“Through retrofit interventions on the inverters, reducing the risk of shutdowns and failures that can lead to the stop of important sections or the entire photovoltaic system, we improve the availability of the machines and safeguard an increasing production of green energy.” -Davide Cavallotti, Operations Support & Optimization.
EF SOLARE’S INVERTER RETROFIT PLAN TO ENHANCE THE VALUE OF EXISTING ASSETS
EF Solare over the last few years has implemented and strengthened the maintenance activities of its photovoltaic plants, developing multiple solutions (more or less invasive) useful to satisfy the different needs of its assets.
The inverter retrofit activity is an example of this: an activity aimed at the revision, repair and/or replacement of specific components of the machines that allow the inverter to be restored to its original efficiency, extending its useful life. These operations are part of the wider scope of extraordinary maintenance activities, alongside the revamping plan in which the complete replacement of older, worse-performing inverters takes place.
The multi-year retrofit project will involve a total of about 550 MW of inverters on about 200 plants in Italy.
During retrofit activities, machine shutdowns are constantly monitored in order to minimize production losses. The overall status of the plant is also analyzed so as to intercept any issues that could have negative effects on inverter performance, resolving them, where possible, together with the retrofit activities or scheduling their resolution at a later date.
The plan, carried out by the Operations Support & Optimization team, is certainly an important step toward bringing management closer to its plants, adding technical know-how, thanks in part to the collaboration of specialists in the field.
“The work we are doing is part of an important investment by the Group, which is working to develop and make available as many tools and solutions as possible to face the different operation needs on its photovoltaic plants. In recent years we have started from the monitoring and careful analysis carried out by the Group to identify the installations that are the subject of our operation, thus opening a constant channel of communication with the manufacturers of the inverters themselves and with specialists in the field. Through this collaboration, we have not only obtained more expertise, but also created a strong partnership for the future management of these components. Through retrofit interventions on the inverters, reducing the risk of shutdowns and failures that can lead to the stop of important sections or the entire photovoltaic system, we improve the availability of the machines and safeguard an increasing production of green energy.” said Davide Cavallotti, Operations Support & Optimization.
Since the beginning of the year, interventions for about 145 MW have been completed involving 250 inverters for an amount of about 2,000 hours of work in 10 regions. By the end of 2022, the goal is to carry out extraordinary maintenance on another 120 MW, involving a total of 6 inverter manufacturers and several specialized operators.
“The four-year plan contributes visibly to the enhancement of the Group’s assets. Extending the useful life of inverters through the revision, repair and/or replacement of specific components, avoiding total replacement when possible, is also a virtuous activity in terms of circular economy. In this way it is indeed possible to reduce the use of new raw materials, minimizing the creation of waste and promoting the recycling and reuse of components and materials. EF Solare in all its activities and projects always work hard to adopt a sustainable approach to the management of its solar power generation business.” said Francesco Palmieri, Head of Operations Support & Optimization.