The Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution Group (PTD; Erlangen) has received an order from PowerLight Corp. (Berkeley, California, U.S.) to provide all the electrical equipment for the Bavaria Solarpark photovoltaic plant. With the aid of silicone panels, the plant will convert sunlight directly into electricity, generating an output of 10 MW. The order is worth euros 4 million, and includes the delivery of transformers, switchgear, inverters, cabling and terminations. The system is scheduled to commence operation in 2005, thereby becoming the most powerful of its kind in the world.

Made up of 57,600 solar panels, the 10-MW photovoltaic system built by PowerLight Corp. will cover a total area of 25 hectares (62 acres) at three locations: Minihof, Mühlhausen and Günching. PowerLight Corp. will use a technological innovation known as Power Tracker, by means of which the solar panels automatically follow the travel of the sun. The yield is more efficient than that of a rigid system in which the panels are installed at a fixed angle of inclination. The Bavaria Solarpark is scheduled to produce more than 215 million kWh of environmentally friendly power over the next 20 years.

Siemens will supply 10 transformers for the 20-kV voltage level, five gas-insulated switchgear assemblies of type 8DJ20 and 27 Sinvert solar inverters rated for 340 kVA. The plant also will feature a control system based on Simatic PCS7, enabling all data to be recorded and evaluated via WinCC. Siemens will be responsible for connecting the plant to the public power supply network as well as maintaining the inverters.
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