatic PV panel cleaning by means of two relay outputs. String control for immediate string failure detection and localisation. String efficiency for energy production and pay-back control. DC/AC efficiency calculation for inverter working Control. Data and event logging for plant history built-up. COMMUNICATION CAPABILITI ES DIAGNOSTIC WARNING
Features and Benefits The auxiliary BUS concept VMU-M VMU-P VMU-S VMU-O The String controller Integrated fuse protection for cost and installation time saving Fuse dimension: 10.3x38mm (IEC269-2-1) Fuse current: Isc*1.25*2 using AC type Eos-Array can be formed by VMU-M, M, VMU-P, VMU-S and VMU-O units The auxiliary bus manages up to 16 VMU units VMU-M M has the task to manage the whole bus VMU-S can be up to max. 15 units VMU-O can be up to max. 7 units VMU-P can be up to 1
The Market The Control solution today Atersa Fronius Elettronica Santerno SMA Power-One
The Market The main parts composing a string box today Overvoltage protections Electronics for string control DC breaker String fuses String inputs and outputs screw terminals IP65 plastic box, usually with transparent cover
The Market The Eos-Array solution integrated into a standard plastic box Overvoltage protections DC breaker Eos-Array. String and sensor inputs. No further screw terminal needed More features and about 40% of space saving compared to an ordinary solution
The Market The control solution today The control solution today is based on two kind of products: Complex string controllers; Data-loggers. As far as complex String controller is concerned, there are at the moment a few suppliers which are: Elettronica Santerno (Italy) manufacturer of Inverters: String Box and Smart String Box. Power-one (USA) manufacturer of Inverters. SMA (Germany) manufacturer of Inverters: SSM Sunny String Monitor. Fronius (Austria) manufacturer of Inverters: Fronius String Control. Atersa (Spain): CSP-12.
The Market The control solution today (cont.) As far as data-logger is concerned the most important competitors are: Adyna Technology (Germany) : model IC.1, an Internet-Controller with several digital inputs and outputs. Tritec (Switzerland): model Tri-Logg a data-logger with digital, irradiation and temperature inputs. Meteotest (Switzerland): model SPYCE, Satellite photovoltaic yield control and evaluation unit (based on the European weather satellite Meteosat 8). AS Solar (Germany): model PV interface and V-Central, yield data and malfunction notification. Common-Link (Germany): InterLink-Solar, digital and analogue inputs data-logger. Conergy (Germany): SunReader, digital and analogue inputs data-logger. Solare Datensysteme (Germany): SolarLog, yield measurements and malfunction notifications coming from inverter only. Meteocontrol (Germany): WebLog, complete performance monitoring system, supplied to many inverter manufacturer. Draker Laboratories (USA): Sentalis 200, DC string monitoring providing system performance.
The Market The control solution today (cont.) Fat Spaniel Technologies (USA): leading US supplier of performance monitoring systems and incentive program reporting to system integrators, providers of power purchase agreements and inverter manufacturers such as: Xantarex, SatCon Power Systems, Solectria Renewables and others. Dhiel AKO Stiftung (Germany): Platinum, yield measurements and malfunction notifications coming from inverter only (inverter option). Kaco Gerätetechnik (Germany): Powador-pro-LOG, data-logger with temperature and irradiation inputs, gathering yield data from inverters only (inverter option). Sunways (Germany): data-logger with temperature and irradiation inputs, gathering yield data from inverters only (inverter option). SMA Technologie (Germany): Sunny Boy Control Plus, data-logger with temperature and irradiation inputs, gathering yield data from inverters only (inverter option). Sputnik Engineering (Switzerland): MaxWeb, data-logger with temperature and irradiation inputs, gathering yield data from inverters only (inverter option). Fronius International (Austria): DataCom + Fronius Sensor Box, data-logger with temperature and irradiation inputs, gathering yield data from inverters only (inverter option).
