{"id":2509,"date":"2024-10-07T21:19:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-07T21:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shoals-staging.planitstage.com\/?p=2509"},"modified":"2025-01-16T17:33:41","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T17:33:41","slug":"2kv-technology-top-benefits-for-solar-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shoals.com\/en-au\/insights\/2kv-technology-top-benefits-for-solar-power\/","title":{"rendered":"2kV Technology: Top Benefits for Solar Power"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As the solar industry continues to evolve, one of the most exciting advancements is the transition from 1500V to 2kV technology. This innovation aims to enhance the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalability of solar PV projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To gain deeper insights into how 2kV technology is shaping the future of solar power, we sat down with Troy Renken, Vice President of Product & Engineering at Shoals, and Owen Schelenz, Product Leader for Solar & Storage Solutions at GE Vernova. In this Q&A, Troy and Owen share their expertise on the benefits of 2kV technology and how it is geared to transform our energy infrastructure<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is 2kV technology for solar power, and how are Shoals and GE Vernova advancing this innovation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Troy:<\/strong> 2kV technology is an advanced electrical system designed to increase the voltage in solar projects to 2,000 volts, improving the efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of solar installations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shoals, GE Vernova, and our other partners were approached by one of the largest utilities in the U.S., asking to help elevate their next solar project to higher voltages. This partnership led to a 2kV pilot project, giving us the perfect opportunity to develop the solutions we had already been considering. Shoals engineered the electrical balance of systems (EBOS)<\/a> solution for the project, while GE Vernova developed the 2kV inverter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What has driven the shift toward higher voltages, and how have these changes impacted the solar industry?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Troy: <\/strong>The industry has historically progressed from 600 volts to 1000 volts, then to 1500 volts, and now we are prepared for the next leap forward. This shift has been driven by improvements in solar module efficiency and power. By increasing the voltage, you can handle more power without needing to increase the wire size. Increasing voltage is a lot cheaper than increasing current. Higher current would require larger cables, which are more difficult to handle and would also require more copper or aluminum, both of which are expensive commodities. Previous transitions to higher voltage have been a game-changer, especially for utility-scale solar because they have dramatically reduced the cost per watt of energy production, and we expect the transition to 2kV to have a similar impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wires we use today at Shoals are already rated to handle 2,000 volts for 2kV systems. But there are other electrical components\u2014fuses, disconnects, connectors, and surge protection\u2014that still need to be redesigned to handle higher voltage. We\u2019ve been actively collaborating with major component manufacturers to help ensure these necessary upgrades are ready. Safety remains our priority as we make these changes, and the standards will need to evolve to keep up with where the industry is heading<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the overall benefits of moving to 2kV, and why is this step significant for the solar industry?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Troy:<\/strong> One of the major benefits of transitioning to 2kV technology is the reduction in voltage drop. When the voltage is increased while maintaining the same copper wire size, the percentage of voltage drop decreases. This is because voltage is equal to current times resistance (V = IR). For example, in a 1500V system with a 20V voltage drop, the loss is 1.3%. However, in a 2000V system with the same 20V drop, the loss is reduced to 1.0%, which is about 25% less. This reduction means that more voltage reaches the inverter, improving overall system efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another essential benefit is that while higher voltage equipment tends to get bigger\u2014like fuses and boxes\u2014they are fewer in number. You can connect more solar modules into a single string, so on the same site, you\u2019ll have fewer strings, fewer BLA and disconnect boxes, and fewer components overall. This should reduce the number of failure points and equipment to install.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Higher voltage also cuts down on the resources needed for each project, resulting in less energy-intensive production, less transportation, packaging, installation, and maintenance. Fewer components also means less waste over the life of the system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Overall, 2kV offers a more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable approach for the solar industry when compared to 1500V.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Troy Renken, Vice President of Product & Engineering at Shoals<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Owen:<\/strong> The shift to 2kV technology offers significant benefits for the solar industry. By reducing the number of components required per megawatt of solar power generated, 2kV systems allow for faster deployment\u2014crucial in a rapidly growing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, 2kV helps lower the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE), making solar power even more competitive within the broader energy mix. Sustainability is also improved, as fewer raw materials, such as cables and inverter power stations, are needed for the same power output. This leads to not only direct savings but also upstream impacts, such as reducing shipping emissions per megawatt deployed. Overall, 2kV technology is a key step forward in increasing the efficiency and sustainability of solar power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are the key advantages of your systems? How do they outweigh the costs of upgrading to 2kV?