Using String Optimizers to Repower Existing PV Systems and

Enable Low-Cost Inverter Upgrades

Presented By:

11/16/2017

Speakers:
Mark Kanjorski, Director of Strategic Marketing, Ampt, LLC
Mike Fabozzi, Project Manager, Renewable Service Division, Rosendin Electric
Moderator:
Scott Moskowitz, Senior Analyst, Solar, GTM Research
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Today’s Speakers

Mark Kanjorski Mike Fabozzi Scott Moskowitz

Director of Strategic Project Manager, Senior Analyst, Solar,

Marketing, Ampt, LLC Renewable Service GTM Research
Division, Rosendin Electric

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Cumulative Installed Base of PV Will Reach Nearly 400 GW in 2017

Annual Global PV Installations by Project Size, 2001-2022E (GWdc)

120 111.0
105.1
102.0 102.7
100 94.7
89.7
Annual Installations by Project Size (GWdc)

78.5
80

60 51.0
41.9
37.3
40
29.4 30.0

16.2
20
6.1 7.1
0.3 0.3 0.5 1.1 1.4 1.5 2.5
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017E 2018E 2019E 2020E 2021E 2022E

>5MW 1MW - 5MW 20kW - 1MW <20kW

Source: GTM Research

U.S. Utility Installations To Date Have Surpassed 30 GW

Annual U.S. PV Installations by Project Size, 2010-2022E (GWdc)

18
U.S. Annual PV Installations by Market Segement (GWdc)

16.2
16 15.0 14.7
14.6
13.7
14
12.4
12 10.9

10

7.5
8
6.3
6 4.8

4 3.4
1.9
2 1.2 0.8

0
Pre-2010 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017E 2018E 2019E 2020E 2021E 2022E

Utility PV Non-Residential PV Residential PV

Source: GTM Research

Section 201 Update
US ITC determines ‘serious injury’ to domestic manufacturers – what’s next?

On September 22, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) ruled in favor of Suniva/SolarWorld’s Section 201 petition by
determining that domestic module manufacturers have experienced ‘serious injury’ due to cheaper imports. Notably, the USITC
determined that U.S. manufacturers have not sustained injury from cells made in Singapore, Canada and other Free Trade
Agreement countries, not including Korea and Mexico. The petition timeline now will proceed as follows:

October 3 – USITC held a public hearing to consider possible trade remedies. Due to their unanimous decision, all four
commissioners are eligible to vote on remedy recommendations due on November 13th.
October 31 – A final remedy vote will take place, which will reveal proposed remedies that will be submitted to the President.
November 13 – The USITC’s proposed remedy report is submitted to the President, who then has the final decision to accept or
reject the proposal, or choose to impose his own remedies.
January 12 – Within 60 days after Nov. 13th, the President must issue his decision and submit to Congress the report describing
the remedy and its rationale. He can accept and implement the remedy proposed by the USITC, reject the USITC proposal and
implement his own remedy, or make no decision in which case the decision falls to Congress to determine what remedy, if any, will
be imposed.
Take 15% Off Any of GTM’s Upcoming Events with Code WEBINAR
 Using String Optimizers to Repower Existing PV Systems
and Provide Low-Cost Inverter Upgrades

Ampt, LLC. ©2017

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 8
 “Turn-Key” Solar Solutions Provider

• Engineering
• Procurement
• Construction
• Commissioning
• Operations and Maintenance
• Project Feasibility Analysis
• Energy Performance Analysis

Support Services
• O&M
• Scheduled Maintenance
• Commissioning
• OEM White Label Support
• MV Periodic Inspection & Testing • Grid Emulation
• 24/7 Emergency Response/Repairs • Plant Assessment
• Performance Testing • Emergency Reports
• Calibration • Detailed On-Site Training For Facility Staff

