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Why is there a need for 1500V modules

Goldi 1500 Volt system module.

With the decrease in module prices, attention has shifted to decrease the system cost of other components like BOS, combiner boxes etc.

The Goldi 1500 Volt system module will eventually lower the cost of large scale utility projects.

Why is there a need for 1500V modules?

Module prices have come down faster than inverter and electrical balance of systems (BOS) costs. Over the last four years, module costs have fallen by about 73%, inverter costs have declined by 56% and electrical BOS costs have fallen by 9%. Since module prices have decreased so dramatically, the focus is on inverter and BOS costs because they now make up a larger percentage of total system costs.

Unfortunately, it is increasingly difficult to reduce inverter and electrical BOS costs. Many inverter suppliers have already reached economies of scale and applied cost reduction techniques to lower their prices. It’s difficult to go beyond these accomplishments without a significant degree of innovation.

Besides, electrical BOS components have their own distinct challenges to drive costs down. For example, combiner and other cabling costs closely follow commodity pricing, which makes it difficult to reduce costs without impacting the already razor-thin margins.

As a result, the industry is realizing that in order to achieve the next level of cost reduction, a system level approach is required, rather than continued emphasis on individual components.

What are the benefits of 1500V modules?

1500V modules lead to longer string length and thereby use fewer components as compared to conventional power plants.

Raising the system voltage to 1500 volts allows for 50 percent longer strings which eliminate 33 percent of the combiners and wiring in a system. The panel will reduce the amount of total PV electrical materials by 14%, leading to a 10% decrease in the BOS cost.

Less volumes of equipment such as inverters or transformers due to higher power density is also beneficial to reducing the costs of transportation and maintenance along with giving inventory flexibility.

Due to less equipment, costs of post-operation and maintenance will be reduced accordingly.

Assuming the length and diameter of the cables are confirmed and the resistance R is constant, the cable loss will be 1/2.25 when the current lowers 1.5 times, as Ohm’s Law P=I2R. To sum up, equipment loss will reduce and power generation increases when DC-side voltage rises from 1000V to 1500V.

Larger array blocks eventually save on the components and on the labour.

Due to our in-house stringent quality tests, Goldi 1500V modules will stand the test of time, eventually proving their efficiency, high performance and ruggedness.