APsystems is proud to receive the “Top Brand PV Seal” from EUPD Research in the inverter category in the French market

Join the APsystems European team !

Based on a successful growth trajectory that started over 7 years ago in Europe, APsystems continues to expand in the European region with key open positions available in the fields of sales, technical support and order administration.

Expert in power electronics at the module level (MLPE) for over 12 years, APsystems designs, manufactures and markets highly innovative solar microinverters to bring solar energy to communities and businesses all over the world. APsystems has more than 130 patents on its products and has become # 1 multi-module microinverter manufacturer in the world. APsystems is a listed company on the Shanghai stock exchange.

With European offices in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Lyon, France, join a profitable human-sized company serving customers in more than 100 countries around the world.

Check the details on our current available job offers:

Sales Manager Netherlands

Business development Manager Germany & Austria

Business development Manager Italy

Technical Support Specialist

Order administration assistant

If you feel you have the right skills and experience to meet one of the above job descriptions, please send your application to : l.winstanley@apsystems.com

Join us, we’re looking for committed, fun and passionate people to help us make a difference!

APsystems is proud to receive the “Top Brand PV Seal” for inverters on the French and Dutch markets from EUPD Research

The “Top Brand PV SEAL award” given to APsystems, is the outcome of an analysis based on a survey with 100 French PV installers and 100 Dutch PV installers. The data collected from installers during the second half of 2021 form the basis of this result.

 

Based on years of research, EUPD Research has developed an annual evaluation model to focus on aspects of successful brand management. The seal is designed to present a complete view of the brand, in which various characteristics of the product play a role.

“For the 3rd consecutive year, APsystems has received the TOP PV brand seal among installers in France and we are very pleased that this award has also been recognized by Dutch installers for the 1st time this year”. said Maxime Boiron, Global Marketing Director, APsystems.” It is extremely gratifying for us to see that our company continues to be recognized as a leading provider of Module Level Power Electronics solutions for the solar industry.

APsystems continues to consolidate its leadership in multi-module microinverter solutions that offer innovative products designed to last. A new generation of microinverters for the residential market was introduced successfully on the market a few months ago. The DS3 series, the 3rd generation of dual microinverters, offers power options to solar professionals from 600 to 960 W AC with interactivity features with power grids (RPC), 97% peak efficiency and 20% fewer components compared to the previous generation.

Last year, APsystems’ global cumulative product shipments surpassed 2 GW, representing close to 3 terawatt hours (TWh) of total energy produced, with a carbon offset of more than 2 million tons of CO2.

APsystems offers the widest range of microinverter solutions to solar professionals and continues to be a leader in photovoltaic innovation, serving its clients in more than 100 countries around the world, with local teams spread across Europe and offices in Lyon France, and Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.

Interview on DS3 in Easy Engineering Magazine

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 looks ahead after a record 2020

New APsystems dual microinverter, the DS3

Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the solar industry and the global economy overall, 2020 was a banner year for APsystems, which continues to advance its leadership in multi-module microinverter solutions.

The international company celebrated its 10th anniversary, surpassed 1 GW in microinverter shipments, marked a one-day delivery milestone, and further strengthened its relationships with partner companies, particularly in the emerging Latin American (LATAM) market.

The beginning

APsystems was founded in Silicon Valley in 2010 and has become a global leader in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of module-level power electronics (MLPE) products based on its solar technology.

The company’s co-founders, President and CEO Dr. Zhi-Min Ling and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Yuhao Luo, both have experience in the semiconductor and photovoltaics industries, having served in leading roles at Xilinx and Solaria Corp.

Within about two years, APsystems launched its first single and duo microinverter products. Later, the company launched the YC1000, the first native three-phase quad microinverter, then the dual microinverter YC600 with RPC function, and the QS1 microinverter.

Alvin Xianyu, APsystems LATAM director

In 2016, Olivier Jacques joined APsystems as vice president. With experience across many high-tech industries, including executive-level positions at Enphase Energy and Samsung Electronics, Jacques played an important role in increasing revenues, developing sales channels, launching a new product platform, and repositioning the company as a value-added solutions provider.

Today, APsystems has grown to encompass several global subsidiaries with warehouses, sales, marketing, and technical support teams around the world, including LatAm, Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, serving customers in more than 120 countries.

Main products include both AC-side microinverters and DC-side rapid shutdown devices for residential and commercial solar installations. The company’s EMA energy monitoring and analysis software also provides customer control over each individual module and microinverter in a solar array.

Alvin Xianyu, LATAM director of APsystems, called the company’s 10-year anniversary a “major landmark,” especially in the evolving inverter industry. “It has been a long and exciting journey,” said Xianyu. “The path we’ve taken to get here has been incredibly fulfilling and has brought a strong sense of accomplishment.”

