We recently collaborated with SMA on a 500-kW DC-DC converter for use with an SMA inverter for utility-scale solar+storage projects . We displayed the integrated system and our own Chris Larsen—Director of Business Development at Dynapower—discussed the system alongside SMA’s Energy Storage Product Manager Tim Stocker at Solar Power International for an interview with our good friends at Solar Power World.
The SMA DC-coupled PV central inverter includes connection points for up to six DC converters. Dynapower worked with SMA extensively on this inverter to ensure the solution is as streamlined and as effective of a product as possible.
The DC-DC converter marries up to the SMA Sunny Central Inverter and can be put in parallel with other units to help developers size their storage package appropriately to match their solar array.
This air-cooled system has the capability of both operating as a current source device but also can operate as a voltage source device where it’s actually emulating the PV array, as Larsen points out in the video.
This 500-kW DC-DC converter boasts bi-directional functionality so you have the flexibility to not only charge from solar but also from the grid. The unit also boasts many different use cases for the DC-coupled energy storage market such as clip loss capturing and time shifting.
Check out the video to learn more from Chris and Tim.
