FIMER Technology has delivered its high-power PVS-175 to Freedom Foods, Australian food and beverage manufacturers, enabling it to become more sustainable while reducing costs and improving efficiencies.

As part of Freedom Foods’ commitment to sustainability, the company identified its Shepparton, Victoria site as a start to its solar and battery opportunities. It now hosts a 3.8MW solar 500kW/1250kWh battery project which was designed, installed and commissioned by AEES Group, a leading end-to-end energy management company.

Freedom Food Group’s Shepparton site is a high-voltage (HV) 22kV site. AEES Group designed the solution so its solar generation is fed into three HV skids via FIMER’s 1500V PVS-175 string inverters, which connect into the site’s HV Transformers.

This project was the first in Australia to employ FIMER’s largest string inverters.

It was built over three stages and completed in February 2020.

AEES Group managing director Richard Martin says he was extremely impressed with the FIMER solution: “FIMER’s PVS-175 was the ideal choice for delivering this landmark project.

“The flexibility and power specifications this inverter could deliver, coupled with FIMER’s technical know-how and experience, meant we were able to meet our customer’s expectations and deliver a superior and reliable solution.”

The FIMER PVS-175 also offers 1500Vdc (volts direct current) and 800Vac (volts alternating current) which is the largest solution available on the market. Due to the higher AC and DC voltage, the solution provides the greatest cost-savings, with increased return on investment.

FIMER Australia technical sales lead Warren Merritt says he enjoyed working closely with AEES Group over the course of the project: “This project was fantastic to be part of.

“To see the team to not only deliver one of Victoria’s largest behind-the-meter solar installations but to see the results being delivered back to the customer has been great.”