Category — Development

This week at Intersolar 2011 (Mumbai), OPS together with OPS India will release the latest in transformer-less Grid Export power conditioning technology, The GEC-TL Series along with the megawatt-scale containerised power module, The Sun Station.

We invite you to visit our booth at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC) Hall 1 during 14th to 16th December. Our stall will showcase our current and emerging product technology of power conversion and system integration for renewable power systems.

For attendees of the Conference, feel free to drop in on Wednesday 14th at 2pm to see Chief Technology Officer Mr Ashok Prakash and General Manager Mr Sunil Kumar discuss the Optimal Power Solutions power electronics and inverter systems.

To view more images of this project, please click on one of the images below or visit the InterSolar Mumbai page at our Flickr website here.

New advances in small-scale Micro Grid power systems have led to the development of the Optimal Power Solutions Macro Hybrid System (“MHS”). This approach brings many advantages to the supply of high quality, reliable electric power in particular applications such as isolated areas, mission critical systems and sites at difficult locations. The Macro system is now recognised as an appropriate solution for utilities where interconnected micro grids can operate together or separately depending on load demands, fuel supply constraints or security prioritised circumstances.

The Macro Hybrid System is the ideal solution for large off-grid power systems incorporating solar photovoltaics and other renewable sources that aim to achieve substantial fuel savings and extended hours of zero diesel engine operation.

For more information on this product, please download our full brochure, available at:

http://www.optimal-power-solutions.com/home/downloads/OPS_Macro_System_rev1_Apr2011.pdf

In June 2010 the City of Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Philippines formed a technical partnership with Optimal Power Solutions in order to address the city’s power shortage, currently estimated at 5 to 10 MW.

An ongoing and significant issue has been the provision of sustainable energy for Puerto Princesa. At present, diesel-powered gensets provide a capacity of 30 MW of power to the inhabitants of Puerto Princesa. OPS and the City Council plan to design and implement renewable energy sources to generate additional power supply, reduce diesel fuel consumption and promote a viable and sustainable energy future. It is envisaged that new renewable sources of up to 10 MW capacity will be integrated over successive phases. This renewable capacity will prioritise the export of photovoltaic power into the grid to better support and lower use of the current diesel generators. Phase One of 1 MW capacity shall be installed in 2011 progressing up to 2MW, 5MW and finally 10 MW providing for future load growth of the City.

The systems will combine solar photovoltaics, OPS proprietary inverter control technology, battery storage and diesel engines configured for 24-hour continuous power supply. OPS will provide the technical design, product technology, delivery, installation and service and maintenance of these new renewable services. The inverter technology will employ specially developed SCADA software for real time control management of the photovoltaic/diesel systems. This proprietary SCADA is currently in use in multi-megawatt grid-connect projects in India and has proven highly invaluable for real-time, remote monitoring of power generation and general system trends.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan: Background Context

Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. Palawan is widely considered as one of the most important areas of biodiversity and conservation in the Philippines due to the outstanding environmental landmarks including spectacular limestone cliff formations, immense reefs teaming with marine life and significant mangroves. Puerto Princesa also contains an environmentally significant tidal underground river. Positioned in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP), this unique natural phenomena was listed as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1999. The PPSRNP is considered one of few examples in the Philippines whereby a concerted effort has been made to protect and manage the natural area.

The Puerto Princesa City Council is considered to be a leader of sustainable policies and is widely acknowledged as the cleanest and greenest amongst local Philippine governments. As a result, the PPSRPN and surrounding areas of Puerto Princesa are a source of national pride and a key element in the identity of the Philippine people. OPS looks forward to the ongoing technical involvement in regard to the development of sustainable energy and technology trends in the greater region of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Optimal Power Solutions has commissioned a unique hybrid power project in the Caribbean islands as of late April 2010.

Renewable energy is well positioned to address increasing energy supply concerns in the Caribbeans. Environmental concerns regarding diesel and fossil-fuel transportation have come to the forefront of political debate as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to cause catastrophic damage. Furthermore, the landed cost of diesel is highly vulnerable to future price spikes and diesel is therefore a risky financial choice as the primary source of energy supply for off-grid requirements. Fortunately, the Caribbeans offer immense potential for new, off-grid renewable projects due to the plentiful solar and wind resource availability.

OPS is pleased to have provided the system integration for this hybrid renewable system that includes solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, diesel generators and proprietary OPS power conversion technology.

This project compromises 2 x 300 kW Hybrid Power Conditioning (HPC) inverters. Our HPC product provides a complete tecnological solution for off-grid renewable energy systems. This unit can operate in parallel with the generators to meet peak loads and features a flexible operating platform for integrating other balance of system components, in this case, the solar PV, wind-turbines and battery storage.

