Most powerful central inverter of Sputnik Engineering meets the criteria of the BDEW Medium-Voltage Directive.

Biel, 18 August 2011: Newly commissioned grid-coupled inverters equipped with a direct medium-voltage connection in Germany must demonstrate their compliance with the directive "Generator plants on the medium-voltage network" by means of a unit certificate of the BDEW (German Association of Energy and Water Industries). The SolarMax central inverter 330TS-SV has now received this certificate. Evaluation and certification were implemented via the accredited Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems and the certification institute Bureau Veritas.

For example, the BDEW directive requests that photovoltaic inverters must no longer shut down in the event of a short-term failure of the mains network, but must support the mains network in a dynamic manner. Furthermore, photovoltaic systems must also provide a contribution in the field of static voltage maintenance in the future by delivering and receiving reactive power in order to be able to compensate for voltage fluctuations within the mains network. The fact that the SolarMax 330TS-SV has these capabilities is confirmed by the unit certificate.

"The field of photovoltaics has developed from being a hobby of individuals to become a cornerstone of the German energy supply. Therefore, it is logical that it must also provide a contribution to the system services of the electricity grid. The Medium-Voltage Directive ensures that the development in the field of photovoltaics can be continued in the future as well," says Hans-Thomas Fritzsche, General Manager of the German subsidiary of Sputnik Engineering in Neuhausen, Germany. "With our inverters we not only deliver the highest Swiss quality, but we also provide our customers with the guarantee of complying with country-specific particularities and statutory requirements."

With its maximum system output of 1.32 megawatts, the modular SolarMax 330TS-SV is the most powerful central inverter that Sputnik Engineering manufacture and is used first and foremost for large-scale systems with an installed output of more than one megawatt. The inverter is connected directly to a medium-voltage transformer and works with a maximum efficiency of 98 percent.

The SolarMax models 50TS, 80TS, and 100TS received the certificate in April 2011.

Further information at www.solarmax.com or personally at the EU PVSEC from 5 to 8 September 2011 in Hamburg, Germany. You will find us in hall B7, booth B36.



About Sputnik Engineering AG

Sputnik Engineering AG, a Swiss company, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of grid-connected solar inverters. Under the name SolarMax the company develops, produces and sells inverters for every facility – from photovoltaic systems on single-family homes whose kilowatt output is modest, to the solar power plants whose output is measured in megawatts. The inverter is a key component of the solar plant, transforming the generated direct current into grid-compliant alternating current. 20 years of experience are not only reflected in the Swiss quality, highest efficiency, reliability, and durability of the SolarMax products, but also in the way Sputnik offers its customers excellent international support in the field of after sales, comprehensive warranty services, and intelligent solutions for system monitoring.

Sputnik Engineering is positioned internationally and currently has approx. 360 employees. The company headquarters are located in Biel (Switzerland), sales and distribution are implemented via the subsidiaries in Neuhausen (Germany), Madrid (Spain), Milan (Italy), Saint Priest (France), Shanghai (China), as well as the branches in Brussels, Prague, and London.