The company has also been profitable each of the past nine years.

“Staying alive is one thing,” said Xianyu, “but growing profitably when you need to heavily invest in R&D on one side, while keeping enough agility to adapt to an ever-changing emerging market on the other side, is another challenge.”

He added that APsystems’ success is primarily due to the “hard work, determination, and patience of the hundreds of talented and committed people who have joined and believed in this company over the years.”

The milestones

By the end of 2020, APsystems’ global cumulative microinverter shipments surpassed 1 GW, representing more than 3.5 million individual units. They are expected to generate a total 1.24 billion kWh annually and reduce carbon dioxide output by 910,000 tons, equal to the environmental benefits of 45 million trees.

When the impacts of Covid-19 started in early 2020, APsystems adjusted its production and business strategy in a timely manner and achieved growth in several main markets, including the United States, Europe, and LatAm.

APsystems plans to keep concentrating on product and market development. In fact, the company’s next goal is to achieve 1 GW of microinverter shipments annually.

It also reached a one-day delivery milestone last year: On Dec. 1, 2020, the company shipped 22,000 microinverter units totaling over 27 MW. Xianyu said the units were mostly quad microinverters, which offer distributors and installers increased reliability and lower MLPE system costs.

He added the delivery represented a record-setting moment for APsystems and an achievement for any inverter supplier to ship such volume in a single day.

Building long-term partnerships

In 2020, APsystems remained focused on steady growth in the emerging LatAm solar market, especially Brazil. To support that growth, the company also devoted itself to strengthening its relationships with key regional partners.

The company has been in the LatAm market for over eight years, and its products have earned a good reputation among regional installers and other industry stakeholders. Xianyu said the company saw the strong potential of the “fast-growing” LatAm market.

“When you combine sufficient solar irradiance with supportive policies on clean energy from local governments, you obtain strong driving factors which set the foundation for a growing and sustainable solar business in LatAm,” he explained.

Another key to APsystems’ success in LatAm has been close collaboration with leading distributors. The company has been working with Ecori Energia Solar, one of the largest distributed generation (DG) PV system distributors in Brazil, for almost six years. Their partnership has helped increase APsystems’ presence in the promising Brazilian market.

“Both of us have the same view of the MLPE segment, and we treat each other as reliable partners as well as good friends,” said Xianyu.

Leandro Martins, president and founder of Ecori

“With a great sense of professionalism and ethics, together we created this market from scratch,” said Martins. “Our resellers started to migrate their sales from other technologies to APsystems microinverters, and they love it.”

Xianyu credited Ecori’s large business and service network in Brazil to the company’s “very professional team highly responsible for added value and contribution to this market through consistent best-in-class technical support and training.”

Although Brazil is among LatAm’s largest solar markets, it still has some obstacles to overcome. “Each coin has two sides; opportunity and challenge always coexist,” said Xianyu.

He said APsystems keeps an eye on uncertainties like potential policy change, unstable exchange rates, and other big challenges like the unexpected impact of Covid-19. Xianyu also cited a desire to continually lower system costs so that microinverter solutions gain even more interest in commercial applications.

“The greatest challenge we face here is to ensure the resellers also do a great job on their installations,” said Martins. “We know that education and training are key for newcomers in the market, as many new companies need to acquire the necessary knowledge to guarantee high-quality installation services for residential and commercial system owners. We believe this is improving.”

Martins pointed out that Ecori offers free training, both online and at the company’s center in São Paulo city. He said, “We are always available to make our market more professional.”

Another challenge is the discussion over potential changes to Brazil’s DG rules. Martins said he hopes the country’s politicians will protect the solar industry, noting President Jair Bolsonaro “already gave many speeches in its favor.” Martins said some associations, such as Movimento Solar Livre, are also “doing a great job trying to avoid any kind of taxation.”

Both Martins and Xianyu are pleased and encouraged to see Brazil’s DG market becoming increasingly mature.

According to Brazilian solar association ABSolar, the country recently surpassed the historic mark of 7 GW of operational PV power. DG solar accounted for most of that capacity, with more than 4 GW installed. Brazil’s government also recently set a target of 45% renewables by 2050.

To help expand Brazil’s MLPE use, APsystems and Ecori plan on maintaining their partnership. Martins said the companies’ six-year relationship is “just the beginning of a very long journey together.”

The future

New APsystems dual microinverter, the DS3

APsystems already has some new solutions under development. Xianyu said the company will launch a new generation of microinverters for both residential and large roofs based on an entirely new architecture in a few months.

For example, Xianyu mentioned the new APsystems dual microinverter, the DS3. He said this third-generation dual microinverter is the result of unprecedented integration work that has enabled APsystems to reduce the number of components by 20%. It will offer unprecedented power density, delivering 50% more AC output power than the YC600, and will be “fully compatible with our current single-phase dual and quad, the YC600 & QS1, for installation on the same roof.”

