APsystems Surpasses 2 GW of Shipments Worldwide

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

JIAXING, China – March 7th, 2022 – APsystems, the global leader in multi-platform solar MLPE devices, today announced it has surpassed 2 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity to date in 2022. APsystems now has more than 146,000 solar installation sites in over 100 countries utilizing its groundbreaking microinverters and rapid shutdown devices (RSDs).

The announcement comes as APsystems passes the 1-million-unit mark for RSD shipments under its APsmart brand, another major achievement for the company. Since launching in 2019, APsmart business units have experienced solid growth supported by an innovative range of SunSpec compliant rapid shutdown devices including single and dual-module solutions.

“Reaching two gigawatts is a tremendous accomplishment for our global organization and a milestone we are all very proud of,” said Dr. Zhi-min Ling, co-founder and chairman of APsystems. “Our customers around the world recognize the tremendous value and benefits of using APsystems products. This milestone is the result of our commitment to consistently add to that value and support our customers’ goals.”

In addition to the high-efficiency power conversion provided by APsystems products in sites around the world, the 2 GW milestone translates to roughly 2.8 terawatt hours (TWh) of total energy produced, with a carbon offset of more than 2 million tons of CO2.

“APsystems has been a benchmark leader in solar energy since 2010,” said Olivier Jacques, APsystems president of global business units and global executive vice-president. “We have been recognized for creating the best-selling native 3-phase quad microinverter, and, recently, the most powerful range of dual-module microinverters in the world with the DS3 series. We are driven to push the boundaries of solar power.”

APsystems’ success in reaching the 2 GW milestone as cumulative shipments of microinverters and RSD solutions, is attributed, in large part, to its global dedication to innovation combined with the experience and capabilities of its employees in each business unit around the world. Driven by customer demand, the power electronics design experts comprising APsystems’ engineering and R&D teams employ the latest breakthroughs in power inversion circuitry, semiconductor device technology, high-speed encrypted communication protocols and intelligent control. APsystems’ newly introduced product line, the DS3 microinverter series, is a continuation of its ever-evolving roadmap centered on disruptive solar technology.

Additionally, APsystems continues to invest in its gateway software, inverter firmware, and its cloud-based online platform to protect installer and consumer data while providing customers with the best possible user experience. APsystems’ information security management system (ISMS) is now certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (also known as ISO27001), the international standard for information security, and encrypted Zigbee technology has been integrated as a standard feature in all new generations of multi-module microinverters.

People, innovation and leading-edge system design and security are part of the framework that has propelled APsystems to the forefront of global solar MLPE system leadership. APsystems would like to thank all its customers, partners, and employees for being part of this tremendous achievement, and for positively impacting its story, and indeed the world itself, for the better.

Interview on DS3 in Easy Engineering Magazine

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Great interview and discussion on the new DS3 product line in Easy Engineering Magazine featuring our own Maxime Boiron!

Read the full article here: https://easyengineering.eu/interview-with-apsystems/

APsystems Photo Contest

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DS3 PHOTOS CONTEST EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE 30th ! COMPETITION OPEN TO PROFESSIONAL INSTALLERS USING THE DS3 MICROINVERTER.

PHOTO CONTEST FOR SOLAR PROFESSIONALS!

Submit the best photos of your installations with DS3 microinverters and get the chance to win € 500 in vouchers. Winners each month until June 30th, 2022.

Take part in the photography competition that APsystems is launching this winter. Stand out from competition with your DS3 micros in action! Get creative and you could win € 500.

Exclusively reserved for installers using our DS3 series of microinverters.

Share your best project with us – what sets it apart, from conception to commissioning. Is it an exceptional or original project? Is its roofing unique, complex, is the economic model supporting it innovative? Does the type of building that accommodates have particular constraints? Explain it to us and share the details of the project (using the form on the right), including a brief description of the installation. Be sure to include photos and close-ups that show our DS3 microinverters in action. Entries will be judged by the APsystems team.

Take this opportunity to not only try to win 500 € but also gain visibility through projects that will be showcased on our website and other communication platforms. Submit your application using the form on this page. If the photos are too large (> 5MB), we invite you to send them by shared transfer link or by email to emea@apsystems.com.

