First Solar, GE to develop new utility-scale PV power plant design

First Solar and GE’s Power Conversion business are working to develop a new cost effective and productive utility-scale PV power plant design.

The project is part of the companies recently established technology and commercial partnership and combines First Solar’s thin-film CdTe modules with GE’s new ProSolar 1,500-volt inverter/transformer system.

First Solar has incorporated new technology into its modules and made them suitable for 1500VDC applications.

GE said combining them with its 4MW ProSolar 1500V inverter/transformer stations can significantly increase the size of the solar array served by each inverter.

It will also reduce the number of inverter/transformer stations required for each plant to convert the power from direct current to alternating current, and feed electricity to a commercial electrical grid.

First Solar product management vice president Mahesh Morjaria said that partnering with GE will help the company to take its power plant design to the next level and bring additional value to customers.

"This is a significant step in establishing the next generation of utility-scale PV power plants," Morjaria added.

Morjaria noted that First Solar already has identified projects under construction for initial deployment of the new 1,500-volt system.

GE Power Conversion CEO Joe Mastrangelo said ProSolar inverters’ design allows its customers to apply engineering design that significantly increases efficiency of energy production.

"Together with First Solar, we can help customers get the most out of their solar power systems," Mastrangelo said.