Talking solar, energy storage, and inverter trends

Inverter manufacturer KSTAR currently has an annual production capacity of 10 GW and plans to expand it to 15 GW by the end of this year. Following the launch of new products, the company aims to double its capacity to 30 GW in 2021. Mr Ye, KSTAR's Vice President, discusses solar, energy storage and inverters.

KSTAR is launching new products this year. Could you tell us more about them?

We will launch several new products, including a 1500V string inverter for large-scale applications, an 1100V grid-connected PV string inverter, and the BluE Series, an all-in-one single-phase energy storage solution.

The 1500V string inverter is designed for large utility-scale power stations. The 250 kW inverter offers a maximum efficiency of 99% and a European efficiency rating of 98.5%. It features 12 maximum power point tracking (MPPT) channels and 24 string inputs.

The BluE Series hybrid inverter combines KSTAR inverters with CATL battery technology. This latest all-in-one single-phase energy storage solution is designed to provide customers with an optimal experience.

With so many inverter manufacturers in the market, how do KSTAR's PV solutions stand out from the competition?

KSTAR's smart PV solutions incorporate innovative technologies and have been adopted worldwide. Our high-performance GSM Series has been deployed in a 240 MW PV project in Ukraine and a 320 MW floating solar power station in Asia. Both projects use KSTAR's DC 1500V Turnkey Solution.

This solution features a maximum DC/AC ratio of up to 1.5, a night-time SVG function, a modular design for easy maintenance, and full power output at temperatures below 50°C.

We also provide value-added services for our inverter and energy storage system (ESS) solutions worldwide. We have 18 professional teams in different countries, allowing us to provide timely local support. Customers do not need to worry about after-sales service.

When customers purchase our inverter and ESS solutions, they also gain access to our wireless monitoring system. Any faults or problems can be detected quickly and checked remotely. Based on our extensive experience, most inverter issues can be resolved through firmware upgrades performed remotely via our online server. This significantly reduces site visits and saves our customers time.

Battery storage systems are becoming increasingly important for PV installations. How do you see the future integration of solar PV and storage, and what solutions are you offering to the market?

Battery storage is important for both small rooftop installations and large solar farms. Solar PV and battery storage create business opportunities for each other. As renewable energy installations continue to expand, energy storage systems will have significant opportunities in 2020 and 2021. In the coming years, the MW-scale storage market is expected to become increasingly important.

KSTAR can provide large-scale energy storage solutions, such as the GSE5000-MV Turnkey Solution from the GSE-MV Series. This highly integrated solution includes an integrated converter, a step-up transformer (10 kV/35 kV), lower system losses and battery access management.

The GSE5000-MV is safe, reliable and grid-friendly. It has an IP54 protection rating, making it suitable for demanding outdoor environments. It also features effective forced-air cooling and an overload capacity of 1.1.

For hybrid energy storage systems featuring CATL technology, our current product range provides solutions of up to 5 kW for residential applications and from 50 kW to 5,000 kW for commercial and industrial applications. We offer smart solutions for different system configurations.

China is KSTAR's largest market. Which overseas markets were most important to your company in 2020, and what are your expectations for 2021?

In 2020, we saw overseas markets emerge as important growth areas for our company. These include the residential and commercial markets in Europe and South Korea, particularly for energy storage products. Over the past few years, we have performed well in both emerging overseas PV and ESS markets and traditional markets. According to IHS Markit inverter reports, KSTAR ranked among the world's top 10 inverter manufacturers.

We expect further growth in Europe and Australia in the utility-scale and energy storage markets in 2021. For hybrid energy storage systems, the launch of new all-in-one BluE Series solutions featuring CATL technology is expected to create more opportunities in markets such as the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, Spain and Australia.

Our 1500V and 1100V string inverters are also expected to reach more developing markets, including the Middle East, Europe and South Korea.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business? Markets such as Brazil, Mexico, India, South Africa and the United States have been hit hard. How have these developments affected your overseas business?

Our business has continued to grow steadily this year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a relatively limited impact on us. Some major PV projects in Europe and the Middle East have been delayed. However, our ESS products developed through our joint venture with CATL have sold well in Europe this year.

One of the biggest challenges for our overseas business is the difficulty of meeting customers face to face. We have therefore held online video meetings to discuss cooperation opportunities, customer requirements, pre-sales and after-sales services, training and new product introductions.

In fact, some customers have placed orders and made payments for solar inverters and ESS products directly after online meetings.

Extracted from PV Magazine: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/10/29/talking-solar-energy-storage-and-inverter-trends/