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Intersolar Europe

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The whole picture

ithout wishing to be too philo- oil consumption falls within the transport sophical here, our picture of sector. These are figures to be kept in mind reality stems from the interac- when the subject of global warming is tion of our perceptions of the discussed and the focus is once again placed Wexternal world and an individual selectivity on the electricity sector. However, these are and assessment of such perceptions within figures which you have to put together your- Dr. Volker Buddensiek our minds. If, however, we assume there is self from the report – and as such, this depic- Editor-in-chief an existing reality external to our own reality tion of reality only comes about in the mind [email protected] (and a lot indicates this is so – not least if we of an astute reader ... run into a closed door), then this means that I do not wish to go further on this, but just we only perceive a portion of reality, as if we to conclude by highlighting an aspect which are looking at a picture through a tube. We I discovered in the study in the chapter on can move the tube around, but only ever see the socio-economic effects of wind power. part of the picture through it. There it refers to a study by IRENA, according The World Energy Council has published to which a doubling of the share of renew one such “thick tube” that looks at world ables in the energy mix by 2030 would lead energy supplies. For the 24th time since the to growth in global GDP 1.1 % above the first publication 83 years ago, the World “business-as-usual scenario” and more than Energy Council has brought out a detailed a doubling of jobs in this sector – and that analysis in its World Energy Resources 2016. the effects would be considerably further The 1028 pages show the energy topology reaching than the traditionally quantified in over 180 countries. The report is quite economic performance. This is also calcu- something, for it looks at the entire energy lated here. It is claimed that global human spectrum from coal, oil and gas, uranium well-being would grow faster with such a and nuclear power, to the individual tech- doubling, namely by 3 %. nologies of renewables, including chapters Of course you can have splendid argu- on ocean energy and cross-cutting issues ments about how (and whether) you can such as energy storage. In each of these, quantify human well-being. But if you are technologies, markets, socio-economic and going to go down the road of also quantify- environmental aspects are looked at, with ing and assessing such aspects (how should a wealth of data brought together at each you weight 1 % of GDP growth compared to level considered. a 1 % growth in human well-being?), then Having the technologies side by side such figures should also be used in the dis- makes it easier to compare data and put it cussion on the design of the global energy into perspective better. For example, at the transition. end of 2015, there was 432 GW of installed Thus, everybody could make a concrete wind power capacity, 227 GW of PV capacity start in their own respective countries by and 406 GW of capacity for solar heating and asking if enough is really being done to cooling, alongside 390 GW of nuclear power ensure that solar power, wind power and (and 64 GW of capacity from the planned biomass can make conventional power new building of 65 nuclear power plants). plants and nuclear power superfluous as But the following can also be read quickly as possible. from the report; oil is still the most important energy source, with crude oil cover- ing approximately one third of global energy demand, and almost two-thirds of AZeesNA2017_Energetica/Photon/PV Mag_Besucher_210x297.qxp_Layout 1 25.01.17 13:50 Seite 1

Contents IMPRINT Publishing company: Preview Intersolar & EES 2017: BVA Bielefelder Verlag GmbH & Co. KG Richard Kaselowsky No smart business model without smart products Niederwall 53, 33602 Bielefeld, Germany

Editors: Dr. Volker Buddensiek (responsible), E-mail: [email protected] Silke Funke, Phone: +49/521/59 55 69, E-mail: [email protected] Ralf Ossenbrink, Phone: +49/521/59 55 13, E-mail: [email protected] Freelance authors: CHARGING THE FUTURE Eva Augsten, Joachim Berner, Elizabeth Block, Germana Canzi, Christian Dany, Claudia Delpero, Martin Frey, Jörn Iken, Anja Limperis, Jaideep PHOTO: SOLAR PROMOTION N. Malaviya, Chris Meehan, Jens-Peter Meyer, 03 Editorial Ina Röpcke Hear it here ﬁrst! Network with 18,000 peers and learn about the latest Advertising: PHOTOVOLTAICS Christine Michalsky, Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 25 trends and innovations from 100 storage exhibitors. E-mail: [email protected] 1 ticket – 3 events: ees North America co-located with 06 Preview Intersolar & EES 2017: The PV sector is once again looking consider- Christiane Diekmann, Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 47 Intersolar North America and SEMICON West. E-mail: [email protected] ably more optimistically into the future. New business models are being used See where the energy storage market is heading – more and more in practice and flexible solutions are in demand. Romina Oesterreicher, Phone: +49/521/59 55 81 E-mail: [email protected] attend the ees conference and the versatile exhibition programs! 18 Inverters: Ever more electronics for the solar module Fax: +49/5 21/59 55 56 The best in store for North America – register now! Several functions, from monitoring to MPP tracking, can be transferred to the junction box. How far this “upgrade” of the module can go and what Advertising sales Italy: benefits it brings, is still controversial. Quaini Pubblicità, Graziella Quaini Phone: +39/02/39216180; Fax: + 39/02/39217082 E-mail: [email protected] SOLAR THERMAL Advertising sales USA: JULY 11–13, 2017 Avani Media, Inc., Leslie Hallanan 24 Process Heat: Surprisingly popular Phone: +1/415/3312150 ; Fax: + 1/415/3312151 The 2017 World Map of Solar Process Heat Specialists shows 71 companies in E-mail: [email protected] 22 countries. SAN FRANCISCO, USA Customer Service: 30 Domestic hot water units: Freshly tapped Phone: +49/221/25 87 173, Innovations have been particularly numerous in the large capacity segment, such Fax: +49/221/25 87 249 NORTH AMERICA'S ULTIMATE HOT SPOT as units for hotels, apartment buildings, and retirement homes. E-mail: [email protected] FOR ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS 36 Solar controllers: It has to be smart Layout: Bernd Schulte zur Wißen, Virginie Béclu, The networking of solar controllers with the Internet is progressing. More and DSV Deutscher Sportverlag GmbH, Colog ne, Germany more specialists are showing interest in power-to-heat from PV systems. Print: Dierichs Druck + Media GmbH & Co. KG, Frankfurter Str. 168, 34121 Kassel, Germany

WIND ENERGY SUN & WIND ENERGY is an independent journal.

42 Operations & Service: Ready for use even in extreme cold Website: www.sunwindenergy.com REVIEW 45 Company directory

48 Events www.ees-northamerica.com AZeesNA2017_Energetica/Photon/PV Mag_Besucher_210x297.qxp_Layout 1 25.01.17 13:50 Seite 1

CHARGING THE FUTURE

Hear it here ﬁrst! Network with 18,000 peers and learn about the latest trends and innovations from 100 storage exhibitors. 1 ticket – 3 events: ees North America co-located with Intersolar North America and SEMICON West. See where the energy storage market is heading – attend the ees conference and the versatile exhibition programs! The best in store for North America – register now!

JULY 11–13, 2017 SAN FRANCISCO, USA NORTH AMERICA'S ULTIMATE HOT SPOT FOR ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS

www.ees-northamerica.com 6 INTERSOLAR & EES 2017 PREVIEW

No smart business model without smart products

Storage systems (here at The PV sector is once again looking considerably more optimistically into the EES 2016) will once again be a main topic the future. New business models are being used more and more in prac tice when the solar sector and flexible solutions are in demand. Whether it be own consumption, meets in Munich. PHOTO: virtual power plants or grid services, solar electricity has become an SOLAR PROMOTION established part of energy supplies.

nnouncements relating to the Intersolar Europe “While there is now a greater general debate about and the EES clearly show that data manage- electric cars, end customers are still asking if they pay ment, communication and reliable forecasts are off“, says Steffen Lindemann, Managing Director of becoming ever-more important. S&WE takes a Valentin Software GmbH. “Combining an electric car Alook at new products and services. with a solar unit can be a sensible solution, but that depends on a large number of parameters. PV*SOL takes Berlin-based Valentin Software GmbH has updated its these parameters into account and thus helps the plant software for designing photovoltaic plants to include designer to make a soundly based prediction about it“, new features. The new version of the PV*SOL premium is how Lindemann describes the motivation to expand and PV*SOL software now makes it possible to take elec- PV*SOL to include electric cars. In the new version the tric cars into consideration when calculating your own user can select their electric car from the database. They consumption. In the new version, Valentin Software has then enter their daily mileage, and PV*SOL calculates integrated additional, flexible electricity tariff models. how much PV energy can be used to charge the car. The The new software enables the calculation of the P90 software also calculates the cost per 100 kilometers, with value as well. The P90 states that there is a 90% prob- and without the use of photovoltaics. ability that the simulated average annual energy yield Another important feature of the new version of will be exceeded, and is a particularly important factor PV*SOL premium and PV*SOL are the expanded elec- for investors. The new software version is available as of tricity tariff models. In future, system designers can take October 17. high and low tariffs (HT/LT) into account when designing

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY 7

plants. This function is especially interesting System planning and sim- in countries where HT/LT, net metering and ulation is becoming more time of use tariffs are widespread. detailed and e-mobility T*SOL 2017, the new version of Valen- is also entering the fray tin Software’s program for the simulation as an own-consumption of solar thermal systems, was introduced factor. onto the market right on time at the begin- PHOTO: VALENTIN SOFTWARE ning of the year. Valentin has expanded the automatic functions in the parameter opti- The Solar-Log WEB Enerest portal is available in three mization by adding financial values. These different service levels and price classes to respond even include, for example, the net present value, more specifically to the differing needs of individual cus- the return on capital and the heat price. This tomer groups. Solar-Log WEB Enerest M, the free basic makes it possible to determine the influence version, offers reliable analysis tools. It is designed for of the size of various components of a solar thermal system, e.g. the size of a storage tank or the number of collectors, and to optimize them in respect of the economy efficiency. To make it easier for the user to work with T*SOL, the database dialogs have been standardized and reworked so that selecting, pasting and editing components (collectors, heat generators and air collectors) is now much faster and smoother. In all dialogs, it is now possible to create your own favorites and to keep an overview of the frequently used components in the very extensive component databases. Another important feature of T*SOL 2017 is the output of an energy label. T*SOL simulates the energy efficiency of heating systems sup- ® PV ported by solar thermal energy and gener- DeltaTherm ates the energy label for direct output to a printer. This means, for example, that heat- POWER TO HEAT ing installers are able to create such a label for each individually built system. Booth: A3.430