Renewable components of this system include 8 x 15 kW wind turbines and approximately 240 kWp of solar PV that utilise two large capacity OPS Maximum Power Point Tracker’s. In addition, the system utilizes 3 x 312 kVA diesel gensets and a 360 v battery bank rated at 6000 Ah, capable of providing 2.16 MWh of energy storage. The AC system sources are switched through a customised AC switching cabinet that is rated at 1.5 MW. In addition, OPS supplied a Station Control Module that incorporates local and remote access to the system.

To view more images of this project, please click on one of the images below or visit the Caribbeans Project page at our Flickr website here.

Optimal Power Solutions has been contracted for the supply of power conditioning units and system integration for three sites in the Kinabatangan District of Sabah, Malaysia.

Each site compromises a solar hybrid power system that is designed for the supply of electricity to three villages of KG Batu Darat/ Laut, Kg Kuamut and KG Kuamut Seberang. The total combined solar capacity of 430kW across the three villages is expected to reduce fuel consumption by a minimum of 50 per cent. Optimal Power Solutions will provide three proprietary inverters of a combined 710kW capacity. The inverters include 2 x 250kVA Hybrid Power Conditioner, 2 x 30kVA Hybrid Power Conditioner and 4 x 100kVA Grid Export Conditioner, (further HPC & GEC information is available on our products webpage or downloads section).

The sites are very remote and can only be accessed at times via river barges. The Kinabatangan floodplain is located on the east coast of Sabah, Borneo, it is considered of enormous environmental importance for wildlife and the local community as it is arguably the last forested, alluvial floodplain in Asia. Due to the remote location and delivery routes, the cost of landed diesel is high, averaging RM$8 to RM$9 per litre in recent years. It is estimated that the systems discounted payback period for the larger villages will be less than 10 years with scope for a shorter payback period should fuel prices escalate further.

Solar hybrid systems are a particularly viable option for remote area power supply. Optimal Power Solutions is pleased to offer a complete range of proprietary inverters with full service system integration and project development inclusive of remote system monitoring software packages.

For more information please visit our Products, Projects, or Services, webpage

The above map is courtesy of Google Maps 2010.

Optimal Power Solutions is excited to announce its standard product line of DSP-based power inverters for 2010. Highly reputed for their reliability and efficiency, OPS inverters have been used extensively across a range of applications, from remote micro-grids to megawatt-scale solar farms.

The OPS Product Range 2010 Brochure, now available through our website, details standard inverter models in the following product lines:

· Hybrid Power Conditioners (HPC product line)

An integrated power conversion and management solution for off-grid applications. 7.5kW to 250kW.

· Grid Support Conditioners (GSC product line)

Designed as a distributed generation system for grid connected applications with unreliable utility supply. 7.5kW to 250kW.

· Grid Export Conditioners (GEC product line)

A unique grid connect inverter featuring fast and efficient MPPT. 7.5kW to 500kW.

The OPS Product Range 2010 Brochure is now available through the download section of our website. For sales enquiries, please contact your closest OPS office or email info@optimal-power-solutions.com

Click the above image to download The OPS Product Range 2010 Brochure

NEW DELHI: In a step forward, the Solar Mission under the National Action Plan on Climate Change got an in-principle nod from the PM Manmohan Singh, with a target of 20,000MW (20GW) solar power generated by 2020 being accepted.

The Solar Mission is one of the seven missions proposed under the National Action Plan on Climate Change which was unveiled last year, promising India’s efforts to tackle climate change at the domestic level. The Solar Mission provides a detailed road map demonstrative of India’s serious intent to become a global leader in Solar Power within the next two decades.

The plan covers both grid and off-grid solar energy generation and distribution. In the first stage, the draft envisages generating 1-1.5 GW of solar power by 2012, 6-7 GW by 2017 and 20 GW (installed) by 2020. It calls for using 40-50 million sq metres of surface area in domestic, industrial and commercial areas.

The government aims to achieve it by providing incentives to cut the cost of development and deployment of solar panels. The aim is bring down the cost of solar energy from Rs15 to Rs4-5/ kWh from Rs3.5kWh base 2009 and achieve parity with coal by 2030 (Rs2kWh). The plan is expected to help offer lighting to 3 million households by 2012.

Parliamentary members stated that “While keeping an ‘ambitious’ target the solar mission should be built within an ‘enabling framework’ emerging from international negotiations, It would be important to demand technological and financial support from the international community under the UN negotiations, for such a huge target for clean energies due to the uncertainty of the costs.”

