Works Summary:

Relocate 14no. Inverters from existing original installed locations to a more suitable location.

Replace 4no. older Inverters with new (Inverter repowering).

Fit 1no. new datalogger to enable remote inverter performance monitoring.

Fit 1no. kWh meter to enable remote monitoring of mains electricity flows.


Issue:

14no. ABB & Solis inverters were installed in hard-to-reach locations at various heights above ground level.

Original inverter installation locations were not ideal, overall, the installation was messy, and difficult to access for servicing and maintenance.  Access required either expensive temporary scaffolding, and/or scaffolding towers to be erected each time any periodic servicing or corrective maintenance was required. Plus, either winches and chains, and/or small scissor lifts to be hired if any inverters needed to be lowered and lifted if being removed or replaced.

Each visit required careful planning to select correct method and type of very specific safe-access requirements. Operations were hazardous with multiple risks to consider in RAMS (Risk And Method Statements).

Ongoing OPEX (Operational Expenditure) costs for client were therefore high.

Client had no inverter performance data, and no electricity flow data through their mains incomer MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number).

 

Solution:

Remove 10no. Solis & 4no. ABB inverters from existing installed locations.

Discard old out of warranty ABB inverters, replace with new Solis inverters (with extended warranties) so all inverters of same brand.

Relocate all inverters to new dedicated easy-to-access wall space located in ground floor plant room.

Fit 1no. datalogger to enable remote monitoring of Inverter performance.

Fit 1no. 3phase kWh meter and CT sensors on MPAN to enable data monitoring of mains electricity import/export and solar self-consumption.


Challenges:

Needed to install internal scaffolding to provide access to existing inverter locations.

Required small scissor lift MEWP platform to enable safe lowering of inverters.

Needed to fit new cable tray-work, plus extend and re-run all DC string cables, and AC supply cables from existing inverter locations to new inverter locations.