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OPS India, a subsidiary of Optimal Power Solutions Pty Ltd is delivering on the first shipments of a new 6 MW PV grid connected system in India.

The product is being delivered to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) which is a heavyweight India corporation and the project will be comprised of 2 separate sites of 3 MW each.

The delivery is cited for completion by August – September 2011 timeframe. The mini SCADA system being deployed is OPS PV Net, an internet based software product developed by OPS.

OPS is confident about the prospects in the Indian market and is opening a new engineering facility in Bangalore to support the business development.

Enquiries can be made to Ashok Prakash, the groups CTO via the OPS India website.

OPS Australia has recently upgraded the Parachilna solar hybrid diesel power station in South Australia.

The existing hybrid system was installed and commissioned in August 2002. This system has operated well to date however over the last year some operational issues had become apparent. One of the fundamental issues found was the lack of available technical support for the existing control system as well as the limited capability of outdated control system software. OPS was contracted to upgrade this system and has since integrated our digital signal processor (DSP) power control technology. OPS engineers were dispatched to site and completed this system upgrade within two days.

The new control technology provides the Parachilna client with high-speed remote control and monitoring software (SCADA) which provides further flexibility in the operation and maintenance of this solar diesel hybrid station. OPS Australia looks forward to future work within the Australian renewable marketplace and will continue to expand its operations, particularly in regard to solar diesel hybrid projects.

Parachilna solar hybrid photos are available here: Project Photos at the OPS Flickr website here.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been awarded by Lakshadweep Electricity Department a major contract for installation for a 1.1 MWp Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Power Plants at Lakshadweep Island, along with the refurbishment of existing installations totalling 850 kWp. A total of ten islands will be involved in this project.

BHEL is one of the largest engineering and manufacturing enterprises that operates in India’s energy and infrastructure sectors. The company provides services to India’s power, railway, telecommunication and transmission markets. It is currently estimated that 70% of power generated in India is produced by BHEL-manufactured equipment.

BHEL has contracted OPS India to provide new power electronics equipment as well as to augment and refurbish the SPV Power Plants. OPSI will supply our proprietary technology Power Conditioning Units with SCADA systems & MPPT charge controllers to BHEL for Lakshadweep.

The scope of work for OPS India includes total project work for installation, system integration, commissioning and O & M of the SPV plants for a period of 5 years.

OPS India will also provide a remote monitoring system that will be integrate the individual inverters on the respective Islands. This will enable remote accessibility with special control for individual inverters as well as the integrated system. Our web based monitoring and control system is capable of data acquisition through both local and remote access points.

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

Optimal Power Solutions is pleased to announce the addition of our 350 kW Power Conditioning Unit to the Standard Product Range.

The 350 kW inverter will join the family of GEC, HPC and GSC inverters. This capacity unit has already been supplied to selected customers in the USA including the US Military. Following its great success and excellent field performance in these projects, OPS will offer the 350 kW power conditioning unit as a Standard Product as of March 2011.

It is expected that the addition of this unit as Standard Product will be welcomed by our valued clients in projects that are between the 250 kW and 500 kW range.

For further information on the GEC, HPC or GSC 350 kW Inverters please contact our sales team at info@optimal-power-solutions.com.

On February 07th 2011, Optimal Power Solutions engineers commissioned a new 360 kWp solar hybrid system at remote grid network located on Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

OPS supplied the power conversion and system integration technology, including a Hybrid Power Conditioner of 200 kVA rating, 2 x units of 180 kW Maximum Power Point Trackers (MPPT). OPS also supplied the power plant integration equipment including the AC Switching cabinet to accommodate the existing 2 x diesel engine generators rated at approximately 300 kVA each.

