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					</table>High-power string inverters can significantly reduce the balance of system (BOS) costs compared to central inverter solutions as they require fewer inverters per block and have a better DC-to-AC conversion ratio, a panel of industry experts at a webinar hosted by Mercom India said.
The impact of inverters on project performance, stability, and the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) is substantial.
The webinar, titled &#8220;How to Save Costs with High Power String Inverters in Large Scale Projects,&#8221; highlighted how high-capacity string inverters could help save costs for large-scale solar projects.
The panelists were Nilesh Mahajan, CEO and Director of <a href="https://roofsol.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roofsol Energy</a>; Yogish HN, AVP-BD at <a href="https://enerparc.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enerparc</a>; Kannan Devaraji, Senior Manager at Enerparc; Gajanan Sawant, Senior Manager – Design and Engineering at <a href="https://www.cleanmax.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleanmax</a>; Sunil Panigrahi, Country Manager – India at <a href="https://en.hopewind.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hopewind</a> and Rakesh B P, Solution Manager at Hopewind.
Priya Sanjay, Managing Director, Mercom India, moderated the session.
Cost Savings
As high-power string technology requires fewer inverters per block, the costs associated with cabling, combiner boxes, junction boxes, mounting structures, and other electrical equipment are reduced. This brings down installation, operations, and maintenance expenses over the project&#8217;s lifecycle.
&#8220;We have calculated that using high-power string inverters in large-scale projects can save around $8,000 to $9,000 per MW in costs,&#8221; said Panigrahi . &#8220;For a 100 MW project, the savings become really substantial when you multiply across the entire capacity.&#8221;
&#8220;On the DC side, you can reduce the number of cables, and on the AC side, you can reduce the cable size. By this, you can reduce the project cost,&#8221; he added.
Apart from reduction in capital costs, developers also look at savings in LCOE over the life of the inverter, explained Nilesh Mahajan. &#8220;At the end of the day, we also want to see how the inverter will perform. Apart from capital costs, developers and EPC contractors also look at the costs associated with the inverters after installation, during maintenance, and the lifespan of the inverters and the critical components that need to be replaced.&#8221;
Better Conversion Ratios
Another key advantage highlighted was the higher AC/DC conversion ratios achievable with string inverters. &#8220;This higher DC overloading allows capturing more energy from the solar modules and accounts for any mismatch losses or degradation over time,&#8221; explained Rakesh.
Distributed string inverter configurations also provide more design flexibility than centralized solutions. If a fault occurs in one string, the entire plant is not shut down, unlike a central inverter.
Flexibility in OEMs
The introduction of high-power string inverters also offers increased flexibility when using various original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Implementing high-power string inverters allows for the integration of multiple module technologies and ratings, providing developers and EPC firms greater flexibility.
&#8220;By introducing high power inverters, we have the flexibility to use different OEM and different technology because module costs are one of the deciding factors in the system as well as BOS costs,&#8221; said Kannan Devaraji.
Earlier conventional solar setups with a single central inverter could utilize only a single OEM of modules, limiting options when it came to costs and supply timelines.
&#8220;The cost and supply of a module also plays a role in overall costs,&#8221; added Devaraji.
Technological Challenges
However, string inverters also face technology challenges that need to be addressed. A major concern was derating, especially for hot, arid regions like Rajasthan, where temperatures routinely exceed 50°C. Developers stressed the need for more intelligent cooling systems.
&#8220;One of the major criteria before selecting an inverter is how it performs in extreme temperatures, along with reliability and safety aspects,&#8221; said Mahajan. &#8220;Certification is another aspect we look for. Since the projects are connected to the grid, we have to comply with the requirements of the grid operator,&#8221; he added.
Another requirement is faster response time to support dynamic reactive power requirements for large plants. Gajanan Sawant felt that under one-second response time is needed to provide grid services like frequency regulation, as opposed to about five seconds currently.
Highlighting the advantage of string inverters when it comes to response time, Rakesh explained that a lower number of inverters usually leads to faster response time. &#8220;When you connect a lower number of inverters, the response time is faster.&#8221;
Cyber security to safeguard the distributed assets from potential hacking was another area of focus for the panelists. They felt that inverters must have advanced security measures, certifications, and secure servers to prevent any data breaches or manipulation attacks.
Later this month, Mercom will host a <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/webinars/how-to-protect-renewable-energy-projects-from-commercial-cyber-threats-with-insurance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">webinar</a> on how insurance can help protect renewable energy projects from commercial cybersecurity attacks.
Last year, Mercom <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/smarter-inverters-crucial-from-advanced-solar-modules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hosted</a> a webinar exploring the rising demand for high-capacity string inverters and larger solar modules with a power rating of 600W+. The webinar found that the shift to larger modules had prompted upgrades in project designs and other equipment to accommodate higher generation.
Sign up for Mercom&#8217;s next webinar on &#8211; <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/webinars/how-to-protect-renewable-energy-projects-from-commercial-cyber-threats-with-insurance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to Protect Renewable Energy Projects from Commercial Cyber Threats with Insurance</a>

