Fashionably green

A new solar power installation is using ABB's string inverters to cut the time needed to achieve a fully operational system, while providing more electrical protection than some competing products.

The installation, for fashion house David Nieper, is the first in the UK to use the ABB PVS300 string inverter and was installed by Greenheart Energy, a leading system integrators for renewable energy projects.

The project uses 50kW peak, roof mounted solar panels. These are the highest powers that qualify for the

government's feed-in tariff scheme.

The installation uses six, 8kW string inverters, four on one roof with another two on a nearby roof. The inverters each have three strings of solar panels, 15 panels per string.

A key advantage of the PVS300 is its 900V input. More photovoltaic modules can be connected in series, which results in higher string power for the same current. This helps to reduce cabling power losses and also cabling size and cost.