APS microinverters the only solution for Hawaii shopping center

/in /by

When owners decided to renovate a shopping center on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, their plans didn’t stop at the ceiling.

The expansive open rooftops at the multi-building complex offered perfect platforms for a new solar system to take advantage of the islands’ famous sunshine.

The 30-year-old shopping center on the Kamehameha Highway is an important commercial hub for the community, anchored by mainstays including Ross Dress For Less, 24-Hour Fitness and Foodland groceries. The center also offers an array of professional and financial services, popular retail outlets and eateries.

The project has become an ambitious proving ground for commercial solar power, and for APS microinverter technology – in terms of scale, and also because of Oahu’s nonstandard power grid voltages.

Three-quarters of the project operates at 277V AC, significantly higher than the 208V three-phase systems and 240V residential voltages standard in the continental US.

APS microinverters’ chip-based architecture allowed each unit to be specially programmed to easily accommodate the higher grid voltage – a flexibility built into each APS unit and unmatched by any other microinverter in the market.

“We’re the only microinverter that would work here,” said Tommy VanCleave, technical support manager for APS America. “We offered a technical solution that made this installation possible.”

In terms of scale, it is by far the largest domestic application of APS microinverter technology.

The system includes 3,046 PV panels by ReneSola, each offering up to 305W power output. The panel array is served by 1,523 APS YC500 dual-MPPT microinverters –- one for every two panels, representing significant cost savings and installation ease over other alternatives.

The proprietary APS microinverter design was also ideally matched to the large, 305-watt PV modules, and the greater AC output offered investors a significant ROI advantage over other inverters on the market.

Total system capacity is 929 kW, supporting the shopping center’s operations and putting power back into the local grid. Mall patrons are benefiting from Hawaii’s most abundant resource: the sun.

The project is now roughly 80 percent complete, with all 277V systems and one of two smaller 208V rooftop arrays now producing power.

The APS Energy Communication Unit software will provide real-time graphical monitoring of each rooftop system and individual PV modules within each array.

The early returns are strong — the system is actually outproducing the agreement between the shopping center and Pacific Power Renewables, putting more energy back into the system than originally envisioned.

“Overproduction – that’s great,” VanCleave said.

APS USA names Thomas Nelson new Vice President for Sales

/in , /by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 5, 2014

SEATTLE — APS America, a global leader in solar microinverter technology, has hired Thomas Nelson as vice president for sales. He will also work with technical services and international support as collateral duties.

“Thomas brings to APS a depth of industry knowledge and technical expertise, and a long history in the power electronics marketplace,” said Paul Barlock, APS America senior vice president. “His addition to the senior sales staff will be a great asset to the growth of APS’ share in the solar microinverter market.”

thomas_nelsonNelson comes to APS with over seven years in the solar industry. He most recently served as senior director of strategic accounts with UK microinverter firm Enecys, where he oversaw distribution and sales for North, Central and South America and Australia. He has also held sales directorships with SolarBridge, Uni-Solar and Ningbo Solar. His expertise includes solar microinverters and PV modules, utility grid equipment and wireless communication.

He previously worked in the telecommunications industry, including management positions with American Power Conversion, Qualcomm and Verizon Wireless.

Nelson holds an MBA (international business) from Kennedy Western University and a BSAA (industrial management and technology) from Texas State University.

“The adoption of microinverters for use in residential and commercial solar installations is strong and APS is well positioned to become a global dominant force in this space.” Nelson said of APS. “Our current and next generation product offerings are in line to what the market is asking for today by providing an advanced technical solution at a lower LCOE.”

APS has been on an aggressive growth curve in 2014, completing significant distribution deals with leading suppliers in California, the Mountain States region, and the mid-Atlantic market. The company is poised to introduce the YC1000, the world’s first 3-phase, 4-panel microinverter for large commercial applications.
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 proprietary, leading-edge solar technology. APS America, representing APS in the US market, is based near Seattle.

The APS microinverter solution combines highly efficient power inversion with a user-friendly monitoring interface for reliable, intelligent energy. The proprietary system architecture increases solar harvest and ensures maximum output for solar arrays, and the company continues to develop new technologies and products for the marketplace.

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

Grow Community installation featuring APS microinverters announced as award finalist by Solar Builder Magazine

/in /by

vote now buttonGrow Community is one of six finalists for Solar Builder magazines’s prestigious 2014 Project of the Year award.

Grow was nominated in the Roof-Mount installation category. The annual contest honors innovative applications of solar technology in residential and commercial settings.

Grow Community, is already the largest planned solar community in Washington state. The award-winning community has been designed around the idea that homes should produce all the energy their residents would need (net-zero impact) while capturing the financial benefits that come with producing renewable energy.

