SMA Solar Technology AG acquires micro-inverter technology

SMA Solar Technology AG announces today the acquisition of the module inverters (micro-inverters) technology platform from the Dutch company OKE-Services. In the coming years, SMA will continue to develop this technology and launch its own module inverter product range.

In order to expand its product portfolio in the lower range power classes and to meet all customer requirements in the future, SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA) has acquired the micro inverter technology platform from OKE-Services (OKE), a Dutch company. Both parties have agreed to keep the exact purchase price confidential. Unlike the photovoltaic inverter with string technology, which converts the direct current (DC) of numerous interconnected photovoltaic modules into alternating current (AC), a micro inverter converts the DC to AC separately at each individual photovoltaic module.

Micro inverters are particularly well-suited for the use in small photovoltaic systems of 1 kWp or under. In some larger photovoltaic systems which use string inverters, shading of individual modules and the subsequently lower energy harvest of the entire system can be avoided by equipping and operating those modules with individual module inverters.

With the acquisition and further development of the OKE technology, SMA plans to launch its own range of module inverters in the coming years. This makes SMA the only manufacturer in the world with a product portfolio which includes all existing inverter technologies for operating photovoltaic systems of any size and with optimal technical system configuration. SMA customers will continue to profit from highest quality standards, a global sales and service network and short delivery times.

OKE is one of the pioneers of micro inverter technology and has more than 15 years' experience in the development and series production of micro inverters. Based on this experience, OKE has continuously strived to optimize efficiency and specific price, both of which are particularly important parameters for the success of micro inverters. To this end, the company has systematically reduced the number of components used in their products, which is not only a prerequisite for a good price-performance ratio, but also ensures product reliability.

Microinverter firms active on the market today also include Accurate Solar, Azuray, Direct Grid, Enecsys, EnPhase Energy, GreenRay Solar, Larankelo, Petra Solar, SolarBridge.

eIQ Energy Launches Technology to Boost Solar Energy Output

New technology from eIQ Energy Inc., which today marked its official launch, will lower the installed cost and improve the performance of solar power systems, while also eliminating the design and installation constraints inherent in conventional string architectures.

eIQ Energy`s Parallux system is built around the vBoost DC-to-DC converter module. It uses advanced DC power management technology to allow easy connection of solar panels in parallel rather than in series. This approach allows the connection of an unprecedented number of panels on a single cable. In the case of thin-film photovoltaic panels, the company`s Parallel Solar architecture enables the connection of over 100 solar panels on each cable run-a twenty-fold improvement over conventional string architecture. This results in significant installed-cost savings.

This breakthrough Parallel Solar technology also mitigates the effects of panel mismatch due to shading, soiling, and manufacturing variations, which can easily disrupt the performance of an entire string array.

vBoost allows any solar panel to be connected in parallel to a constant high-voltage DC power bus, and also incorporates distributed maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The DC bus voltage can be fixed at the optimal level for any inverter, improving inverter efficiency and reliability. In combination with distributed MPPT, this enables solar photovoltaic systems to harvest 5 to 30 percent more energy than conventional systems.

As a result, designers are free to focus their efforts on power production rather than component interaction. Simplified wiring, easy interconnection, unit level monitoring and reduced inverter expenses assure operators of long-term performance and lower costs throughout the system`s life cycle.

eIQ Energy`s Parallux system also includes panel-level monitoring for enhanced visibility into system operation. This helps streamline maintenance and ensure long-term system performance. Monitoring data is sent over the main power bus, so no separate cabling or wireless system is needed.

"Our team includes top DC power supply and power management engineers, and together they have developed a unique solution that addresses the inherent limitations of string architectures," said eIQ Energy CEO Oliver Janssen.

"Parallel Solar simultaneously addresses fundamental problems facing plant designers, installers and operators, and provides quantifiable incremental performance without increasing cost. We are helping to unlock the full potential of solar energy with innovative thinking and unique technology that`s built for harsh operating environments."

eIQ Energy began operations in 2007; its development and management teams include experts in DC power electronics and analog semiconductors with global experience in power supplies, power management and renewable energy. vBoost has been tested with a wide range of crystalline and thin-film solar panels at eIQ Energy`s San Jose test facility and at various ongoing beta site installations.

Funding through July of 2009 totals $10 million from NGEN Partners and Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (RBVC). "eIQ Energy took a unique approach to resolving the technical and economic problems at various points of the design and installation of solar PV arrays. They have produced a solution that opens the door to better productivity for solar arrays in both commercial and residential installations," noted NGEN managing director Robert Koch.

Luis Llovera, eIQ Energy board member for RBVC, added, "In addition to optimizing PV system and inverter performance, Parallux can reduce the cost of the entire balance-of-systems side of an array, including cabling, hardware, design and labor. The result can give a positive impact on the solar PV ROI model."
http://www.eiqenergy.com/

Solar Inverter: New factory to face increased demand - SMA

SMA Solar Technology AG, parent company of US subsidiary SMA America Inc, has announced the opening of its 193,000-square-foot solar inverter factory in Kassel, Germany. With the new facility, SMA has increased its production capacity to four gigawatts and is continuing to expand its strategy of scalability to meet demand for its line of solar inverters.

Solar inverters are the key component in a solar power system that converts direct-current power generated by solar panels into usable household power.

The company reports that the plant is pioneering the concept of C02-neutral industrial production by utilizing a low-energy building concept that minimizes energy consumption while maximizing operating efficiencies through the optimal use of daylight and renewable energy.

"The inverter—the heart of every photovoltaic system—significantly contributes to an emissions-free energy supply,” said Günther Cramer, CEO of SMA Solar Technology AG. "With our CO2-neutral inverter manufacturing, we are showing that advanced industrial production can be accomplished with a small environmental footprint.”

“The new manufacturing plant, with a capacity of up to four gigawatts, will allow SMA and its subsidiaries to match industry growth and global demand for its solar inverters,” said Jurgen Krehnke, president and general manager of SMA America. “It also demonstrates that world-class, CO2-neutral industrial production is both possible and economical using today’s existing technologies.”

Electrical power is derived from a building-integrated 1.1-MW PV system and an onsite biogas plant. The biogas plant satisfies a portion of the factory’s basic heating requirement with additional heat provided by a local waste incineration facility. Excess heat from an electric compressor that provides compressed air for various tools and equipment is also recycled into the ventilation system. All heat sources are connected to a hot-water tank, which helps regulate the system and enables continuous usage. Cooling is furnished through two systems, including an absorption refrigerator driven by the excess heat generated by the biogas plant and an electric back-up system.

In order to satisfy the site’s energy requirements, renewable energy is purchased from nearby sources. After the final construction phase, the CO2 balance will be equalized through additional PV installations, eliminating the need for additional utility purchases.

As part of the CO2-neutral manufacturing effort, the entire production line was re-engineered to optimize efficiency and can now be quickly extended or reconfigured for other device types, providing the ability to scale production up or down to meet rapidly changing demand.