SIEMENS INKS 1GW SOLAR INVERTER AGREEMENT WITH LIGHTSOURCE BP

Lightsource bp recently signed a Volume Frame Agreement (VFA) with Siemens to supply solar inverter stations for a series of projects in the Midwest and Southeast of the United States. Per the VFA, Lightsource bp will use more than 850MW of Siemens inverters, with an option to add 200MW more, over the course of the next two years as part of its renewable project development pipeline.

For the bulk of the projects, Siemens will provide central inverter stations rated at 4.3MW - 4.7MW including gas-insulated switchgear, step-up transformers and auxiliary power stations. Siemens’ factory-certified service personnel will provide commissioning and installation support on the projects.

Central inverter stations are essential equipment in a solar energy system. They convert direct current (DC) electricity, which is what a solar panel generates, into alternating current (AC) electricity, which the electrical grid uses. Inverters also monitor critical operational data such as energy production. Incorporating them into renewable energy projects enables reliable and efficient delivery of clean energy to consumers, while also improving the overall performance and management of the renewable energy system.

Separate from the VFA, more than 185MW of Siemens central inverter stations are scheduled to be delivered to Lightsource bp throughout the remainder of this year.