Drives for solar-powered applications

The drives play an important part in providing electricity from photovoltaic solar panels to the motors running various processes which make the standard of living better. Typical applications include water pumps which provide clean water for drinking and cooking or for irrigation; compressors used for refrigeration of food and dairy products as well as other applications including fans for ventilation and air conditioning.

"Vacon AC drives are able to utilise the maximum available energy from the photovoltaic solar panels in all situations. The drives start to control the speed of the motors in the pumps, compressors or fans as soon as the sun starts to shine in the morning, and continue to do so until the sun sets in the evening. We are proud to be helping solve the major global issues of water and food shortages," says Heikki Hiltunen, executive vice president, market operations at Vacon.