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 9

 Rosendin Repowering Services

Performance Upgrade
• Analyze system performance

• Troubleshoot known issues

• Upgrade with Ampt String Optimizers

Inverter Upgrade
• Upgrade legacy inverters

• Engineered solution

• System recommissioning

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 10

 DC Power Optimization – A Better Solution

Ampt String Optimizer

Optimize PV Systems Repower PV Systems DC-Coupled Storage Monitoring and O&M

Optimize new and existing PV systems with Ampt

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 Ampt Products that Deliver Unmatched Value

DC String Optimizers with Optional Communication

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 Repower PV Systems

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 Repower Existing PV Systems

Improve System Performance Low Cost Solution

Enhanced O&M
More energy with dual MPPT with string-level data
via optional wireless
communication
Ampt delivers full available
power at voltage set by
existing inverter Mounts easily
(no communications required)

Low cost retrofit

uses existing cables
and half the number
of combiner circuits

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 14

 Deploy on Existing Wiring, Combiners & Inverter

Œ 
Ž 

ΠDisconnect strings from combiner

 Connect one string to each Ampt input using existing cables
Ž Connect Ampt output to combiner
 Set inverter to constant or narrow-range voltage operation

Simple drop-in use for low-cost installation

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 String Optimizers Mounted Near Modules or Combiner

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 3 Ways to Repower PV Systems with Ampt

Repower PV Array Upgrade Inverters Expand to High DC/AC Ratio

Recover energy lost from Upgrade inverters over time as Expand array size mixing new and
mismatch and degradation to each one ends its lifecycle with the legacy modules without overloading
increase production. newest inverter technology inverter to increase revenue

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 17

 Repower PV Array

Recover energy lost from

mismatch and degradation to
increase production.

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 18

 Dual MPPT on String Optimizer

In A

Output

In A In B
Output
In B

Maximum Power Point Tracking on each optimizer input string

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 19

 More Energy Through Mismatch Correction
Central Inverters Large String Inverters Ampt String Optimizers
1000’s of Modules per MPP Tracker 100’s of Modules per MPP Tracker 10 - 20 Modules per MPP Tracker (72 cell)

More Energy

Smaller MPP zones = better correction for mismatch

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 20

 Sources of Mismatch
Type Definition Typical Considerations
Maximum Loss

Manufactured Module Mismatch Variation in electrical parameters due to process variation 1% Defined by the manufacturer, the distribution in parametric
values from the manufacturing process.

Thermal Gradients Difference in temperature across modules within an array 1.5% Size and layout of the array, tilt, racking, ground cover,
climate. This will likely not degrade or improve over time.

Uneven Soiling Non-uniform soiling of module surfaces 2% Size and layout of the array, tilt, climate, ground cover.
Modules and strings near edge of array or service “roads”
will soil more quickly.

Shade Power differences due to shade on the array 2% Shade is often caused by near-by buildings or structures,
trees, or inter-row shading.

Cloud Shading Power spikes (increases and decreases) due to clouds 0.1% Very hard to predict, overall impact integrated across a year
passing over an array is small, these are short duration spikes.

Voltage Drop in Conductors Voltage drop along the home run cabling to the inverters 0.5% Size and layout of the array, adequately sized cabling and/or
matched cable lengths wherever possible

Variable Degradation Cells and modules degrade at different rates 2.5% Compounded by thermal gradients, rates roughly double for
every 10°C increase in operating temperature. This value
will increase over time.

Sources: “Modeling Mismatch in PV Systems,” Pearl Laboratories, September 2015

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 Field Example: Losses from System Degradation
13 MW System Built in 2009 – Total Power Generated % Degradation

Degradation Rate: -1.3% / year

Source: Ampt analysis of data provided by PV system owner (2017)

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 Ampt Increases Production Over Remaining Life
by Recovering Degradation Losses
Ampt optimizers installed

Day-1 energy increase with Ampt

-1.0%/yr total degradation typical
-0.5%/yr baseline module degradation
7% energy increase over remaining
Energy Yield (normalized)

-0.5%/yr from mismatch life of 10 year old system with Ampt

Energy increase significantly higher

for underperforming systems

Production Year

Sources: System degradation rates from “Field Experience:Degradation Rates, Lifetime and Failures”, DJordan, NREL PVMRC 2016. Baseline module degradation rates from “Sunpower Module Degradation”- whitepaper PVMRC 2016. String Optimizer mismatch correction from “Reduction of
Mismatch Losses with String Optimizers”, AOlsson, NREL PVMRC 2016.

