500 kW Utility PV Plant: 910×550 Wp Modules + 2×250 kW String Inverters + 630 kVA Box Substation Deep-Read
910×550 Wp · 2×250 kW string inverters · 630 kVA string-level box substation (10 kV) · ±1 Mvar SVG · 10 kV export
1 · TL;DR Conclusion
Conclusion: this 500 kW utility PV plant uses 910×550 Wp modules (500 kWp) + 2×250 kW string inverters → a 630 kVA string-level box substation (YB-630/10) → ±1 Mvar SVG → 10 kV export — configurator total ≈ $390,830 (FOB), EPC ≈ $315,850, 9 yr payback, 10.45% IRR, 178% 25-yr ROI (feasibility-level).
- •910×550 Wp modules (500 kWp), 34 strings (6–27 modules/string), cold Voc 55.4 V / hot Vmp 36.6 V
- •2×250 kW string inverters (MPPT 1500 V) in parallel; string-level box substation 630 kVA (YB-630/10)
- •±1 Mvar SVG (PF ±0.95 continuous) + HV switchgear KYN28A-12 + RMU-SF6; 10 kV export
- •Generation 507,600 kWh/yr (P50), P90 481,570 kWh, revenue $40,608/yr @ $0.08/kWh PPA
- •Economics: $315,850 EPC, 9 yr payback, 10.45% IRR, 178% 25-yr ROI
2 · Solution Overview
A utility PV mega-base is a 100% generation-export case: modules feed string inverters (string-level, vs central inverters) that step up to a box substation, then export via SVG and HV switchgear. At 500 kW the engine selects 10 kV collection/export; at ≥2500 kVA (multi-MW) it steps to 35 kV collection — the standard utility-base topology.
3 · Design Process & Rationale
1. Requirement identification
500 kW utility PV mega-base, 100% export; the explicit generationExport flag triggers generation-export mode.
2. Module selection
550 Wp mono PERC: 500 kWp ÷ 550 W = 910 modules.
3. String design
Temp-corrected string range 6–27 modules/string, taken at 27 → 34 strings; cold Voc 55.4 V, hot Vmp 36.6 V.
4. Inverter selection
String-level (vs central) 2×250 kW in parallel, MPPT 1500 V, 500 kW total.
5. String-level box substation
500 kW ÷ 0.8 PF = 625 kVA → 630 kVA tier (YB-630/10); the string-level box substation is the core asset of a utility base.
6. Reactive & export
±1 Mvar SVG (PF ±0.95) + HV switchgear KYN28A-12 + RMU-SF6; 500 kW exports at 10 kV.
7. Collector voltage upgrade
At step-up ≥2500 kVA (multi-MW) the engine auto-switches to 35 kV collection — the standard utility-base topology.
Pain Points → Solution → Evidence
Choosing central vs string inverters wrong causes MPPT mismatch loss — shading/faults drag down whole-site output.
String inverters (2×250 kW) give string-level MPPT; a single-string fault only affects that string.
INV-250kW ×2, MPPT 1500 V, string-level box substation.
PV output fluctuation drives grid-point reactive/voltage limits out — risk of grid penalty or tripping.
±1 Mvar SVG continuous dynamic reactive (PF ±0.95) + grid-connection protection.
BOM includes SVG ±1 Mvar; aligned with GB/T 19964.
Wrong step-up box tier overloads or over-invests.
500 kW ÷ 0.8 = 625 kVA → 630 kVA standard tier.
630 kVA (YB-630/10) string-level box substation.
4 · Key Parameter Deep-Read
| Parameter | Value | Basis | Impact & Boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module count | 910 × 550 Wp | 500 kWp ÷ 550 W = 910 modules | 500 kWp DC capacity Module wattage changes require recalculation |
| String design | 34 strings · 27 modules/string | Temp-corrected 6–27 modules/string | Cold Voc 55.4 V / hot Vmp 36.6 V Constrained by inverter MPPT voltage window |
| Inverters | 2 × 250 kW string | ≤250 kW tier paralleled | MPPT 1500 V, string-level tracking Continue paralleling above 250 kW |
| String-level box substation | 630 kVA (YB-630/10) | 500 kW ÷ 0.8 PF = 625 → 630 kVA | 10 kV step-up export ≥2500 kVA switches to 35 kV collection |
| SVG rating | ±1 Mvar | 25% of 500 kW = 125 kvar → 1 Mvar | PF ±0.95, voltage support ≥1 Mvar engine floor |
| Annual P50 | 507,600 kWh | 500 kW × 1150 h × PR 0.8 | $40,608/yr @ $0.08/kWh P90 = 481,570 kWh (CV 0.04) |
5 · Drawing Deep-Read
| Parameter | Formula | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Array capacity | Ppv | 500 kWp |
| Modules | N = Ppv / Wmodule | 910 pcs |
| Strings | S = N / ns | 34 strings |
| Parameter | Formula | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Modules/string range | nMin - nMax | 6-27 |
| Cold Voc | Voc x ns @ Tmin | 55.4 V |
| Hot Vmp | Vmp x ns @ Tmax | 36.6 V |
| Parameter | Formula | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Performance ratio | PR | 0.846 |
| Annual yield (P50) | Ppv x H x 365 x PR | 507,600 kWh/yr |
| P90 (bankable) | P50 x (1 - 1.282CV) | 481,570 kWh/yr |
The following drawings are shown for reference (full set in the configurator “View design document”):
6 · Operation Demo (Deep-Read)
Energy flow
Modules 500 kWp → string inverters → 630 kVA box → SVG → 10 kV export, 100% online.
String design
910 modules in 34 strings (27/string), cold Voc 55.4 V, hot Vmp 36.6 V — the temp-corrected MPPT voltage window.
Reactive & power quality
±1 Mvar SVG continuous dynamic reactive, PF ±0.95, voltage support under PV fluctuation.
Economics
507,600 kWh/yr, $40,608/yr; $315,850 EPC, 9 yr payback, 10.45% IRR.
Other views (shown): LCC (life-cycle cost) · Power quality & harmonics · Voltage profile · Scheme features · Environmental derating
7 · Economics & Payback
Equipment FOB ≈ $390,830 (modules $150,000 + string inverters $63,705 + mounting $75,000 + box substation $29,500 + SVG $50,000 + HV switchgear $16,750 + RMU $5,875); EPC ≈ $315,850. Annual 507,600 kWh → $40,608/yr @ $0.08/kWh PPA; 9 yr payback, 10.45% IRR, 178% 25-yr ROI.
8 · FAQ
What step-up box substation for 500 kW PV?
String vs central inverters — how to choose?
Why 10 kV and not 35 kV?
Where do 910 modules come from?
What is the payback?
Why is an SVG needed?
How much energy per year?
What does $390,830 cover?
What is a string-level box substation?
Special Considerations
- At 500 kW the engine selects 10 kV collection/export (string-level box substation YB-630/10); at step-up ≥2500 kVA (multi-MW) it auto-switches to 35 kV collection — "35 kV collection" is the utility-base standard, while this 500 kW demo scale is 10 kV.
- "String-level box substation" reflects the string (vs central) inverter topology: 2×250 kW string inverters give string-level MPPT tracking, so a single-string fault affects only that string.
- Receiving-side calcs (10/0.4 kV short-circuit, load flow, arc flash, N-1) are stale in generation-export mode — ignore them; plant-side data is in genPlant.
- Module wattage and mounting tilt (25.9°) are engine defaults — confirm with the design institute against site irradiance and latitude.
- Annual generation uses 1150 full-load-hours × PR 0.8 (P50); actual depends heavily on site irradiance and soiling.
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