The 112kW (and growing) solar component is powered by Made-In-Washington equipment including PV modules by itek Energy of Bellingham and microinverters by Blue Frog/APS of Poulsbo/Bainbridge Island. Installation is by A&R Solar of Seattle, with solar financing by Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union.

The winning project will be featured on the cover of the next issue of Solar Builder magazine, and will be honored at a special ceremony at the Solar Power International convention in Las Vegas, Oct. 20-23.

VOTE FOR GROW HERE!

 

 

APS distributor Blue Frog Solar featured on local business journal

/in , /by

APS distributor Blue Frog Solar of Poulsbo, WA, and its Simple Solar program got some great press this week with an in-depth feature in the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

The KPBJ gives a comprehensive look at the incentives that make Washington solar such a great deal — and Simple Solar, which makes it easier than ever to make the move to energy self-sufficiency. It’s a great move for both existing homes and new construction.

As the Business Journal notes:

Blue Frog is collaborating on the largest residential solar project in Kitsap County — Bainbridge Island’s Grow Community, a project of real estate development and investment firm Asani. It’s an example of effectively designing and building homes to accommodate rooftop solar panels.
“We knew from the outset that our goal was to create a net-zero community using solar,” says Marja Preston, senior director of development at Asani and owner of a solar home at Grow. “So everything there was designed, including the apartments, so we could get enough solar panels on the roof to provide all the energy needed for the homeowner.”

Blue Frog’s Simple Solar program and partner installer A&R Solar of Seattle count on advanced microinverter technology from APS in all installations — including Grow Community, now the largest planed solar development in Washington state.

Read the whole story here.  

Unknown

 

 

Sun & Wind Energy bullish on APS microinverters

/in , /by

63Microinverter technology is the future of solar, and APS microinverters are in the vanguard of this trend.

APS is among the companies surveyed in “Two Groundbreaking PV Technologies,” a feature article in a recent edition of Sun & Wind Energy magazine. The report on module-level power electronics – the catch-all category for microinverters and DC optimizers – touts the growth of the global microinverter industry.

The magazine cites technical developments, cost reduction and the range of new integrated PV products as among the factors driving the MLPE industry.

“Our success in the global market demonstrates that microinverters are the new paradigm for PV power inversion,” Paul Barlock, APS senior vice president, tells Sun & Wind Energy. “Microinverters are the best solution for all rooftop applications.”

The magazine goes on to discuss the APS YC 1000, the world’s first true 3-phase, 4-panel microinverter, due to the domestic market in 2014.

Read the whole story here.

APS microinverters coming to National Clean Energy Summit, Solar Power Mid-Atlantic in September

/in , /by

APS is bringing its microinverter solution to a pair of leading solar industry events in September, the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, and the Solar Power Mid-Atlantic convention in Atlantic City.58

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be keynote speaker at the National Clean Energy Summit on Sept. 4. The seventh annual event brings together business and public policy leaders, energy experts and investors, educators and students “to discuss empowering Americans to develop our massive clean energy supplies, secure greater energy independence, and create jobs.”

The event will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Come by our table on the trade show floor, or email sales@apsamerica.comto meet with Paul Barlock and see our APS microinverter product line.midatlantic-seia

We’ll next be at Solar Power Mid-Atlantic, Sept. 9-10 in Atlantic City.  This new regional event is presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association and Solar Electric Power Association, to deliver comprehensive and forward-looking discussions on policy, regulatory, and technical solutions for New Jersey and the regional solar industry.

APS will have exhibit space at the New Jersey Convention Center throughout the two-day event. Again, email sales@apsamerica.com to set up a meeting with Michael Ludgate and find out more about our leading-edge solar technology.

APS microinverters power Washington’s largest solar community

/in /by

What does Washington’s largest planned solar community look like from the air?

Here’s a bird’s-eye view of Grow Community phase 1, the Village, and its remarkable concentration of energy-producing rooftops.

Each residential system includes from 24 to 32 PV modules by itek Energy, with more than 400 APS microinverters installed across the community.

Grow Community homes are now producing 85-105 percent of their energy needs, eliminating residents’ power bills and earning financial credits through Washington’s strong solar incentives.

Click here to learn more about this installation
Grow-aerial

APS microinverters to be distributed by Empire Clean Energy Supply in the greater New York market

/in , /by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 14, 2014

SEATTLE — APS microinverters will be distributed by Empire Clean Energy Supply, in a first-time partnership between the two companies.

apsystems-ecesThe agreement establishes APS microinverter products in the Mid-Atlantic metropolitan market, where Empire is a major distributor of renewable energy products.

