High-voltage solar: From concept to reality

High-voltage solar presents an emerging opportunity for electrical OEMs serving utilities and the industrial community. By supplying systems able to withstand the requirements of 2000 VDC (and higher) solar arrays, OEMs are paving the way for the sustainable, commercial viability of industrial and utility-grade solar.

When we first wrote about 2000 VDC systems in 2023, they were still at the conceptual stage. The advantages had been demonstrated, but the components required for high-voltage solar were not yet commercially available. Nor had the electrical standards governing renewable systems quite caught up with the evolution of the opportunity.

In 2025, high-voltage solar has emerged from concept to reality and now stands on the cusp of rivaling (and surpassing) other energy sources in terms of levelized costs. In this article, we revisit the benefits of high-voltage solar and lay out the state of the opportunity for electrical OEMs.

3 benefits of high-voltage solar

With high-voltage solar arrays being implemented across the country, we now have validated results from real-world systems. Here’s what we’re seeing:

Increased system capacity: Higher voltage systems allow for longer strings of solar panels. In particular, 2000 VDC systems have demonstrated up to a 30% increase in inverter capacity. This allows the developer to deliver greater capacity without expanding the implementation footprint – a critical benefit in industrial implementations, such as a data center or factory, where space constraints can be a real issue.

Reduced EBOS costs: Longer strings of solar panels also mean fewer combiner boxes, reduced wiring, and limited underground trenching requirements, which leads to cost savings in labor and materials. Our experience shows a reduction in electrical balance of systems (EBOS) costs of up to 15%, a benefit sure to interest investors and solar developers.

Reduced system losses: Due to the relationship between voltage, current, and power in electrical systems, high-voltage systems can significantly reduce energy losses. Additionally, higher voltages allow for thinner wires, reducing both the cost and the power loss of the transmission. By minimizing electrical losses, solar developers have delivered improvements of up to 0.8% more energy from every site.

While the benefits listed above make high-voltage solar an attractive opportunity, the last two benefits – reduced system losses and lower cost per kWh – are the drivers that will propel the industry forward. In fact, 2000 VDC solar is reaching commercial viability at an optimal time. The Lazard June 2025 report on energy prices showed utility-scale solar at $58 per MWh, making it the most cost-competitive form of energy available. High-voltage solar will further improve the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for solar and help overcome resistance to solar PV as a primary energy source.

Components required for high-voltage solar

Turning high-voltage solar systems into a viable reality requires components able to withstand the challenges that higher voltages present. At the heart of the system are solar modules or arrays. For high-voltage applications, these panels are often configured in a series to increase the voltage while keeping the current relatively low, a setup that reduces cable losses and improves overall efficiency.

Another critical component is the inverter, which converts the DC electricity generated by the solar modules into alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used by the grid or load. High-voltage solar systems deploy central inverters capable of handling large amounts of electricity and maintaining high efficiency during the conversion process. These inverters often include advanced features such as maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to optimize energy production and remote monitoring capabilities for system management.

Between the inverter and the arrays lies the combiner box, which consolidates the DC outputs from multiple strings of solar panels. These boxes are equipped with fuses, surge protection devices, and disconnect switches to safeguard the system against electrical faults or voltage spikes. The combiner box simplifies wiring by reducing the number of cables going to the inverter, enabling easier installation and maintenance.

Lastly, the standards that ensure the safety and reliability of electrical systems are an essential component of the commercial viability of high-voltage solar. UL 98B was first introduced in 2015 to ensure the safety and reliability of high-voltage solar – 1500 VDC systems at that time. As the industry transitions to 2000 VDC, UL Solutions has broadened its certifications. The ABB OTDC switch-disconnector recently became the first disconnect in the renewable energy sector to achieve UL 98B certification for 2000V systems. The introduction of UL 98B-certified components now paves the way for electrical OEMs to offer UL-listed combiner boxes for high-voltage solar implementations.

Future-proofing your business

With demonstrated benefits such as increased system capacity, reduced EBOS costs, and minimized system losses, 2000 VDC solar systems enable unprecedented efficiency and cost-effectiveness in industrial and utility-scale solar installations. The benefits have been so pronounced that the market is already asking about components capable of 3000 VDC and beyond. As high-voltage solar systems continue to evolve, OEMs can future-proof their businesses by aligning to market demands and offering solutions designed to meet higher-voltage requirements.

See related blog post “Renewable energy storage = Big opportunities for OEMs and panel builders“.