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The PV inverter is the heart of the solar PV system. The power inverter 2000 converts the direct current emitted by solar cells into alternating current that meets the power quality requirements of the power grid, and is used in conjunction with general AC power supply equipment.
The performance of the PV inverter can affect the smoothness, power generation efficiency and service life of the entire PV system. IGBT is the core device of photovoltaic inverter. The rapid increase in installed PV capacity is driving the growth of the inverter industry and providing impetus for the rapid development of inverter IGBT.
1. A lot of room for market growth
In the context of global carbon neutrality, the installed capacity of photovoltaics has increased rapidly. Reshaping the energy structure is an important way to achieve carbon neutrality.
By changing the energy structure and reducing the use of fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, carbon dioxide emissions can be directly reduced.
In the long term, the proportion of renewable energy generation will increase from 34.7% in 2019 to 90% in 2050, of which photovoltaic and wind power will account for 63%. In the short term, the scale of China, the United States and other markets has maintained stable growth.
Vietnam, India and other new photovoltaic market demand surge, reserve projects are sufficient, will become the next 2-3 years to drive the global photovoltaic market demand new growth point, is expected to reach 2025, global photovoltaic installed demand can reach 391GW, 5-year compound growth rate of more than 20%.
The photovoltaic power generation market is booming, and inverter shipments are rising. The 3000w inverter is an important component of the photovoltaic system, accounting for only 8%-10% of the total system cost, but it directly affects the power generation efficiency, operation stability and service life, and occupies an important position in the entire photovoltaic power generation system.
Since inverter shipments are completely correlated with new PV installed capacity, shipments will increase significantly in the future with the vigorous development of the PV power generation market.
2. The global PV inverter market is growing rapidly
Photovoltaic inverter is the core component of photovoltaic power generation system and occupies an important position in photovoltaic system.
The main function of the photovoltaic inverter is to convert the variable direct current generated by the photovoltaic module into alternating current with power quality that meets the requirements of the standard, and then transmit it to the local load or connect to the power grid, It also has relevant protection functions.
A photovoltaic inverter is mainly composed of power conversion , microcomputer control , EMI, monitoring , human-computer interaction modules, protection circuits, etc., and its development process depends on the development of power electronics technology, semiconductor technology and modern control technology.
Various incentives have greatly promoted the development of the photovoltaic industry, and the shipment of photovoltaic inverters has increased significantly. In 2020, global PV inverter shipments reached 185GW, with a compound growth rate of 24% from 2013 to 2020.
Demand for stock replacement continues. The service life of electronic components such as IGBTs in inverters is generally 10-15 years, while the operating cycle of components is 25 years.
Therefore, the inverter must be replaced at least once during the life cycle of the PV module. It is estimated that the replacement demand for global PV inverters in 2020 will be about 8.7GW, a year-on-year increase of nearly 40%.
3. The areas with the highest demand
Europe and Africa are the regions with the largest demand for PV inverter replacement. The growth of China's installed PV capacity has boosted demand for inverters.
With the growth of market demand for new energy and the guidance of the implementation of policies for photovoltaic power generation. The installed capacity of the market is showing a large-scale growth trend, which has greatly boosted the demand for photovoltaic inverters. In 2019, China's PV inverter shipments reached 83GW, with a global market share of 65%.
4. How technology trends are evolving
The inverter is an important component of the photovoltaic system, accounting for only 8-10% of the total cost of the system, but it directly affects the power generation efficiency, operation stability and service life, and occupies an important position in the entire photovoltaic power generation system.
- Centralized
It is suitable for large-scale ground power stations in flat areas. For large-scale ground-mounted power stations, centralized and string inverters can be selected according to different terrains.
For flatter areas, centralized inverters are still the main solution for large ground-mounted power plants. At present, centralized inverters are developing towards higher power, higher integration, and higher voltage levels.
- High-power string type
It is suitable for ground power stations in hilly areas. With the increasing diversity of power plant types, higher challenges are posed to the design of power plant systems. The main advantage of string inverter over centralized inverter is its multi-channel MPPT function, flexible configuration and high degree of intelligence. If the inverter fails, there is less power loss.
For hilly, mountainous and other areas, the installation direction of photovoltaic modules will show different angles with the undulation of the terrain, so it is easy to mismatch. At present, mainstream power has reached 250–350 kW.
- Distributed type
It is suitable for large-scale ground power stations. The distributed inverter controls the optimizer by fronting multiple MPPTs to realize the multi-channel MPPT optimization function. Through decentralized tracking and centralized grid connection, the adaptability of the system grid is enhanced, and the distributed inverter currently has a small market share.
- Low-power string type
Suitable for distributed power stations. Distributed power stations include industrial, commercial and residential ones. Industrial and commercial distributed photovoltaic projects are all kinds of distributed pv system projects that are developed locally, used nearby, and have a single-point grid-connected installed capacity of less than 6 megawatts.
Household distribution mainly refers to small photovoltaic power stations mainly in households, which are mostly built on the roofs of residents, and the installed capacity of a single project usually does not exceed 5kW.
- Microinverters
It is suitable for small household photovoltaic power stations. The advantage is that each component can be controlled independently by MPPT, which can greatly improve overall efficiency. At the same time, it can also avoid the DC high voltage, weak light effect difference, barrel effect, etc. of the centralized inverter, minimize series mismatch, and increase photovoltaic power generation.
5. Conclusion
Inverters have gradually become the mainstream of the current market with multiple advantages. With the continuous increase in power plant capacity, the PV inverter business continues to expand for economic reasons. With the continuous advancement of technology, the cost continues to shrink and the market share continues to increase.
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