Please read the terms and conditions of the contest before entering. If you have any questions, you can use the form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. This competition is open all winter until the end of June 2022. For residential or commercial solar applications: submit your best photos of installations with DS3 microinverters and you could WIN € 500€.

Submit your images on this page.

Installer portrait in Poland : SunUp ( article published on www.gramwzielone.pl on November 8th)

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Having taken part in the rapid residential solar market growth in Poland over the last 2 years, APsystems is committed to continue providing innovative microinverter solutions perfectly suited to Polish residential and small-scale commercial demand and helping solar professionals differentiate from competition. The example of the installation company SunUp, based in the Silesian district in Poland, is a good illustration of how the solar installer landscape in Poland is currently evolving towards smarter AC microinverter-based solar solutions to enhance comprehensive services related to PV installations for its customers.  It is also a way to address consumer demand more proactively and propose a full energy efficiency solution approach that includes heat pumps together with solar and self-consumption for households .

SunUp background

Let’s take a closer look at SunUp… It all started with its founder, Michał Klimek, who gained extensive experience managing energy projects in Poland and abroad, in Malaysia, Iceland, the United States and Sweden, before setting up his own solar installation company SunUp in Poland in 2019.

Beyond the founder’s ecological awareness, the main trigger pushing Mr Klimek to set up SunUp was the opportunity offered by the utility companies and the Polish government to Polish people to cover most of their electricity needs with solar thanks to an annual billing mechanism reaching over 80% of the self-consumption rate, using the network as a virtual battery system throughout the year.

Two years later, and despite a sensitive period with the pandemic, SunUp boasts over 60 residential and 4 commercial installations completed with APsystems microinverters, reaching over 400 kWp. At the end of 2021, Sunup will complete a 49.95 kWp installation based on APsystems microinverters. In addition to PV installations, SunUp also offers its customers ecological heat pumps that are complementary to PV systems, helping to increase the building’s auto consumption ratio.

A multi-residential project in Rybnik

A recent housing cooperative project located in Rybnik, Poland, is a good example of this green energy transition dynamic. This project consisted in 7 multi-family residential buildings, belonging to the Rybnik Housing Cooperative, which had objectives to reduce energy costs for its investors via its own solar-powered roofs. It was also a way for the housing corporation to contribute to a cleaner way to generate electricity without using fossil fuels, which remain the vast majority of conventional power plants in Poland.

The result is 11 photovoltaic installations for a total project size of approximately 42 kWp.

Mr Klimek explained the main challenges on this project:

“Firstly, we had to look for a safe, reliable solution. During the engineering phase, we realized that we were lacking space inside the building for any traditional string inverters. , the roofs built in the late 70’s each had a slightly different angle and a variety of orientations. The solutions needed a high degree of flexibility… For all these reasons, multi-module microinverters from APsystems appeared to be the best solution we could propose to our customer.”

“Another big advantage with APsystems is that each PV module benefits from its own MPP tracker, so we do not have to worry about any problems that could occur with production for our client. We can easily supervise the production of any PV module remotely. And here we are talking about 106 modules.” He concluded.

The advantages of microinverters

Leveraging a safe, more productive, and easier to maintain AC solution was key for SunUp to select APsystems microinverters for this project. It strengthened SunUp’s team confidence in building reliable PV installations in challenging conditions under a tight time schedule and budget.

With the rapid development of self-consumption in both residential and larger projects, accelerated by a constant energy price increase, APsystems is very confident in the success of its current and upcoming multimodule microinverter range with the new DS3 dual series and QT2 3-phase Quad in Poland. As a proud member of Sunspec Alliance and SBF in Poland, APsystems continues to be a leader in the ever-growing solar MLPE segment offering smart and easy-to-install microinverter solutions.

Read the full article in POLISH on Gramwzielone.pl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sizing of PV-system increases yield dramatically

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Correct sizing of PV system is important for increasing yield

What is the DC-AC ratio of solar panels connected to an inverter? Within the design of a PV system, the capacity of the solar panels exceeding the capacity of the inverter is called oversizing. Reasonable over ratio design can significantly optimize inverter yields, reduce AC side equipment costs and increase overall efficiency.

Why is oversizing necessary?