In the words of OPS engineer Zeke Paolinelli: “The first obstacle of this project was considering the status of the gensets. Due to old age and lack of remote control, the upgrade and design from OPS had to enable semi-manual genset operation. Many conditions have to be taken into account when manual operation of the genset is required by the operators. Because the OPS system is designed to work with little intervention from operators, instructions on how to operate the gensets under different situations was given through on-site training. More analysis with site data in the coming weeks will also enable OPS to improve the genset running hours as well as monitor the system under semi-manual mode and instruct the operators if required.”

The principal client for the Bunaken Job is the National Indonesian utility PLN, and the system was inaugurated by the Governor of North Sulawesi. OPS worked closely with a leading solar & building construction company in Indonesia market and looks forward to future collaborative projects.

Director of PT PLN Persero Mr Vickner Sinaga announced  that the new solar system at Bunaken is the first island in Indonesia to receive 24 hour power from an integrated solar hybrid system. The hybrid system is expected to displace diesel fuel with major positive effects for PLN, the consumers and the delicate island eco-system. The system is expected to meet the energy demands of the 680 Bunaken citizens and will provide for peak demands of 160 kW. Mr Sinaga also projected that the renewable component of this system will displace 260 kilolitres of diesel fuel per year at a saving of Indonesian Rupee 1.8 billion.

“The system was delivered with the presence of the Governor and other important people from Indonesian Government and PLN Utility. A large celebration followed as this was a very important occasion. Previously, the islands power demands were met at selected times, from diesel gensets only. Now, the gensets run one at a time, during 5 pm to 11 pm. The rest of the time, the batteries and solar PV provide power to the village. People from the village were extremely happy to finally have 24 hours of uninterrupted power supply, and also to have the diesel genset running for only a few hours a day instead of all day long,” (Zeke. P).

More Bunaken image available here: Project Photos at the OPS Flickr website here.

OPS India has achieved a new milestone with over 10 MW of power conditioning units (solar power inverters) supplied to the Indian energy market.

As of January 2011, OPS India has delivered over 10 MW of power conditioning units for various renewable energy projects. OPS India supplied the PCUs for the first 1-megawatt grid-connect project installed in India in West Bengal as well as the first 3-megawatt solar project installed in Karnataka. The 3-megawatt project has now exported over 4 million units of green power to the local grid.

Established in 2007, OPS India is an associated company of Optimal Power Solutions Pty. Ltd. Australia. As one of the leading technology providers in the Indian market, OPS India is committed to providing our valued clients with state-of-the-art renewable energy products. The company’s success to date has been underpinned by our cost-effective and reliable products that offer attractive return opportunities for our stakeholders.

OPS India is currently planning to expand its operations to allow for greater uptake of our products. Currently, OPS India is working on advanced designs for our digital signal processor (DSP) range of products as well as launching transformer-less solar power inverters in 2011.

In late December 2010, OPS provided a glimpse of the newly designed HPC and GSC series inverters at Mumbai’s InterSolar Conference and Exhibition. This Exhibition, in its inauguration year for Mumbai and India, showcased new and upcoming product technology from both local manufacturers as well as overseas companies that are operating in the solar industry.

OPS Staff from India and its Australian parent company presented renewable power technologies to many existing and new customers. The OPS group of companies is diverse and unique due to its power conversion products and system integration technology. OPS provide a wide range of solutions including Solar Telecom Systems, Power Conditioning Units ranging from 5kVA to 500kVA, SCADA software for solar projects, as well as turnkey solutions for off-grid, grid-connect and grid-support systems.

Of particular interest to InterSolar exhibition visitors was the Solar Telecom System, as well as the OPS PVNet SCADA software designed specifically for multi megawatt OPS GEC-series installations. OPS provided a real-time demonstration of OPS PVNet installed at the 3MW grid-connect project in Karnataka.

OPS India was pleased to release further information on the transformer-less Grid Export Conditioner (PCUs) to be launched in early 2011, with ratings of 100kVA, 250kVA and 500kVA.

To view more images of this event, please click on one of the images below or visit the InterSolar Mumbai 2010 Events page at our Flickr website here.

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.