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Troy:<\/strong> Upgrading to 2kV brings a lot of benefits and is really the next step for the industry. With higher voltages, there is more sensitivity to factors like current leakage and arcing, and the quality of installation becomes even more critical. That\u2019s why factory-made designs, like ours, are key\u2014they offer better quality control than field installations. Shoals\u2019 systems undergo rigorous testing, such as wet high potential (hipot) tests, to help ensure they meet the standards for leakage current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What also sets our systems apart is that Shoals provides the complete EBOS solution\u2014from cable harnesses to disconnect boxes. Everything between the solar module and the inverter is designed and tested to work together seamlessly. We are also working to help ensure that our products meet the necessary requirements for 2kV, so that there is no need to worry about compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, our patent-protected over-molded BLA design scales easily to 2kV, unlike some other EBOS solutions in the solar space that, in our view, require significant redesigns to handle the higher voltage. In the end, Shoals\u2019 2kV system offers greater efficiency, better quality, and long-term reliability, making the upgrade worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owen: <\/strong>The key advantages of our systems lie in the overall benefits that the transition to 2kV technology brings. We observe a greater than 20% reduction in DC cable, 20-25% fewer power stations, strings, combiner boxes, and connectors. In addition, DC loss is also reduced by 20-25% resulting in higher energy production. In total we believe that a 2-3% project-level savings can be obtained through reductions in capital expenditures (CAPEX), as well as an additional net present value gain from improved yield due to reduced system losses over the life of the project. While there are some cost increases for certain components, most of the equipment remains cost-effective. We believe the efficiency gains and financial benefits from adopting 2kV technology far outweigh the incremental costs of upgrading, making it a more advantageous solution for solar PV projects in the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you envision the progression of 2kV technology, and why is now the right time for this transition?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Owen: <\/strong>The progression of 2kV technology depends on the right combination of customer demand, supplier innovation, and the support of standards bodies. While this technological advancement could have been introduced earlier, the key factors needed to drive widespread adoption only aligned recently. Now, with the right partnerships across the industry, we are in a strong position to make this transition successfully. At GE Vernova, we are grateful to our customers and partners for their role in helping us bring 2kV technology to life at the right time, making it a reality for the solar industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Troy:<\/strong> Solar module efficiencies are continuing to improve, and that\u2019s going to keep pushing the need for higher voltages. The benefits of moving to 2kV are clear, and we are already seeing discussions outside the U.S. about pushing voltages even higher, potentially up to 3kV. History tells us that the trend toward increasing string voltages will only continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One challenge right now is that not all the components rated for 2kV systems are available yet. However, this is precisely why our BLA system<\/a> has a significant advantage\u2014it was designed for 2kV. Also, as new 2kV-rated components become available, we\u2019ll be able to expand the system even further, adding combiners and other solutions to the 2kV lineup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This trend toward higher voltages is something we are going to see more of in the industry, so making the transition now sets your project up for success as the technology continues to evolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How will standards and regulations keep pace with commercial innovations like 2kV?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Owen:<\/strong> I believe the industry is well-prepared to support the transition to 2kV technology, thanks to existing standards and collaboration. UL has already harmonized a standard for PV inverters with the IEC, known as UL62109-1, which covers 2000V DC systems. Additionally, panel manufacturers have worked closely with UL to establish standards for 2000V DC modules. These advancements indicate that standards and regulations should be keeping pace with commercial innovations, working toward an adaptation to 2kV systems across the solar industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Troy:<\/strong> Shoals, along with other industry leaders, is actively working with regulatory bodies to help bring standards up to speed with where the industry is headed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about optimizing your renewable energy project by leveraging Shoals\u2019 industry-leading renewable energy expertise and cutting-edge EBOS solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Shoals Technologies Group<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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