WINTER EDITION ENGINE ROOM 05 The PV solar modules are arranged into 46 strings each feeding a dedicated 25kW (SMA) inverter – the strings are then split into three separate arrays, with AC output from each collected to supply the EPSA-supplied HV transformer kiosk. The kiosk transforms the voltage to 11,000V AC for supply to the grid via the client-operated power station. Control of the plant is achieved using the 4G wireless network to communicate between the power station and a Cat® (SMA) Cluster Controller, which relays the information back and forth to each of the 46 inverters. The controller features a web-connected online portal to provide the client with up-to-date information on the solar plant status, including current CATERPILLAR’S FIRST SOLAR PLANT IN ACTION ON AUSTRALIAN SOIL 11,040 Cat® PV solar modules are mounted on fixed axis steel frames that contour the challenging terrain of the Adelaide foothills. plant output, daily yield and alarms. A key feature of the solar plant control is the dynamic reactive power control – since this solar plant is exporting to the grid, the grid voltage is affected with higher export values. To counter the ever-growing problem of grid voltage stability, the solar plant is able to dynamically change the out- put power factor to import or export 100 per cent of the plant’s output in reactive power in a trade-off for active power. This means that the plant can help stabilise the local grid voltage throughout the day. The solar plant has been successfully exporting green energy into the South Australian grid since it was commissioned in late-October 2017 – Cat’s® first solar plant on Australian soil. THENAWMARENEWABLE ENERGYFACILITYWILL SAVEAPPROXIMATELY 24MILLIONLITRESOF WATEREACHYEARAND PREVENT63,500TONNES OFCARBON(CO2 )FROM BEINGEMITTEDINTO THEATMOSPHEREWHEN COMPAREDTOA TRADITIONALCOAL-FIRED POWERSTATION GENERATINGTHESAME AMOUNTOFELECTRICITY.