In utility-scale plants, central inverters are the critical assets in the generation chain. Their availability directly determines the project’s profitability. Every hour of downtime represents thousands of euros in lost revenue. For this reason, the manufacturer’s technical service is not an “extra”: it is financial risk management.
At ZGR Corporación, we structure our technical service into three phases designed to maximize central inverter availability throughout their entire operational lifetime.
Step 1: Commissioning – the moment that defines 20 years operation
Specialized commissioning performed by the manufacturer ensures that a central inverter starts generating revenue from day one, with no delays or setbacks.
Why? Because expert technical service guarantees:
- Comprehensive on-site verification: Checks all critical parameters (grid code, protection settings, grid synchronization).
- Testing under real operating conditions: Confirms that the unit operates within optimal specifications from the very first kWh.
- Training for the customer’s O&M team: Equips the plant’s Operations and Maintenance personnel to manage daily operation and resolve minor incidents.
- Accelerated time-to-revenue: Eliminates failures caused by incorrect installation, which can cost weeks of lost production.
For utility-scale projects—where every day of delay in the operation of central inverters affects the project’s IRR—having the manufacturer supervise the connection of the most critical asset significantly reduces technical and financial risk.
“Utility-scale operators think in terms of CAPEX versus payback period,” explains Pablo Aranda, Energy Service Engineer at ZGR. “A central inverter with incorrect commissioning may appear to operate ‘normally’ yet still function outside optimal ranges (lower efficiency, inadequate response to grid events), which directly impacts its performance throughout its entire lifetime.”
A central inverter with poor commissioning may seem to run properly yet still function outside optimal ranges.
And what do we mean when we say that a Central Inverter has been correctly commissioned? It means that it is:
- Installed correctly
- Configured according to the manufacturer’s specifications
- Properly integrated into the system (grid, SCADA, protection systems, communications)
- Operating within design parameters
In short, it complies with all protocols, has completed all checklists, and includes documented verifications.
Step 2: Warranty and technical support, comprehensive protection throughout the entire operational lifetime
Once operation has been validated and the equipment has been delivered, the ZGR warranty becomes effective. We offer a standard 5-year warranty, with optional extension packages in both duration and coverage, adapted to the needs of any project.
While other manufacturers charge for this as an additional service, technical support from our Service Engineering team is an integral part of the standard ZGR warranty.
We also provide our customers access to our extensive catalog of specialized Technical Service Products for Central Inverters, including, among others:
Maintenance Services
- Preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance with an optional 24/7 service
- Replacement of end-of-life components
- Emergency spare parts kit
- Exclusive stock with guaranteed availability
- Calibration, repair, exchange, and temporary rental of equipment and components
Upgrades
- Safety and performance enhancements via firmware updates
- New functionalities (connectivity, diagnostics, monitoring)
- Redesign and adaptation to new grid requirements
- Retrofit support at the end of the lifecycle
Availability
- Remote support via phone, WhatsApp, and email with optional 24/7 service
- Continuous on-site training
- Technical workshops and seminars
- O&M team training programs
According to Odilo Alonso, Technical Service Director at ZGR: “Good technical support is focused on maximizing equipment availability. Every hour that a Central Inverter is offline due to lack of spare parts, pending updates, or unqualified technical assistance is lost revenue. We guarantee immediate and expert technical availability.”
Good technical support is focused on maximizing equipment availability.
For example, we perform service interventions at times of lower inverter activity, such as late in the afternoon or at night, in order to minimize the impact on plant operations.
Additionally, with our 24/7 service, we ensure physical on-site presence 365 days a year for any incident, in less than 48 hours.
Availability and rapid response arguably define the core of technical support in the energy sector.
From this perspective, the modules of our central inverters are designed for extremely fast replacement—in no more than 15 minutes—representing a significant competitive advantage compared to more conventional systems, where a module failure may require shutting down the entire inverter for anywhere between 8 and 72 hours depending on the technology.
With ZGR’s modular technology, modules are not only replaced rapidly, but because of the modular design, if one module fails, the others continue operating, ensuring that the unit never stops producing.
The modules in our Central Inverters are designed for very fast replacement—no more than 15 minutes.
Step 3: Remote monitoring, anticipating failures before they occur
24/7 remote monitoring of central inverters enables the detection of anomalies before they turn into unplanned outages. At ZGR Corporación, we always recommend it, because through the monitoring system we can:
- Continuously monitor critical operating parameters in real time.
- Incorporate predictive alerts: These allow us to identify deviations before failure occurs, boosting overall equipment availability by up to 2%. For example, by tracking and predicting temperature thresholds reached by certain critical components during daily operation, we can anticipate degradation and replace these components before the end of their useful life, avoiding failures or shutdowns and extending equipment availability.
- Execute advanced remote diagnostics: To resolve incidents without travel, with maximum speed and no downtime. Even simple issues, such as a blown fuse, can be resolved by the plant’s O&M team within minutes.
- Perform performance analysis: Achieving continuous production optimization.
- Maintain a complete historical record: Enabling full traceability for root-cause analysis and identifying potential equipment improvements before failures occur.
Thanks to remote support and predictive alerts, we can boost equipment availability by up to 2%.
Remote monitoring reduces response times from days to hours, minimizes unnecessary travel, and enables predictive interventions that avoid costly shutdowns. For this reason, at ZGR Corporación we always offer it, and more and more customers are incorporating it.
Why the Manufacturer´s Technical Services makes the difference
In utility-scale projects, a central inverter is the energy production line. The difference between an inverter operating at 99.5% availability and one operating at 97% can mean hundreds of thousands of euros in losses over the lifetime of the project.
ZGR’s technical service is designed to ensure that a PV production line never stops. It includes:
- Specialized commissioning that identifies and eliminates issues from the start
- Warranties of up to 20 years with comprehensive support included
- Spare parts stock and response in hours, not weeks
- Continuous updates that improve performance year after year
- 24/7 monitoring that anticipates failures before they occur
- Continuous training for O&M team autonomy
We offer warranties of up to 5 years, extendable, because we trust that our equipment will perform. Nevertheless, if something fails, we are there.
As we understand it at ZGR, technical service is synonymous with long-term profitability. The purchase decision for a central inverter does not end with technical specifications or acquisition cost. The true cost of ownership includes availability, maintenance, updates, and response time to failures.
Choosing a manufacturer with robust technical service is choosing a partner who guarantees the profitability of your investment for 20 to 25 years. At ZGR, our goal is simple: for your central inverters to generate revenue every day, every hour, throughout their entire operational lifetime.
In utility-scale projects, uptime isn’t just technical—it’s financial.
Do you want to learn more about how we maximize central inverter productivity at your plant?
Contact our Technical Service team.
Your energy, our challenge.
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