Looking for inverters

The trend toward renewable energy causes companies to invest heavily. Due to the nature of those power sources, they require special electronic components - even electronic specialists need additional know-how.

For a large group like Bosch, the easiest way of gaining experience is to buy it. Now, the Bosch Group has signed an agreement with Conergy to acquire voltwerk electronics, a Hamburg-based supplier of electronic components and software solutions for the operation of photovoltaic arrays. The acquisition is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities. In 2010, voltwerk electronics and its roughly 100 associates generated sales of some 68 million euros. Its product portfolio mainly comprises string and central inverters for photovoltaic arrays.

“In acquiring voltwerk electronics, Bosch can enter the inverter market, as well as draw on a broad product portfolio ranging from 3 kW string inverters to 1400 kW central inverters,” said Dr. Volkmar Denner, the Bosch board of management member responsible for research and advance engineering.

Alexander Gorski, Conergy’s director of operations and sales, commented: “We are very pleased to have found an investor and partner that is so highly regarded and strong as Bosch. It will now develop and drive forward the business of voltwerk electronics.” For Conergy, he continued, the sale of voltwerk electronics was an important move in the context of its stra­tegic reorientation.

Inverters are used wherever direct current has to be converted into alter­nating current. As renewable energy and electromobility become more and more widespread, these inverters are playing an increasingly important role. For example, the direct current generated by a solar cell has to be converted into alternating current before it can be fed into the grid. And in electric vehicles, a conversion process is also needed so that the electric motor can use the direct current from the battery. Furthermore, when recuperating brake energy and feeding it back into the battery, inverters and their sophisticated power electronics are needed once more.

voltwerk electronics is to become part of the Böblingen-based Bosch Power Tec GmbH. Set up last January, its task is to drive forward the inverter business within the Bosch Group and to develop new generations of devices. This acquisition also marks the new company's operational entry into this market. Bosch Power Tec will start its operating activities in the area of photovoltaics. “Inverters are at the heart of every solar array. In the coming years, therefore, we want to grow with this dynamic market in all the world's major regions,” said Dr. Andreas Stratmann, the general manager of Bosch Power Tec. Over the next few years, the company's product range is planned to be be further expanded, so that other areas of business apart from photovoltaics can be opened up.

Comments

[solar panels]

That's a big commitment by Bosch. I guess they see a bright future for solar power.

[hvac austin]

Very interesting. I am glad to see a company making strides towards improving solar energy. Energy efficiency has become a staple in maintaining the stability of the fuel usage. The less we use, the more we have. Thanks for posting this awesome information.

[Simte]

I strung over 1000 of these totegher in basically the same fashion for our college's entry into SunRayce '99. We had a form, like you mention, to line up the cells and space them about 1.5mm apart. For large numbers, we found it most efficient to tab the tops first, then string them in the form, soldering the tabs to the bottom. I think we used solder-bearing paste instead of flux pen and solder separately. Keep in mind, when you build your own panel, the worst cell limits the entire string.