A letter to our solar partners: APS becomes APsystems

/in , , /by

It’s been just six years since APS was a Silicon Valley startup – and how far we’ve come in that short time. Founded with the goal of bringing the most advanced microinverter technology to the solar PV market, we’ve passed one milestone after another en route to ranking no. 2 in global market share among top microinverter suppliers by shipments in 2013 (source: GTM Research). Last year was even stronger still.

And we’re not slowing down – demand for our microinverter line is growing month over month in all markets. As we look toward even greater achievements on the horizon, we’re pausing just long enough to reflect on who we are and what we’re about.

With that reflection comes a refinement of our brand: APS will become APsystems.

The new trade name highlights our commitment to powerful alternative energy solutions, and our evolution from a product-oriented portfolio to a whole-systems innovator. The phrase “Altenergy Power,” a nod to the company’s original legal name, will appear beneath APsystems in our new mark.

The new name will launch August 31st. With the brand refinement, we’re also launching a new website, apsystems.com, an online nexus for our worldwide operations with links to offices in each regional market. We hope you’ll visit the site and see the APsystems big picture.

What’s next? Big things. We’re making a strong push into new markets worldwide, and rolling out even more powerful solutions to accommodate new and emerging technologies. Expect more announcements throughout the coming year.

Our name has changed, but our values are the same. We remain passionate about solar power and advancing our clean, renewable energy future. We offer maximum value to customers through excellence of products, pricing and support. Honesty, professionalism and teamwork define our company. Add them up, and we believe an informed customer will always choose APsystems.

We’re excited about this moment, and we want to share the news with our valued solar partners like you. We look forward to a bright future together.

APsystems-logo-primary

Kindest regards,

Andrew Lonseth
President, U.S. Operations

Inc. 500/5000-honored solar distributor SimpleRay adds APS microinverter line

/in , /by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

apsystems-simpleraySEATTLE – Three-time Inc. 5000-honored solar distributor SimpleRay has added the APS microinverter line to its product offerings.

Driven by the maxim “We simplify solar,” SimpleRay offers a full range of solar products and services including PV system design (grid tied and battery based), end-to-end project management, and financing.

The St. Paul, Minn.-based company (www.simpleray.com) is a three-time Inc. 5000 honoree, and has ranked No. 318 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies in the USA. It ranked No. 12 among top renewable energy companies as determined by Inc. Magazine, and fifth among all companies in its home state.

SimpleRay was founded by Geoff Stenrick in 2007, with the goal of giving solar installers a better distribution experience. The company serves small and mid-sized installers throughout the Midwest, offering product and system-design expertise and a consultative sales approach.

“We want to make sure we have the best products on hand to match each installer’s projects,” said Stenrick, SimpleRay president and CEO. “APS fits in well with our philosophy by offering low-cost, well established microinverters. They’re easy to design with, and fit our customers’ needs well. They’re a great fit for us overall.”

Thomas Nelson, APS vice president of sales, USA, hailed the extension of the APS brand in the Great Lakes region in a year of strong installer demand nationwide.

“SimpleRay has built their business by providing very high quality service to installers,” Nelson said. “That’s an outstanding match for APS and our own focus on providing the best products and top value for our installation partners.”

APS is currently offering A+ Rewards, an industry-best rebate program for installers. The program offers up to $15 back per microinverter purchased from participating distributors through Sept. 30, 2015, with additional incentives for first-time installers; see www.apsamerica.com for details.

APS flagship products include the YC500, a powerful dual-module microinverter, and the YC1000 true 3-phase unit, purpose-designed for commercial applications and offering an unprecedented 1:4 microinverter-to-module ratio to lower system costs.

Both units will be offered by SimpleRay through its distribution channels.

APS was founded in Silicon Valley in 2009, and is now a global leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of microinverters based on their own proven, leading-edge solar technology. APS’ USA operations are based in Seattle.

APS ranked No. 2 in global market share among top microinverter suppliers by shipment in 2013 (source: GTM Research).

For information on SimpleRay solar distribution, see www.simpleray.com.

APS EMA App now available for iPhone, iPad

/in , /by

EMA-app-imageThe APS Energy Monitoring and Analysis App is now available for iPhone and iPad.

The EMA App allows APS microinverter system owners to track solar array performance in real time through their iOS mobile device.

See system output by day, month, year and lifetime of the array, and calculate energy savings based on price per kilowatt hour.

The app also displays environmental savings in gallons of gasoline, trees and carbon emissions.

All data is displayed through an easy-to-use graphical interface.

The APS EMA App is available for iOS devices through the Apple iTunes App Store. The app requires iOS 7.0 or later required and offers English and simplified Chinese language support.

Click here to download the EMA App user manual.

You ask, we answer: APS customer survey feedback

/in , /by

APS recently asked for your feedback on our products and services. Your response to our consumer survey was overwhelming – thank you for your interest in our advanced microinverter technology.