The plan calls for setting up a statutory solar authority under the ministry of new & renewable energy. It will have three verticals _ finance, technology & tariff, special project. The body will particularly focus on installation of solar collectors in hospitals, hotels and government buildings.

‘‘The solar mission can be India’s response to the global climate change logjam. It will make India’s position stronger in the negotiations. If India can do so much unilaterally, imagine what India can achieve if financing and clean technology support from rich countries come through. It’s the right answer at the opportune time,’’ says Siddharth Pathak, climate & energy campaigner, Greenpeace India.

The solar energy industry in India has undoubtedly gained momentum and should be able to keep pace with the government’s aim of achieving 10% of the country’s total electricity requirements by 2012. India already possesses a balanced eco-system for the PV industry, a high-tech manufacturing base and skilled labour sufficient to make it a booming industry. Annual PV production has already reached over 300 MW, with about 85% being exported.

Key facts about India’s 20GW Solar Power plans

The $19 billion “National Solar Mission” plan spread over 30 years aims to scale up solar power generation from nothing at present to 20 GW by 2020. The plan has a “near term” target of 100 megawatts, and 100 GW by 2030, or 10-12 percent of total power generation capacity estimated for that year.

Once implemented, the project will ensure large-scale deployment of solar generated power for both grid connected as well as distributed and decentralized off-grid provision of commercial energy services.

India says it could cut about 42 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions with its new solar plan. An estimated 20 million solar lights are estimated to save 1 billion litres of kerosene per annum by 2020.
Solar-powered equipment and applications will be mandatory for hospitals, hotels and government buildings, and villages and small towns will be encouraged with micro financing.

The plan also outlines a system of paying households for any surplus power from solar panels fed back into the grid. The target would be to provide access to lighting for 3 million households by 2012.

Optimal Power Solutions is negotiating its first project application in South East Asia of our newly developed product, the Macro Hybrid Power Conditioner.

The Macro HPC is an energy optimized large-scale hybrid system. It offers high power renewable energy connected to an automated multiple engine control system (MGCS).  It has a facility to schedule specialized loads through the use of a Station Control Module (SCM).

The MGCS synchronizes various generator sets to operate at peak capacity in parallel, whilst the SCM communicates with the power producing components of the renewable energy station and the Hybrid Inverter Module.

The SCM also controls the Inverter Module at the external PV farm to ensure that all PV power being exported is managed in the event that the battery bank is fully charged and the village load is being met at the time. Controllable loads can be initiated to ensure no excess renewable energy is wasted.

The first application of this newly designed OPS product will be a 1MW power plant in East Malaysia. The Macro HPC platform provides for a scaleable capacity of up to 10MW, in solar photovoltaic increments of 100kW or 250kW.

Optimal Power Solutions envisages a high take-up in future of the Macro HPC in the following applications:

• Remote & Island Village Communities
• Large-Scale Communications Towers
• Health-Care Facilities
• Governmental & Educational Institutions
• Remote Infrastructure
• Off-Grid Airports

3 megawatt solar PV system to be fully online by late 2009.

Optimal Power Synergy India Pty Ptd has signed an agreement to provide all power conversion and integration work for a 3 MW grid connect Solar PV project to be installed in Karnataka, India.

Karnataka has severe power supply issues due to a reliance on hydroelectric power generation coupled with lower monsoonal rainfall over the last few years. Hydroelectric generation capacity has diminished due to low dam levels. In response the Indian Government is interested in megawatt-sized PV systems at various locations in the countryside to improve power supply to villages and rural areas.

The 3MW Karnataka project is now under construction and the first megawatt will be online by late September 2009. The remaining PV power supply will be completed by November 2009.

27th May 2009

OPS India is playing a key role in India’s first multi megawatt solar grid connect power plant which being installed at the Disargarh Power Corporation (DPC) site in Jamuria district of West Bengal.

The 2 MW Solar PV grid connect power plant is being implemented by West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation ( WBGDCL ) for DPC.  This is the first time in India that a large solar grid connect project is being implemented with a feed in tariff for the energy being generated. The project site is just adjacent to a now defunct coal based thermal power station which makes this project all the more unique.

OPS India are supplying  250 KW Grid Export conditioner PCU’s manufactured in Kolkata, India. The project implementing agency, WBGDCL , has awarded the EPC contract for this project to Titan Solar, Hyderabad.

Project implementation is currently underway with the first MW of modules now being installed.  The power plant is being scheduled for commissioning by June 30th.

For more Flickr photos of this project please follow the photo links below.