Empire will carry the full line of APS microinverter products, including the flagship YC500, an industry-leading microinverter that handles two PV modules per unit with dual performance tracking and optimized power output.

“As a full-service supplier of photovoltaics, we strive to outfit our installers with the top technology and most reliable products available,” said Bill Feldmann, chief operating officer for Empire Clean Energy Supply. “We’re impressed by APS products, service and support, and we’re glad to offer them in this market.”

APS has been on an aggressive growth curve in 2014, and the agreement with Empire solidifies the brand’s presence on the Eastern Seaboard.

“Empire has really broken ground advancing in the New York market,” said Michael Ludgate, APS vice president for business development. “We’re very pleased to have a company of their stature embrace our product line. It’s another great endorsement for APS microinverters.”

ECES began as a division of Empire Electric, Co. based out of Brooklyn, N.Y., in 2003. An electrical supply house known throughout the industry, Empire decided it was time to join the renewable energy field, and the venture quickly gained momentum and earned a national clientele.

In 2005 ECES moved to its current location in Bohemia, N.Y., on Long Island. ECES later branched away from its parent outfit, becoming a partner company. The partnership of an electrical supply house gave ECES the ability to bring in all necessary electrical components utilized in a solar array, in addition to the main structural components.

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 proprietary, leading-edge solar technology. APS America, representing APS in the US market, is based near Seattle, Washington.

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

For more information on Empire Clean Energy Supply, see www.empirecleanenergy.com.

Information on APS microinverter products can be found at www.usa.apsystems.com.

Bland Solar & Air to install APS microinverters in California’s Central Valley region

/in , /by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 22, 2014

apsystems-blandSEATTLE — Leading California solar distributor Bland Solar & Air will carry APS microinverters, under a new strategic partnership between the two companies.

The agreement introduces APS microinverter products to customers in California’s Central Valley, a dynamic market where solar adoption far outpaces other metropolitan areas nationwide.

In adding the APS microinverter line to their array of solar products, Bland Solar will now be primarily selling the APS microinverter and adopting the APS product as their “go to” microinverter.

“We are choosing APS as our microinverter because they are second to none in their functionality, efficiency and durability,” said Ty Simpson, Director of Sales for Bland Solar & Air. “Their production specifications are becoming the benchmark of what a microinverter should be able to do and produce.”

Higher power handling and output allows APS microinverters to be paired with PV modules up to 310 watts, with a single unit handling two modules — another bonus for system designers and end customers, he said.

Simpson also praised the APS technical support team for its “uncanny” response time, and cited the company’s ability to fulfill product orders faster than other manufacturers.

Michael Ludgate, vice president for APS America, hailed the agreement and praised Bland’s leadership among California solar distributors and installers.

“For the past seven years, Bland Solar had been exclusively using the industry leading microinverter brand, and their switch to APS is a strong endorsement,” Ludgate said. “Bland Solar has a proven reputation for excellent customer service and providing significant value to their customers. We’re pleased to partner with Bland in a community where solar power has been so widely and enthusiastically embraced by consumers.”

Fresno ranks No. 1 among US metropolitan areas in solar capacity installed per capita, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratories’ Open PV Project.

Bland Solar & Air has served California’s Central Valley area, including Fresno and Bakersfield, with HVAC and solar electric services since 1985. Sister company CalCom Solar serves agricultural and commercial clients throughout Central California.

Bland Solar services include system design, installation and maintenance, zero-down financing, and PV system training for aspiring solar industry professionals.

APS was founded in the Silicon Valley in 2009, and is now a global leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of microinverters based on their own proprietary, leading-edge solar technology. APS America, representing APS in the US market, is based near Seattle, Washington.

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

Information on Bland Solar & Air can be found at www.blandsolar.com

Information on APS microinverter products can be found at www.usa.apsystems.com.

APS microinverters now powering African safaris in Namibia

/in /by

APS microinverters are now in service on five continents. Our new YC1000 microinverter — the world’s first true 3-phase, 4-panel unit, soon to be released in the US — is a key component in a new solar installation at Ritter Safaris, a 40,000-acre working ranch in Namibia, southwest Africa.

The installation includes 13 of our YC1000 units linked to a 52-panel ground-mount array (Jinko 235W modules) for 12.2KW, 3-phase power output. The system supports activities in the Ritter family compound of residences and guest houses, kitchen and support facilities at this popular safari destination.

Owners Rolf and Marion Ritter and their family have owned, farmed and hunted the land for three generations, and offer a year-round safari and sightseeing experience to guests from around the world.

We’re proud to bring the power of APS microinverter technology to the African continent and this excellent, family-run enterprise.

59