Enecsys to reveal solar PV micro-inverter technology for highest reliability at Intersolar Europe 2010
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Enecsys Limited is to reveal details of its ground-breaking solar PV grid connected micro-inverter technology at Intersolar Europe 2010 in Munich, Germany, June 9 – 11. The company’s solar micro-inverter will be on show for the first time, complete with its wireless smart monitoring system. Enecsys will discuss the design innovations that have been used to enhance the reliability of its micro-inverters to the point at which their life expectancy matches that of PV solar modules. The company will also discuss the accelerated life tests that underpin the expected reliability of the product.
The Enecsys micro-inverter was developed in Cambridge, UK, and is manufactured in Europe. It is the first solar PV micro-inverter designed to meet the technical requirements of both European and US markets. There will be a demonstration of the Enecsys smart monitoring software at the booth.
Enecsys will launch its solar micro-inverter and monitoring system at a press conference at Intersolar Europe 2010 on Wednesday, June 9th.
Enecsys was incorporated in Cambridge, UK in 2003. The company’s award-winning solar micro-inverter technology was originally developed at Cambridge University, one of the world’s most revered centres of technical innovation. More information is available at www.enecsys.com.
Micro-inverter architectures, with an inverter located behind each solar module, are now being widely deployed to overcome the disadvantages of conventional string systems with central inverters. Enecsys micro-inverters reduce the cost per harvested watt of energy by 15% - 25% over the life of the system. Shading caused by clouds or obstructions have minimal impact on overall system performance because power is harvested from each module individually, rather than from groups of modules strung together. This also means that installations can mix and match different modules and do not need to be on the same roof plane, multiple planes can be used to harvest more energy and systems are scalable. A potential single point of failure – the central inverter – is eliminated and dangerous high-voltage DC is not produced, according to the makers.
Not wishing to sound anti here but I, while well understanding the need for an inverter if AC is wanted, cannot see why an inverter per solar panel, for instance. Panels should be designed in such a way that they produce 12 V DC and then put together in such a way that only that voltage is being produced though the amperage being increased. The current thus produced should then charge a bank of batteries and only if AC is required should an inverter be needed.
We would really make good use of renewables if we would, finally, understand that we do NOT need 240V AC 50Hz (or 117V AC 60Hz) for most things. The opposite rather.
Most appliances today, with the exception of white goods for the kitchen, e.g. cooker, fridge, washing machine, etc., all run on voltages of 12V DC or below and requiring power converters (transformers) to step down the voltage and turn it into DC.
Your laptop, netbook, or even your desktop PC all run on low DC voltages (as long as you no longer use a CRT monitor with your desktop PC) and use much more power than necessary, in the conversion. Would they be directly fed with 12V DC and then, where needed a step down would be achieved by means of semiconductors the wattage would be so much less.
That, however, would require a completely new infrastructure at home, with a 12V DC lighting and socket circuit and one for higher voltage for use with the kitchen appliances, if required.
While everyone in power is very reluctant to suggest that and industry too – for they make good money on the big turbines and panels – this is a way that we will have to go, simply already for the fact that the wind does not always blow not do PVs produce always enough current during the day either.
This means that we need to have a way of storing the energy and that needs batteries and AC cannot be stored.
Therefore we need to work with DC of 12V, which also will make panels and especially turbines so much cheaper. In fact, as far as wind turbines are concerned, you can build your own with a windmill and an automobile/truck alternator. Not that business will tell you that. They all ride the green bandwagon and hope for huge profits from the green requirements that will come into force in the next couple of years.
© 2010