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 Evaluating ROI of Repowering a PV Array
REVENUE
System age years 4
Remaining FIT/PPA period years 16
Degradation rate (or performance ratio) PPA is based on % 0.0% If actual rate is above this value, include penalty avoidance
Energy value through incentive period (PPA/FIT/SREC/other) $/kWh $
0.120
FIT/Incentive Annual Escalator % 0.0%
Post-incentive period estimated energy value $/kWh $ 0.0
Actual average annual system degradation % 1.0 Based on historical production data
Incremental 1st year energy improvement % 2.0 Based on site assessment and PVsyst model

COST
Optimizers #/MW 105 Depends on system design. May require jumpers/connectors.
Communication Units #/MW 1 Depends on system design
Combiner boxes $/MW 0 Not required – use existing combiners
Cables (incl. rewiring, trenching) $/MW 0 Not required – use existing cables
Engineering & permitting $/MW 0 Not included
Sales/Value-add taxes % 8% Varies by location
6-7 ¢/Wac
Installer labor rate $/hr 25 To install optimizers and related. Includes all overhead and taxes
Installer person-days #/MW 7 4 installers complete 1 MW in 2 days
Inverter labor rate $/day 1200 If it is required to have inverter manufacturer onsite
Inverter person-days #/station 1 1 technician to configure inverter settings

Downtime days 2 Each MW is offline for 1 day on average

Financing project No Assume cash project. IRR can increase if project used debt

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 24

 Repowering with Ampt Achieves Exceptional ROI
Through 20 year FIT / PPA Period Only
Year One Incremental Improvement with Ampt
0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6%
0.08 3% 5% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16%
Energy Value (¢/kWh) 0.10 5% 8% 11% 13% 16% 18% 20%
0.12 8% 11% 14% 16% 19% 22% 24% Example
0.14 9% 13% 16% 19% 22% 25% 28%
0.16 11% 15% 18% 22% 25% 29% 32%
0.18 13% 17% 21% 25% 28% 32% 36%
0.20 14% 18% 23% 27% 31% 35% 40%
0.25 17% 23% 28% 33% 38% 43% 49%
0.30 20% 26% 32% 39% 45% 51% 57%

Ampt delivers significant ROI across a range of project conditions

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 25

 Upgrade Inverters

Upgrade legacy inverters over time

as each one ends its lifecycle with
the newest inverter technology

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 26

 Upgrade Inverters

As each inverter ends lifecycle:

§ Replace legacy inverters with
the newest inverter technology
§ Use 1000-volt inverters at full rated power
in 600-volt systems
§ Use 1500-volt inverters at full rated power
in 1000-volt systems

Ampt avoids costly re-wiring and re-trenching

while lowering the cost of replacement inverters

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 27

 Innovative DC Power Management

Current Power

Inverter sets
DC voltage
DPO
In Optimizer Out

Voltage Voltage

Maximum power point Maximum power range

Optimizer delivers full available power at the voltage set by the inverter

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 28

 Use Modern Inverters as Low-Cost Replacements

1000-volt inverter 1000-volt inverter

(standard) (with Ampt)
Maximum Input Voltage 1000 1000
Inverter operating range 480-920 500 – 550
Output Power 500kW 500kW
Maximum system voltage 1000 600

With Ampt, use low cost per watt 1000V central or string inverters
to replace legacy 600V inverters

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 29

 Options for upgrading inverters – 600 Volt System Example

Existing
Existing 600V central inverter
needs to be replaced

XFMR

Reaches 600V
end of life Central Inv

Recomb

DC Comb

PV

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 30

 Options for upgrading inverters – 600 Volt System Example
Option 1
Existing String 600V
Existing 600V central inverter 600V string inverters replace
needs to be replaced DC combiners in array

