APS Microinverters good for the environment and the economy, China TV says

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When producers for the television show Travel Around China asked how Jiaxing residents could “get rich,” the answer was solar.

China energy policy encourages citizens to put PV systems on their homes, to earn government subsidies and sell the extra electricity back to the grid. That’s where the APS Microinverter comes in – as a key component of the residential PV systems that are turning up in great numbers in Chinese cities and across the countryside.

“APS’ goal is that every family can be able to install a solar system at their house,” APS co-founder, CEO and President Dr. Zhi-Min Ling told the Travel Around China program. “We provide the most efficient, convenient and smart solutions for the public to make our garden greener.”

During the interview, Dr. Ling explained how a home PV system works, and how the APS Energy Monitoring and Analysis software allows residents to track their system’s productivity in real time.

The Chinese government strongly supports development of distributed energy systems throughout the country, both to protect the environment and for citizens’ economic benefit. This includes subsidies for homeowners who install their own PV array, so residential systems are becoming more commonplace next to larger commercial installations.

Safer and more efficient than central “string” inverters, APS Microinverters are an ideal fit for these household PV systems.

APS U.S.A. VP Barlock featured panelist at GTM Solar Summit

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2, 2015

Seattle: APS U.S.A. Senior Vice President Paul Barlock will be a featured panelist at the GTM Solar Summit, April 14-16 in Phoenix.

Barlock will appear in a panel discussion on “Dynamics in the Distributed PV Inverter Market,” beginning at 2:15 p.m. April 15.

The panel will be moderated by MJ Shiao, director of solar research for GTM Research.

“This is an exciting time to be in solar, especially the fast-growing microinverter segment,” Barlock said. “I look forward to sharing insights with the panel and audience, and discussing how microinverter technology has so dramatically changed the PV installation landscape.”

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APS is sponsoring the day’s second track of presentations under the broad theme of PV Inverter Advancement.

Barlock has been a senior sales and marketing executive in power electronics firms ranging from startups to large multinational corporations, including Alpha Technologies, TDI and Advance Power. His work experience has been in custom power supply design, UPS, telecom power, cable TV backup power, and most recently in renewable energy.

He holds an undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Boston College. He also holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the USMC (retired).

APS is a global leader providing advanced, powerful solar microinverter technology for residential and commercial systems. The APS solution combines highly efficient power inversion with a user-friendly monitoring interface for reliable, intelligent energy.

APS ranked No. 2 in global market share among top microinverter suppliers by shipment in 2013 (source: GTM Research).

Powered by the research and economic analysis of GTM Research’s team, the GTM Solar Summit brings together major players from throughout the solar sphere.

This year’s event at the Wigwam Resort in Phoenix includes panel discussions and debates among the industry’s top thought leaders, and an interactive polling session to let attendees see how their views measure up against the experts.

For information on the GTM Solar Summit, see www.greentechmedia.com.

APS Microinverter technology featured at Dargaville, NZ, solar show

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APS partner MPower exhibited the APS YC500 and YC1000 microinverters at the popular Dargaville, New Zealand, solar show in late February.

Designed for residential applications, the YC500 handles two PV modules independently, while the 3-phase, 4-module YC1000 is specially designed and built for commercial applications.

The Dargaville event showcased APS Microinverters as mature solar technology, with the line seeing widespread adoption and application in the global marketplace.

MPower is a valuable partner for APS, and a leading provider of innovative and dependable power solutions in Australia, New Zealand, and across the South Pacific. With a company history dating back 100 years, MPower offers a comprehensive range of power solutions and products.

APS Microinverter products are second to none in functionality, efficiency and durability. Through partnerships with leading solar providers like MPower, APS is simplifying and lowering the cost of PV system ownership for both residential and commercial customers worldwide.

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APS, Glenn International announce partnership in Caribbean, Central America markets

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APS Microinverters will be represented by Glenn International in the Caribbean and Central America regions, in a first-time partnership between the companies.

