Availability is the Key
SMA Quality guarantees successful PV Projects
PV power plants are long-term capital investments.
Operators and investors must be able to rely on their availability.
SMA’s solutions have availability rates of up to 99.98 percent, * ensuring a project’s success throughout its entire lifetime.
* Plant under SMA service contract
BU: Assumptions: PPA rate: 5.5 Euro cents, kWh/kWp: 1300, plant service contract term: 20 years, DC/AC ratio: 130%, plant size: 100 MWac
How SMA ensures maximum quality
Demanding tests for outstanding solutions
At SMA, every individual component and finished device are subjected to intensive qualification and test procedures. In a unique test center equipped with seven test chambers, one test area and twelve system and development stations, state-of-the-art measurement techniques and test procedures covering a variety of different areas are used.
- Grid compatibility
- Ambient conditions
- Inverter performance
- Accelerated ageing
- Compliance with standards
- 100 percent first article inspection in the series end test
Innovative concepts and unique stack design
With more than 35 years of experience and a total installed capacity of over 55 gigawatts worldwide, SMA has unique experience in the development, design and engineering of inverters and complete solutions for every requirement and need.
SMA has developed the intelligent cooling system OptiCool, which allows SMA inverters to be installed outdoors in all climatic conditions. For 1,500 V central inverters, SMA uses a stack topology with a 38 percent design reserve to ensure maximum reliability.
Pioneering production processes
In SMA’s production facilities, we produce inverters and solutions in accordance with future-oriented standards and using state-of-the-art production methods. Our long-term documentation of individual production steps ensures that the high quality of the individual components and the complete devices remains transparent at all times.
- The trend-setting worker information system (WIS) ensures relevant option codes
- Intelligent electronic screw system for all HV connections to ensure maximum safety
- A series of test procedures during production prevent faults
- Modern series test systems for DC modules and stacks
Diverse test procedures ensure project success
From the component to the finished device – at SMA, sophisticated test procedures are conducted in every step of production.
Stack Tests
At SMA, the stacks are tested before they are installed – in the same position in which they will later be installed in the inverter. This allows us to derive information about the component’s subsequent function in advance.
Test conditions:
- 100% power
- Electronic documentation of stack behavior
- Individual test chambers for 1000-volt and 1500-volt AC modules
Three-part series end test
Every finished Sunny Central inverter is intensively tested to ensure full and fault-free functionality. Tests meet all standards and certifications
- Test for specific customer requirements and special versions
- Full grid function tests
- All documentation is recorded and provided electronically
Performance end tests in the V-loop procedure
Two inverters alternate between inverter and rectifier operation – at full power. The temperature behavior is assessed and information derived regarding their later behavior in the field.
Safety and sustainability
SMA is the first manufacturer to meet the new UL 62109 industry standard.
Learn more
Global O&M services guarantee yield and investment
As one of the top 5 operations and maintenance providers, SMA offers a range of services to ensure the long-term efficiency and profitability of large PV power plants. This ensures optimal and reliable system performance with maximum yields for over 25 years and beyond.