The nominal power of the solar panels is the maximum output under ideal conditions in a test laboratory. However, in normal life circumstances appear to be more complex, the weather is not a constant, so the output power of panels is always variable. Due to many factors, losses inevitably occur which will cause the output power of the panels to be lower than the rated power tested. If you would you like to know more about the factors that can affect the output power of modules, such as

  1. The sun as an energy source
  2. Degradation of solar panels
  3. The angle of the solar panel
  4. Other factors

 

Summary: This article demonstrates that the actual output power of the modules is lower at their nominal power. In order to improve the utilization rate of the inverter, it is considered good practice to use DC side oversizing. Using the NREL-SAM simulation example, the data proves that increasing the DC-to-AC ratio will result in higher power generation. Although there may be a loss through clipping, the increase in power generation of the system is always greater than the loss caused by clipping.The optimum ratio of direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) ) requires a full consideration of the benefits of system power generation, system installation costs, operation and maintenance costs, and overall system production (loss of module production and mismatch effects associates etc.), in order to strike a balance between the increased costs by over-sizing on the DC side and the revenue gains generated by the electricity production of the system. Reasonable DC to AC ratio can increase system profits, reduce system cost per kilowatt hour, and maximize overall profits.

Please read the full paper on sizing.

 

“The DS3, a completely new architecture”- Interview from Dr LUO, CTO & co-founder of APsystems

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APsystems co-founder and CTO, based in Cupertino, Silicon Valley, unveils the technological background of the most powerful microinverter on the market: the NEW dual DS3 (for Dual, Single-phase, 3rd generation) coming approximately September 2021.

Dr. Luo, APsystems is planning to launch its 3rd generation dual Microinverter very soon, how does this product differ from previous generations?

« It has now been a decade since we gradually established ourselves as the global benchmark in multi-module microinverters for the solar industry. Our expertise in power electronics allows us to design and manufacture a wide range of MLPE solutions (Module-Level Power Electronics) on top of our well-known range of microinverters. Regarding our dual microinverter range, the 1st generation with the YC500, launched eight years ago, has received a phenomenal reception in the world market and has strongly reinforced our idea that a dual microinverter architecture solution with 2 MPPT connecting two modules makes complete sense. Since then, we have not stopped innovating, year after year, with ever more powerful, integrated and intelligent products. In 2017, we launched the 2nd generation of single-phase dual, the YC600, which, beyond superior AC output power, incorporates Zigbee communications with all the competitive advantages it brings in terms of signal speed, robustness and ease of installation for professionals. The company has also chosen to integrate this communication technology across the entire product range.

 

At this stage, we also needed to make our products interactive with power grids. A feature commonly referred to as RPC (Reactive Power Control) or reactive power factor management, has been increasingly requested by utilities to better manage photovoltaic power spikes in the grid and facilitate its integration. This is a requirement, already in force in countries like Germany, US, Italy or Australia, which is gradually spreading all over the world. The DS3, our 3rd generation dual microinverter planned to be released on the market approximately September 2021, not only brings together all the innovations from previous generations but goes even further.

First, it relies on a completely new architecture that will provide 50% higher power, and higher efficiency. We have also added enhanced communication security leveraging Texas Instruments’ Zigbee module, a global benchmark in this field, onto which we are adding a cybersecurity tool called Karamba to make code programming completely inviolable and all PV production data processed by our customers fully secured. In terms of form factor design and microinverter materials utilized for the casing, we have also opted for an innovative, optimized, compact design combining cast aluminum on the front and rugged polymer on the back making the product lighter while maximizing its power. All components are still encapsulated with silicone to reduce stress on the electronic components, facilitate thermal dissipation, enhance waterproof properties and ensure maximum reliability of the system via rigorous testing methods including 20 000 hours of accelerated life testing and many other procedures which are part of our ISO 9001 certification process. This generation is also a result of unprecedented integration work that has enabled us to reduce the number of components by 20% while delivering 50% more AC output power than the YC600, our current generation. It is a technical achievement and an industry 1st to reach a record 900 W AC power output on a dual microinverter! With 97% efficiency and a wide range of MPPT operating voltage, the DS3 will be able to connect two modules up to 650 Wc each. It supports all utility requirements for remote control and programming. It also has improved remote upgrade functions to ensure any future requirements. The product is currently going through all safety certifications and compliances. The DS3 is a groundbreaking, grid interactive product that will democratize even further the use of microinverters in the residential and multi-residential solar market segments. »

