[Graeme]

Forget About Solar Panels, Think Micro-Inverter

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'P')etaluma, California-based Enphase Energy takes a different tack. The startup, which on Tuesday announced a $6.5 million, second-round of venture funding, aims to reduce the “rest of system” costs, which include things like installation and wiring, and improve reliability along the way.

The startup hopes to do it by going micro with its inverters, devices that convert a solar panel’s DC power to AC power in order to run machinery and appliances and feed into the electrical grid.

“Enphase Energy marks the beginning of an industry-wide technology shift,” said Mr. Nahi in a statement.

Solar systems today use centralized inverters—many panels feeding into a single large one. Enphase is making inverters small enough so that each panel gets its own. Chief Executive Paul Nahi said this will mean simplified installation and management, better reliability, and more total electricity per panel—though he declined to offer specific figures.

[Colorado-Valley]

So now you can send AC power to your DC batteries for storage?

How does that work?

[PeakingAroundtheCorner]

I am the site administrator and SEO marketer for a very highly placed solar products website and I can tell you that I'm not cheering for a solar power system that will eliminate 1/3 of mine and my client's business activity.

Kinda shitty huh?

From the article:
"But Mr. Kurzman said Enphase should expect fierce competition. He said companies will be watching, especially those who stand to lose their share of the inverter market. One is British Columbia-based Xantrex Technology, a publicly traded, power electronics equipment maker."

He's right, sorta. I've actually been watching competing technology ever since my livelihood became dependent upon it. And you can bet your last post-peak MRE that I will compete fiercly against anything that would do that sort of damage to our bottom line.

The world has no choice but to accept a solar- and renewables-powered future (...nevermind the oil situation) and if there's enough time left before the balance-of-system components manufacturing and distribution dominoes begin to fall, and assuming just for the fun of it that we end up with more time than we thought we'd have and the Monopoly money in our economy begins to become real money again, I intend to get rich in this business. And I'll use that bankroll to finance an ultra-uber bugout bunker.

A lot of shit has been thrown at the solar power technology wall but so far nothing has stuck fast enough to resist the force of gravity. I have no reason to think this will be the exception, though they're certainly in the right location for establishing an alternative energy start-up venture and I wish them a bright and prosperous future. Right up until the first of their systems is installed and I, as well as Xantrex (one of our primary vendors), lose a potential inverter sale.

At that point, they can kiss my lily-white ass. Don't fuck with my money!







Note to Enphase Energy big-wigs searching for their company name on the internets and finding this thread:

Sorry about that. I'm sure you understand that I'm duty-bound to make such figurative public declarations towards a competitor and/or competing technology. However, if you are really dedicated to this micro inverter thingy, perhaps we can we forge a working relationship.

You see, we're an established major online distributor of solar power systems and components and if you do indeed end up over-powering the inverter market, Xantrex's shelf space is all yours.

We enjoy high site traffic volume and are placed extemely well in the major search engines, providing you with built-in marketing projection and traffic for your product. We have offices and distribution points on the left coast, in the heartland, and on the east coast of the United States.

If interested, as you should be, contact me privately through this website and I'll be glad to add a new distribution point to our network.





Oh crap, did I type that out loud?

[efarmer]

The site was very vague about specifics. But the though of having a
constellation of inverters running synchronously to power your home or enterprise does not strike me as attractive. And you can't forget about solar panels or batteries or utility power for dark or cloudy periods. Inverters simply take one type of power and make another out of it and nibble a bit for themselves in the process. For example
laptop AC supplies are usually of the inverter type (switching supply).

Mother nature's brother, Uncle Lightning, is probably licking his chops
thinking about many inverters to shoot at in each installation.

[thor]

I'm not getting the logic here. Why would an integrated inverter give us cheaper solar panels, since each panel gets an inverter? Besides, making things smaller will most likely mean more expensive. Current inverters are robust, they deal with multiple panels, they are easy to install already: just plug it into the mains.

[ChefBoyardee]

Graeme,

Over the past while I've noticed that you are keen on posting technical articles which have a positive slant. Whether on biofuel, solar-powered airplanes or energy from hydrogen, your articles point to a technological solution.

People are desiring to find a technological fix in order to maintain our current lifestyle. I honestly believe that there is nothing out there that will 'save' us. In the future we will have to become more humble and realize that we can't have everything we want.

Despite my beliefs, that we will live more simple lives, I'm optimistic that whatever comes my way I'm going to struggle to stay alive and make the very best of my situation. I will prevail. What are your thoughts? Will we be saved by technology?

Chef Boyardee

[timbo]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('thor', 'I')'m not getting the logic here. Why would an integrated inverter give us cheaper solar panels, since each panel gets an inverter? Besides, making things smaller will most likely mean more expensive. Current inverters are robust, they deal with multiple panels, they are easy to install already: just plug it into the mains.

[SolarDave]

Trace sold a similar device for years and discontinued it. Trace MicroSine. It was actually manufactured in Denmark if I recall correctly. I have a couple that are fried.

No new ideas here.

I liked the idea but the MicroSine cost (US $250) was more than half of the panel cost it took to drive it. Unless that costs drops considerably, a house-size inverter will be cheaper bought as one unit than a dozen small ones.

[Graeme]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ChefBoyardee', 'G')raeme,

Over the past while I've noticed that you are keen on posting technical articles which have a positive slant. Whether on biofuel, solar-powered airplanes or energy from hydrogen, your articles point to a technological solution.

People are desiring to find a technological fix in order to maintain our current lifestyle. I honestly believe that there is nothing out there that will 'save' us. In the future we will have to become more humble and realize that we can't have everything we want.

Despite my beliefs, that we will live more simple lives, I'm optimistic that whatever comes my way I'm going to struggle to stay alive and make the very best of my situation. I will prevail. What are your thoughts? Will we be saved by technology?

Chef Boyardee

[cephalotus]

nothing new and the technology has some davanatges if you have lots of shadows on your PV system (but most liekly you want isntall one anyway in that case).

Zentral Konverters have to be proven much more cost and energy efficient, at least in recent years, that's the reason why those are used.

You also have much less losses when you can use 600V-1000V DC through your wires compared to 110V or 220V AC through your wires from roof top to power grid.