What Is a (Photovoltaic) Inverter
An inverter converts DC power into AC power. In layman's terms, an inverter is a device that converts direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). It consists of inverter bridge, control logic and filter circuit. It converts low voltage direct current into 220 volt alternating current for electronic devices. Because we usually rectify 220 volt alternating current into direct current for use, and the inverter does the opposite, hence the name.
The role of inverter
As the power conversion equipment of photovoltaic power stations, inverters play an important role in the entire power station. Photovoltaic inverter is a power electronic device that converts low-voltage direct current generated by components into alternating current. It is connected to the load or integrated into the power grid. It is the core component of the photovoltaic system.The grid-connected inverter has the following main functions: Convert DC power generated by photovoltaic modules into AC power. Dynamically find and utilize the maximum power point (MPP) to maximize available power through the maximum power tracker. Record operating data and provide current. , voltage and related protection of local power grid.
Classification of inverters
At present, inverter products are mainly divided into four categories, namely: centralized inverter (power range is 250KW-10MW, mainly used in large ground power stations) distributed inverter (power range is 1MW-10MW, mainly used in complex Large ground power stations) String inverters (power range is 1.5KW-250KW, mainly used for household, industrial and commercial distributed and ground power stations, etc.) Micro inverters (power range is generally below 4kW, mainly used in distribution Based on the consideration of photovoltaic safety issues, micro-inverters are increasingly being used in large-scale industrial and commercial distributed power stations). Micro-inverters can invert each component in the system and perform independent MPPT control, which can significantly Improve the overall efficiency, while also avoiding the DC high voltage, poor low-light effect, wooden barrel effect, etc. that traditional inverters have.
Technical principles of inverters
Based on its stability and safety, photovoltaic inverters are the core equipment in photovoltaic power generation systems. Photovoltaic inverters rely on MPPT technology to maximize the output power of photovoltaic arrays.
The photovoltaic module removes current fluctuations and electromagnetic interference from the DC power generated under sunlight, and then the AC power is uniformly converged by the converging kit and then transmitted to the inverter, thereby realizing the inversion process of converting DC power into AC power and integrating it into the power grid or For load purposes. Among them, the photovoltaic inverter is composed of a logic control circuit, a filter circuit and an inverter circuit. The inverter can realize the inverter function by turning on and off the power electronic switch of the inverter circuit. Therefore, the inverter circuit is an inverter circuit. important device.
Industry Policy Background
Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Finance jointly issued the "Action Plan for Steady Growth of the Electronic Information Manufacturing Industry in 2023-2024". It is proposed to further implement the "Smart Photovoltaic Industry Innovation and Development Action Plan (2021-2025)", promote the innovative application of "smart photovoltaic + energy storage" in the fields of industry, agriculture, construction, transportation and new energy vehicles, and release the fourth batch of List of smart photovoltaic pilot demonstrations.
In May of this year, Australian scholar Martin Green, known as the "Father of Solar Energy" in the world, said in an interview with reporters that China's installed solar capacity has exceeded 400 million kilowatts, and it is difficult to see another country building a solar power plant of the same scale as China's. industry. At least in the next five years, the world's photovoltaic industry will rely on China.
In January this year, Wang Guanghua, Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources, said that developing new energy systems is a strategic choice to promote my country's green and low-carbon transformation and development and achieve the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. We will study and introduce policies to guide large-scale photovoltaic power generation projects to use unused land such as Gobi, deserts, and barren beaches for construction, promote the healthy and orderly development of the offshore photovoltaic industry, and guide the deployment of offshore wind power in deep seas.
In recent years, in the context of the dual-carbon strategy, the state and local governments have intensively introduced a number of support policies for the photovoltaic industry, creating a good policy environment for the high-quality development of the photovoltaic industry. In the "14th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development", it is clearly stated that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, solar power generation will be doubled, and multi-scenario integrated development of photovoltaic power generation will be vigorously promoted, and new industrial parks and large-scale public buildings will be added with distributed photovoltaics. The installation rate will reach more than 50%, and about 1,000 photovoltaic demonstration villages will be built.
Domestic And Foreign Market Status
International market
The current European inverter inventory is slightly above the normal inventory turnover level. European dealers usually control the quantity of inventory in the fourth quarter and are more cautious about purchasing in the third quarter. Entering the inventory adjustment period, they may face certain pressure to destock. The export volume of the United States fell month-on-month in July. The inventory level of U.S. inverters was once at a high level, and the sales volume was slightly low and failed to be effectively reduced, which had a slight impact on exports. However, regional countries such as Sweden, Russia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Africa still maintain high export growth rates.As global photovoltaic demand is improving this year, and large overseas installation demand is coming in the third quarter, it is expected that subsequent inverter demand will remain high.
