Dive Summary:

• GE’s new central inverter converts DC power produced by solar panels to AC power, which can then be fed into a main power grid.
• The device, which is designed for outdoor use, allows for “operation at high DC voltages on panel level with lower DC currents while increasing the rated power for inverters,” thus resulting in significantly lower costs.
• Devices such as this will make solar power projects an increasingly cost-effective alternative to fossil fuel technologies going forward.

From the article:

Marking a new technology milestone in the global effort to increase renewable energy production by driving down overall system costs, GE (NYSE: GE) has deployed the first 1,500-VDC (volts, DC current) open circuit (OC) central inverter for utility scale solar power plants. The inverter will help reduce overall system costs, which is vital to making solar power a more economical alternative to fossil fuel technologies.
Central inverters are key components of photovoltaic (PV) plants. The technology converts DC power produced by solar panels to AC power, which is then fed into the main grid. ...