High Power String Inverters in Solar Projects Perform Better, Save Costs

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					</table>The top rooftop solar installers in India during the first half (1H) of the calendar year (CY) 2023 were <a href="https://www.tatapowersolar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tata Power Solar</a>, <a href="https://www.havells.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Havells India</a>, <a href="https://enerparc.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enerparc Energy</a>, <a href="https://amplussolar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amplus Solar</a>, and <a href="https://www.hartek.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hartek Solar</a>, according to Mercom&#8217;s recently released <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-india-solar-market-leaderboard-1h-2023-market-shares-profiles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Market Leaderboard 1H 2023.</a>
Enerparc Energy was the newest entry in the top 10.
The Market Leaderboard provides information on the competitive landscape and market share of the major players in India&#8217;s solar supply chain.
India added 872 MW of rooftop solar capacity, a 3.2% increase compared to 845 MW in 1H 2022, according to the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/rooftop-solar-market-report-q2-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Rooftop Solar Market Report Q2 2023</a>. The top 10 companies in the Market Leaderboard accounted for around 45% of these capacity additions.
<a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leading-Rooftop-Solar-Installers-in-India-1H-2023.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-60302 " src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leading-Rooftop-Solar-Installers-in-India-1H-2023.png" alt="Leading Rooftop Solar Installers in India 1H 2023" width="632" height="507" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leading-Rooftop-Solar-Installers-in-India-1H-2023.png 701w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leading-Rooftop-Solar-Installers-in-India-1H-2023-300x241.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leading-Rooftop-Solar-Installers-in-India-1H-2023-650x521.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leading-Rooftop-Solar-Installers-in-India-1H-2023-624x500.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leading-Rooftop-Solar-Installers-in-India-1H-2023-600x481.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 632px) 100vw, 632px" /></a>As of June 2023, Tata Power was the top among rooftop solar installers, accounting for 24% of all rooftop solar installations; Havells India and Enerparc Energy held the second and third spots with 4% and 3% solar installations, respectively. Amplus Solar and Hartek Solar had a market share of 3% and 2%, respectively.
Tata Power Solar has a portfolio of more than 1.3 GW of rooftop and distributed ground-mounted systems.
Havells India climbed three places compared to 1H 2022. It stood second among India&#8217;s installers. The industrial and residential segments were the main focus of their installations.
Enerparc Energy was the third leading rooftop solar installer on the list. The company specializes in investment and EPC services for rooftop, ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and solar carports, primarily focusing on India&#8217;s commercial and industrial segments. Enerparc has commissioned over 120 solar PV projects nationwide, with a capacity of more than 200 MW cumulatively.
The report covers market shares and rankings across the Indian solar supply chain and provides the most accurate and comprehensive coverage of India&#8217;s solar industry leaders. For the detailed and comprehensive report, click <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-india-solar-market-leaderboard-1h-2023-market-shares-profiles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
A complete list of the solar rooftop installers and their market share is available through <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-india-solar-market-share-tracker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom&#8217;s India Solar Market Share Tracker</a>.

Tata Power, Havells, Enerparc Top Rooftop Solar Installers List in 1H 2023

<a href="https://www.ingka.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ingka Group</a>, which owns most of the IKEA retail stores across the globe, through its investment arm Ingka Investments, has acquired nine solar PV projects totaling 440 MW in Germany and Spain from the European solar project developer <a href="https://www.enerparc.de/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enerparc</a>.
The total investment in the solar PV development portfolio would amount to about €340 million (~$371 million).
Four out of the nine solar power projects will be developed in Germany with an expected capacity of around 300 MW. The remaining five will be in Spain, totaling 140 MW.
The energy generated from these solar projects will help power roughly 140,000 European households and all IKEA stores and warehouses in Germany and Spain.
The projects are in the early stages and are expected to be ready for construction at the end of 2022, progressing into 2023, with a construction timeline of six months.
As a part of a €6.5 billion (~$7.10 billion) initiative to support 100% renewable energy consumption across the value chain and beyond, Ingka Investments has invested and committed more than €2.7billion (~$2.95 billion) into renewable energy projects (wind and solar).
Krister Mattsson, Managing Director, Ingka Investments, commenting on the acquisition, said, “We are delighted to be announcing this important initiative to enable renewable electricity consumption in Germany and Spain, which is another step in accelerating our energy production in Europe and North America. With our solar and wind projects, we want to make renewable energy available throughout the IKEA value chain and beyond.”
The development of the solar power projects in Germany and Spain are part of IKEA’s commitment to becoming climate positive by 2030 by reducing more greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions than the IKEA value chain emits.
Currently, Ingka Group owns and manages 547 wind turbines in 14 countries, ten solar projects, and 935,000 solar panels on the roofs of IKEA stores and warehouses. Together, this produces more than 4 TWh, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of over 1 million European households.
Ingka Group, in September 2020 had, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/investment-planned-enhance-ikea-sustainability/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> its plans to invest €600 million (~$710 million) to help IKEA keep its commitment to become climate positive by 2030. The investment was planned toward innovative companies, solutions, and operations to facilitate the shift towards a net-zero carbon economy.
Over 68 GW of solar projects were acquired in 2021, compared to 39.5 GW in 2020, according to Mercom’s <a href="https://mercomcapital.com/product/annual-q4-2021-solar-funding-ma-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Annual and Q4 2021 Solar Funding and M&amp;A Report</a>.

IKEA Acquires 440 MW of Solar Projects in Europe for €340 Million

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