XFMR Possibly change XFMR

AC Comb

Reaches 600V
end of life Central Inv

Recomb

• Replace DC high current

conductors with 3ph AC
• Retrenching / Cable Trays
DC Comb • Limited product options 600V String
• Remove combiner boxes
Inverters
• Install inverters in array
• Possible array rewire

PV PV

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 31

 Options for upgrading inverters – 600 Volt System Example
Option 1 Option 2
Existing String 600V String 1000V + Ampt
Existing 600V central inverter 600V string inverters replace 1000V string inverters replace
needs to be replaced DC combiners in array DC combiners; plus optimizers

XFMR Possibly change XFMR Possibly change XFMR

AC Comb AC Comb

Reaches 600V
end of life Central Inv

Recomb

• Replace DC high current Possibly use existing

conductors with 3ph AC conductors back to pad
• Retrenching / Cable Trays (if paralleled)
DC Comb • Limited product options 1000V
600V String Programmed to
• Remove combiner boxes String
Inverters stay within 600V
• Install inverters in array Inverters
• Possible array rewire Increase production
with MPPT per string

PV PV PV

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 32

 Options for upgrading inverters – 600 Volt System Example
Option 1 Option 2 Option 3
Existing String 600V String 1000V + Ampt Virtual Central + Ampt
Existing 600V central inverter 600V string inverters replace 1000V string inverters replace 1000V string inverters on
needs to be replaced DC combiners in array DC combiners; plus optimizers central pad; plus optimizers

XFMR Possibly change XFMR Possibly change XFMR Possibly change XFMR

AC Comb AC Comb AC Comb

Virtual Central: pre-

Reaches 600V built rack of inverters; 1000V String
end of life Central Inv programmed to stay Inverters
within 600V
Recomb

• Replace DC high current Possibly use existing

Use existing conductors
conductors with 3ph AC conductors back to pad
back to inverter pad
• Retrenching / Cable Trays (if paralleled)
DC Comb • Limited product options 1000V Use existing combiners
DC Comb
600V String Programmed to (consider changing if
• Remove combiner boxes String
Inverters stay within 600V grounded array)
• Install inverters in array Inverters
• Possible array rewire Increase production Increase production
with MPPT per string with MPPT per string

PV PV PV PV

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 33

 Options for upgrading inverters – 600 Volt System Example
Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4
Existing String 600V String 1000V + Ampt Virtual Central + Ampt Central 1000V + Ampt
Existing 600V central inverter 600V string inverters replace 1000V string inverters replace 1000V string inverters on 1000V central inverter;
needs to be replaced DC combiners in array DC combiners; plus optimizers central pad; plus optimizers plus optimizers

XFMR Possibly change XFMR Possibly change XFMR Possibly change XFMR Possibly change XFMR

AC Comb AC Comb AC Comb

Virtual Central: pre-

Reaches 600V built rack of inverters; 1000V String Programmed to 1000V
end of life Central Inv programmed to stay Inverters stay within 600V Central Inv
within 600V
Recomb Recomb

• Replace DC high current Possibly use existing

Use existing conductors Use existing conductors
conductors with 3ph AC conductors back to pad
back to inverter pad back to inverter pad
• Retrenching / Cable Trays (if paralleled)
DC Comb • Limited product options 1000V Use existing combiners
DC Comb Use existing combiners
DC Comb
600V String Programmed to (consider changing if (consider changing if
• Remove combiner boxes String
Inverters stay within 600V grounded array) grounded array)
• Install inverters in array Inverters
• Possible array rewire Increase production Increase production Increase production
with MPPT per string with MPPT per string with MPPT per string

PV PV PV PV PV

Each of the Ampt options deliver more value

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 34

 Upgrading Inverters Using Ampt Delivers More Value
Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4
String 600V String 1000V + Ampt Virtual Central + Ampt Central 1000V + Ampt
Materials $ $/Wac $/Wdc $ $/Wac $/Wdc $ $/Wac $/Wdc $ $/Wac $/Wdc
Inverter & Transformer
AC & DC Recombiners 120,000 0.120 0.109 152,625 0.153 0.139 152,625 0.153 0.139 147,625 0.148 0.134
String Optimizers
AC & DC Collection
100,000 0.100 0.091 - - - - - - - - -
DC combiners
Sales/Value Added Tax 17,600 0.018 0.016 12,210 0.012 0.011 12,210 0.012 0.011 11,810 0.012 0.011
Materials sub-total 237,600 0.238 0.216 164,835 0.165 0.150 164,835 0.165 0.150 159,435 0.159 0.145

