SolarEdge
SolarEdge is a provider of photovoltaic power generation and energy monitoring systems. The company has its headquarters in Israel and maintains offices in the U.S., Germany and Japan.
Background
Traditional photovoltaic usually characterized by centralized inverter. Since solar modules are always connected in series in one strand, flows through all modules of the same stream. The inverter regulates its input current per string on one of the modules averaged maximum power point, the so-called maximum power point (MPP ). As a result, more power is lost as soon as mismatch of the modules is present, which in many cases due to tolerances in the manufacturing process, partial shading, unequal levels of contamination and uneven alignment can not be prevented. In addition, losses can be extremely hot (alternating irradiation by clouds), as well as losses due to over-or under short of the allowed input voltage of the inverter at or cold days, caused by a sluggish controller response of the MPP controller under dynamic weather conditions.
In addition, traditional ( centralized ) PV architectures are facing other challenges: Due to the strand length and orientation of the modules created constraints in system planning. System monitoring and error detection are limited to the inverter ( or in some cases on the line trains ). The high DC voltage represents a risk for installers and firefighters
Energy losses due to mismatch can be avoided by MPPT for each module is performed individually and the individual modules are not connected in a string in series. The phase voltage remains at a fixed value, so that the strands can be combined irrespective of their length, and modules of various types, and the inclination angle. Continuous performance measurement enables online monitoring and fault detection at module level. The safety for installers and firefighters is guaranteed by the DC voltage remains switched off until the inverter is connected or switched on.
Technology
The SolarEdge system consists of three components:
- SolarEdge power optimizers: The power optimizer is embedded instead of the socket in the solar panels, or can be installed by installers later on PV modules. The power optimizer optimizes the output power of the modules by MPP control and ensures a solid phase voltage. This allows a greater freedom in the design of optimal PV systems (eg can be connected strands of different lengths parallel).
- SolarEdge Inverter: Since the MPPT control and regulation of the phase voltage is done by the power optimizer, the SolarEdge inverter is exclusively responsible for the generation of the line-side voltage.
- The SolarEdge Monitoring Portal is a web-based application. The software detects a wide range of performance-related problems, which otherwise may go undetected, and automatically generates alerts. SolarEdge Monitoring is integrated into each PowerBox and communicates via the existing wiring.
Awards
SolarEdge particular received the following awards:
- Frost & Sullivan " 2009 European Solar Photovoltaic Hot Investment Opportunity Award" (9/ 2009)
- Guardian UK and Cleantech Group: award as a company of " Global Cleantech 100 " (9/ 2009)
- Cleantech 2009 Trade Show: "The Exceptional Product in the Environmental Protection Arena " award (6/ 2009).
Related Links
- Official SolarEdge site