Solare Datensysteme GmbH (SDS) is presenting the brand new Solar-Log WEB Enerest portal at Intersolar 2017. Numer- ous factors could negatively influence the operation of a PV plant and could lead to a reduction or, in the worst case, to complete yield losses. That is why professional monitoring such as that provided by the Solar-Log energy management system is priceless. The Solar-Log provides reliable around-the-clock monitoring for your plant. Disturbances are recognized right away and immediately reported before they can result USE EXCESS PV CURRENT in huge financial losses. Equipping an existing PV plant with Solar-Log guarantees not DIRECTLY FOR HEAT GENERATION only ideal plant monitoring, but also pro- • Direct control of the electric immersion heater in the store vides multiple functions for Smart Energy • and feed-in management. The international Easy and quick installation rollout of the brand new Solar-Log WEB • Premium-quality by RESOL Enerest portal will begin in April.

booth A4. 210 www.resol.com 8 INTERSOLAR & EES 2017 PREVIEW

offer their plant customers an attractive service package. With the premium version, the monitored plants and error messages are centrally managed and evaluated by professionals. A custom design of the portal operator can also be applied to the platform. The portal allows the portal operator to remotely configure the Solar-Log devices. The portal allows plant owners to have around-the-clock access to the yield and plant information. Automated reports, weather data comparisons and the option to combine several plants with one account are just some of the comprehensive functions that the Solar-Log WEB Enerest XL has to offer. Booth: B2.240

With the current release of the Polysun software from February 2017, Vela Solaris AG has made the option of a forecast-based battery storage system controller available to users. The underlying PVprog algorithm was developed at the HTW Berlin University of Applied Sciences and can be used by manufacturers for free (MIT license). By integrating autonomous PV yield and Free from June on- customers who would like to transpose of their plant load forecasts, the charging of the battery can be post- wards: the Solar-Log monitoring and management themselves. A new option poned until the midday period so that the infeed power WEB Enerest App for allows installers to offer their customers the free M ver- is held in check by the battery. This leads to a minimisa- smartphones and sion, hosted from the installer’s own website. The basic tion of curtailment losses and an easing of pressure on tablets PHOTO: SDS version provides concise presentation of PV yields, con- the grid. The strategy also simultaneously improves the sumption, performance comparison of individual invert- calendar life of lithium-ion-based storage systems. ers and MPP tracker, fault messages and yield overviews Polysun enables the advantages of the charging strat- via e-mail. egy to be simulated and the intelligent storage control The Solar-Log WEB Enerest L version goes a step to be demonstrated by using peak shaving. The inte- further with its features and is designed to handle any grated economic viability calculation tool available since special plant and portal operator requirements. It is also the end of 2016 provides a dynamic and comprehensive intended for technically adept plant owners who would analysis of all aspects of building technology systems like to monitor their plants themselves. One feature, for which can be simulated using Polysun. In this, the eco- example, is simple dashboard visualization of PV yields nomic viability calculation has been integrated into the and the energy balances. In addition to the M version, it is existing Polysun structures. possible to visualize the x% reductions – and the power Booth: A3.611 management reductions and a concise yield overview of several plants allow for reference plant comparisons. Special highlights of the presentation of Kostal Solar Several PV plants can be centrally monitored with the Electric include the expansion of the previous PIKO BA XL version. This allows installers and service providers to system with BYD battery storage, as well as the new Kostal battery inverter, which will be presented to the public for the first time in Munich. With the PIKO IQ and the project inverter PIKO 36 EPC, real innovations can also be seen in the field of classic PIKO inverters. In the storage solutions segment, Kostal has previously, with the PIKO BA System, relied on a complete package in combination with the lithium battery of the “fortelion” brand. In future, the Kostal battery inverter should open up many possibilities with a view to the connection possibilities of the battery. In a first step, the PIKO BA will, in addition to being compatible with the fortelion battery, also be compatible with the BYD battery storage. This trend towards more selection possibilities will also be continued in future, and will reach its zenith with the new battery inverter. Like the current PIKO BA, this new product will be available in the power

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY 9

Kostal’s new PIKO 36 EPC inverter for larger projects PHOTO: KOSTAL

classes between 4 and 10 KW and will likely be on the 98 %, the IP65 protective class and optional overvolt- European market by the end of the year. age protection for AC and DC, is especially well-suited There will also be two innovations in the classic Kostal for large projects with less than 3 MW. For the first time portfolio of string inverters to be astonished by in Munich. there will also be a service point at the Kostal booth this The new PIKO IQ (power classes from 4.2 to 10 kW) will year, at which specially trained service staff will quickly thereby also be communicative (large number of com- and simply answer the technical questions of visitors. munication interfaces, smart home-compatible), flexible Booth: B3.130 (system configuration, shadow management) and practical (ergonomic installation) thanks to the classic product Fronius will showcase its wide range of solutions for advantages. In addition to these string inverters, which intelligent and efficient energy generation. The focus will are conceived more for the residential market, with the be on the integration of the energy, heat and mobility PIKO 36 EPC, Kostal will also present a product especially sectors. The solar energy specialist, which is celebrat- designed for larger projects. The cost-optimized project ing its 25th anniversary this year, will also be presenting inverter, with high European efficiency of more than the Fronius Ohmpilot consumption regulator, a device

We produced producer for ground mount over 2 GWp – worldwide! solar mounting systems

InterSolar: Visit us in Hall A4 Stand 480! Solarpark Wroughton, 60 MWp, England

SWW_190x90_4C_Intersolar_042017_dt.indd 1 26.04.17 09:35 10 INTERSOLAR & EES 2017 PREVIEW

Fronius inverters are also designed to provide greater Fronius’ Ohmpilot, a new flexibility and are equipped with the intelligent Snap- technology for heating INverter mounting system, SuperFlex Design and the water with solar energy innovative Dynamic Peak Manager Maximum Power PHOTO: FRONIUS Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm. The SuperFlex Design ensures maximum flexibility in system design, while the SnapINverter mounting system makes installation and maintenance of the inverter as simple as possible. With the Solar.configurator, the company presents an online design tool for systems with or without a storage unit. It provides operators with the current solar module and inverter data – without a time-consuming manual update. Users benefit from a standardised display and the clear report summarises all design-relevant data con- cisely on one page. “To successfully implement our vision of 24 hours of sun, we must use synergies,” explains Martin Hackl, head of the Solar Energy Division. Fronius sees enor- mous potential for the efficient use of renewable energy sources in combining electricity, heat and mobility. The company will also be presenting a new technology for heating water at Intersolar: the Fronius Ohmpilot. This will allow private operators of PV systems to improve that enables continuous regulation of heat sources, as their self-consumption. Operators of PV systems can well as innovative storage technology, allowing users to achieve more independence from the public grid with become more independent from the mains supply. the Fronius Energy Package. This consists of inverter, bat- Together with the American manufacturer Maxim tery and the bi-directional Fronius Smart Meter, which Integrated, Fronius is working on economically and tech- clearly displays energy usage in Fronius Solar.Web. nologically sustainable solutions for module electron- Booth: B2.310 ics. These include the chip-based cell-string optimizers – integrated DC/DC converters that are embedded into Phocos AG, a manufacturer of solar-powered charge the solar module and perform Maximum Power Point controllers and components for off-grid power supply, Tracking. According to the company, the technology can launches a range of innovative solar charge control- be simply and cost-effectively integrated during the pro- lers with increased performance and enhanced user duction of the module. comfort. The new products are specifically designed for

Reliable supply for microgrids, wherever the location!

SUNSYS PCS2 IM Energy storage solution for Microgrids from 33 kW to MW

• Grid forming converter from 33 / 66 / 100 kW per unit • Automatic balancing between production and consumption BREAKTHROUGH!setting the standard in • Scalable modular system with 33 kW Power modules • Can be integrated into microgrids with existing PV plants and genset

• Modular & independent architecture • Easy, fast & safe maintenance thanks to hot-swap PV soiling monitoring power modules VISIT US AT INTERSOLAR - HALL A2 - BOOTH 534 Visit A4.420 at Intersolar Europe for the o icial launch of this new innovation www.socomec.com

PUB 1083013 [email protected] www.kippzonen.com MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY 11

improved charging flexibility in mobile and solar home ECO-T-MPPT brings Phocos’ applications: high precision MPP CXup Series 10 - 40 A: New in Phocos’ successful PWM charging technology to charge controller series is the innovative CXup series the Phocos ECO series. with three models from 10 to 40 A maximum charge PHOTO: PHOCOS AG and load current. In addition to Phocos’ highly efficient four-stage PWM charging control this series also features automated temperature compensation, further increasing power generation efficiency in demanding mobile applications like boats or mobile home systems, in areas with major temperature fluctuations and in very high temperatures. The charge controller’s housing is manufactured in glass fiber reinforced polyamide. Directly connected to the battery, the temperature sensor (included in delivery) ensures reliable over- and undervoltage protection. New LCD sensor keys, another innovative Phocos feature, give fast and convenient access to a vast amount life time significantly thanks to its innovative tempera- of system data and control, programming, and monitor- ture-compensated 3 stage charging algorithm, a highly ing functions. The new charge controller also features a successful proprietary Phocos development. convenient USB charging port (5 V, 1,500 mA), acoustic The new MPPT charge controller automatically alarms and a programmable nightlight function. tracks the modules’ ideal power point, ensuring maxi- ECO-T-MPPT 16 A: The new ECO-T-MPPT brings mum power output at any point in time. ECO-T-MPPT is Phocos’ high precision Maximum Power Point charging ideal for charging 12 V resp. 24 V batteries (automated technology to the popular Phocos ECO series. This new battery voltage detection) with the 60-cell modules charge controller delivers up to 30 percent more yield typically used in solar power plants at attractive prices. from solar modules. At the same time it increases battery “High performance charge controllers play a major role

