GE is increasing its manufacturing capacity for solar and battery energy storage Power Electronics Systems by three times to 9 GW annually by 2022. The systems are manufactured at GE’s newly launched renewable hybrids factory in Vallam, near Chennai, India. The site manufactures GE’s Power Conversion Solution called FLEXINVERTER (formerly known as LV5+), as well as the FLEXRESERVOIR, and helps integrate them with the FLEXIQ solution, from GE Renewable Hybrids’s FLEX portfolio, designed to solve customers’ needs for dispatchable, green MWhs in solar, storage and hybrid applications.
“Solar and Battery Energy Storage will continue to be a key driver in delivering Hybrid systems that enable the energy transition,” says Prakash Chandra, Renewable Hybrids’ CEO for GE. “GE is committed to provide cutting edge technologies around power conversion solutions and software enabled controls to meet growing customer needs in the hybrids space. Our new factory has ramped up to meet increasing industry and customer demand.”
GE has delivered solar power stations and standalone solar inverters for customers worldwide for the past 15 years. In 2012, GE was the first to introduce 1500 V technology to the market. This has helped customers lower their energy costs through a more efficient farm layout.
“We have received positive feedback from customers on all our hybrid systems, including the FLEXINVERTER Power Station technology, an integrated containerized solution that combines a solar inverter, medium voltage power transformer, and an optional MV Ring Main Unit, all integrated in a standard 20-feet ISO high cube container,” adds Chandra. “The technology is a smart solution that helps deliver a reliable, cost-effective, plug & play, factory-integrated power conversion platform for utility scale solar and storage applications. Customers like the fact that it helps reduce capital and operation costs and ensure a more reliable plant performance.”
GE offers a number of hybrids-related products. The FLEXINVERTER is a key component of GE’s Renewable Hybrids FLEX portfolio that includes the FLEXRESERVOIR and the FLEXIQ technologies. FLEXRESERVOIR provides a battery energy storage system and power electronics solution that can be used in multiple market applications. FLEXIQ, a digital platform, provides design, operation, and fleet management solutions that enable grid compliance and maximize customer lifetime value.