Corsica is the fourth-largest of the Mediterranean islands, but with a population of 261,000, it is sparsely populated in comparison with the mainland. On the other hand, the photovoltaic power per inhabitant of the island is higher: The reason is that Corsica belongs to France, which aims to install a photovoltaic power output of 18.2 to 20.2 gigawatts by the year 2023. It is hardly surprising, then, that the birthplace of Napoleon, which has approximately 2,750 more hours of sunlight per year than the French mainland, is profiting more from this plan than other regions of France.
RALOS new energy, a globally active company for the construction of photovoltaic power plants, is now scheduled to put two solar parks, each with a power output of 12 megawatts, into operation on the west coast of Corsica, further consolidating the island’s position as a leading producer of photovoltaic energy. The 395 inverters installed in the two parks near the communities of Aghione and Folelli were all supplied by Neckarsulm-based manufacturer KACO new energy.
Both solar power plants are only a short distance from the coast – an important factor to be taken into consideration during planning and construction. What tourists love for a healthy tan, is salt on the skin and a fresh sea breeze; but in the long-term, these can damage inverters: Patches of brown on inverters are more likely to indicate harmful corrosion. For this reason, the Product Development department of KACO new energy has equipped its blueplanet 50.0 TL3 INT inverter with special components which allow it to withstand long-term exposure to salty air.
In detail, this means: The heat sink is additionally anodised, the aluminium housing has a special C5 paint coating and the fan guard and all screws and hinges are made from high-durability stainless steel. The corrosion-resistance was tested in accordance with standard EN 60068-2:1996.
KACO new energy will now be producing this model in series as the blueplanet 50.0 TL3 OD+. As a result, customers will be able to make full use of solar energy generation in coastal regions: Until now, small islands which could become more energy-independent by installing photovoltaic plants have found it difficult to maintain the required safety distances from the sea.
About KACO new energy:
KACO new energy, headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of inverters for grid-feed solar power. The product line-up covers the full power range, from single units designed for a family home up to complete systems for solar parks producing megawatts of electricity. Since 1999, KACO new energy has supplied inverters with a cumulative power output of 10 gigawatts. This offering has been extended to include solutions for PV self-consumption and energy storage, devices for grid management, as well as products and value-added services for utility-scale projects. KACO new energy is the first company in the photovoltaic industry to achieve CO2-neutral production and in 2014, celebrated the 100th birthday of the original parent company which, at the end of the 1930s, was one of first ever inverter manufacturers. More at www.kaco-newenergy.com