BREAKTHROUGH!setting the standard in PV soiling monitoring

Visit A4.420 at Intersolar Europe for the o icial launch of this new innovation

www.kippzonen.com 12 INTERSOLAR & EES 2017 PREVIEW

work with or without a grid connection. In case there is no grid, the SUNSYS PCS² IM for Islanding Mode will act as a voltage generator for the microgrid. Booth: A2.534

4-noks by Astrel Group will present new products for solar PV self-consumption and has announced two important previews: Elios4you system integrated with an energy storage inverter and Elios4you integrated with e-car charging station. These devices aim at maximizing the use of clean energy to achieve the goal of 100 % solar PV self-consumption. Furthermore, 4-noks has recently widened its range of power optimizers for immersion heaters Power Reducer. Beside a 3.0kW single-phase version, now with internal Energy Meter to measure self-consumption, the range of 4-noks Power Reducers also includes the 5.5 kW single-phase version and the 9.0 kW three-phase version, all EMC certified. Power Reducer allows to store free hot water when surplus solar energy is available (even few dozen Watt), without drawing any energy from the grid. The family of wireless accessories is grow- An energy storage system for increasing solar efficiency, yield and ROI”, says Rudy ing as well, including devices for energy monitoring for on-grid and off-grid Müller, CEO of Phocos AG. “This is why we are consistently and for a smart management of electrical household applications: SUNSYS PCS² steering our development towards more yield, more user appliances in the smart home. With wireless Energy PHOTO: SOCOMEC comfort and longer lifetimes at attractive prices. We have Meters and a wireless Smart Relay (dry contact), it is designed these latest charge controller innovations in also possible to operate electrical equipment and/or close cooperation with leading customers as an answer systems, depending on the surplus energy available for for a steadily growing market demand.” self-consumption. At the heart of the system remains Booth: A3.140 Elios4you App, in its updated version for enabling people to a smarter use of homegrown energy, always At Intersolar Europe, Socomec is launching its energy intuitive and user friendly. storage system (ESS) for on-grid and off-grid applica- Booth: B3.170 tions with typical loads between 33 kW and 1 MW. The Socomec solution offers all the components of an ESS: At the EES Europe 2017, taking place alongside the Inter- batteries (lithium-ion and lead-acid), AC and DC protec- solar Europe, ADS-TEC from Germany will be presenting tions and distribution cabinets (using Socomec’s wide its range of StoraXe Li-ion storage systems. The main product range), power conversion and control systems. focus is on integrated energy solutions; the company In case of microgrid applications with several sources of mentions its outdoor battery system “Po werBooster” energy, Socomec also provides a paralleling cabinet to here, for example. It can be used by energy companies connect and synchronize these sources and to ensure and industry for grid services, but also for e-mobility continuity and quality of supply. at the same time. ADS-TEC has for a long time been Three frames of SUNSYS PCS² are available, with a focussed on the global subject of grid stability and the power of 33, 66 or 100 kVA per unit. It is a scalable solu- immense energy demand for electric mobility, and is tion that can be put in parallel to reach MW scale installa- thus presenting intelligent indoor and outdoor con- tions, such as in the USA where the UL version is used in cepts for industry and infrastructure in which charging the largest indoor ESS installation. The SUNSYS PCS² can technology for electric vehicles is also taking cen tre stage more and more. ADS-TEC is even going with its high-performance StoraXe systems for home and small- business uses, and now also supplies the smallest 9 kWh LIQUID storage with a nominal capacity of 6 kWh. With its professional design from a single source and “100 perc ent MAXIMIZESTHEPERFORMANCEANDTHEEFFICIENCYOFYOURPHOTOVOLTAICPANELS! CRYSTALS Made in Germany”, all ADS-TEC storage solutions are Thermometers scalable and capable of constant high performance, says -"ULTRASOFT"WASHINGBRUSH(LENGHTUPTO4.200mm)ORMULTI-SPRINKLERBARATLOWPRESSURE(40bar)AND2.400LITERSWATERTANK and Foils the manufacturer. Further-reaching application con- -AUTOMATICELECTRONICCONTROLOFTHEDISTANCEOFTHEWASHINGSYSTEMFROMTHEPANELSBYULTRASONICSENSORS www.spirig.com -THETELESCOPICBOOMCANBEEXTENDEDUPTO9mANDWASHINBOTHSIDES cepts, such as a simple own-consumption optimisation Free samples on request -ALLTERRAINMACHINETHANKSTOTHETRACKEDUNDERCARRIAGECANFACEEVERYGROUNDCONDITIONS [email protected] is thus also possible, for example, and as part of glob- -2.4ltTURBODIESELENGINE59HP

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY S.p.A. ItalyTel.+39071.688771r.a.-Fax+39 071.688586Web:www.roboklin.comE-mail:[email protected]

TI2LC_mini_4532_2014.pdf 45x32mm 13

ally linked swarm solutions or centralised connection concept and a minimum of degradation. The linear per- to cloud services via the ADS-TEC connectivity platform formance guarantee covers 30 years. The special advan- Big-LinX. tages of bifacial cells mainly come into play on bright flat Booth: B1.230 roofs and in free-standing systems. Booth: A1.179, A1.180 Innovations are also coming once again from the field of modules and mounting technology. Thus, a new The Schletter Group is coming to the Intersolar with a bifacial glass-glass module going under the name of host of new and further developments. At the forefront Bisun protect is being launched as a new top product by here is the considerably simplified handling of the prod- SolarWorld AG. On the inner surface the rear-side glass ucts, both for the users and the traders. The company has a light-reflecting white coating. The rated capacity of says its highlights here are the newly developed module the module is 290 watts. As the manufacturer reports, a clamping range and prefabricated module kits which white grid structure between the cells creates reflections should considerably simplify the planning and mount- within the module onto the bifacial cells. Compared to ing of PV systems. the also available Bisun protect clear, with transparent The new Rapid 16 module clamp covers the entire inter-cell gaps, the rated capacity rises by 10 watts. The spectrum of use with just a handful of product variants. bifacial mono PERC cells used also make use of back- Thanks to turnable claws and flexible clamping thick- wardly reflected light. nesses, Schletter claims that all common module sizes The two bifacial modules replace the Sunmodule can be mounted with these – both vertically and hori- Protect glass-glass modules in the SolarWorld AG range, zontally. This enables users to have a particularly easy in which only the front side of the cells were active. Thus, and quick planning and installation process. For trad- every glass-glass module from the company from Bonn, ers, the storage requirements are dramatically reduced. Germany, now also uses light reflected by the rear side. Instead of needing to keep over 190 product variants in The additional yield depends on the nature of the roof or stock as until now, five will be enough in the future. The the underlying area, but the glass-glass module is basi- clamping thickness of the Rapid 16 is flexible; the lower cally suitable for all system types. SolarWorld ascribes module clamps can take modules with a frame height a high mechanical stability to the glass-glass module of 30 to 40 mm, while the higher ones are designed for

MAXIMIZESTHEPERFORMANCEANDTHEEFFICIENCYOFYOURPHOTOVOLTAICPANELS! -"ULTRASOFT"WASHINGBRUSH(LENGHTUPTO4.200mm)ORMULTI-SPRINKLERBARATLOWPRESSURE(40bar)AND2.400LITERSWATERTANK -AUTOMATICELECTRONICCONTROLOFTHEDISTANCEOFTHEWASHINGSYSTEMFROMTHEPANELSBYULTRASONICSENSORS -THETELESCOPICBOOMCANBEEXTENDEDUPTO9mANDWASHINBOTHSIDES -ALLTERRAINMACHINETHANKSTOTHETRACKEDUNDERCARRIAGECANFACEEVERYGROUNDCONDITIONS -2.4ltTURBODIESELENGINE59HP

S.p.A. ItalyTel.+39071.688771r.a.-Fax+39 071.688586Web:www.roboklin.comE-mail:[email protected] 14 INTERSOLAR & EES 2017 PREVIEW

Schletter‘s newly developed Rapid 16 module clamping range PHOTO: SCHLETTER

hooked into the frame profile of the module. The new trapezoidal sheet fixing ClampFIT 17 was designed for horizontal and vertical fixing to trapezoidal sheet roofing. Booth: A4.180

