Energy storage solutions Power-One

ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS

A merger with ABB and providing storage systems in which excess solar energy produced at peak times can be stored and used at times with higher energy demands are the major events taking place at Power-One, as its marketing vice-president, Mr Paolo Casini, explains to Barbara Rossi.

Headquartered in Camarillo, California, Power-One operates in the power electronics sector, producing electronic devices for energy conversion. It is organised in two divisions: power and renewable energy solutions. The range of the former is products for AC/DC and DC/AC conversion and it generates about 30 per cent of turnover, whilst the latter, from which the remaining 70 per cent is derived, is focused mainly on photovoltaic products (95 per cent), accompanied by a smaller volume of wind energy solutions of up to 50kW (5 per cent).

The total 2012 turnover exceeded one billion US dollars and 3300 people are employed by the group worldwide. Both divisions of the group have production facilities in three continents, from which they supply different world regions. The renewable energy solutions division has its main production centre (also encompassing R&D) in Terranuova Bracciolini (Italy), a location equidistant from Florence and Arezzo, as well as having one production site in the US (Phoenix, Arizona) and one in China (Shenzhen).

Power-One entered the renewable energy sector in 2006 when it acquired the Power Electronics Group (based in Terranuova Bracciolini) from Magnetec. Today the division, which has maintained the original Italian location as its main site, employs 1900 staff. Its offer of photovoltaic inverters covers a comprehensive range in terms of scale, from 250W inverters for small residential applications to large solutions, of up to 1.5MW of electric power, for large photovoltaic power stations. The main part of the production output is standard, suitable for use in different countries but a smaller amount is country-specific in order to fulfil specific requirements set by national authorities. In particular this takes place with regard to the USA market and some Asian countries, such as China and India.

Concerning new products Mr Casini explains, “There is continuous renewal in terms of products, as we operate in a dynamic market, which will shortly reach grid parity. The issue of having to innovate relates to not only

performance, but also cost. We regard the new area of energy storage systems as being of particular interest for future development and we have just presented React, a prototype residential energy storage system, which consists of a 4.6kW single-phase grid-connected Power-One inverter and a lithium-ion battery providing 2MWh usable capacity.”

The Italian site serves the EMEA region (Europe, Middle-East & Africa) with an 84 per cent of the division’s turnover, with Europe currently as the main player. Another 9 per cent of the $710 million turnover achieved in 2012 by the division was generated in the North American market, while the Asian share was 7 per cent. The volume of current production reaches about half of the potential offered by the sites, therefore a future production volume increase could be easily accommodate it. Furthermore, as Mr Casini points out, “We are equipped with flexible production sites, which could be expanded or converted with relatively little effort.”

Larger and stronger

The big change currently taking place is the fact that Power-One is being acquired by ABB (the merger will be completed as soon as the anti-trust approval is received). The aim of this operation for ABB is that of entering the photovoltaic market, in which PowerOne currently ranks in second place. The merger is being viewed very positively within Power-One, as it will increase the synergies available, as ABB – although moderately active in photovoltaics – is strong in low and high voltage systems. This will be very useful in terms of being able to supply turnkey solutions for large systems, especially in fast-growing countries, greatly aiding the penetration of new markets, especially thanks to the fact that ABB is well-renowned all over the world.

Geographically, the European share of the PV demand will reduce, while North America and Asia will experience strong growth. This will be led by the USA in North America and by China and Japan in Asia, followed at a

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less dramatic rate by other countries. New markets, in which the company is already present, but where volumes will increase in a very significant way, are the Maghreb region and South Africa, as well as the Middle East and South America (Brazil, Chile and Peru). Supply to these markets will start with products for large applications (photovoltaic power stations), with a probable expansion to the residential sector in the future.

