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October 21, 2004 |
It's so they could use the Solar Power 2004 solar energy conference in San
Francisco as a jumping off point for announcements of new products and projects.
The highly competitive inverter market has seen perhaps the most action with
Xantrex and Fronius both unveiling new grid-tie models for the residential
market.
Fronius is expanding its product line of solar power inverters to include three
higher power units for the U.S. market, the Fronius IG 4000, IG 5100 and the
Fronius IG 4500-LV (208V). These inverters have a power output of 4000 W, 5100 W
and 4500 W respectively and offer solar contractors additional choices for
residential and commercial grid-tied solar systems. The company said the higher
output inverters are tailored specifically to meet the growing trend toward
larger residential PV arrays in the 5-10 kW range.
Fronius said their inverters incorporate a new technology to increase overall
system efficiency. The Fronius IG MIX Concept optimally loads individual power
stages of the inverter under varying sunlight levels and temperatures
maintaining high efficiency over a wide range of power levels resulting in
increased energy output from the system. By cycling operating hours between
power stages, Fronius said the units are able to extend the lifetime,
reliability and performance of the inverters power electronic components.
Weighing in at 26 and 42 lbs., the Fronius IG inverters incorporate built-in DC
and AC disconnects to eliminate the need for external breakers in many cases,
reducing total system costs. The inverters come standard with an integrated LCD
where the installer can view and record over 20 parameters pertaining to
inverter and system operation. Optional remote data communications and data
logging features can be added via Plug-n-Play cards to transform IG inverters
into a data acquisition system and weather station.
Not to be outdone, Xantrex introduced their own new residential inverter.
Available now, the Xantrex GT 3.0 Grid Tie Solar Inverter is based on a new
technology platform which they say costs less per watt and is easier to install
than other inverters on the market.
Engineered to make the most of a PV grid-tie system investment, the GT 3.0
maximizes the energy output of PV panels through maximum power point tracking (MPPT).
Xantrex said their GT 3.0 ensures the highest energy harvest through a wide
range of conditions, including high-temperature environments where other solar
inverters lose their efficiency. It provides 3,000 watts of power up to 86
degrees F (30 degrees C) and 2,500 watts of power between 30 degrees C (86
degrees F) and 45 degrees C (113 degrees F) and continues to produce up to 65
degrees C (149 degrees F). Other inverters start to de-rate below 2,500 watts in
air temperatures as cool as 25 degrees C (77 degrees F), said the company.
The GT 3.0 has a sleek, modular design and comes in a beige color designed to
complement any home. The unit has an integrated, lockable utility/PV disconnect
and its easily accessible wiring box provides protection for all AC and DC
connections by eliminating exposed wiring during inverter installation and
removal. It weighs 45 pounds, light enough to be lifted by
one person without assistance, and has a hook-style back plate that makes
mounting easy.
Xantrex engineers tested it extensively under extreme thermal and mechanical
conditions to detect and address potential product design issues. Backed by a
five-year warranty, the Xantrex GT 3.0 Grid Tie Solar Inverter is available now
for a suggested retail price of US$2,500 through leading renewable energy
distributors in North America. In the near future, Xantrex will launch the GT
3.0 in Europe where consumer demand for clean renewable energy has spurred
growth in the solar grid-tie inverter market.
The U.S.-made inverter manufacturer PV Powered didn't launch a new inverter at
the show, but the company's President, Bill Taylor, announced new, lower prices
on the company's StarInverter 1800 and 2800 watt grid-tie PV inverters. This
marks the second price reduction this year on the company's StarInverter series.
There was less news in terms of new solar PV launches. SunPower announced the
North American launch of its solar PV module line, which previously had only
been available in Europe.
The company's new product line comprises three module types, all using the
SunPower's unique A-300 all-back-contact solar cells, which the company says,
generate up to 50 percent more power than traditional PV modules. The SPR-210 is
SunPower's flagship product with total module area conversion efficiency
approaching 17 percent and a power rating of 210 watts. The SPR-200 is an
all-black version of the SPR-210, incorporating a unique module package that
makes the individual solar cells virtually disappear. SunPower said the SPR-200
represents the ultimate combination of high efficiency and superior aesthetics
to meet the needs of the most discriminating customers.
Sometimes it's easy to forget that there's more to a solar PV project than the
modules and inverters. How one chooses to mount the modules can have major
implications in the overall efficiency and cost of a project. UniRac, which
specializes in solar PV racking systems, announced a new 6-inch PV PoleTop
racking system built around a gimbal that offers continuous adjustability to
arrays as large as 140 square feet. UniRac said the patent pending gimbal
improves on fixed-increment tilt arrangements by facilitating any tilt angle
from 0 to 60 degrees from the horizontal. An array is quicker than ever to
install, and adjustment is easier, both initially and after installation, said
the company.
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