The agreement extends APS’s product reach in the fast-growing Latin America solar market.

Headquartered in Puerto Rico, Glenn International is a leading supplier of electrical, lighting and telecom equipment for the Caribbean and Central America. The company also maintains offices in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad.

Solar equipment is marketed and supported by the company’s EcoGlenn division.

“APS Microinverters are very high quality, the best the industry has to offer,” said Ignacio Diaz, Director of Sales and Marketing for Glenn International. “Oapsystems-glennur customers will benefit greatly as we add them to our product line.”

APS Microinverter technology is ideally suited for the Caribbean region, where grid standards can vary from one market to the next. APS’s proven chip-based architecture can be configured for any grid standard anywhere in the world.

“Glenn International has a long-established presence in the Caribbean and is very knowledgeable of solar,” said Thomas Nelson, APS Vice President of Sales in US. “We’re very pleased to partner with them to bring our advanced microinverter products to more customers in what has become a dynamic region for solar.”

The partnership is the latest between APS and a top-tier distributor to bring the company’s advanced microinverter products to new international markets.

APS recently introduced the YC1000, the world’s first true 3-phase, four-module microinverter, specially designed for large-scale commercial applications.

APS’ flagship product, the YC500 microinverter, handles two PV modules with independent monitoring and 500W maximum output.

ABOUT GLENN INTERNATIONAL: Glenn International was founded in Puerto Rico in 1967 by Raul Rodriguez, as an offshoot of longtime Atlanta, Ga., electrical systems contractor Glenn Associates. In 1970, electrical engineer Carlos Diaz joined the company, bringing several new equipment lines into the Glenn portfolio. New office and warehouse facilities soon set the company on a trajectory of growth to become a leading player in the electrical construction products industry. Carlos Diaz later acquired all shares from Raul Rodriguez, and now runs Glenn International with sons Ignacio and Ricardo, and a staff of dedicated employees.

For information on Glenn International, see www.glenninternational.com.

 

YC1000-3-208 microinverter earns CEC certification

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The new YC1000-3-208 microinverter from APS has earned CEC certification.

The California Energy Commission listing is a key benchmark of solar product efficiency and quality, and qualifies equipment for use and financial incentives under the California Solar Initiative. The CEC standard is also recognized throughout the western U.S. solar market.

The YC1000-3-208 microinverter earned a 94.5 percent efficiency rating from the CEC board.

“We’re very pleased to see the YC1000-3-208 earn the CEC listing,” said Paul Barlock, APS U.S.A. Senior Vice President. “APS really has broken new ground with this unit, the first microinverter purpose-designed and built for the commercial segment. This is the innovation the industry has been waiting for.”

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A sister unit that operates at 277/480 grid voltage, the APS YC1000-3-480, earned the CEC listing in November 2014.

The YC1000 microinverter line offers true 3-phase output and handles four PV modules per unit. The 1:4 microinverter-to-module ratio significantly lowers balance of system cost.

Unlike other microinverter products entering the commercial segment, the YC1000 line requires no step-up or step-down transformer to operate. Add-on transformers reduce system efficiency and add thousands of dollars in balance-of-system costs.

“Having to add a transformer is where other offerings in the market fail,” said Ryan Simpson, Senior Director of Sales and Program Management for APS America.. “With the YC1000 microinverter line, commercial system designers now have an advanced, all-in-one solution that wins on both efficiency and cost.”

The YC1000 microinverter connects directly to low-voltage DC modules, eliminating the possibility of “arc” fires from high-voltage arrays typical of conventional string inverter systems. The unit also offers revolutionary trunk cabling, eliminating the need for branch cables and resolving “landscape vs. portrait” configuration issues.

For YC1000-3 product information and data sheets, see www.apsamerica.com.

For information on the California Solar Initiative and CEC product certification, see www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov.