Global photovoltaic inverter shipments
The global photovoltaic industry is developing rapidly. As the core equipment of photovoltaic power generation systems, the photovoltaic inverter market is expanding rapidly. From the perspective of shipments, the "China Photovoltaic Inverter Market Prospects and Investment Opportunities Research Report" released by the China Business Industry Research Institute shows that the total global photovoltaic inverter shipments will reach 326.6GW in 2022, an increase of 110.7% from the previous year. GW, with an annual growth rate of approximately 51.3%. The growth trend of global photovoltaic inverter shipments is obvious. Analysts from the China Commercial Industry Research Institute predict that global photovoltaic inverter shipments are expected to reach 381.40GW in 2023.
Domestic market
In the second quarter of this year, many central state-owned enterprises such as Three Gorges, Huadian, China Coal, China Resources, China National Nuclear Corporation, China Southern Power Grid, and State Grid successively launched a new round of inverter procurement. The domestic photovoltaic bidding market is "wary" and competition is becoming increasingly fierce. . According to incomplete statistics, from April to June, a total of more than 92GW of inverter tenders were announced for central state-owned enterprises. Among the many successful bidders, Huawei, Sungrow, Hope Electric and other companies ranked among the top three, and their performance was very eye-catching.
Among them, Huawei ranked first with 12.06GW of winning bids, becoming the biggest winner this quarter; followed by Sungrow, ranking second with 4.524GW; Hope Electric ranked third with 4.404GW, making it the "big dark horse" on this list ". Huawei and Sungrow continue to lead the market.
As the number one in the market, Huawei’s performance is impressive. The report pointed out that compared with 2021, Huawei's shipments in 2022 increased significantly by 83%, while Sunshine's shipments increased by 56% during the same period. In the inverter market, Huawei and Sungrow have always maintained a leading position, occupying the first and second positions for a long time. This is the eighth consecutive year that these two companies have led the market. In 2022, these two companies will account for more than 50% of the global market share, accounting for half of the country.
Since this year, as an industry leader, Huawei has continued to announce its layout in domestic and foreign markets. At the Intersolar Europe 2023 exhibition held in the second quarter, Huawei made a wonderful debut with FusionSolar, a new generation of all-scenario intelligent optical storage solution, demonstrating new products and solutions to the global market. Among the top ten shipments, Chinese inverter companies occupy eight seats, with SMA and Power Electronics becoming the few representatives of overseas inverter companies.
China’s photovoltaic inverter shipments
With the improvement of photovoltaic economics and the advancement of energy conservation and emission reduction policies, my country's photovoltaic industry continues to prosper. Many inverter companies have embarked on the road of scheduled increase and expansion of production, and national photovoltaic inverter shipments have grown rapidly. According to the "Research Report on China's Photovoltaic Inverter Market Prospects and Investment Opportunities", China's (inland) total photovoltaic inverter shipments will reach 131.7GW in 2022, an increase of approximately 60GW from the previous year and an annual increase of approximately 85%. Analysts from the China Commercial Industry Research Institute predict that China's photovoltaic inverter shipments will continue to grow rapidly in the future, with total shipments reaching 152.6GW in 2023.
Inverter Industry Chain
Upstream of the industrial chain: IGBT module
The global IGBT module industry is highly concentrated. Since IGBT modules can directly affect the power generation efficiency of downstream terminal power stations of photovoltaic inverters, they have strong bargaining power in the upstream of the photovoltaic inverter industry chain.
Upstream of the industrial chain: IC semiconductor (PMIC power management chip)
Power management chips are one of the core components of photovoltaic inverters. The Chinese market has low concentration and is mainly imported from international manufacturers. However, with the technological breakthroughs of Chinese manufacturers in power management chips, barriers are expected to be broken in the next five years.
Midstream of the industrial chain: photovoltaic inverter manufacturers
Midstream participants in China's photovoltaic inverter industry chain include manufacturers such as Huawei, Sungrow, and Ginlang Technology. The products of these manufacturers mainly focus on string and household inverters, among which string inverters are relatively competitive. It is more intense for centralized and household inverters.
Downstream of the industrial chain: customer groups
The downstream customers of China's photovoltaic inverter industry chain are mainly photovoltaic power generation system integrators, EPC contractors, dealers, installers, and terminal power station owners. Its sales channels are mainly direct sales in the Chinese market and dealers in the international market. host.
Post time: Aug-05-2024