K2 Systems is focussing on digital aids at the planning stage and is presenting new and optimised components for existing mounting systems as well as two new ground-mounted systems. With the help of the online software Base On, mounting systems can be quickly and easily dimensioned, stresses K2 Systems. Thanks to frame heights of 40 to 50 mm. The clamps thus fit all a user-friendly interface and an improved calculation common systems. base, individual roofs may be planned in just a few steps. In order to simplify the planning and installation Things started with the S-Rock system, then came the of smaller PV systems and make them cheaper, the integration with the classical S- and D-Dome systems in Schletter Group is introducing prefabricated assembly March 2017. Now at the Intersolar Europe the third large kits. These are modular, combinable and prefabricated update is coming with the first slanting roof systems from assembly units. With its easier planning, this concept K2 Systems. As well as the detailed planning of the enables a quicker mounting on site without cutting mounting system via the online software, the first app to to size being required. Additionally, customers should come from K2 Systems provides a practical overview of benefit from shorter delivery times as a result of opti- the product range. mised parts stor age and a lower system price through Two new ground-mounted systems use the kit solu- standardisation. tion principle and are compactly packaged to be deliv- For flat roof systems Schletter is presenting the ered on pallets. The two systems, A- and P-Rack, are a AluGrid and AluGrid100 system as a kit. The system is simple and quick solution especially for small ground- especially suitable for an east-west or a south-facing ori- mounted and off-grid projects. The parts come prefabri- entation. Thanks to an aerodynamic optimisation only a cated and delivery is completely on pallets, meaning that low amount of ballast is now required, as proved statically smaller pick-up vehicles can be used. The installation of in individual cases. With the AluGrid100 sets you have a A- and P-Rack systems is thus also suitable in regions with choice of going for one to three double rows of modules a weak infrastructure. When in place the systems have an with prefabricated module supports and already stuck angle of 15°, 20° or 25°. Fixed to a concrete foundation, on protection mats with the relevant accessory parts. The the solar modules on the P-Rack are higher and thus fur- free-standing system PvMax will also be presented at the ther off the ground than on the A-Rack system thanks to Intersolar as a kit solution. The kits are supplied with all an additional cross brace. the necessary components for the substructure. Booth: A4.472 For roofs with trapezoidal sheet coverings Schletter is presenting two new fixing solutions. With the newly The Italian company Basic Ltd. will present the fitting developed Eco Rapid clamp PV modules may be fixed system for flat roofs Sun Ballast. The system is patented directly to the trapezoidal sheets without the need for as utility model and certified with the quality manage- module clamps or mounting rails. The clamp is directly ment system UNI EN ISO 9001/2015 (certificate Nr. 50 100

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY 13413) and is tested in the wind tunnel. Sun Ballast per- forms both the function of support structure and of ballast as well for the solar panel, allowing 10 degrees of tilt from 0° to 35° for vertical, horizontal and east/west laying. The ballast is already provided with three M8 bushings: two upper bushings for fastening the panel-ballast and Off-Grid Experts a rear one to assemble the steel bar stabilizers. Thanks to its bracket shape and the material from which it is made, it is able to support all types of PV panels. It does Workshop 28.-29.09.2017 not exceed a weight of 25 kg/m² and can be installed Tech-Day 27.09.2017 on site, without the use of electrical equipment such as drills or screwdrivers. Just a wire to align the ballast and a tool for tightening the hooks which embrace the modules are needed. The system offers the maximum space utilization by the new 11°.3 and 5°.6 multiple landscape systems, which solve the problem of shading and space and allow the use of a larger number of modules. In addition, Sun Ballast provides a free consulting service for the Switch on calculation of wind loads and corresponding dimensions for each project. Off-Grid Booth: A4.462

Lufft Mess- und Regeltechnik is presenting a wide range of Lufft all-in-one weather sensors. According to the manufacturer, these products are characterised by easy and practical fitting, while the multitude of compactly built-in individual sensors fill many requirements all in one go. Users may choose between various models with differing configurations. On display will be a representa- tive selection of all-in-one weather sensors for the solar field: WS503, WS501, WS302 and WS510. Additionally, the snow height sensor SHM 30 will be on show, which is excellent for solar tracking applications. In addition to a global irradiation sensor, the compact weather sensors WS510, WS503 and WS501 are equipped with humidity, wind, air pressure and temperature sensors. The WS302

• Off-Grid energy supply • Solutions for rural electrification • Industrial applications • Solar water pumping & water purification • Applications for the leisure market • BOSS Business Opportunities with Solar Systems

Tech-Day: • Detailed product trainings Weather sensors are essential for system monitoring. PHOTO: LUFFT www.off-grid-experts.com AZISSA2017_SWE_210x297_EN.qxp_Layout 1 26.04.17 16:24 Seite 1

PART OF THE INTERSOLAR GLOBAL EXHIBITION SERIES 16 INTERSOLAR & EES 2017 PREVIEW

insurance purposes. The SHM 30 measures layers of snow See you ... in Munich up to 10 metres high with millimetre accuracy and is able to distinguish snow from other surfaces, such as grass. Booth: A3.460

Since the introduction of the EEG 2017 in Germany at the start of the year, there has been a fundamental change to the support mechanism to a tendering model. Small to medium-size PV systems with an installed capacity of up to 750 kW are exempt, however. Free-standing systems in this segment will receive up to 2.5 cents more as a feed-in tariff than systems in the latest tendering round in accordance with the EEG 2017 (currently 8.51 ct/kWh). Meteocontrol GmbH wants to support potential operators and is as of now offering a turnkey all-inclusive system solution. The fixed-price offer includes monitoring, infeed management and direct marketing for systems South America’s Largest Exhibition in Germany with a capacity of below 750 kW. “System operators profit doubly from this offer,” explains Martin and Conference for the Solar Industry Schneider, head of Meteocontrol, “they get a system solution individually tailored to their PV system and do not Expo Center Norte, São Paulo, Brazil have to manage anything.” Meteocontrol takes on the complete management from project development to the start of monitoring, infeed management and direct mar- Be one of 240+ exhibitors presenting innovations at a unique B2B platform keting. The operator thus saves a lot of time required for Meet 12,000+ solar professionals from Brazil and LATAM coordination and implementation and can concentrate wholly on the construction of the system, says Meteo- Enhance your footprint in one of the most exciting solar markets worldwide control. The package price consists of the system solution including the switch box and all necessary components, as well as any journey costs within Germany. The high level of interest within the sector for this innovation is confirmed by the numerous enquiries regarding system solutions specifically for this system category, reports the company in the run-up to the Intersolar. Booth: B2.230

Sources of renewable electricity generate excesses which must be stored or converted. The research project HYPOS (Hydrogen Power Storage & Solutions East Germany) has the aim of making hydrogen available as a future energy source at an industrial scale for the chemical industry, e-mobility and urban energy supplies. The project, which is being funded within the framework of the “Twenty20 – Partnership for Innova- tion” programme by the Feder al Ministry of Education measures temperature, relative humidity, air pressure and Research, aims to set up a hydrogen infrastructure and irradiation. The models on display mainly differ in which uses regionally available excess electricity in terms of the irradiation-sensing technology used; from a Central Germany. There are currently 114 companies, silicon pyranometer or a fixed or tiltable Kipp & Zonen technical colleges and research institutes involved CMP3 Second Class Pyranometer to the Kipp & Zonen as members in the association with the same name: Secondary Standard CMP10 Pyranometer, all price and Hydrogen Power Storage & Solutions East Germany e.V. quality levels are represented, says Lufft. In addition to HYPOS will be presenting itself to Intersolar visitors at opto-electronic irradiation sensors, snow height sensors the joint stand of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. help to maximise the efficiency of PV systems. The one in Booth: A3.560 the SHM 30, for example, determines the tracker position with special exhibitions and records faults due to snow as may be necessary for Source: exhibitors; compiled by Ralf Ossenbrink Exhibit now!

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY AZISSA2017_SWE_210x297_EN.qxp_Layout 1 26.04.17 16:24 Seite 1

PART OF THE INTERSOLAR GLOBAL EXHIBITION SERIES

South America’s Largest Exhibition and Conference for the Solar Industry Expo Center Norte, São Paulo, Brazil

Be one of 240+ exhibitors presenting innovations at a unique B2B platform Meet 12,000+ solar professionals from Brazil and LATAM Enhance your footprint in one of the most exciting solar markets worldwide

with special exhibitions Exhibit now! 18 PHOTOVOLTAICS INVERTERS Ever more electronics for the solar module

In winter it is com- In a standard PV system, the module is only the power supplier. All the mon for some of the modules of a control functions are carried out by the inverter. However, several functions , string to experience shading. Inverter from monitoring to MPP tracking, can also be transferred to the junction Energy manufacturers follow box. How far this “upgrade” of the module can go and what benefits it various different Gateway strategies to prevent brings, is still controversial. yield losses. for Renewables

PHOTO: FRONIUS Modbus trictly speaking, no two PV modules are the same, You have to differentiate between the effects, how- SNMP as each has its own power curve and its own ever. Significant losses in yield only occur if modules are Maximum Power Point (MPP). Although they very dirty and are regularly in the shade. If modules are receive the same solar irradiation, the modules in neither dirty nor shaded, the individual deviations from PLC Sa string do not share a common MPP. The inverter can the average MPP add up to a yield loss of less than 1 % as XML always only settle on an average. This “average MPP” a yearly average. differs by a fraction from the MPP of each individual When, about 20 years ago, the first module inverters www.solarmonitor.cz module. These deviations add up as the string becomes appeared which were stuck to the rear of the module in Cloud tel. +420 481 313 661 longer. In addition to these “intrinsic” deviations of a place of the connection box, this not only simplified the NMS module there are also deviations due to dirt and shade. installation process; the alternating current cables then

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY

POWER-TRAP® 19

also replaced the direct current cables. A desirable side factory in place of the connection box. MPP tracking is effect was that the “mismatching” was done away with its most important task, but a string of additional func- too, i.e. the deviation of the centrally set MPP from the tions can be integrated in theory. The SolarEdge power “individual” MPP of each module. The shading of indi- optimiser OPJ-300LV fulfils a safety function as it auto- vidual modules was thus also no longer a fundamental matically switches off the direct current under certain cir- problem. cumstances in order to protect installers and firefighters. It became clear, however, that it is very difficult to fit SolarEdge assure that the small unit is compatible with all a complete inverter with full functionality and a simul- inverters without requiring any additional interface. The taneously high efficiency in the space of a connection manufacturer Tigo, based in California, has gone with a box. The string inverters managed considerably higher stepped optimisation and supplies module optimisers in efficiencies right from the start, so that module inverters, four different variations that build on oneanother, so that despite their long development history, were not able to the scope of functions can be selected as required. win out. Only a few makes are available on the market today. Micro-inverters with a low voltage

