In Exclusive Talk With Mr. Sukhwinder Pal Singh
EQ: How much Inverters have you supplied to India till now, what is the target/expectation in 2017-18?
SPS : Ingeteam enjoys a very good installation base for both central & string inverters in India and our global strength presents us as a major supplier in the coming years. Till now we are maintaining around 950MW of solar PV plants in India including Bonfiglioli’s equipment, and we have supplied more than 50 MW to India.
EQ: The recent aggressive bidding by various developers keeping Solar Tariffs in the price range of Rs.2.44-3.3 per kWh in various Solar Tenders…Whats your view on the viability, Costs & timeline pressures, Resource Challenges (Materials, ManPower, Execution, Grid Connection, Land Possession) etc. ?
SPS: It is true that the solar power industry has experienced a strong price decline that has changed the business landscape and the strategies of the different players that are active in the game. For inverter manufacturers, the price decline has forced them to make a bigger effort in order to optimize supply, production costs. With our focus on R&D we are optimizing our product portfolio by offering outdoor solutions, paralleling options, etc. which helps reducing the levelised cost of energy (LCOE). Solar power is now the cheapest energy source in many countries of the world and that is a big strength for our industry.
EQ: Kindly enlighten our readers on the performance of your Inverters in India in various geographic locations, customer feedback ?
SPS: Our inverters have been performing globally in all kinds of climatic conditions and in India we don’t see any challenge in already installed inverters where customers are seeing our advantages like less maintenance, higher efficiency and prompt O&M services.
EQ: Present some noteworthy projects, case studies of solar plants built using your solar Inverters ?
SPS: These are some of our main references worldwide: Chile: 100MWAC Amanecer Solar CAP PV project: http://eng.cap.cl/news/amanecer-solar-cap-the-largest-photovoltaic-plant-in-latin-america-is-now-a-reality/Italy: 70MWAC San Bellino PV plant: http://www.renewable-technology.com/projects/sunedison-san-bellino-photovoltaic-power-plant/South Africa: 94.3MWDC Sishen PV plant: http://www.acciona-energia.com/areas-of-activity/photovoltaic/major-projects/sishen-photovoltaic-plant/South Africa: 95MWDC Jasper PV plant: http://www.solarreserve.com/en/global-projects/pv/jasper Australia: 56MWAC Moree Solar Farm: http://www.moreesolarfarm.com.au/announcements/frv-announces-moree-solar-farm-opening-and-confirms-future-for-solar-in-australia
EQ: Please describe in brief about your company, directors, promoters, investors, its vision & mission ?
SPS: Ingeteam is a global company specialized in the design of power and control electronics (frequency converters, process automation and control systems), electrical machines (generators and motors), electrical engineering and generating plants. To date, Ingeteam has supplied 46 GW in power converters for renewable energy plants and is amongst the TOP 10 companies dedicated to the operation and maintenance of renewable plants, with a portfolio of more than 10 GW. The company operates on all continents, and has a headcount of around 3,898 employees around the world.
EQ: What is the size of your company in terms of manufacturing capacities, growth chart, future expansion plans, revenues, shipments, ASP’s, financial figures ?
SPS : Ingeteam features three different factories (in Spain, USA and Brazil) dedicated to the production of factory-tested and totally bankable power converters for the PV, wind and storage sectors. Ingeteam is present in 22 countries and is planning to continue its expansion across new markets.
EQ: What are your plans for India, your view on the GOI target of 100GW Solar Power by 2022 ?
SPS: We see this as an opportunity to provide our clients with the latest technology inverters with grid support features, top class services and maintenance since these would be critical features as the capacity enhancement happens.
EQ: What are your plans for Manufacturing set up in India, the opportunities and challenges in manufacturing in India ?
SPS: We are about to start manufacturing wind converters in India.
EQ: Briefly describe the various technologies and its suitable applications such as Central Inverter, String, Micro Inverter, 1500V, Outdoor, Container solutions etc. ?
SPS: Ingeteam offers a wide range of PV inverters and storage inverters for both indoor and outdoor use. At string inverter scale, Ingeteam offers single-phase and three-phase string inverters (2.5kW – 100kW) for residential, commercial and industrial application. At utility scale, Ingeteam offers 1,000V and 1,500V central inverters. These central inverters are one of the most light and compact equipment, conceived to optimise their integration into medium voltage power stations of any kind. Moreover, the 1,500V inverter series is proudly famous for featuring the photovoltaic market’s highest power density: 358kW/m3.