APS is a worldwide leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of microinverters based on our proprietary, leading-edge solar technology. Representing APS in the U.S. market, APS America. is based near Seattle.

APS ranked No. 2 in global market share among top microinverter suppliers by shipments in 2013 (source: GTM Research).

APS America, Krannich Solar USA announce distribution partnership

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 29, 2015

Industry-leading PV distributor Krannich Solar will offer APS microinverter products through its domestic channels, under a first-time agreement between the two companies.apsystems-krannichKrannich Solar USA maintains sales operations on both coasts, in New Jersey and California, and serves customers throughout the country.

“We pride ourselves on carrying the very best in PV products, and APS certainly fits that bill,” said Juan Romera-Wade, Krannich CEO. “Our customers will appreciate the advanced technology that APS has brought to the solar market.”

Krannich Solar, founded by Kurt Krannich as a family business in 1995, has quickly become one of the world’s largest solar wholesalers and system design houses, designing high-performance PV arrays while supporting both trades people and major energy utilities. Krannich Solar Inc. is now the U.S. office of the international Krannich Solar Group, founded in 2005.

The company recently expanded its Latin America operations with a new sales office in Mexico City.

The installed capacity supplied by the Krannich Group topped 1,600 megawatts worldwide in 2014.

Paul Barlock, APS senior vice president of U.S. operations, welcomed the agreement with a distributor of Krannich Solar’s stature, saying the companies share a strong culture of customer service.

“Krannich is a national top-tier solar supplier, and very exclusive in their offerings,” Barlock said. “When they carry your brand, it says your product line has arrived. Krannich will help us make 2015 another year of rapid growth.”

APS’ flagship product, the groundbreaking YC500 microinverter, handles two PV modules independently and can be configured to support any grid standard anywhere in the world. The YC1000,  the world’s first true 3-phase, four-module microinverter, recently entered the U.S. market after a highly successful rollout overseas.

APS Microinverters meet CEC requirements of IEC 62109-1 and IEC 62109-2

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APS Microinverters fully comply with new requirements for safety and quality that will go into effect in Australia in 2015.

Module-level power electronics must be certified to meet IEC 62109-1 and IEC 62109-2 after July of this year, according to the Clean Energy Council of Australia and the SAA Approvals testing laboratories.

APS Microinverter products have been certified to meet the CEC standards since August 2013, the first microinverter products to meet the rigorous Australian requirements.

IEC 62109-1 and IEC 62109-2 certification governs inverters used in photovoltaic systems to ensure uniform technical standards and appropriate safety benchmarks. The codes define the minimum requirements for product design and manufacture for protection against electric shock, energy, fire, mechanical and other hazards.

Australia is a key market for APS globally. All APS Microinverters are engineered and manufactured to the highest standards of safety and reliability, and APS will spare no effort to maintain the quality of products and services to ensure Australia’s green energy development.

World’s largest true 3-phase microinverter installation powered by APS YC1000

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The groundbreaking YC1000 microinverter from APS will power a milestone true 3-phase installation going into service in China’s Zhejiang Province this week.

More than 1.4 MW of the total 8.13 MW project will be generated using APS Microinverter technology – earning it distinction as the world’s largest true 3-phase microinverter installation.

The project at the Haining Hailide Jianshan factory began development four weeks ago, and is planned to join China’s national power grid on Dec. 30.

The installation includes 1,200 APS YC1000 microinverters. Now available in all APS markets worldwide, the YC1000 is the industry’s first true 3-phase microinverter and handles up to four modules per unit, simplifying PV system design and installation while significantly lowering balance of system costs.

The YC1000’s balanced 3-phase output features a low-voltage, parallel circuit design, promoting system safety by negating the possibility of “arc fires” from high-voltage current.

Independent output and tracking optimizes the performance of each PV module while minimizing shading effects across the whole array.

APS Microinverter technology increases array output by 5-25 percent compared to conventional “string” inverter systems.

