With their technical functions, central inverters from SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA) meet the requirements laid out in November 2012 by the "Grid Connection Code for Renewable Power Plants (RPPs)" for PV inverters in South Africa.

The grid connection regulations, which have now been adopted by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), define the technical and design requirements to be met and implemented immediately by all power plants in the renewable energy sector. These will only be allowed to feed power into the local utility grids if they adhere to the grid connection regulations. German SMA Solar Technology AG's Sunny Central CP XT inverters, along with their features, meet all terms prescribed by NERSA for PV central inverters.

Together with SMA's Plant Control System, complex requirements and control functions can be implemented, especially for multi-megawatt power plants. Intelligent algorithms facilitate a quick reaction to changes in individual grid parameters such as voltage or frequency, ensuring perfect grid integration of power-plant scale PV systems. Even individual requirements and complex control tasks from individual utilities and grid operators can be easily and efficiently carried out in this way.

With their comprehensive technical functions, SMA central inverters have been meeting the requirements and regulations of country-specific connection conditions for years in a number of countries, including Germany, Japan and the U.S. As a leader in the area of grid integration, SMA experts work together worldwide with various bodies and committees to establish the necessary connection conditions.

In fall 2012, the German inverter manufacturer was already awarded the contract to supply a total of 84 Sunny Central 800 CP inverters for the 75 megawatt Kalkbult project in South Africa's northwest. This PV power plant will be connected to the utility grid in mid 2013, providing electric current for about 35 000 households.