After celebrating the company’s 10-year anniversary, reaching milestones, and strengthening key partnerships in emerging markets, APsystems is excited about the future.

“APsystems is now well recognized for its leadership in multi-module microinverter solutions, bringing innovative products to market that are built to last,” said Xianyu. “This is the DNA of the company and will continue to be.”

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

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.

Ecological transition report – APsystems, the high tech solar company – published in MANAGEMENT, French magazine, September 2020

 

Discover the exclusive interview from Olivier Jacques, President, Global Executive VP at APsystems, who looks back on the background and prospects of APsystems.

Extract: In 2020, APsystems celebrates 10 years as a leader in the microinverter market. A cocktail of innovation and daring, APsystems optimizes photovoltaic installations with state-of-the-art products and monitoring accessible to all. Thanks to its openness and its ability to adapt, the company has positioned itself as a benchmark in its sector in 120 countries and can boast of being profitable since 2012. Camille Erder, journalist for Management meets Olivier Jacques, President, Global Executive VP at APsystems.

Camille Erder: How do you explain the hypergrowth of APsystems?

Olivier Jacques: APsystems started in 2010 as a research laboratory in Silicon Valley. When I took over as Executive VP a little over five years ago, I understood that we had to focus on marketing by opening up internationally and offering simple and connected products. APsystems has strongly contributed to the democratization of the solar energy market thanks to its software accessible to all. Our ability to innovate and adapt has enabled us to export our range of products and services all over the world and to build trusted partnerships with many companies, both in the industrial and tertiary fields and in the residential sector.

The DNA of the company is its profitability and the secret of our success is the regular questioning of our positioning, the free will of our teams and the overall nature of our multicultural company.

Camille Erder: Does the ecological transition impact your projects?

Olivier Jacques: The energy transition pushes us more than ever to innovate in order to provide ecological solutions while preserving user comfort. For us, technology is the answer … APsystems favors interactions with energy suppliers to advance in the ecological transition, by finding alternative energy sources and by adapting our future installations.

Read the entire interview (Available in French).

New APsystems project references video available

Did You Know? APsystems products are installed both in residential and C&I , powering the next generation of Zero-Energy Buildings all over the world.  From Europe to Australia, the USA or China, APsystems serves solar professionals in more than 80 countries.

See how APsystems and its installation partners contribute to a more sustainable energy future through solar powered buildings across the world. You can also download our project references PDF overview here.

 

 

 

Interview from Dr Ling, co-founder and Chairman at APsystems

When uncertain times defy innovation, new opportunities shine brightly for a long time.

This year marks APsystems’ 10th anniversary. While the situation worldwide is facing unexpected challenges on many fronts during this very particular year 2020 with the Coronavirus pandemic, Dr Zhi Min Ling, co-founder and chairman of APsystems, shares his views on his entrepreneurial story with APsystems from its very beginning when the economic effects of the 2008 financial crisis were still strongly present to where APsystems is today, having become the #1 multi-module microinverter supplier in the world. It is as if challenging uncertainty could also be a key in building long-lasting opportunities.

2020 is the year of APsystems celebrating its 1st decade, how does it make you feel?

Fortunate, honored and grateful. It is a major milestone for the company, especially in this very fast-changing inverter industry which is at the crossroads of high-tech microelectronics, energy and environmentally-friendly building sectors. Staying alive is one thing but growing profitably when you need to heavily invest in R&D on one side, while keeping enough agility to adapt to an ever-changing emerging market on the other side, is another challenge. The fact that we have been growing for 10 years while reaching profitability every year since 2012, is primarily down to the hard work, determination and patience of the hundreds of talented and committed people who have joined and believed in this company over the years.

What encouraged you to set up APsystems? And how has the company evolved over the years?

The company has changed dramatically for sure. We can look at the company’s development in two phases, I think. The foundation 2010 – 2012: it was the very beginning where every priority was focused on setting up our expertise in power electronics conversion designs to create a robust and cost-efficient microinverter solution. Within about two years, we managed to design, manufacture and launch our 1st single and duo microinverter products with the YC250 and YC500 which later became the best-selling duo microinverter worldwide. We set up our headquarters in Jiaxing, China, where we still manufacture our products thanks to the help of TDG group, our main shareholder and share our R&D department between Jiaxing and Cupertino….Then the 2nd phase was characterized by one obsession: how to make APsystems Grow Internationally with no compromise to profitability. Although we are still in this phase with constant profitability every year since 2012, I would say that over the past six years (2013-2019), and especially since Olivier Jacques joined the company in 2015, we have managed to structure ourselves by Business Units on all continents enabling us to serve our customers in more than 80 countries today.