Using the integrated APS Energy Communication Unit (ECU), Haining system managers will be able to track power output, voltage, current, temperature and other performance data of every module in the array.

The completed project will provide approximately 8.14 million kWh of energy per year, saving nearly 3,000 tons of coal while reducing CO2 admissions by more than 700 tons. Over the plant’s projected 25-year lifespan, the reduction in coal use and carbon and sulfur dioxide emissions will be multiplied many times over.

The year 2014 has marked the first widespread development of distributed PV power throughout China, an effort vigorously promoted by the Chinese government.

The electricity generated by the Haining system promises a strong economic return for investors, powering the factory even as it protects the local environment and promotes APS 3-phase microinverter technology in the robust China market and worldwide.

APS Australian partner ZEN hits system monitoring milestone

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APS partner ZEN Energy Systems of Australia recently passed a milestone 1,500 PV systems registered for EMA monitoring.
The Energy Monitoring & Analysis software allows remote analysis of PV systems outfitted with APS Microinverters.logo-systemsNetworked with the APS Communicator gateway, EMA relays the performance of individual PV modules to a database in real time. Performance analytics can then be accessed from any web-enabled device, allowing the system owner to monitor and optimize array output.ZEN Energy Systems was established in 2004 to develop innovative and sustainable energy technologies, and since that time has become one of Australia’s top renewable energy brands.

The company began installing APS Microinverters in its residential and commercial PV systems in March 2013, and is now one of APS’ biggest solar distribution partners.

Its largest installation to date is a 99kW array employing nearly 200 APS YC500 dual-module microinverters.

“We are glad to cooperate with APS for the technological precedence of the YC500,” said Richard Turner, ZEN Energy Systems CEO. “The microinverter system can really do an excellent job. Our clients are very satisfied with it. The quality and reliability of the products are quite good and are improved all the time.”

APS recently passed its own milestone of 10,000 PV systems worldwide registered for EMA monitoring.

APS ranked No. 2 in global market share among top microinverter suppliers by shipments in 2013 (source: GTM Research).

APS Microinverters now offered by Albasolar, top-tier U.S and international wholesale distributor

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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November 13, 2014

Leading international distributor Albasolar has added APS Microinverters to their select PV product line.
The APS YC500 microinverter and related products are now available through Albasolar in the U.S., Spain and Portugal markets. Introduction of APS equipment to other European and Latin American solar markets through Albasolar channels will follow.

“APS is emerging as a dominant player in the microinverter space both here in the U.S. and abroad,” said Thomas Nelson, APS Vice President for Sales. “Albasolar’s multi-country presence gives us another key partner in the U.S., while this same channel allows us to expand internationally.”

Albasolar was founded in Europe in 1993. Always loyal to a pure wholesale distribution model, the company has supplied thousands of PV installations in Europe and North and South America.

The company’s industry experience means it can offer superior logistics and create strategic agreements with the industry’s leading manufacturers like APS. This allows Albasolar to offer best-in-class products at excellent prices.

“The microinverter is still a young product compared to string inverters, and APS has come to play a good role in the growth of this market,” said Alberto Medrano, CEO of Albasolar. “APS, with its 500-wattoutput model, will be a leader in this category.”

Albasolar’s U.S. operations are headquartered in Boston, Mass., and the company maintains additional offices and wholesale distribution centers in California, Florida, and across Europe.

APS product design positions the line for success in a growing number of international markets like those served by Albasolar.

APS Microinverters’ unique chip-based architecture allows each unit to be easily programmed to accommodate the various grid voltages found in different regional markets – a flexibility built into each APS unit and unmatched by other microinverter products.

APS was founded in Silicon Valley in 2009, and is now a global leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of microinverters based on their own proprietary, leading-edge solar technology.

APS ranked No. 2 in global market share among leading microinverter suppliers by shipments in 2013 (source: GTM Research).

For information on Albasolar, see www.albasolar.com

Information on APS Microinverter products can be found at www.apsamerica.com.