We wanted to know:

What do you feel APS needs to improve on? How could APS better serve your needs?

In offering your generous comments, many of you also asked questions about APS. We want to take a moment to answer some of your anonymous queries here.

 

I’d like more hands-on product information. Do you have any live events coming up in my area?

Our regional sales representatives are glad to meet with you to discuss the APS product line; just email sales@apsamerica.com to start the conversation.

APS offers regular installation training sessions through our partner distributors across North America. These sessions cover installation of our YC500 and YC1000 microinverters, monitoring setup, best practices and tools of the trade, and offer installers NABCEP credits for attending.
To schedule an event in your area, contact your APS distributor and tell them you’d like to see an APS event in your area, and we’ll take it from there.

 

Tell me more about your USA distribution chain. How can I purchase your products?
The APS microinverter line is available through leading solar distributors across North America. See our Partners page to find the authorized APS distributor in your area, or email sales@apsamerica.com and we’ll get you plugged into our channels.

 

You need a 25-year warranty to match the other brands.
We have one. APS offers a standard 10-year warranty extendable to 25 years for a very modest cost. Because our advanced microinverter products have a design life of 25 years or more, you’ll install with confidence that APS products will serve throughout the life of the PV system – and our warranty is there to back it up.

 

Is APS supported by third-party solar finance providers? 
Yes. APS is on the Approved Vendor List (AVL) of several leading third-party finance providers, including Sunnova and Upsolar. Contact APS for more information on third-party financing.

 

Do you have any training videos? 
You can find a comprehensive YC500 installation and monitoring setup video on our APS channel on YouTube. Watch the video whenever it’s convenient for you and your team, to learn about APS microinverter installation.
For real-time training, remember that APS offers certified installer webinars twice a month, on first and third Wednesdays. Three live sessions are available, covering YC500A microinverter installation, as well as setup of the APS Energy Communication Unit (ECU) and APS Energy Monitoring and Analysis (EMA) software.
Just send an email to support@apsamerica.com to enroll and become a certified APS microinverter installer. Also check out our Support webpage for more first-time installer information.

 

Does APS have a 3-phase microinverter offering? 
You bet. In fact, the APS YC1000 is the first true 3-phase microinverter in the industry. Unlike other brands who’ve repackaged their old technology as a “commercial” product, we started from the ground up. The YC1000 was purpose designed and built for the commercial segment, and offers features you just won’t find in competing products.
And the innovations will keep on coming. With half our employees devoted to R&D engineering, we’re committed to constant product and portfolio improvement, and making tomorrow’s solar technology available today.

 

You should offer a clearly identified small-commercial 208V product.  
We’ve already got it covered. The YC1000 true 3-phase microinverter is available in both 208V and 277/480V configurations to suit any commercial system requirements. Find out more at our Products page, or download the YC1000-208 Data Sheet and Installation/User Manual to see the product specifications.

 

What about extension cables and accessories?  
APS offers all cables, caps and all other accessories necessary to complete your microinverter installation on time and within budget. See the full array of APS-certified components available at our Accessories page, then contact your distributor to order the products you need.

 

Solar Builder magazine highlights YC1000 at Intersolar

/in , , /by

APS technology has center stage at Intersolar this week in San Francisco, and all eyes are on the YC1000 true 3-phase microinverter.

Solar Builder magazine features the YC1000 in this video from the trade show floor. See APS Senior Director of Marketing Jason Higginson discuss the industry’s first true 3-phase microinverter, purpose designed and built for commercial applications.

The YC1000 is proven in the field, powering a 529kW system at Fort Washington Country Club in Fresno, Calif. Read the story and contact sales@apsamerica.com for purchase and distribution opportunities.

Thanks to Solar Builder for highlighting APS and the groundbreaking YC1000.

APS, Krannich offer installer training in NJ, CA

/in , , /by

APS and Krannich Solar present a new round of microinverter installation training sessions for New Jersey and California installers in August.

Three Solar Innovations Day events are slated:
— August 20 – Pennsauken, NJ
— August 25 – Oceanside, CA
— August 27 – Sacramento, CA

apsystems-krannich

Each events run 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the local Krannich sales center.

The dynamic presentation will include APS microinverter system design, monitoring setup, tools of the trade, and hands-on training with the APS YC500 and YC1000 microinverters.

Find out how APS microinverters can simplify your next PV installation, saving you time and money on the job site while improving the power and reliability of the array. Installers nationwide are moving to superior APS microinverter technology — you’ll see why at Solar Innovations Day.

Earn NABCEP credits for attending the event, and enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast and luncheon.

To sign up for a Solar Innovations Day training event and become an APS installer, follow this link to the registration site. Contact your Krannich sales representative or call (856) 802-0991 for more information.

Email sales@apsamerica.com to learn more about APS microinverter products.

