Why microinverters are a good option for commercial solar projects

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Screen Shot 2016-04-26 at 1.52.14 PMSafety and NEC compliance, system monitoring, energy harvest – count the reasons for the popularity of microinverters in the MLPE marketplace.

APsystems and Solar Power World Online recently collaborated on an article and informational webinar discussing these and other advantages of microinverter technology. The webinar event was hosted by Christopher Barrett, technical services manager for APsystems USA.

Read the article here, then sign up to watch the archived webinar and find out why installers worldwide choose APsystems for the residential and commercial customers.

APsystems will exhibit at the upcoming NABCEP Continuing Education Conference

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APsystems will be a featured exhibitor and presenter at the upcoming NABCEP Continuing Education Conference, April 4-6 in San Diego.

APsystems is sponsoring the “Module Level Power Electronics Options” panel discussion on April 5 at 1pm, with Christopher Barrett, our technical services manager, sharing his expertise among the distinguished panelists.  See full conference schedule here.

You can also see the APsystems microinverter line at booth 509 on the conference floor.

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners offers professional certification and company accreditation programs to renewable energy professionals throughout North America.

The Continuing Ed Conference brings together solar pros with leading manufacturers like APsystems, ranked no. 2 in global market share among microinverter suppliers by shipments in 2014 (source: GTM Research).

See www.nabcep.org, then contact our sales team (sales@APsystems.com) to see the APsystems microinverter line in sunny San Diego.

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Why microinverters are a safer design for solar

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Solar power is gaining a coalition of fans, their numbers growing as PV spreads around the globe. But many emergency responders aren’t yet sold, and understandably so. They, and others, are concerned with the electrical safety of these new and often unfamiliar systems. The idea of high-voltage DC sizzling across a rooftop is a stark prospect for anyone who might come in contact with a PV array while battling a building fire, or even performing routine maintenance.

APsystems-supportSeeing the need for safety standards, regulators enacted “Rapid Shutdown” requirements (found in NEC 2014 690.12) to protect first responders from any high-voltage DC hazards that might remain after AC service has been disrupted or shut off. While manufacturers have responded to NEC 2014 with varying strategies–including add-on “DC combiner boxes” for string inverter arrays–one popular PV product already has Rapid Shutdown built into every unit: the microinverter.

When the AC circuit goes down for any reason, each unit in a microinverter array performs its own shutdown function in just 100 milliseconds–100 times faster than the code-specified standard of 10 seconds for shutdown.System voltage at shutdown is about 30V DC, meeting the stringent NEC 2014 requirement and well below the 80-V threshold generally considered safe for contact.

chrisSafety doesn’t end there. Microinverters also offer safety advantages when it comes to the DC conductor requirement in the standard. For example, a system designed using APsystems microinverters will have no DC conductors energized more than 5 ft in length within a building or more than 10 ft from the array, which meets the NEC 2014 standard (and is already looking ahead to NEC 2017).

Also, any present low-voltage lines will be located beneath solar modules, eliminating the chance of contact during rooftop activity.
Powerful, reliable, economical, microinverters have had plenty to recommend them since they entered the MLPE product field. As electrical codes evolve to protect responders and homeowners alike, the humble microinverter is not only meeting these tough new standards, but anticipating them.

By: Christopher Barrett, engineering and technical services manager for APsystems USA. Contact him at christopher.barrett@apsystems.com.

To learn more, watch his webinar presentation here. 

ECU + EMA = a powerful duo for your microinverter array

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Module-level monitoring is an essential feature of a microinverter solar array. APsystems offers advanced and user-friendly system monitoring for installers and end users alike.

The APsystems Energy Communication Unit is the gateway to our microinverters. An array can be easily configured BEFORE reaching the jobsite, so commissioning is a breeze. And the ECU requires no additional wiring; the simple plug-and-power design simplifies setup at the customer’s home or business.