Sendom and Stilo Energy choose APsystems Microinverters for a 350 Zero Energy housing program

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Not only zero energy, but almost free energy as well. This is a new smart home in Sendom’s offer. Photovoltaic installations will be provided by Stilo Energy, with which Sendom has concluded a contract for the construction of 350 photovoltaic houses with a total capacity of 3 MW. The cost of the house is PLN 299,000 (below 67,000€)

The Sendom company from Stary Kiszewa in the Pomeranian Voivodeship is one of the largest producers of prefabricated houses in Poland. Until now, the buildings proposed by it were equipped with a heat pump and mechanical and ventilation systems in order to reduce operating costs to a minimum.

From now on, houses offered by Sendom will be equipped with photovoltaic panels, which will be supplied and installed by Stilo Energy.

As Stilo Energy assures, Sendom customers themselves were an inspiration for houses equipped with solar energy as standard.

The buildings we offer are energy-efficient. The cost of electric home heating does not exceed PLN 1,000 per year (Eq. to 223€ per year). So why not generate electricity yourself, our customers ask us. That is why we decided to introduce a zero-energy house to our offer, which will be self-sufficient not only in terms of heating, but also allow our clients to use free electricity – comments Barłomiej Kantrzonka from Sendom.

In photovoltaic installations, Stilo Energy  has chosen QS1 microinverters from APsystems.

Photovoltaics in a mortgage loan

Over the next year, Sendom plans to sell 350 buildings from the series known as Smart, which, apart from a photovoltaic installation with a capacity of 6.4 kWp, also includes the use of, among others air-water heat pump. The usable area of ​​the house will be 111.5 m2, and the floor area is 139 m2.

The company emphasizes that the purchase of a house with a photovoltaic installation is financially more advantageous than the purchase of a house and the subsequent installation of the system due to the possibility of covering the installation with mortgage financing.

A house with photovoltaics as standard can be financed with a mortgage, provided that the purchase of both will take place simultaneously. It is a very attractive form of investment financing due to better credit conditions. In this way, customers benefit in two ways: they save on electricity bills and loan costs – says Krzysztof Koronkiewicz from Stilo Energy.

 

Meander office building turns into a 428 kWp solar-powered social housing complex

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When office space reinvents itself  into sustainable housing with solar, 250 social rental homes offer low energy bills to their tenants.

The Meander office building was opened in the late 1990s and served as a town hall in Nieuwegein (Netherlands) for a long time. In recent years, the complex has been completely renovated and transformed into a residential building with over 250 social rental homes. In order to meet the wishes of future tenants and the requirements of today, each home has its own heat pump and a connection to solar panels. The houses are also gas free (the majority of households in the Netherlands use gas for heating and cooking), so that each resident has an extremely low energy bill and energy consumption is not at the expense of the environment.

The installer NewSolar, responsible for the installation of more than 420 kilowatt peak, equipped each home with 6 solar panels from Trina Solar. For the technology and conversion behind the solar panels, micro-inverters from APsystems were deliberately chosen. By using micro-inverters, it was not necessary to install a separate inverter in each home, so that no unnecessary space was taken up in the homes. This also precludes improper use by the tenant / resident due to the lack of additional electrical equipment in the apartments.

The ability to give each resident access to his or her yield, at virtually no additional cost, was a decisive factor in choosing APsystems.

Only 2 micro-inverters are installed per home, the QS1 and the YC600, to which 4 and 2 solar panels can be connected respectively. By using these micro-inverters, no additional facilities (e.g. wiring) is required per home and a very short installation time is guaranteed. This is made possible thanks to standard integrated Zigbee communication features in all Microinverters and Energy Communication Units (ECU) from APsystems.

Thanks to APsystems’ unique Shared Monitoring, each resident has access to his own yield thanks to a login code via his mobile or tablet, for example. When using the ECU-R (Energy Communication Unit), managing and maintaining an overview and remote monitoring is possible, so services can be easily provided without even paying a visit to the tenants.

APsystems joined the approved vendor list for Sunnova, a leading U.S. residential solar and energy storage service provider.