Labor
Inverter mech & elec
Inverter commissioning
68,000 0.068 0.062 47,000 0.047 0.043 36,000 0.036 0.033 23,000 0.023 0.021
Transformer
AC & DC Recombiners
Trenching & Cable Tray
DC Combiners
17,000 0.017 0.015 14,400 0.014 0.013 14,400 0.014 0.013 14,400 0.014 0.013
Array wire
Ampt Optimizers
Sales/Value Added Tax - - - - - - - - - - - -
Labor sub-total 85,000 0.085 0.077 61,400 0.061 0.056 50,400 0.050 0.046 37,400 0.037 0.034

Materials & Labor Sub-Total 322,600 0.323 0.293 226,960 0.226 0.206 215,235 0.215 0.196 196,835 0.197 0.179

Ampt Cost Savings 0.096 0.107 0.126

MPPT Level 4-8 strings per MPPT 1 string per MPPT 1 string per MPPT 1 string per MPPT

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 35

 Expand to High DC/AC Ratio

Expand array size mixing new and

legacy modules without overloading
inverter to increase revenue

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 36

 Expand to High DC/AC Ratio

String Optimizer

§ Enables DC ratios of 2:1 or more

§ Increase the size of a PV array on existing inverters
§ Mix new and legacy modules

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 37

 Higher DC/AC Ratio Delivers More Energy

AC Power (W) Over Sun Day

Higher production improves ROI

Mix old and new

PV modules

High DC:AC Ratio Typical max DC:AC Ratio

with Ampt (2:1) without Ampt (1.5:1)

With Ampt, deploy high DC/AC ratio systems without overloading

existing combiner boxes, cables, or inverters

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 38

 Repowering Delivers High ROI

Maximized annual project revenue

§ Generate more energy over the system life

Lowest cost upgrade option

§ Use existing wires & combiners
§ Use existing inverters

Future-proof inverter replacement

§ Upgrade with low-cost, modern string or central inverters
§ No re-wiring or re-trenching

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 39

 Repower PV Array

Case Study
Recover energy lost from
mismatch and degradation to
increase production.

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 40

 Case Study: Overview

5 year old system

425 kW central inverters
Annual performance degradation

Solution Deployed:
• Ampt String Optimizers (V600 Series)

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 41

 Implementing the Solution

Site survey Engineered design Mount string optimizers

Use smart phone to scan Connect existing module strings to Connect existing home runs to
bar codes on optimizers optimizer inputs optimizer outputs

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 Implementing the Solution

Remove Solstice combiners Mount new combiners and Communicate with optimizers to
(not required if system has standard combiners) connect home runs (half the ckts) confirm DC connections

Set inverter voltage to constant or Re-energize inverter and

narrow operating voltage confirm full operation Track performance improvement

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 43

 Results: Repowering with Ampt increased performance

10.2% more energy compared to adjacent inverter

Source: AES Corporation

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 Results: Repowering returns 3.2 year payback with 31% ROI

Investment Per Inverter Returns

Materials Qty More energy 10.2%

Optimizers 81
Combiner boxes1 18 Payback 3.2 years
Misc. wire / other Yes

Labor IRR (25 year system life) 31%

# people on site 4
# days on site 8

1Combiner boxes were required to replace Solstice

Also expect (not included above):
string combiners. Systems with standard combiners
would not need this cost
Avoided annual O&M cost
2Cost of downtime not included
Decreased degradation (5-6% more energy)

Source: AES Corporation

Ampt, LLC. ©2017 45

 Thank You!

ampt.com rosendin.com

Ampt, LLC. ©2017