The Energy Monitoring & Analysis software offers comprehensive, round-the-clock assurance of system performance. The homeowner’s EMA account provides module-level data, production and savings over time, while the installer account offers a more robust feature set for system configuration, mapping and control.

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Find out all about the ECU and EMA and our advanced microinverter solutions here.

Join APsystems at Intersolar Summit East in Brooklyn, March 24

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The eastern U.S. solar markets of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts are hot in 2016, and APsystems has the solutions installers need.

Our team will be at the Intersolar Summit East in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 24, to present the APsystems microinverter line to new customers and longtime solar partners alike.

This important industry platform brings together manufacturers, distributors, installers and other leaders to keep on top of the latest policies, opportunities and issues impacting East Coast renewable production and storage markets.

Find out more at www.intersolar.us, and set up a meeting with the APsystems team by emailing sales@APsystems.com.

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A Great Start to 2016

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Thank you from the APsystems team to all of our solar partners, for connecting with us at the Solar Power PV Conference and Expo in Boston this past month. What a great start to the year, for APsystems and the solar industry.

APsystems was proud to showcase the world’s most advanced microinverters at the PV Expo event, and to discuss our outstanding value and support with installers and distributors alike. We’re grateful for your interest and have much more to share – you’ll be hearing more from us throughout the coming weeks.

Another highlight: introducing solar industry veteran Andrew Nichols, our new Senior Vice President of Sales, USA. Thank you to all who came by the APsystems booth to congratulate Andrew and welcome him to our team.

With such a dynamic year ahead, we look forward to working with each of you to bring the power of solar to customers across the nation and worldwide. Striving together toward a clean energy horizon, our future is bright.

— The APsystems team

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Nichols Joins APsystems as Senior VP, USA Sales

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEATTLE – Solar industry veteran Andrew Nichols has joined APsystems as Senior Vice President of Sales, USA.

apsystems-andrew-nicolsAndrew comes to APsystems with over 30 years in high technology and alternative energy sales. He most recently served as Vice President of Worldwide Sales for SolarBridge Technologies through its successful acquisition by SunPower Corporation.

Prior to this he served as Vice President of Sales and Customer Support for Enphase Energy, as it went from zero revenue to over $200 million in annual sales and an eventual IPO.

He also ran North American Renewable Energy Sales for Xantrex Technology (acquired by Schneider Electric). He began his career at IBM/ROLM and held positions of increasing responsibility at Apple before committing the last 11-plus years to the renewable energy industry.

He holds a BA in social sciences from the University of California, Berkeley.

“APsystems is the emergent front-runner in solar microinverter technology, and I’m honored to join their team,” Nichols said.

“Their commitment to innovation in module-level electronics is really showing the way forward in this fast-growing segment.”

Andrew Lonseth, APsystems president for U.S. operations, said Nichols’ broad experience in renewable energy brings both strategic and customer-facing value.

“Andrew Nichols knows the domestic and international solar market like few others,” Lonseth said. “Bringing his expertise into play as we grow our product portfolio and market share will serve both APsystems and our customers very well.”

Since its founding in Silicon Valley in 2009, APsystems has emerged as an industry leader through innovative solar products including dual-module microinverters and the first true 3-phase, four-module unit.

APsystems ranked no. 2 in global market share among microinverter suppliers by shipments in 2014 (source: GTM Research).

APsystems USA has offices in Cupertino, Calif., and Seattle, with manufacturing in Washington state.

See APsystems microinverters at Solar Power PV Conference & Expo

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PVshowAPsystems brings its industry-leading microinverter technology to Solar Power PV Conference and Expo, Feb. 24-25 in Boston.

See the APsystems YC500 dual-module and YC1000 true 3-phase microinverters, and learn how our advanced, chip-based product architecture means superior reliability and value for installers and end users alike.

APsystems will be at booth 515 on the convention floor in the Westin Boston Waterfront’s Galleria Hall.