What were the main challenges along the way?

It is quite fascinating to be able to be part of this solar revolution. Helping to make solar an affordable clean energy solution to everyone on this earth is inspiring but of course, the technological challenges are big. If you take communications for example, microinverters manage a considerable number of data points that need to be communicated back from the microinverters through the gateway and to the monitoring platform in the cloud. This means when systems like the YC1000, QS1 and YC600 apply remote firmware upgrades, this creates a demanding bidirectional data flow and traditional powerline communication isn’t going to cut it. This is the reason why we moved our portfolio to high-speed wireless Zigbee, which is up to three times faster than conventional powerline communication (PLC), creating a local 2.4GHz mesh network for fast and reliable data communication between the microinverters and the gateway.

Another constant challenge has been to adapt to increasingly complex market needs. The progressive integration of PV into the electricity networks has required Inverter manufacturers in many countries to release products capable of interacting in real-time with grid operators. Whether it is to adjust the PV production instantaneously, depending on the state of the network, or to prevent any electron from being sent back, performing such a functionality for the coming 20 years in a reliable manner with a product smaller than an A4 sheet and weighing 3kg average is a genuine achievement in technological integration, entailing very sophisticated R&D , manufacturing and testing capabilities.

How is the Pandemic situation affecting your activity?

When the COVID-19 first appeared in China at the beginning of the year, our activities were relatively spared since part of our production comes from outside China, even though a slowdown in manufacturing occurred during a period of about 1 month in the first quarter. The good news is that as we master the production infrastructure, we were able to quickly increase our production rate when the situation improved a few weeks later, ensuring a constant continuity of supply to all our customers and warehouse locations across the world.

Despite the inherent agility of our distributor partners and solar installers staying open and continuing their job as far as possible, we have inevitably been confronted by a slowdown in our sales activity worldwide this quarter. Uncertainty is the most difficult parameter to deal with when it lasts, it is the same for everyone as an individual but it is also a genuine opportunity to confront and challenge ourselves by overtaking obstacles with self-confidence. I strongly believe that the creativity and flexibility of our industry will rapidly lead to recovery during the 2nd half of this year.

What’s next for APsystems?

APsystems is now well recognized for its leadership in multi-module microinverters solutions bringing innovative products to market that are built to last. This is the DNA of the company and will continue to be. We have several new microinverter products planned to be launched in the coming 18 months including a new native 3-phase QUAD microinverter at the end of this year, but our ambition moving forward is also to increase our position in other Module Level Power Electronics. We have recently launched, especially in the United States, APsmart, a new Business Unit that includes advanced safety products such as a Module Level Rapid Shut-Down (MLRSD) device to meet new safety regulations on MW-scale solar projects. The APsmart MLRSD System is a SunSpec Alliance Certified device which maintains constant communication between the RSD and Transmitter, constantly monitoring voltage and current. APsmart offers state-of-the-art PV module rapid shutdown devices (RSD), ideal for any new or existing string or central inverter system, and meeting U.S. NEC 2017 690.12 Rapid Shutdown requirements.

APsystems is also working on a modular AC coupled Energy Storage System (ESS) for residential where priority, similarly to every product we manufacture, is given to high quality & reliability.

Download the full article here

 

 

APsystems Powerful Innovation for a Sustainable Future

Powerful Innovation for a Sustainable Future

World Environment Day  has been celebrated on June 5  to encourage awareness and environmental protection. According to the United Nations, “the celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises, and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment.” The day is celebrated by engaging governments, businesses, celebrities and citizens to focus their efforts on a pressing environmental issue and broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct also for individuals, enterprises and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment.

The theme of World Environment 2020 is ‘celebrating biodiversity’ — a concern that is urgent and existential. The current environmental could be considered of a warning that we must heel collectively or must fundamentally rethink our relationship with the living world, with natural ecosystems and their biodiversity. It is about time to control our lifestyle and contribute to saving the environment by shunning use of plastic, growing trees and using alternative sources of energy. Most of the electricity used by us is generated fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) causing pollution. These harmful gases also contribute depletion of the ozone layer. Therefore we must turn to solar, wind, or geothermal energy. Installing a solar energy system is an incredibly beneficial financial decision for your home or business, it can also contribute substantially to the wellness of the environment and to public health as a whole.

By using solar, you can reduce demand for fossil fuels, limit greenhouse gas emissions, shrink your carbon footprint or decrease the risk of health issues.  APsystems has given a massive push towards renewable energy generation. All over the world, there are over 100.000 installations with APsystems Microinverters having generated more than 1.2 TW of solar energy by now and resulting in more than 226.000 tons of carbon offset.

See how APsystems contributes to a more sustainable and healthy future on the video.