Industry-leading O&M Capabilities Optimize Output, Revenue & Grid
Integration for Customers
MESA, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced the launch of its new
industry-leading global Operations Center, a centralized monitoring and
control center where power plants in First Solar's operations and
maintenance (O&M) program can be monitored, operated and connected to
utility and customer networks. The Operations Center combines First
Solar's power prediction and analytical capabilities with its advanced
diagnostics and plant controls in order to maximize power output and
minimize maintenance costs for its customers, and to enable the world's
largest solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants to integrate seamlessly
with the electrical grid and contribute to grid stability.
First Solar's new industry-leading global Operations Center is a centralized monitoring and control center where power plants can be remotely monitored, operated and connected to utility and customer networks. (Photo: Business Wire)
The new, second-generation Operations Center, located in Mesa, Ariz., is
fully compliant with North American Electric Reliability Corporation
(NERC) standards and is designed to be scalable to accommodate the
growing global fleet of PV power plants in First Solar's O&M program.
First Solar currently operates for its customers 14 plants with 460
megawatts (MW) of peak generating capacity, which will increase to 23
plants with 850 MW of capacity by year-end and 27 plants with 2,200 MW
of capacity in 2013.
The Operations Center and its expert staff maximize power plant
availability and reduce costs for customers by preventing potential
problems from occurring and quickly and efficiently fixing those that
do. The Operations Center collects and processes a wide range of
real-time power plant data, including electrical performance, equipment
status and weather data, which are monitored and analyzed against key
performance and operational parameters. Automated data analysis detects
issues in the plants and automatically dispatches maintenance crews to
resolve them, and proprietary algorithms developed using years of O&M
data enable the system to predict potential issues and schedule
preventive maintenance before a problem occurs.
A key feature of First Solar's power plant design is its advanced plant
controls, which are critical for managing grid reliability and stability
and can be controlled remotely from the Operations Center. Features
include ramp-rate control, which limits how fast a power plant's output
increases or decreases in order to minimize grid disruption;
ride-through capability, which enables a power plant to operate through
faults and other grid disturbances; active power control, which can be
used to modulate power output; and frequency droop control, which
enables a power plant to provide critical grid support when grid
frequency is changing. These tools have become increasingly important as
more solar generating capacity is connected to the grid.
"Our years of experience and investment have enabled us to build a
proprietary system that allows us to optimize our customers' power
plants to produce the maximum amount of energy and revenue under their
power purchase agreements while minimizing costs and risk," said Bob
Callery, Vice President of O&M. "The vast quantity of data we gather
also gives us invaluable insight into the real-word performance of our
products and supports the continuous improvement of our power plants."
"Predictability and reliability have become increasingly critical to
utilities and grid operators as large-scale renewable power plants are
connected to the grid," said Mahesh Morjaria, Vice President of Global
Grid Integration. "First Solar has invested considerable time and
resources to ensure our power plants integrate seamlessly into the grid
and provide features that not only avoid disruptions, but also can help
to actively mitigate disruptions elsewhere on the grid."
About First Solar
First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic
(PV) solar systems which use its advanced thin-film modules. The
company's integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically
attractive alternative to fossil-fuel electricity generation today. From
raw material sourcing through end-of-life module collection and
recycling, First Solar's renewable energy systems protect and enhance
the environment. For more information about First Solar, please visit www.firstsolar.com.
For First Solar Investors
This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant
to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements in this release do not
constitute guarantees of future performance. Those statements involve a
number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially,
including risks associated with the company's business involving the
company's products, their development and distribution, economic and
competitive factors and the company's key strategic relationships and
other risks detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. First Solar assumes no obligation to update any
forward-looking information contained in this press release or with
respect to the announcements described herein.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50445749&lang=en
First Solar, Inc.
Media
Ted Meyer, +1 602-427-3318
ted.meyer@firstsolar.com
or
Alan
Bernheimer, +1 415-935-2499
media@firstsolar.com
or
First
Solar Investors, +1 602-414-9315
David Brady
dbrady@firstsolar.com
or
Ryan
Ferguson
rferguson@firstsolar.com
Source: First Solar, Inc.
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