Bouygues Construction completed the installation of 2.5 MWs of PV modules at its head offices near Versailles, France, with the majority optimized by SolarEdge technology. Bouygues Construction says the SolarEdge inverters and power optimizers facilitate a 20 percent increase in energy yield.

Bouygues Construction also installed six SolarEdge firefighter gateways, which are designed to enable firefighters to immediately stop energy production including decreasing the system voltage to safe DC levels, either manually through an emergency stop button or automatically through a fire alarm control panel system.

On a total surface of 25,000 square meters, the PV installation consists of ground-mounted and roof-mounted sections. With 12,180 SolarEdge power optimizers and 202 SolarEdge inverters optimizing part of the installation, the system is expected to produce a simulated 2,500 MWh annually. The fixed-string voltage in SolarEdge technology allows an increase in the number of modules per string of at least 43 percent compared to a traditional inverter, according to SolarEdge.

Last fall, a 7,000-panel solar array on top of a distribution center in South New Jersey may have led to the destruction of the facility after a fire broke out because firefighters were held back due to fears of electrocution.