Gamesa Electric reaffirms its commitment to the solar market in Spain, promoting cutting-edge technologies to optimize energy production and storage.
This work is set within a context of significant growth and demand, partly driven by the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) and the projection of reaching an installation rate exceeding 5 GW annually until 2030.
The CEO of the company, Juan Barandiaran, emphasizes that 2023 has demonstrated the sector’s ability to reach these figures and stresses: “As part of the supply chain, we are perfectly prepared to meet the demand, so we believe it is a golden opportunity to boost the local photovoltaic industry if the necessary support mechanisms are implemented to prevent all equipment from coming from China.”
In an interview with Energía Estratégica España, the executive considers the renewable energy auction announced for the end of the year by the former Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, as a decisive opportunity for Spain to strengthen its local production capacity and adopt advanced storage technologies.
“It is worth reflecting that Spanish inverter manufacturers are very well recognized and even leaders in complex markets like the USA or Australia, yet in Spain, we have a residual presence,” he states.
Nevertheless, Gamesa Electric assures that it is working “side by side” with the developers of parks preparing their bids for the auction, should it be announced, to achieve the most efficient plant.
The company focuses on integrating storage technologies into solar installations with the goal of increasing the profitability and viability of projects, which face the issue of price cannibalization.
“Storage is the key element today to allow us to continue adding capacity without eroding the business case of projects,” emphasizes Barandiaran.
In this way, they position themselves as strategic partners to address the famous “duck curve” that affects the profitability of the sector without storage solutions or long-term contracts.
To meet this need, Gamesa Electric offers solutions for AC-coupled storage installations with the Proteus PCS-E inverter.
This equipment operates at 1500V at nominal power and is optimized for large installations. Additionally, it includes advanced functionalities such as Black Start and Grid Forming and is flexible (agnostic) with battery technology, being compatible with various Li-ion modalities (LFP, NMC, etc.) as well as flow batteries.
As manufacturer of solar inverters and storage, the company has faced complex situations in recent years, including cost increases, shortages of some components, and extended delivery times. However, according to its CEO, “Each problem has led us to find solutions and improve our supply chain, making it more flexible, diversified, and resilient.”
Projects and strategic alliances in the sector
Despite the challenges, it continues to expand its presence in the international market. Recently, the company announced a collaboration with the mining multinational Fortescue for a storage project in Australia, where it will apply its grid-forming technology in the Proteus PCS-E inverters.
“This type of technology will be fundamental in the future to integrate more renewables into the system,” mentions Barandiaran, who emphasizes the role of storage as support for grid stability.
0 Comments