Individual MPP control Kaco new energy has gone with an entirely different approach. Two years ago the company presented its In the last few years, “power optimisers” have been devel- “Ultraverter” modular concept. Each module is equipped oped in competition to the relatively complicated mod- with its own Ultraverter, which unlike “classic” module ule inverters, which are designed to find the individual”“ inverters merely inverts direct current to alternating cur- MPP of the individual PV modules and to be of use par- rent without stepping up the voltage. By connecting the ticularly when individual modules of a string are being Ultraverters in series you can get up to whichever volt- shaded, thus drastically shifting the MPP. Regulatory age the grid in that particular part of the world uses. This requirements in the USA accelerated this development, can lie between 100 and 240 V. The alternating current for safety features at a module level are now increasing is collected by a grid connection box (“Ultragate”) that in demand. From AC module inverters and DC opimisers feeds it into the grid according to the norms of each par- grew a new class of inverters within the string inverter ticular country. In this way you could in principle meet all family and which are grouped under the term “Module grid standards which exist around the world with just a Level Power Electronics” (MLPE). single feed-in unit. Power optimisers are more simply designed than It goes without saying that this concept is not meant module inverters and come with the promise of having for uses in Europe, but rather more designed for overseas. longer lifetimes. SolarEdge is one of the pioneers of this The universal function is still a future vision right now, development. The module-integrated power optimiser however. Kaco currently only sells the Ultraverter system is already stuck to the rear of the module in the module in North America with an output voltage of 240 V. The

Energy Gateway for Renewables

Modbus SNMP

PLC XML

www.solarmonitor.cz Cloud tel. +420 481 313 661 NMS

POWER-TRAP® 20 PHOTOVOLTAICS INVERTERS

Not all modules of a PV system have to be fitted with an optimiser, but only those affected by shading. DIAGRAM: SMA

primary target customers are home owners who would Software instead of electronics prefer to have an installation which is as easy as possible and do not want to have to pay any attention to shad- Kostal doesn’t thus far supply a power optimiser as “it ing from trees or chimneys. Mismatching is prevented is not generally economic”, states Thomas Garber, Head by the Ultraverter. The Ultragate not only ensures norm- of Product Management. For an unshaded PV system it compliant infeed but just as all other inverters are, is also would not be worth it, as not more than a few tenths of responsible for recording data and monitoring. Updating a percent could be additionally squeezed out by using the functions can be carried out via the Internet. one.

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY 21

Module Level Power Electronics

The term “Module Level Power Electron- SolarEdge was one of the first manufacturers to have ics” (MLPE) encompasses the module looked for an alternative to module inverters and develop inverters we have known for 20 years a module optimiser that is stuck on the back of the module instead of the connection box. The scope of functions already, plus the module optimisers which meanwhile ranges from MPP tracking to the automatic appeared a few years ago. Optimisation shut-down of the direct current to protect installers. here means any and all extensions to the scope of functions of a PV module, e.g. Tigo supplies module optimisers in four different ver- sions which build on oneanother so that you can choose monitoring, safety shut-down, MPP track- the scope of functions according to your requirements. ing and monitoring the no-load voltage. SMA has joined up with Tigo and is campaigning for the retro-fitting of modules with optimisers. As opposed The market is complex as there is a lot of variety. The to SolarEdge and Tigo, which basically equip all the PV term “power optimiser”, which is being used more and modules of a solar system with optimisers, SMA believes it more, is strictly speaking only related to those MLPE makes more sense to only use optimisers when required, modules that carry out MPP tracking. The full scope of e.g. as the power optimiser in places where shading can functions transforms a conventional PV module into a regularly be expected. “smart module”. However, each supplier may decide for themselves what is “smart” and what isn’t. Almost every Fronius considers power optimisers to have already one of the well known inverter manufacturers is going its been overtaken, as cheaper MLPE solutions will be avail- own way on this, as the overview shows: able in the near future based around open interfaces thanks to new semi-conductor chips. Today already, an Module inverters are now only still being supplied by algorithm implemented in the Fronius inverter controls a few manufacturers, including the Californian company the global MPP tracking during shading. Enphase. There are also manufacturers which consciously do Kaco developed the Ultraverter system in order to be without power optimisers and provide a software solu- able to use simplified module inverters that invert direct tion instead. Similarly to Fronius, Kostal has developed current to alternating current but do not step up the volt- a shade management that enables global MPP tracking. age. The desired voltage level is achieved by serially con- Only if the customer expressly wishes does Kostal fit the necting a number of PV modules. PV modules affected by shading with Tigo optimisers. 22 PHOTOVOLTAICS INVERTERS

What is not disputed is that the effects of shading can often be limited to one string through clever planning. The PIKO inverter can respond to such limited shading by using its “shade management”. This takes into account that the power curve of a string shows up a dip and two different maximum values when shaded. Stand- ard MPP tracking generally chooses the lower value. In order to be able to find the larger value, you have to use a global MPP tracking. “The self-learning software of the shade management aims at this maximum value,” explains Garber, “and the PV system thus achieves very good yields even if part of a string is shaded.” Kostal has thus chosen to go with software rather than module- integrated electronics. If shading only occurs seasonally, i.e. only in winter, then given the low yields you’d be getting anyway, an optimisation measure won’t always be worthwhile. But if the shading occurs daily, it “certainly makes sense to think about a power optimiser,” says Garber, “but then you should only equip the affected modules with this.” So if a customer wishes to have a power optimiser then they should get one. Kostal is working together with Tigo

The power optimiser is either stuck to the back of the module in the factory or screwed to a corner of the module frame as a retrofit. PHOTO: SOLAREDGE

to this end. The PIKO inverters are compatible with the Tigo optimisers. If individual modules are fitted out with these, a special algorithm is activated in the PIKO inverter which ensures that it leaves the MPP tracking to the optimisers. For all the other, non-optimiser-equipped strings, the inverter carries out the MPP tracking as normal.

Optimiser only for affected modules

“We have taken the module inverter back off the market,” reports Stefan Zanger, Product Manager at SMA Solar Technology AG: “Generally the effort for the DC/AC step LIVE-DESIgn SESSIOnS is too high and the module inverter becomes too expen- Intersolar Europe Munich sive.” After the withdrawal of the market leader from this May 31 – June 02, 2017, A3.430 sector the module inverter will become a niche product. Take a test drive The remaining manufacturers will limit themselves to the into the future! smallest solar systems. For all other PV systems, string inverters are cheaper below the line. The demise of module inverters was already on the PV*SOL® premium 2017 cards when SMA took on a 27 % share in Tigo Energy Now you can design your PV within the framework of a capital increase in April 2016 systems with electric vehicles and purchased the rights to worldwide sales of the retro- fittable optimisation modules of the TS4-R series. SMA Free 30-day trial version! offers this retrofit version in different variations. They www.valentin-software.com build on oneanother, meaning the scope of functions is

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY 23

extended step by step. Retro-fitting is very easy. The TS4 Another reason for Fronius to decide against power module, which is approx. the size of a connection box, is optimisers is “because we see that modules will change attached to the rear of the PV module in the left or right anyway,” explains Product Manager David Hanek: “The upper corner of the frame and then connected to the modules will become smarter because they will take connection box. on further functions in the future beyond solely gener- The basic module is called TS4-M and is specialised ating electricity.” Hanek expects future modules to not for monitoring. It contains a communication unit which only optimise the power but also to play a role in safety, enables the transfer of data and thus a diagnosis of the possibly also a role in monitoring at some point. module from the power values. Communication with A completely new solution has appeared on the hori- the Internet is set up using a special gateway. The safety zon too, for Fronius is going for open interfaces which module TS4-S contains a cut-off function in addition will simplify any communication between different to the communication unit, which mainly stems from appliances. “There will be a module-integrated solu- regulatory requirements in the USA. An initiation of the tion with an open interface based on semi-conductor cut-off is via an external switch which caps the Gateway technology,” forecasts Hanek: “There will thus be semi- signal. As soon as this signal disappears the TS4-S module conductor chips built into every connection box.” He automatically separates the PV module from all the other believes these semi-conductor chips are already setting modules and the inverter. the industrial standard: “This concerns the manufactur- The actual optimisation module TS4-O determines ing process and the integration in the connection box, the global MPP during shading in order to increase and the additional scope of functions can thus be pro- the power. It could be called the epitome of power vided more cheaply, thus improving the overall perfor- optimisers. “It is fully sufficient to only equip the PV mod- mance of the modules.” ules affected by shading with the TS4-O,” stresses Zanger, Detlef Koenemann “which provides a considerable cost advantage over conventional solutions which are based on needing all the PV modules in a system to be equipped with optimisers. ” The fourth variation is so far only available for new PV modules fitted at the factory, but is already being marketed. It is called TS4-L and is suitable for “longer strings”. Behind this simple name lies the idea that under certain circumstances you can extend a module string by up to 30 % without going above the input voltage of the inverter. This is linked to the design. “If the no-load voltage of a string is configured for a module temperature of -20 °C but this temperature is only seen extremely rarely during operation, then the no-load voltage during normal operation is considerably lower due to the negative temperature coefficient,” explains Zanger. If the no-load voltage should happen to rise considerably on cold winter days, the TS4-L automatically limits the voltage. The TS4-L additionally contains all the other already mentioned functions and according to the suppliers SMA and Tigo turns the solar module into a “smart module”.

