AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SolarBridge Technologies (SolarBridge), a leading developer of power conversion solutions for the solar industry, announced today the launch of the SolarBridge AC Module System, a complete microinverter solution that enables the industry’s first integrated AC modules with a full 25-year warranty. The company is partnering with market-leading photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturers to bring AC modules to market. Kyocera Solar, Inc. (Kyocera) (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971) and SunPower Corporation (SunPower) (NASDAQ:SPWRA and SPWRB) are two of these partners, with additional companies at varying stages of joint product development.
“The SolarBridge Pantheon microinverter is intrinsically reliable by design”
SolarBridge-enabled AC modules increase PV system reliability and energy harvest, while reducing installation costs as compared to traditional, DC-based systems with central inverters. The SolarBridge Pantheon™ microinverter and PV-DockTM replace today’s junction box and are integrated directly onto the back of a solar module during module manufacturing.
“For solar energy to become truly mainstream among residential and commercial sites, installation and operating costs must come down, and energy harvest must go up,” said Ron Van Dell, president and CEO, SolarBridge. “Achieving this requires an advanced design that increases system reliability and uptime, and simplifies installation. The SolarBridge AC Module System is a groundbreaking solution that will contribute to the growth of solar as a viable, affordable renewable energy choice.”
With the SolarBridge AC Module System, module manufacturers can now offer their networks of dealers and installers a complete and differentiated AC module solution, allowing them to qualify sites that otherwise are not suitable for solar due to shading or roof orientation.
The SolarBridge AC Module System is covered by 36 patents (15 issued, 21 pending) and comprises the SolarBridge Pantheon microinverter, SolarBridge PV-Dock, SolarBridge Power Manager and SolarBridge Power Portal.
- SolarBridge Pantheon Microinverter: a low-profile, DC to AC power conversion device mounted on the back of the PV module
- Integrated during module manufacturing
- Backed by a 25-year warranty
- Module-level maximum power point tracking (MPPT) improves energy harvest up to 25 percent with 95.5 percent efficiency
- SolarBridge PV-Dock: a plug-and-play docking station for the Pantheon microinverter
- Enables drop-in integration of the Pantheon by the module manufacturer
- Allows easy field serviceability
- No exposed DC wiring; lowest DC resistance, highest efficiency
SolarBridge Power Manager: the on-site communications gateway
- Continuously monitors PV system
- Outdoor rated enclosure for flexible installation
- Manages communications with the Power Portal and third party systems
- Smart grid-ready
- SolarBridge Power Portal: a web-based management system for installers, module manufacturers and system owners
- Provides detailed visibility into every site’s performance
- Non-proprietary architecture supports extensibility and integration
- Easy to customize and install
Partnering with Leading Module Manufacturers
SolarBridge and Kyocera have been investigating AC modules since early 2009. A working prototype of the integrated Kyocera AC module will be on display at Solar Power International (#SOLPWR10) in the SolarBridge booth (#4106).
SolarBridge and SunPower have been working together since April 2009 as part of the Solar America Initiative (SAI) Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The objective of this SAI collaboration is to lower the cost of solar by dramatically increasing the reliability of PV inverters. The result of this joint development effort is an AC module with a SolarBridge Pantheon microinverter backed by a 25-year warranty – the same warranty as the SunPower module to which it has been integrated. A prototype of the integrated SunPower AC module will also be on display at SolarBridge’s SPI booth.
Reliability by Design
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The SolarBridge Pantheon microinverter requires a tiny fraction of the bulk capacitance of traditional inverter architectures, enabling the use of long-life film capacitors, which combined with the Pantheon’s advanced thermal management and other reliability advances yields a microinverter with the same lifetime as the module to which it is attached.
“The SolarBridge Pantheon microinverter is intrinsically reliable by design,” said Craig Hillman, CEO of DfR Solutions, the leader in the field of reliability physics for electrical technologies. “SolarBridge has taken great care to eliminate failure-prone components from its architecture, creating a power conversion solution that is robust and can last as long as a PV module.”
About Kyocera Solar, Inc.:
Kyocera Solar, Inc. is a world-leading supplier of environmentally sound, solar electric energy solutions. With operating headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz. and regional sales centers in the U.S., Brazil and Australia, Kyocera Solar, Inc. serves thousands of customers in both developed and developing regions. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyocera International, Inc. of San Diego, the North American headquarters and holding company for Kyoto, Japan-based Kyocera Corporation. www.kyocerasolar.com
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO: 6971) (http://global.kyocera.com), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as “advanced ceramics”). By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera Corporation has become a leading supplier of solar electric generating systems, telecommunications equipment, copiers, printers, electronic components, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2010, the company’s net sales totaled 1.07 trillion yen (approximately USD11.5 billion). Kyocera marked its 50th anniversary in 2009, and the 40th anniversary of its U.S. operations. It is ranked #554 on Forbes magazine’s 2010 “Global 2000” listing of the world’s largest publicly traded companies.
About SunPower:
Founded in 1985, SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA, SPWRB) designs, manufactures and delivers the planet’s most powerful solar technology broadly available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company’s experience and proven results to maximize return on investment. With headquarters in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.
About SolarBridge Technologies:
SolarBridge Technologies, a leader in integrated microinverter technologies for the solar industry, is accelerating the adoption of solar energy in the U.S. and Europe. SolarBridge’s patented microinverter mounts directly onto solar modules, greatly increasing system efficiency and reliability, while reducing the cost of solar installation and maintenance. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.solarbridgetech.com.