Find out why APsystems ranked no. 2 in global market share among microinverter suppliers by shipments in 2014 (source: GTM Research).

Set up a meeting with the APsystems team: email sales@APsystems.com.

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Studio 804, Valley Unique Electric earn APsystems Project of the Year Awards

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Studio 804 at the University of Kansas, and Valley Unique Electric/Solar Universe of Fresno, Calif., have earned APsystems 2015 Project of the Year Awards.

The awards honor outstanding solar installations that showcase APsystems microinverter technology in their design and construction. Studio 804 is recognized in the residential project category, and Valley Unique Electric for a commercial installation.

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“The Studio 804 and Valley Unique Electric projects exemplify the very best use of APsystems solar microinverter technology,” said Jason Higginson, Director of Marketing at APsystems. “From smaller, residential-scale arrays to expansive commercial installations, APsystems microinverters are the choice for innovative PV applications like these. We’re very proud to honor Studio 804 and Valley Unique Electric for these excellent projects.”

Studio 804, a nonprofit organization that supports the graduate program of the University of Kansas Department of Architecture, Design and Planning, is honored for its East Lawrence Passive House in Lawrence, Kan.

Designed and built by graduate students and sited in a historic residential district, the home uses renewable building materials and leading-edge systems to optimize energy efficiency.

Students included a 6kW rooftop solar array using APsystems YC500 dual-module microinverters to help the homeowners achieve energy independence.

“Holistic home design cannot be achieved without the consideration for solar applications,” said Dan Rockhill, University of Kansas architecture professor and Studio 804 advisor. “Taking proactive steps in monitoring and maintaining one’s energy consumption is prudent in today’s society. We were fortunate enough to partner with APsystems. The application, installation, and maintenance of their microinverters was straightforward. The ease at which our students were able to integrate the microinverters into the PV system was extremely successful, and the current homeowner could not be happier with the final product.”

Learn more about this project here.

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Valley Unique Electric/Solar Universe is honored for its Fort Washington Country Club installation in Fresno, Calif.

The ambitious commercial project saw construction of towering carports with almost 36,000 square feet of roof space for solar to power the country club’s operations.

Across seven rooftops, 429 APsystems YC1000 true 3-phase microinverters serve more than 1,700 modules for a system capacity of 529kW.

“Solar carports are strong in Fresno, and we dominate the local market in putting them up,” said Hogi Selling IV, Valley Unique Electric president. “APsystems microinverters have been a key component of projects like the country club, and have proven themselves in the tough, hot conditions of the valley.”

Learn more about this project here.

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The APsystems Project of the Year Awards are given annually to highlight innovative use of APsystems solar microinverter products. Previous honorees have showcased the company’s microinverter technology in an agricultural setting and atop a landmark heritage building in Washington D.C.

Solar Builder highlights APsystems chip-based design

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Levelized Cost of Energy — the total cost of a PV system’s installation and maintenance over its lifetime, divided by the amount of power produced – is the industry standard for measuring a PV system’s value.

Individual components like microinverters are key to the formula.

In its new story “LCOE Heroes: How inverters drive down PV levelized cost of energy,” Solar Builder magazine considers how the proprietary APsystems chip-based design means better long-term value for installers and end buyers.

LCOE-articleIt all starts with the Field Programmable Gate Array chip, which does so much of the microinverter’s work that each APsystems unit can be built with about 30 percent fewer discrete components than other brands.

That means savings at the supply and manufacturing level that cascade into real savings for customers.

“The FPGA architecture allows multiple, distinct processes to run in parallel on the same chip,” Jason Higginson, senior director of marketing at APsystems, tells the magazine. “This cuts down significantly on the number of internal components. This again is a significant savings at the supply-chain level as fewer components must be sourced to manufacture each unit, while also gaining an increase in reliability.”

Read more on APsystems chip-based microinverter design and its effect on levelized system costs at Solar Builder magazine online.