Semi-conductor chips and interfaces

That mismatching within an unshaded string can lead to a significant number of kilowatt hours being lost is something which is doubted by Fronius as a result of tests which they themselves have carried out. “If there EXPLORE THE 70 years of experience in design is shading then power optimisers can certainly make and manufacturing of steel ADVANTAGES components and structures sense,” accepts Product Manager David Hanek, “but if OF STEEL each string has its own MPP tracker, the Fronius inverter STRUCTURES Your advantages: can carry out a global MPP tracking by using a special - > 2 GW supplied - Tailor made design (> 500 KW) algorithm and thus basically make a power optimiser - Large industrial capacity superfluous.” (> 30 MW/week) 24 SOLAR THERMAL PROCESS HEAT Surprisingly popular

This Fresnel collec- Solar heat is far from being a standard in production processes yet, but it tor system made by is more widespread than you might think: System designers and collector Industrial Solar provides direct steam for a manufacturers report more than 500 systems worldwide. The 2017 World pharmaceutical factory in Jordan. The project Map of Solar Process Heat Specialists shows 71 companies in 22 countries. received funding from the German Society for ome three years after the German market research Of the approximately 130 companies contacted, International Coopera- agency solrico produced its first World Map of 71 provided data and took part in the survey. tion (GIZ). Solar Process Heat Collector Industry in 2013/14 The questions were similar to those in the first survey PHOTO: (see S&WE 3/2014), the organisation conducted a in 2013: We wanted to find out how big the global solar INDUSTRIAL SOLAR Ssecond comprehensive survey of the market. This time, process heat market is, how satisfied providers are with the world map is also part of the Solar Payback project, the current business climate, and how the situation in which aims to raise awareness and improve the eco- different countries and regions differs. nomic and policy conditions for solar process heat in Brazil, Mexico, India and South Africa. The 3-year project is coordinated by the German Solar Industry Association What counts as solar process heat? (BSW-Solar) and funded by the International Climate Initi- ative of the German Federal Environment Ministry. It runs Participants were first asked how many turnkey projects until September of 2019. The world map is also published providing solar heat for industrial processes they have in a 16-page technology brochure in English, Spanish and installed to date. Defining a precise question turned Portuguese for distribution at Solar Payback events. out to be rather complex. Common applications such as The target group has been changed somewhat since solar cooling and power generation that use solar heat the first world map of the solar process heat collector had to be excluded specifically in order to estimate the industry based on a survey conducted in late 2013. The global market for solar thermal energy used in manufac- first survey specifically targeted manufacturers of high- turing industries. The numerous solar dish systems for temperature collectors up to 250 °C, but this time system commercial kitchens in India were also excluded from planners and engineering offices were also invited to the statistics for this reason. The same applied to hotels participate. The prerequisite for inclusion in the survey and hospitals, where hot water for guests and patients was that they had to offer turnkey process heat plants to was connected to the hot water supply for the kitchen or their customers. The questionnaire defined turnkey as a laundry. In contrast, we counted agricultural uses, even plant planned, supplied and installed by the seller or, the though these few projects included low-temper ature installation of which is monitored by the manufactur er. applications such as heaters for piglet stalls. These

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY 25

applications were included, on the one hand because not fall into the “turnkey” category. If these nine plants in the broad sense pig breeding falls under the heading are counted as well, the number of systems that the par- of food production. On the other hand, the exclusion of ticipants of the world map survey have built raises to 398 such applications would have been a conscious depar- with a total collector or mirror area of at least 294,531 m2. ture from the definition of process heat in the sense This area presents a bottom threshold, because some of the German Market Rebate Programme (MAP) and system suppliers only delivered the number of plants would have made the survey more difficult. without collector or mirror area. This time, in contrast to the previous survey, we decided There are also plants listed in the SHIP database not to make temperature a criterion. Thus, both vacuum- whose planners did not report any data for the world tube and flat-plate collector system manufacturers and map of solar process heat. These comprise 127 addi- planners appear on the World Map of Solar Process Heat tional plants with a total area of 121,883 m2. Based on this Specialists 2017 (page 26), because in the textile industry, analysis you can assume that at a minimum of 525 plants agriculture and mining process temperatures are often with an area of at least 416,414 m2 exist worldwide for significantly lower than 100 °C. generating solar process heat. This is a surprisingly large Due to the narrow definition of “turnkey”, many of figure which indicates that solar process heat is more the 71 participants in the survey had to be content to widespread than is often assumed. be listed with the caveat “ready-to-offer” instead of pre- The 127 additional installations from the SHIP data- senting a list of reference projects. Some of these firms base were designed by 62 companies that did not par- are newcomers, such as Krypton Energy from Pakistan, ticipate in the world map survey and which are also not New Heat from France, Inersur from Spain and Artic necessarily turnkey suppliers. Among these are 25 plants Solar from the USA. However, even experienced provid- that cannot be explicitly attributed to any engineering ers of concentrating solar plants fall into this category. company. It is therefore safe to assume that the solar pro- For example, Chromasun (USA) and Trivelli (Italy) have cess heat industry includes far more companies than the already built solar-thermal systems for commercial cus- 71 turnkey suppliers listed on the world map. tomers, but neither provides process heat in the narrow sense of the term. Other vendors like NEP Solar (now in Australia, formerly in Switzerland), even show up in Diverse offers the SHIP-plants.info, an online portal operated by the Austrian Institute AEE INTEC featuring a database of 195 The services the survey participants offer are also very solar process heat plants worldwide where companies diverse. More than half of them manufacture their own can list their reference projects. However, for the cur- collectors. Parabolic trough systems, offered by 18 rent world map we were looking for providers of turnkey manufacturers, are the most common type of collector, systems, a criterion not fulfilled by the systems NEP Solar followed by flat plate collectors (ten manufacturers), has installed in Europe. vacuum tube and Fresnel collectors (each five manufacturers), and dish collectors (four companies). Of the participants, 66 % (47 companies) guaranteed More than 500 plants for solar a specific solar yield to their customers. That is one aspect process heat worldwide in which providers of process heat systems differ significantly from the suppliers of small systems for private use; The number of reference plants of all companies listed after all, commercial industrial customers require perfor- on the world map were checked for plausibility. Where mance guarantees (see Fig. 1). discrepancies were found, detailed information was requested. This is how we ended up with a total of 389 Fig. 1: Service orienta- reference systems providing solar heat for industrial tion pays – two thirds and a few commercial processes, such as car washes. of the suppliers That means that despite the narrow definition, about guarantee a specific two times as many plants are on the world map as are solar yield to their recorded in the SHIP database. Of the participating 71 customers. A third of providers, just 29 (41 %) said that they were aware of the the companies either SHIP database. Only twelve of these said that they had already offer or will previously listed projects in the online portal, but some offer heat supply systems were entered into the database by the SHIP contracts. GRAPHICS (4): SOLRICO organisers themselves. A reconciliation of the solrico survey with the SHIP database revealed that some solar process heat providers have projects listed as a reference in the database that are not listed on the world map because they do 26 SOLAR THERMAL PROCESS HEAT

SWEDEN Absolicon 71 suppliers of turnkey solar process heat 2 (300 m2) systems in 22 countries Publisher: Sun & Wind Energy, www.sunwindenergy.com Financial support: Solar Payback project by the International Climate Initiative (German Federal Environment Ministry) Editors: Bärbel Epp, Eva Augsten, www.solrico.com Design: Eilers-Media, www.eilers-media.de Date: January 2017 Sources: Data from manufacturers, CANADA Rackam Sunda Solar November/December 2016 survey 5 (1,941 m2) 15 (8,820 m2) Legend Aalborg CSP Skyfuel 2 1 (690 m2) Linuo Paradigma 3 (670 m2) Number and total area of supplier’s turnkey systems 1 (51,505 m ) Himin Solargenix 24 (n/a) n/a Companies with reference projects, Solar Tower Plant 2 (12,500 m2) Krypton but did not deliver figures Chromasun USA Inventive Power 35 (3,300 m2) Artic Solar Energy Companies Companies that are listed without any references are Energias Saubere CHINA Sunrain/Micoe DENMARK 2 without ready to offer turnkey solar process heat systems. Still, Solarqro 1 (n.a.) Investti PAKISTAN 49 (42,356 m ) 2 2 Vicot Solar references they may have experiences with commercial solar Ausgreen 2 (360 m ) SEA 18 (1,800 m ) 2 Agbel 7 (140 m2) 20 (20,000 m ) installations, e.g., for cooling or power generation. Modulo Solar 33 (9,820 m2) Solarlite MEXICO Several businesses also produce collectors: SunOyster

Flat plate BRAZIL Enalter Vacuum tube Bosch/Heliotek Phönix Imax Energia NEP Solar Sonnenwärme Konus Icesa Concentrating dish Sunshine Engenharia AUSTRALIA Protarget 3 (1,500 m2) CHILE SOUTH AFRICA Enersolve Pampa Elvira Solar Reinstein Parabolic trough 4 (1,100 m2) 2 (45,570 m2) Soliterm 12 (20,000 m2) Fresnel GERMANY India Aschoff Solar newHeat 8 (5,490 m2) Company Prototype collector PAKISTAN Inter Solar Systems CHINA name* Ritter XL Solar 29 (5,165 m2) Ecotherm 20 (10,000 m2) Industrial Solar 8 (n/a) Company offers solar heat supply contracts (ESCO) Fresnex CitrinSolar Megawatt Solutions Examples: FRANCE Consolar 10 (9,500 m2) Quadsun Solar Ritter XL Solar Ritter XL Solar manufactures vacuum tube collectors. The Feichtinger* Gasokol 7 (2,568 m2) 29 (5,165 m2) TVP Solar 2 (n/a) company has set up 29 turnkey solar process heat AUSTRIA installations totalling 5,165 m2 of collector area. SWITZERLAND S.O.L.I.D. 7 (10,017 m2) Taylormade Solar SolutionsINDIEN 12 (1,800 m2) South Africa Chromasun Chromasun does not produce collectors and has not yet Trivelli Energia carried out any projects matching the definition of solar process heat below. It is ready to offer solar heat supply contracts. Helioclim A.T.E. Enterprises Soltigua 2 Energyweb 1 (44 m ) Akson‘s Solar Equipment Definition: Solar process heat plants supply heat to manufacturing com- Sunti (n/a) 1 (120 m2) 6 (600 m2) panies for production processes, cleaning or sterilising. This definition does not include installations for solar cooling, electricity generation or Holms and Friends Suncnim Reach energy use in service sector applications, e.g., for laundries and catering. Renewable Oorja Energy 6 (1,000 m2) ITALY Inersur 1 (174 m2) SPAIN Greenability E3 Energy 1 (120 m2) Aspiration Energy 3 (2,100 m2) Solarzone 1 (96 m2)

GREECE Anitcam Sunstrip* Sole S.A. 2 3 (670 m ) TURKEY World Map of Solar Process Heat Specialists 2017

2 Tigi 6 (1,000 m ) JORDAN Millennium Energy 2 MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY ISRAEL 21 (3,111 m ) 27

GREECE Anitcam Sunstrip* Sole S.A. 2 3 (670 m ) TURKEY World Map of Solar Process Heat Specialists 2017

2 Tigi 6 (1,000 m ) JORDAN Millennium Energy ISRAEL 21 (3,111 m2) 28 SOLAR THERMAL PROCESS HEAT

Fig. 2: High fossil fuel prices are still the most important argument for Fig. 3: The food and beverage industries are still the most solar process heat. The order of the other criteria has changed in compari- important target industries for process heat. The commercial son to the 2013 survey. An obligation to use solar process heat has gained and service sectors have increased, but this can also be ex- in importance, probably because Renewable Heating Obligations for the plained to a large extent by the different pool of participants industry are discussed in India and China. of the survey.

