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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.

910 × 550 Wp (500 kWp)
Modules
34 (6–27 modules/string)
Strings
2 × 250 kW string
Inverters
630 kVA (YB-630/10)
String-level box sub
±1 Mvar
SVG
10 kV
Export voltage
500 kW (100% renewable)
Installed capacity
$390,830 (FOB)
Equipment total

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

Pain

Choosing central vs string inverters wrong causes MPPT mismatch loss — shading/faults drag down whole-site output.

Solution

String inverters (2×250 kW) give string-level MPPT; a single-string fault only affects that string.

Evidence

INV-250kW ×2, MPPT 1500 V, string-level box substation.

Pain

PV output fluctuation drives grid-point reactive/voltage limits out — risk of grid penalty or tripping.

Solution

±1 Mvar SVG continuous dynamic reactive (PF ±0.95) + grid-connection protection.

Evidence

BOM includes SVG ±1 Mvar; aligned with GB/T 19964.

Pain

Wrong step-up box tier overloads or over-invests.

Solution

500 kW ÷ 0.8 = 625 kVA → 630 kVA standard tier.

Evidence

630 kVA (YB-630/10) string-level box substation.

4 · Key Parameter Deep-Read

ParameterValueBasisImpact & Boundary
Module count910 × 550 Wp500 kWp ÷ 550 W = 910 modules500 kWp DC capacity
Module wattage changes require recalculation
String design34 strings · 27 modules/stringTemp-corrected 6–27 modules/stringCold Voc 55.4 V / hot Vmp 36.6 V
Constrained by inverter MPPT voltage window
Inverters2 × 250 kW string≤250 kW tier paralleledMPPT 1500 V, string-level tracking
Continue paralleling above 250 kW
String-level box substation630 kVA (YB-630/10)500 kW ÷ 0.8 PF = 625 → 630 kVA10 kV step-up export
≥2500 kVA switches to 35 kV collection
SVG rating±1 Mvar25% of 500 kW = 125 kvar → 1 MvarPF ±0.95, voltage support
≥1 Mvar engine floor
Annual P50507,600 kWh500 kW × 1150 h × PR 0.8$40,608/yr @ $0.08/kWh
P90 = 481,570 kWh (CV 0.04)

5 · Drawing Deep-Read

Dwg 3/13Generation Plant Single-line Diagram — Modules → string inverters → string-level box substation → SVG → 10 kV export
Why: The generation-export skeleton — the full string-inverter + box-substation + SVG export path.
Dwg 12/13PV protection configuration — DC fusing + AC breakers + step-up protection
Why: DC fusing and AC breaker staged protection — a single-string fault does not propagate.
Dwg 13/13PV calculation book — Array capacity / string design / P50-P90 generation
Why: The quantified basis of string design (temp-corrected) and P50/P90 generation.
Dwg 4/13Short-circuit calculation — POI fault levels → breaker sizing
Why: POI and box-substation fault levels size the breaker interrupting rating.
Dwg 11/13Main equipment technical data — Step-up box substation / inverters / array parameters
Why: Rated parameters of the 630 kVA box and 2×250 kW inverters at a glance.

The following drawings are shown for reference (full set in the configurator “View design document”):

Dwg 1 · Electrical design basisDwg 2 · Symbol legendDwg 5 · Applicable codes & standardsDwg 6 · Construction & testing requirementsDwg 7 · Power quality assessmentDwg 8 · Grounding systemDwg 9 · Surge protection & SPDDwg 10 · Protection configuration

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.

$315,850
EPC investment
9 yr
Payback
10.45%
IRR
178%
25-yr ROI
508 MWh
Annual generation
$40,608
Annual revenue

8 · FAQ

What step-up box substation for 500 kW PV?
630 kVA (YB-630/10): 500 kW ÷ 0.8 PF = 625 kVA → 630 kVA standard tier, string-level box substation.
String vs central inverters — how to choose?
String (2×250 kW here) gives string-level MPPT, so shading/faults affect only that string; central suits large flat unshaded arrays.
Why 10 kV and not 35 kV?
500 kW steps up to 630 kVA < 2500 kVA, so the engine uses 10 kV; at ≥2500 kVA (multi-MW) it auto-switches to 35 kV collection.
Where do 910 modules come from?
500 kWp ÷ 550 Wp = 909.1 → 910 modules; 34 strings × 27 modules/string (temp-corrected 6–27).
What is the payback?
9 yr at $0.08/kWh PPA, 10.45% IRR, 178% 25-yr ROI, on 507,600 kWh/yr (P50).
Why is an SVG needed?
PV fluctuation drives grid-point reactive/voltage limits; the ±1 Mvar SVG gives continuous dynamic reactive (PF ±0.95) + voltage support.
How much energy per year?
507,600 kWh (P50), P90 481,570 kWh; estimated at 1150 full-load-hours × PR 0.8.
What does $390,830 cover?
Modules $150,000 + inverters $63,705 + mounting $75,000 + box $29,500 + SVG $50,000 + HV switchgear $16,750 + RMU $5,875 (FOB).
What is a string-level box substation?
Each string-inverter group steps up to a box substation (string-level box); it is the core asset distinguishing a utility base from distributed PV.

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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