The Market Competitors Product name Strength Weakness Prod. picture I checker Only one DIN module width Integrated protection fuse Voltage measurement up to 800VDC Accurate kwh energy measurement Integrated antitheft control Inverted string polarity detection Part of a modular photovoltaic control system providing local data and event logging, yield data information and others. Touch less current measurement DC current measurement up to 70A
The Market Relevant applications Solar plant control The installer has to provide to his customer a 50kWp photovoltaic plant to be mounted on the roof of a production facility to produce energy mainly for their own use. The available control solutions are based on the information coming out from the inverters which are still the weakest component of a PV solar system. The company doesn t like it and as an alternative looks for a system capable to measure the string currents in order to keep them under control. A data logging system is also needed to understand how the solar installation works and behaves along the time. Our solution is an innovative local system based on the Eos-Array system composed by one VMU-M unit for data logging and local bus management, ten VMU-S units for string control (50kW total for 228x220W PV panels, 12.5A/400V single string), one VMU-O for I/O managements and one VMU-P for environment measurements. Last but not least one freeware Eos-ArraySoft software to be installed in a local PC to gather string efficiency and single string variables such as current, active power, voltage, energy, sun irradiation and PV cell temperature to built up the plant history. Thanks to the modular concept the installer can size the installation according to his project philosophy and install it in a very easy and fast way. A further cost saving is provided by the integrated string fuse protections. The system functions and controls are split into modules so to improve the global reliability of the system. The integrated I/O VMU-O unit can acquire the status of the overvoltage protection and acquire the pulses coming out from the local utility watt-hour meter so to measure the generated energy. As far as outputs is concerned the first relay can provide a physical failure alarm so to promptly warn the maintenance people and the second alarm, by means of the integrated antitheft control system (no extra wiring is needed) can provide a proper warning in case of unauthorized PV panels removal. The local string efficiency and the inverters are controlled locally and continuously so to provide, in case of failure, an easy and fast problem localisation which is mandatory for a plant when either un-efficiency or a stop means money loss.
The Market Example of our Solar plant control solution Sensing Generation DC Carlo Gavazzi Inverter EM24-DIN kwh Eos-Array (VMU-M M VMU-S VMU-P VMU-O) Control solution DPC Protection AC GRID Eos-ArraySoft Database and graphs display
Example of our Solar plant control solution PV string 1 PV string 2 Pulse PV string 3 Inverter 1 kwh meter Inverter 2 Inverter 3 Eos-Array RS485 VCP-DIN Ethernet Eos-ArraySoft Manual or automatic data download for yield data analysis
The Market Market Tools DATASHEETS The Eos-Array datasheet is available in the Download area of the Carlo Gavazzi web site. It is available in English, Italian, French, German, and Spanish versions. Eos-Array DS English version (pdf file) Eos-Array DS Italian version (pdf file) Eos-Array DS French version (pdf file) Eos-Array DS German version (pdf file) Eos-Array DS Spanish version (pdf file) Link to the datasheet download area
The Market Market Tools INSTRUCTION MANUALS Every Eos-Array module is supplied with an instruction folder, available in multilanguage format (English-Italian- Spanish-French-German version). Eos-Array MP IM ML version (pdf file) Eos-Array SO IM ML version (pdf file) Link to the datasheet download area
The Market Market Tools INSTRUCTION MANUALS Eos-ArraySoft the parameter programming software and its instruction folder, available in multilanguage format (English-Italian- Spanish-French-German version) is freely downloadable from our web-site. Eos-ArraySoft IM ML version (pdf file) Link to the datasheet download area
Conclusions Eos-Array Eos-Array is a complete and modular system specifically developed for Solar plant control based on single 1-DIN modules with different functionalities. Eos-Array with its string control module and integrated protection fuse is also a space saving solution. Eos-Array is a cost effective solution which focuses on reliability, expandability and flexibility: the PV installation control can be easily tailored according to the plant size and the application needs (from 10kWp onwards). Eos-Array splits the measurement and control functions into different modules so to improve the global reliability of the Solar control system. Eos-Array with its efficiency and local alarm management provides a fast problem localization while Eos-ArraySoft, a freeware software, either automatically or manually can download the Eos-Array system memory for further yield data and alarm analysis. Eos-Array is easy to install and because its modular concept is suitable to be sold also using the distributor sales channels.
Conclusions Eos-Array Eos-Array has not real competitors because the market today offers totally different and incomparable solutions Eos-Array unique features are recognizable by a specific logo. More will come in the feature