Approximately the same number of companies also High energy prices and solar offer to operate and maintain the systems. A third of the regulations strengthen the industry participants (24 companies) operate as well as Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) offering their customers The single most important criterion for good market heat supply contracts. It is fitting that 79 % of respond- development is high fossil fuel prices. That not only follows ents agree or strongly agree with the statement that heat as a reverse corollary to the fact that low energy prices act supplycontracts are an important business model for as a market obstacle, but also because fully 41 % of the increasing the use of solar process heat. No other state- respondents explicitly said so (see Fig. 2). This result also ment about the market was met with such a high level sits well with the fact that the companies in the top market of agreement. of India, more often than in other countries, cited the good return on investment of comparably inexpensive systems as an argument in their favour. Markets and views Nevertheless, policy conditions also play a major role. One in five respondents said that an obligation to use solar As usual, the companies were also asked how satis- process heat was a good basis for positive market devel- fied they were with their business over the past year. opment, even more so than financial incentives (18 %). Because the survey took place at the end of 2016, the Another aspect often cited as an obstacle is the lack question was in reference to the year 2015. World- of knowledge about solar process heat. Here, the choice wide, just over half (55 %) of the participants were of words used in reference to customers ranged from (extremely/very) satisfied with their current sales. In “scepticism” to “lack of awareness” and “ignorance”. But contrast, 40 % were dissatisfied or fairly dissatisfied. respondents also complained of a lack of knowledge and It is striking that the companies in the four partner education on the part of planners. Two explicitly cite poor countries of the Solar Payback project are much more performance of existing plants as a market barrier. optimistic. In those countries, 77 % of participants Just how important the issue of “awareness” is for the were (extremely/very) satisfied with their current rev- solar process heat market is indicated by the fact that 70 % enue. In contrast, 23 % were dissatisfied or fairly dis- of companies agreed with the statement that solar heat satisfied. in many market segments is already competitive, but that When asked about market barriers, low fossil fuel customers were not sufficiently aware of the fact. prices is a response that shows up conspicuously often. It is hard to assess the impact of financing difficulties Other frequently cited issues are the high cost of sys- on the market. This also crops up in the question of market tems, excessively long payback periods, scant financial barriers quite often. However, it is not always clear from incentives – all of which fall under the heading of the the free-text responses with their bullet-points whether “economy” argument. The CEO of one provider says: participants are complaining of the banks’ reluctance to “Most decision-makers in the industry are not open to extend credit or an absence of government funding. To investments that don’t pay for themselves within four the statement, “Difficulties with obtaining financing are years or less.” one of the main limiting factors” 54 % of the participants

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY expressed strong agreement, a further 23 % tend to agreed, and 23 % disagreed. The larger target group of the current survey means that not all of the statements in the survey for the latest world map of solar process heat in 2017 are comparable with the survey three years ago. In particular, among the 36 listed collector manufacturers from 2013, eight were manufacturers of dish collectors from India. For this group, in contrast to manufacturers of linear collectors, the textile industry was almost as important as the food industry. In the 2016 survey, there were also eight Indian companies among the 71 firms, but only four of them were manufacturers of dish collectors. It also stands to reason that by including installations with flat plate and vacuum tube collectors in the recent survey, the importance of low-temperature processes has increased. The figures show that the food and beverage segment is still the most important target industry (see Fig. 3). Com- mercial and service industries have moved to second place. (This segment was queried for the sake of comparability with 2013, although the plants are not shown on the current world map). The textile industry, however, has slipped slightly and is marked by only 16 % of the participating companies. Also, with regard to market factors, the key factor – fossil fuel prices – is still in first place, despite the change in methodology. There were some changes in the rankings of other factors: Financial incentives slid slightly, landing in third place, while political regulation moved from fourth to second place (see Fig. 2). As in 2013, we wanted to know from providers, whether they consider photovoltaics competition with their technology. This is a particularly interesting question because in the retail market, the combination of photovoltaics and solar thermal heat pumps has become even more popular in recent years than it was in 2013. Even solar process heat providers seem to be feeling the competition more keenly. While in 2013, only 13 % agreed with the statement that photovoltaic heat was competition for solar energy, the figure was 32 % in 2016. This development still holds, even discounting the responses of all but the manufacturers in the latest survey. Even among these, 30 % see PV as the competition. Eva Augsten, Bärbel Epp

Fig. 4: Funding and ROI models are key factors for solar process heat. Heat supply contracts can help. But many customers do not base their decisions on the internal rate of return (IRR), but rather on the payback period, a calculation that usually works out to the disadvantage of solar thermal. 30 SOLAR THERMAL DOMESTIC HOT WATER UNITS

The WP-Fresh hydro 40 from Herz Energietechnik can deliver New from Sailer is the option of connecting two Friwasta- 160 L/ min output capacity in a 4x cascade. Plus stations in a cascade. PHOTO: HERZ ENERGIETECHNIK PHOTO: SAILER Freshly tapped The domestic hot water units have never offered more comfort. Innovations have been particularly numerous in the large capacity segment, such as units for hotels, apartment buildings, and retirement homes.

eating domestic hot water with the help of a DHW at least one station is working, even if the other should fail unit has become increasingly popular. After all, the for some reason. units are highly flexible. Whether in a single-family Sailer has also introduced a new product for the heat- home, a distributed domestic hot water network, ing supply network market. The Centrasta consists of a Hor in the central heating system of a hotel or hospital the small buffer tank with an integrated drinking water unit. market offers products suitable for every application. Like Sailer’s Centrasta, the apartment water station from Drinking water stations are particularly well-suited to heat Strawa Wärmetechnik is also electronically controlled. Is generation systems such as heat pumps and solar-thermal a classic apartment-scale unit without a buffer tank. The systems which work more efficiently at lower supply-line electronic controller means that the station does not temperatures. What is more, strict hygiene requirements need a proportional volume regulator which, says Mirko for legionella prevention are very well suited to domestic Schleicher from the technology department at Strawa, hot water equipment. “significantly reduces pressure loss.” Systems that have a large tap volume raise the ques- Wagner Solar introduced its Ratiofresh 810 in Sep- tion of which is better, a cascade of small units or a single tember 2016, a unit with a flow rate of 80 L/min. “The large domestic hot water station. The tank and domes- Ratiofresh 810 is used in situations where space does tic hot water specialist Sailer prefers large stations. The not permit the installation of a cascade solution with two Friwasta-Plus double stations now cover a capacity range Ratiofresh 500 systems,” says Product Manager Fabian of 250 L/min up to 800 L/min flow rate at the tap. These Schröer. The larger variant can also be cascaded with a double stations use two plate heat exchangers. The specially adapted pipe set. A circulation set is available smaller Friwasta-Plus models contain is just a single plate as an extension, enabling the installation of a circulation heat exchanger. “By consistently using very high quality pump directly onto the station. and reliable components we ensure that all Friwasta- LME of Austria offers a combination of DHW modules Plus single and double stations are highly fail-safe,” says with flow rates ranging from 26 to 250 L/min and a circu- Product Manager Norbert Ebinger. Sailer offers a new lation module with 5 to 40 kW of circulation capacity. The option of connecting two Friwasta-Plus stations in cas- combination modules achieve a return-line temperature cade. This improves reliability even more, as it ensures that of less than 20°C, even in circulation mode, and unlike

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY 31

DTEC – BUNDLED LASER COMPETENCE – WORKING WITH THE BEST FOR THE BEST!

DTEC is the world leading company in the field of laser technology solarabsorber and cooling plates.

High-tech, high precision and user-friendliness are qua- lities of all DTEC systems. Varied tasks can be accom- plished easily and securely.

