South Africa: Local production of SMA central inverters launched
Niestetal, Germany/Cape Town - After the successful early commissioning of the Kalkbult PV power plant last fall, the Linde 40-MW project with technology from SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA) has now been completed.
"With an ambitious expansion target for photovoltaics and high solar irraditation, South Africa is a strategically important market for SMA. By beginning our local inverter production in time for the fourth round of the REIPPP Programme, we have once again strengthened our position as the preferred partner for project developers, EPCs and financing banks in this attractive emerging market," said Thorsten Ronge, General Manager of SMA Sub-Sahara Production Pty Ltd. The flexible production facility for central inverters can be adapted quickly to changes in demand. In addition to a production line and storage facilities, the factory has a test center for central inverters.
For the Linde PV power plant in the Northern Cape province, SMA supplied 43 Sunny Central 850CP inverters, 258 locally produced Sunny String-Monitors for monitoring and 22 Transformer Compact Stations for connection to the medium-voltage grid. The Dreunberg PV power plant in the South African province of Eastern Cape is also near completion.
Source: IWR Online, 05 Aug 2014