“In Europe we will grow slowly but steadily in terms of applications for the residential sector, as well as thanks to energy storage systems, such as Reach. The same will happen, although at a faster rate, in the other mature markets, such as Japan, the USA, Australia and Canada. In developing countries, on the other hand, utility companies are interested in developing large photovoltaic applications, such as power plants, as they can be constructed much more quickly than traditional energy producing plants (such as nuclear power stations and so on) and at a competitive price.

Our Company: GMA Srl is located in Giugliano in Campania (Naples) Italy. GMA posseses the personnel, the technology, the skill, the experience and fi nancial ability to design, to manufacture and to sell mechanical and electronic products for military and civil applications according to the customer’s specifications and standards. Our quality system meets NATO AQAP and UNI EN ISO 9001:2008, UNI EN 9100:2008, UNI EN ISO 14001-2004 and BSOHSAS 18001:2007 standards. The company is also NOS certified for security. We employ 100 people and the turnover is about 18 million euros. GMA has a strategic alliance with a national and international R&D centre in order to improve our products and services. GMA has two plants for design and production: One is located in Giugliano, in a new utra-modern plant of 9000 square metres, and one in Rome. In order to increase its technological competence and product portfolio, in 2010 GMA acquired Axitude, a private company offering products and inertial systems to the general aviation, marine and defence market. Moreover, in 2012, GMA designed and created a family of mechanical shelters (Photovoltaic Centre Stations) specifically for the Power One inverter.

Our Value Statement: At GMA, we believe that the best approach to the market is to meet our customers’ needs in the best way, providing high quality turn key products and services. We provide tailor-made solutions to allow our customers to satisfy market demand. A lot of investment has been carried out in the past few years in production facilities, tools and resources in order to ensure we have the right capabilities and systems to achieve the above goals.

Our Capabilities - Products and Services for Military and Civil Applications: • Electronic (Hw, Sw, Fw) and mechanical design and production • Documentation and configuration management according to military standards • Logistics services and fi eld assistance • Qualification test as vibration shock, EMC, temperature • POA Production organisation approval part 21 subpart G. (Reg CE 1702/2003) by Axitude • ADOA Alternative Design Organisation Approval by Axitude 21 subpart O. (Reg CE 1702/2003) by Axitude

Products and Services for Avionics, Marine and Terrestrial Application in Military and Civil Sectors: • Multi function consoles and racks both in composite and aluminium material • Photovoltaic centre station • Inertial platform, ITAR Free, based on MEMS technology • Avionics equipment • Dynamic and static system stabilisation for yachts • Touch Input Device (TID) of different sizes • Power distribution unit with internal and external

UPS and HUB • EMI fi lter • Intelligent communications control panel for user-machine interface • Custom keyboards, trackballs, joysticks and hand wheels • Wiring design and realisation • Qualification plan, test procedure and test report including tests for electromagnetic compatibility, mechanical (shock and vibration), environmental and noise • Documentation and configuration in compliance with military standards • Field equipment installation and maintenance

Our most important customers: • Alenia Aermacchi • MBDA • Power One • Selex ES • WASS • CIRA • CMC Marine • Vulcanair

Tel.: +39 081 819 8611 Contact: angelopunzi@gmagroup.it / lucignano.g@gmagroup.it www.gmagroup.it

Furthermore, photovoltaic systems require almost no maintenance, which is also very appealing. I believe that interest in this field will also arise in Europe in a few years.

“In terms of energy accumulators, I believe that, as these products are based on lithium batteries, we need cost optimisation to increase their economic appeal and that this would become possible if electric mobility solutions, also using these batteries, increased.

“We have made an enormous effort in terms of R&D in the past few years, partly due to the fact that in our young sector, especially in Italy, technical regulations change rapidly and dramatically, with sometimes retroactive effect. This means that not only that we have to update our products, but we also have to support our clients with amendments, so as to ensure that their already installed systems comply with the new regulations. I really hope that now the governments will realise that there is no reason to impose continuous new requirements which risk damaging a growing and useful industry.” n