Microinverter systems coming on the market offer a number of advantages over string and centralized inverter systems, as we have discussed in previous articles. We recently talked to Ron Van Dell, president and CEO of SolarBridge, who explained how integrating their microinverters in module manufacturing and combining them with matched power and data management solutions could give higher reliability, lower cost and better data management for residential and light commercial installations.

SolarBridge was founded in 2004 to commercialize power electronics technologies created at the University of Illinois. Recognizing the need for more efficient and reliable inverter technologies in the solar industry, company founders began developing an innovative microinverter system for residential and commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems in 2008. In 2009, the company moved its headquarters to Austin, Texas, retaining a research and development site in Champaign, Illinois. Led by a seasoned management team, SolarBridge is enabling its partners to offer complete AC modules to the market with its fully integrated microinverter solution.

The SolarBridge Pantheon microinverter has been designed from the ground up without failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors and opto-isolators, which are notorious in power electronics for failure under difficult operating conditions. This is not a scaled-down inverter; it is a completely new design. It requires a tiny fraction of the bulk capacitance of traditional inverter architectures, enabling the use of long-life film capacitors, which, combined with the Pantheon’s advanced thermal management and other reliability advances, yields a microinverter with the same lifetime as the module to which it is attached.

The SolarBridge design enables AC modules with the industry’s first 25 year, end-to-end warranty on both the PV module and the integrated microinverter. This directly reduces operating costs and system downtime by eliminating the need to replace inverters during the life of the system. SolarBridge is working with top tier module manufacturers to develop integrated AC modules. This B2B OEM business model leverages the module manufacturers’ existing manufacturing processes and well-established sales and distribution channels.

SolarBridge-enabled AC modules maximize energy harvest through distributed MPPT. As a result, solar installers can now qualify many sites that would otherwise be ineligible for solar due to shading and/or roof orientation issues. Additionally, installation of rooftop PV systems is simplified because the microinverter is factory-installed on the module, eliminating the need for a separate installation process for central inverter or detached microinverters. This means that installers can turn more installation jobs with a smaller crew, reducing costs significantly.

The SolarBridge Pantheon microinverter (left) and Power Manager (right).

The SolarBridge system comprises four elements:

• SolarBridge Pantheon™ Microinverter is a low-profile, DC to AC power conversion device mounted on the back of the PV module. Backed by a 25-year warranty, this microinverter is integrated during module manufacturing. Its module-level maximum power point tracking (MPPT) improves energy harvest up to 25 percent with 95.5 percent efficiency. First Generation 235 W products will ship mid-year with 2nd Generation products capable of 250W and beyond available in 2012.
• SolarBridge PV-Dock is a plug-and-play docking station for the Pantheon microinverter that enables drop-in integration of the Pantheon by the module manufacturer. It also allows easy field serviceability. With no exposed DC wiring, it offers the lowest DC resistance and highest efficiency.
• SolarBridge Power Manager is the on-site communications gateway. It continuously monitors the PV system and manages communications with the Power Portal and third-party systems through powerline communications. This smart-grid ready component features an outdoor-rated enclosure for flexible installation.
• SolarBridge Power Portal is a web-based management system for installers, module manufacturers and system owners that provides detailed visibility into every site’s performance. Its non-proprietary architecture supports extensibility and integration, and it’s easy to customize and install.
Expect to see the SolarBridge system shipping on leading manufacturers’ modules this fall.