Sumitomo Electric Industries has launched a power line communication (PLC) string monitoring unit for solar power plants equipped with high-output panels.

This unit can monitor up to 20 strings with a maximum current of 20 A each.

In order to reduce the construction and operational costs of solar power plants, the voltage of solar panels has been increasing from 1,000 V, which was previously dominant, to 1,500 V, and the current value per string has also been increasing.

Against this backdrop, Sumitomo Electric has enhanced the functionality of its PLC string monitoring unit, which detects failures in solar panels, enabling it to measure currents of up to 20 A per string for the first time in Japan (based on our research).

Despite the significant increase in measurable string current, the unit size remains the same, making installation easy.

To contribute to stable operation and high maintenance efficiency of solar power plants, which have been increasingly constructed to realise carbon neutrality, Sumitomo Electric will continue to offer highly convenient PLC string monitoring units and auxiliary services.