EQ: How much is your R&D budget as % of your sales / profits ?
SPS: Ingeteam invests 5% of its annual turnover in R&D, which is the backbone of the company’s business activity.
EQ: What are the top 5 markets for your company in the past, present and future ?
SPS: In 2016: Jordan, Chile, Mexico, USA, India In 2017 (estimated): Australia, India, Chile, Mexico, USA
EQ: Technology road map in terms of 1500V , micro inverters, upcoming game changes technologies ?
SPS: In 2017, 1,500V inverters will experience market consolidation at utility scale. We are currently supplying several projects with our 1,500V central inverters. The solar market will also see how the main PV inverter manufacturers will launch a 1,500V string inverter along 2017 and 2018.
EQ: Kindly comment of Energy Storage as a game changer, its technology, cost trends…etc. ?
SPS: Energy storage will keep experiencing a cost decline, especially within the different battery technologies, and thanks to this cost reduction the installations of energy storage systems will progressively be more and more attractive and it will be more frequent to find large battery systems coupled to generating power plants at utility scale. But the energy storage market may still need some more time of cost decline in order to become much more attractive, especially for residential users. We have already installed +30MWh storage capacity globally meeting the most stringent grid support requirements.
EQ: Explain various guarantees, warranties, insurance, certifi cations, test results, performance report of your inverters ?
SPS: Ingeteam’s PV inverters feature a standard 5-year warranty and comply with all the main applicable international standards as well as the markings, guidelines, grid codes and local standards. Realms of security, electromagnetic compatibility and grid functionalities and requirements are covered. Certification is the essential tool that Ingeteam uses to provide trust on its equipment. It involves type testing, analyzing the models that can cover this type of tests and auditing that all the equipment produced meets the same quality standards as the type tested sample. Ingeteam’s inverters are certified by Accredited Certification Bodies and type tested by Accredited Laboratories. This fact ensures the independence of the organization that emits the certificates and the proficiency to do it right. Every In Exclusive Talk With Mr.SUKHWINDER PAL SINGH certification body that takes part certifying Ingeteam’s inverters has been accredited by a full member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) under the ISO/IEC 17065 standard.
EQ: Kindly highlight your product, technology & company USP’s, distinctive advantages etc. ?
SPS: Ingeteam’s B Series 1,500V central inverters feature the solar market’s highest power density: 358kW/m3. Thanks to this inverter and to the ability of connecting up to four inverters to the same transformer, Ingeteam is able to offer a MV solution of up to 6.55 MW that integrates the PV inverters, MV transformer, MV switchgear, LV cubicle and auxiliary services transformer. Also, Ingeteam has recently developed the most powerful string inverter in the solar market, as it is able to provide up to 110 kW in a single 75 kg unit.
EQ: What is your commitment towards the solar sector in India ?
SPS : We see India as one of the largest and most successful markets of the world in the coming years. That is the reason why we decided to take over Bonfiglioli’s solar division. They had a wide base in India and that is helping us to have a stronger sales and service network across the country.
EQ: What will be the cost, techn ology trends in solar inverters ?
SPS: In 2017, price pressure and technology inovation will continue to be a main market trend globally. Because of that, 1,500V technology will experience market consolidation at utility scale in 2017 and the following years. Ingeteam is currently supplying several projects with its B Series 1,500V central inverters. The solar market will also see the main PV inverter manufacturers launching 1,500V string inverters along 2017 and 2018.
EQ: What are the expectations from Government / NTPC / SECI / RUMS Team ?
SPS: With the implications of GST/IGST there is bound to be increase in the overall cost and the Govt. should allow the concessional duties to be continued for solar projects, which would be good for the industry as a whole.
EQ: Are the developers betting on Modules/EPC Prices or Interest Rates ?
SPS: As the technology advancements happen in Modules, inverters etc. there is bound be some effect on both the capex / opex investments. Further as the solar projects becomes more reliable we do feel that the interest rates may also fall in near future which would be a good sign for our industries.
