SMA Solar to Supply 1.2 GW Inverter Power for Utility Scale PV Projects in Australia

2017 represents a ground breaking year for solar farm development in Australia says John Susa

Major PV inverter manufacturer SMA Solar Technology has signed contracts to supply 1.2 GW inverter power to more than 20 utility Scale PV Projects in Australia in 2017.

The capacity of the projects ranges from 10 megawatt to 270 megawatt with all PV power plants will be built using SMA’s Medium Voltage Power Station (MVPS) and the SMA Power Plant Controller offering flexible farm control.

According to the statement, the MVPS combines PV inverter, transformer and medium voltage switchgear in a container and is perfectly suited for large-scale solar projects. It reduces transport, installation and operating costs thanks to its unique power density and compact design.

“Thanks to improved economic factors and pervasive market interest 2017 represents a ground breaking year for solar farm development in Australia,” said John Susa, Executive Vice President of SMA Sales North America/APAC. “This success has been achieved by working closely with different developers and EPCs.”

Australia Renewable Energy Agency has been playing a significant role providing bridge funding for projects that will make large-scale solar photovoltaics more competitive, the company said.

According to the statement, ARENA has financed 12 large-scale solar farms across the country in 2017 through a competitive process that is expected to result in almost 500 MW of power generation. The 12 PV power plants in the Large Scale Solar (LSS) Program range from 10MW to 110MW and are located in Queensland (six plants), NSW (five plants) and Western Australia (one plant).

The projects are expected to unveil almost 1 billion USD of commercial investment and bolster regional Australian economies.