When there’s not enough space for a cascade of two Ratiofresh 500 stations, the solution is the Ratiofresh 810 from Wagner Solar. PHOTO: WAGNER SOLAR

normal drinking water modules, CEO tank is low in the Logofresh systems. That Michael Leitner points out, the cold water insurers a good overall efficiency improve- is not mixed with the circulation water. ment for the heating system. The full Sonnenkraft has extended its mid- insulation of the station adds yet another Our modular construction allows us to offer even small range DHW portfolio with the addi- efficiency boost. Despite their compact companies affordable solutions that can be expanded tion of the FWM60 and FWM80 models. construction, both stations are designed to at anytime according to requirements. Premium quality with the highest performance: the PULSSPEED pro- With a 5x cascade of FWM80 stations a provide ready access to key components in duct range with the models 278, 556 and 556² and the flow rate of 400 L/min can be achieved. the event of maintenance. high-light PULSSPEED BENDER, with integrates bending and welding in one patented process. Through a spe- Phönix Sonnenwärme is offering new The unit’s controller has a colour moni- cial system DTEC absorbers have between 5 – 6 % more DHW modules: the FWS28 with 28 L/min, tor that is very easy to use, thanks to a full- efficiency. FWS50 with 50 L/min and the FWS77 with text display. It includes a communication 77 L/min. All three models can be used interface for error messages. Alarms are in a dual cascade. Filling and circulation also stored chronologically. Data logging pumps are “high-quality, high-efficiency and firmware updates can be performed pumps that meet the latest requirements,” with an SD card. The controller monitors says the manufacturer. time and the temperature curve in disin- fection mode. The circulation mode can be optimised with time-windows. The station

Electronic control down to can also switch itself off at night. With pro- • pipe processing (punching, bending, the degree tected access, Meibes prevents end-users forming …) getting into the technician’s menu. • soldering/brazing technology • welding technology MIG/MAG/WIG/CMT … For schools, sports halls, hospital depart- Austria’s Siko Solar has also introduced • adhesive- and foam applications ments, retirement homes or office com- a product especially for use in hotels • robotics- and special solutions • handling-/press- and tolerance- plexes, MeibesSystemtechnik has devel- and residential buildings, the T-Station compensating systems oped the Logofresh 100 and Logofresh 120 Premium DHW unit. Four variants with • modular production lines drinking water modules. The electronically flow-rate capacities of 50 to 150 L/min • decoiling systems • quality testing (leak profing …) controlled stations ensure “domestic water are available. In developing the T-Station • visualization and data capture heating with single-degree accuracy, even Premium, the emphasis was on supply of expertise Another areas advandage: – your • maintenance-/test- and servicecenter at very small volumes,” according to Prod- security. That is the rationale behind the uct Manager Gordon Shadwinkle. Low automatic emergency mode. The new Please contact: DTEC dynamic technology GmbH tap-volumes present a special challenge unit can be connected either to the Inter- Pyhrn 5 to controllers in large-scale DHW stations. net or a central building management A-4582 Spital am Pyhrn After all, at low volumes, it is particularly system. Furthermore, Siko Solar offers its AUSTRIA Phone: ++43 7563 20681 difficult to hold the temperature constant customers a free app for iOS and Android Fax: ++43 7563 20681 – 30 at the tap. The return-line temperature of that lets users monitor their drinking water Email: [email protected] www.dtec.at the heating water flowing back into the modules and cascades via a mobile device. 32 SOLAR THERMAL DOMESTIC HOT WATER UNITS

Overview hot water units (selection)

Manufacturer Product name Manufac- Tap water Tap water flow Return flow Return flow Reversing Max. Max. Max. Temperature Temperature Kind of control Flow measurement Material on Circulation High efficiency Cascades Height Width Depth Net list turing flow rate rate (45 °C) temperature temperature valve pressure pressure temperature limitation limitation fresh water circulation possible [cm] [cm] [cm] price [€] (60 °C) [L/min] (full load) [°C] (partial load) [°C] (primary) (secondary) [°C] (primary) (secondary) side pump [L/min] [bar] [bar]

Austria Email Eco Swift E/EZ OEM 24 30 19 n/a n/a 3 10 95 yes yes electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel yes yes optional 64 50 18 n/a

Brötje DWM 35 C OEM 15 32 19 30 no 3 10 95 yes no thermostatic flow switch brass optional no no 57.2 27 8 1,785

Buderus Logalux FS/2 own 15 22 28 22 no 3 10 95 no no electric impeller/turbine stainless steel yes yes no 53.2 36 27.5 1,495

CitrinSolar BWM65 n/a n/a 57 21 n/a optional 10 6 95 no no electric ultrasonic sensor stainless steel yes yes yes 79.5 64.6 29.8 n/a

thermostatic; Gasokol Freshomax 99/72 n/a 72 n/a 20 n/a optional 6 10 n/a yes yes hydraulic; electric n/a stainless steel optional yes yes 58 73 28 5,990

Herz WP-Fresh hydro 40 OEM 30 40 17 22 optional 3 10 95 yes no electric Vortex flow sensor brass yes yes yes 60 40 30 n/a

Transtherm aqua F Hoval (6-10) own 14 20 30 35 optional 10 10 90 yes yes electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel yes optional no 99 87 41 3,052

Junkers TF 27-2 own 32 n/a 19.5 n/a optional n/a n/a 95 no no electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel yes yes yes 87.6 52.2 35 2,205

Kioto Solar FWS40 Hydro own 30 40 17 22 optional 3 10 95 yes no electric Vortex flow sensor brass yes yes yes 60 40 30 1,490

LME LME-WW35EU own n/a 35 20 n/a no 6 6 95 optional n/a thermostatic n/a brass optional yes yes 75 42 35 750

Meibes Logofresh 120 own 125 125 20.5 n/a optional 6 10 90 yes yes electric impeller/turbine brass yes yes optional 113.7 60 34 5,180

Oventrop Regumaq X-80 own 93 144 20 15 optional 10 10 95 no yes electric impeller/turbine brass yes yes yes 87.5 66 30 n/a

Paradigma WFS-35 III n/a 30 32 19 10 no 3 10 95 no no electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel yes yes optional 105 42 32 2,043

PAW FriwaMega own 121 130 20 20 optional 10 10 95 no no electric ultrasonic sensor stainless steel yes yes optional 143 71 92 6,567

Phönix Sonnenwärme FWS30 OEM 26 35 29 n/a optional 3 10 95 no n/a electric n/a stainless steel optional yes no 65 31 25 n/a Trinkwasserkompakter- Ratiotherm wärmer own n/a 42 18 n/a yes 3 4 95 yes no electric n/a stainless steel yes optional yes 100 26 25 1,790 Reinhard Solartechnik Friwa Mini HE OEM n/a 34 n/a n/a optional 3 10 95 n/a n/a electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel yes yes no 64 34 25 1,558

Rennergy FWS SF26 OEM 26 35 21 n/a optional 3 10 95 no no electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel yes yes no 64.5 34.4 24.9 n/a

Sailer Friwasta-Plus 20 - 800 own 40 35 20 23 optional 10 10 100 optional no electric impeller/turbine stainless steel optional yes yes 72 39 31 1,719

Sferatec Sferasan own 35 33 30 n/a optional 6 10 90 optional yes electric ultrasonic sensor stainless steel yes optional yes 40 35 20 720

Siko Solar T3560P own 47 65 21 n/a optional 3 6 95 optional optional electric Vortex flow sensor brass optional optional yes 810 510 240 n/a

Solarbayer Friwa 30 HE OEM 26 35 27 22 no 3 10 95 no yes electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel yes yes no 605 400 240 1,390

Solarfocus FWM autark own 20 28 18 n/a optional 6 3 n/a optional yes thermostatic n/a stainless steel optional yes no 85 49 27 1,824

Sonnenkraft FWM30i n/a 30 30 17 n/a yes 3 10 90 yes yes electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel optional yes yes 56.8 46.5 31.2 1,850

Strasshofer FW-EZ 40 own 28 36 16 22 optional 6 10 110 optional yes electric Vortex flow sensor brass yes yes yes 685 485 240 1,598

Tacotherm Fresh Mega2 Taconova CL own 26 37.5 35 25.5 yes 10 10 95 no yes electric impeller/turbine stainless steel yes yes yes 68.5 47 19.3 2,000 Technische Alternative FRISTAR2 own 25 30 22 20 no 4 6 90 optional optional electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel yes no yes 57 37 16 986

Tisun FWM 30 OEM n/a 25 n/a n/a no 10 3 95 yes no thermostatic n/a brass optional yes yes 80 40 33 1,825

TTO Thermotechnik XS Modell OEM 20 n/a 18 n/a no 6 6 90 yes optional electric impeller/turbine stainless steel optional yes no 800 650 160 1,700

Tuxhorn Tubra-Frista-mix KS own 45 59 21 10.9 optional 3 10 95 no no electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel yes optional yes 86.5 52.5 28 2,350

Aquaflow Exclusive VPM Vaillant 20/25 W/2 own 25 27 20 n/a no 3 10 n/a yes yes electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel optional no yes 75 45 25 1,258

Varmeco Vario fresh-nova 20 HE own n/a 43 n/a n/a optional 10 10 95 no no electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel optional yes no 80 45 32 n/a

Viessmann Vitotrans 353 PBL OEM 60 n/a 21 n/a optional 10 10 95 no no electric ultrasonic sensor stainless steel optional optional yes 96 45 35 3,257

stainless steel; Wagner Solar Ratiofresh 210 OEM n/a 23 n/a n/a optional 6 10 95 no yes thermostatic flow switch brass; copper optional yes no 69 40 18 1,415

Watts Friwa 8032C HE own 25 34 25 n/a no 3 10 95 no no electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel yes optional no 79 45 22.5 n/a

Weishaupt WHI freshaqua 22 OEM 31 38 22 30 optional 6 10 95 no no electric Vortex flow sensor stainless steel optional yes no 65 34 25 1,848

electric; thermo- stainless steel; Wikora FriwaSt26/17HE OEM n/a n/a n/a n/a optional 3 6 60 yes yes static flow switch brass optional yes yes 58 28 20 1,718

Windhager Friwin FWS-Perfekt-H-Z n/a 35 45 30 n/a optional 10 10 110 optional yes electric impeller/turbine stainless steel yes yes yes 70 45 29 1,852

This overview is an excerpt from our German-language product database available online under www.energie-datenbank.eu. There, you will find approximately 200 drinking water stations listed.

MAY 2017 SUN & WIND ENERGY 33