APS VIDEO: YC500 and YC100 microinverters, the installers’ choice

/in , /by

Installers nationwide and around the globe choose APS microinverters for their power, reliability, ease of installation and value. Hear why leading solar professionals rely on the APS YC500 and YC1000 microinverters in our new product videos, appearing now on the APS Youtube channel.

 

APS SUMMER REBATE HEATS UP – and it’s even hotter for first-time APS installers

/in , /by
Summertime means lots of solar being installed all across the country, and APS America, and its A+ Rewards summer incentive programs, leave you with no excuses not to try their microinverters and also put some money in your pocket. Plus, APS America is now offering a huge bonus incentive for first-time installers.

With the new Tiered Rewards Program, the more APS microinverters you buy through Sept. 30, 2015, the bigger your rebate – up to $15 back per unit.

APSYSTEMS-solarpro-banner970x250-july-2015

That’s right: Every APS  YC500 microinverter you purchase from an authorized APS  distributor through Sept. 30, 2015, will earn you up to $15 back from APS. Show proof of purchase through the rebate website http://summer-promo.aplus-rewards.com, and APS will send you a Visa® Gift Card with value added for every microinverter purchased during that period.

Purchase up to 50 APS microinverters (the basic tier), and you’ll receive a $5 rebate per unit. Order more, and watch your rebate grow with every tier:

  • 1-50 units purchased: $5 rebate per unit
  • 51-150 units purchased: $10 rebate per unit
  • 151-400 units purchased: $13 rebate per unit
  • 401-plus units purchased: $15 rebate per unit

The rebates are tiered, and the number of units you purchase adds up over the course of the promotion, so as you order more, your rebate level increases.

For example, the rebate amount for a 500-unit total would be $6,000 (calculated as 50 @ $5, plus 100 @ $10, plus 250 @ $13, plus 100 @ $15). That’s tremendous savings you won’t find anywhere else in the industry – our reward to you for being an APS partner installer.

Are you a new installer?

First-time APS installers who order APS microinverters through a participating distributor will receive even more: a $250 Visa® Gift Card, and a free ECU (Energy Communication Unit) – with free monitoring for the life of the product. Plus the tiered rebate on top of that.

With $250 back and a free ECU with free monitoring, there’s no better time to try APS and find out why it’s the fastest-growing solar microinverter provider in the world.

Full terms and conditions of the rebate program are available at http://summer-promo.aplus-rewards.com, or email aplus@apsamerica.com.

The new APS A+ Rewards Tiered Rebate & First Time Installer Programs run July 1 through Sept. 30, 2015.

Place your order with your participating APS distributor today.

ef176093-c0f5-4d02-a08f-ab71212720bf

APS VIDEO: We make energy affordable

/in , /by

Installers nationwide and around the globe choose APS microinverters for their power, reliability, ease of installation and value. Find out what APS has to offer and contact us for purchase and distribution opportunities.

National Solar Distributors offers APS microinverter line across Canada market

/in , /by

apsystems-national-solarEdmonton, Alberta-based National Solar Distributors now offers the APS advanced solar microinverter line to PV installers across Canada.

National Solar serves all of Canada from Vancouver Island to the Maritimes, with an emphasis on the western provinces.

The company is a full-service stocking PV distributor, offering modules, mounting solutions, inverters, and balance-of-system components, as well as equipment for off-grid systems of all sizes.

National Solar will offer the APS line as its exclusive microinverter solution.

“APS has the perfect mix of reliability, price and service as a vendor,” said Matthew Lisac, National Solar director of operations. “Our installers love the ease and speed of installation, and not having to worry about messy and expensive cables. Our goal is to make APS the No. 1 microinverter in Canada.”

National Solar was founded in 2014 by Lisac and Matthew Lannigan. With more than 20 years’ combined experience in the PV and electrical industries, the pair bring expertise in systems and support to Canada’s growing solar industry.

“We are the friendly, service-oriented distributor with a focused approach to products,” Lisac said. “That means we can offer great products at competitive prices.”

The agreement extends the APS microinverter line’s reach in a Canada solar market that is just hitting stride. The province of Ontario has been a solar hot spot for some years, Lisac said, with Alberta tabbed as the country’s next breakout regional market.

“But every province has great potential, including our northern territories,” Lisac said. “Solar has grown organically in most of the country, so when grid-parity arrives and demand skyrockets, there will be a plethora of professional, experienced installers ready to do their part.”

Ryan Simpson, APS USA senior director of business development, welcomed the opportunity to bring APS microinverter technology to more customers in North America, after excellent response from installers across the U.S.

“Canada is clearly poised to see tremendous growth in consumer-level renewable energy,” Simpson said. “As a global leader in solar innovation, APShas the most forward-thinking microinverter solutions for this emerging marketplace.”

APS flagship products include the YC500, a powerful dual-module microinverter, and the YC1000 true 3-phase unit, purpose-designed for commercial applications and offering an unprecedented 1:4 microinverter-to-module ratio.

Both units are now offered by National Solar Distributors through their sales website, www.nationalsolar.ca.