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APsystems joined the approved vendor list for Sunnova, a leading U.S. residential solar and energy storage service provider.

Read PES solar article here

The agreement brings APsystems advanced microinverter technology to Sunnova’s portfolio of top-tier, consumer-friendly solar services. Sunnova offers an array of solar lease, lease-to-own, and power-purchase options for customers all across the United States.

“Sunnova has earned a strong reputation for easy, no-nonsense solar packages for consumers,” said Jason Higginson, Senior Director of Marketing for APsystems USA. “We’re glad to bring our solar microinverter technology to their platform, to help more homeowners nationwide enjoy energy self-sufficiency and savings.”

“Our goal is to offer our customers a brilliant choice for energizing their lives,” said John Santo Salvo, SVP of Channel Operations and Chief Procurement Officer at Sunnova. “We believe APsystems’ advanced microinverter offering is an ideal addition to our customer-empowering portfolio of solar solutions.”

Smart Software for fewer truck rolls

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By Larry Busby, Technical Services Manager at APsystems USA

For a PV installer, there’s nothing worse than having to return to a jobsite. Except, of course, having to do it more than once. We’ve all heard the expression “work smarter, not harder,” but you would be surprised how often solar installers get in a truck and roll out to a jobsite to adjust or repair something that probably could have been fixed remotely back at HQ. Many software-savvy solar installers are boning up on best-practices to better utilize the systems and information already available to them—most of it right at their fingertips—to save both time and money.

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For solar arrays, the most critical software typically lies within the power conversion devices, gateways and interconnected online monitoring platform provided by the inverter manufacturer. The online platform not only monitors the performance of the system, but also tracks a profusion of data points simultaneously and stores that information in the cloud. By checking certain performance specs, settings, activity and historical data, installers can quickly troubleshoot and fix common hitches or, at worst, narrow down the problem that’s plaguing a PV system.

Every inverter monitoring interface is a little different, but much of the information and tools available are typically the same. With an MLPE system like microinverters, you’re able to drill down to the PV panel level to see what each module is producing at any given time. When troubleshooting a system issue, or perhaps if you see a PV panel which is reporting low or zero watts, first try rebooting the system remotely if your monitoring platform offers that capability. With some systems, a reboot may help the interface identify the issue or it might reset the array to its default parameters in case an unusual grid event threw a monkey wrench at it. It could also spur the system to begin downloading recent updates which may have stalled when the system encountered the issue. You may even consider rebooting more than once.

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If you’re still troubleshooting the issue, check the DC side of your system. For a microinverter system, you want to be sure each inverter is reporting at its minimal operating range (such as 16V) incoming DC from the panel. Next, check your AC output. If your system shows it registering 0V or 120V, the inverter may not be sensing the grid or enough volts from the grid to register as a 230V grid connection. Without an identified grid connection, the inverter will not convert energy, so if you see this as an issue with multiple sequential inverters, it could be a cable or connector problem. If it applies to the entire string or array, the problem could be a loose wire in the junction box, or a tripped or off breaker.

With a low wattage problem, you can drill down to the panel level online and check the voltage. If it’s registering under its minimal operating range, it’s likely a panel problem and not the inverter. You may still have to visit the site, but at least you know what you’re replacing and exactly where it is on the array which saves you time troubleshooting. When you hit the site, unplug the suspect panel from the inverter and take a live load DC voltage and current reading. If your panel is reading below its minimum startup voltage and 0 current, then the panel is the culprit and needs replacing.

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Also, don’t underestimate the value of historical data. Looking back over a system’s history—especially that of a single panel—may allow you to identify recurring issues that seem to affect that particular panel. Perhaps a chimney shadow hits the panel at the same time each day. You can look back through the production history to see if it occurs often, or if you have multiple installations in a particular area, you can check each of those when you see unusual grid activity to see if and how it may be affecting your other sites.

Understanding what the site metrics are telling you will give you better insight into what’s happening at a job site. Learning what you can do to troubleshoot an issue online can not only save you a truck roll, but also significantly reduce your time identifying the problem if you do have to drive to the site. Most importantly, if you do need to hit the job site, remember that safety is paramount and to always turn off the AC before doing any work on the roof.