A few weeks ago we reported on SunDrum Solar, one of a growing group of companies currently developing technologies to increase the efficiency – and energy output – of solar panels. One of its counterparts in a slightly different side of the business is California- based Enphase Energy. Founded in 2006, the company began selling its micro-inverter system in mid-2008, and is now working to embed its micro-inverters directly into solar modules to be sold to installers.
Most solar installations use a central inverter to convert the DC flowing out of panels into the AC used by the electric grid. The problem with using a single device, however, means that a failure kills the whole system, and the weakest panel in the entire system negates the benefits of the better-performing ones. Enphase says tests have shown that using its system improves energy harvest by as much as 25% over traditional inverters. Will it succeed in convincing panel manufacturers to bundle the micro-inverters pre-install? We’ll see if a real deal comes along, but in the meantime, read up on Enphase here:
http://earth2tech.com/2009/06/04/enphase-planning-to-embed-inverters-directly-into-solar-panels/