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The resource for Australian solar professionals looking for microinverter technology The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS

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Page 1: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

The resource for Australian solar professionals looking for microinverter technology

The Australian Microinverter Guide

SPONSORS

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 2

WelcomeMicroinverters are a relatively new technology introduced to the Australian market as an alternative to centralised string inverters Microinverters replace this centralised system individually converting a panelrsquos direct-current electricity into alternating-current electricity

Produced by the publishers of EcoGeneration ndash the premier magazine for Australiarsquos clean energy industry ndash The Australian Microinverter Guide answers important questions every solar system designer and installer needs to ask before adopting this new technology

This guide also outlines common mistakes made in relation to microinverter systems and how to avoid them while purchasing the highest quality products best suited to your projects

Click on hyperlinked text and images to access extra information online and to find Australian microinverter experts who can help ensure your installations have the strongest start possible

Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 3

What yoursquoll learn from this guideWelcome 2

Introduction 4

Microinverters the key points 5

Q amp A 9

Misconceptions busted 10

Industry standards applicable to microinverters 11

Important questions to ask a supplier 12

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid them 13

Important considerations for your next microinverter purchase a checklist 14

About the sponsors 15

Product examples and their specifications 17

Featured product Enphase M215 18

Featured product Microinverter GT260 19

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTD 20

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverter 21

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM Module 22

Need more information 23

The resource for Australian solar professionals looking for microinverter technology

The Australian Microinverter Guide

SPONSORS Cover image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 4

Introduction

Traditionally solar energy systems use a large central string inverter to convert the direct-current (DC) electricity from tens hundreds or even thousands of solar modules into the alternating-current (AC) electricity consumed in buildings and homes Microinverters are designed to replace this centralised architecture with a distributed network of electronics where each modulersquos DC electricity is individually converted into AC electricity

With every module connected in parallel and operating as an independent power producer using microinverters the solar system achieves maximum productivity dramatically higher reliability and is more resilient to environmental factors At the same time the flexibility and intelligence of an all-AC photovoltaic (PV) system reduces installation cost and simplifies monitoring and management

It is important to understand that a microinverter is also different from traditional inverters in terms of how it is fundamentally part of a system A microinverter is one component of a microinverter system that should also include communications hardware and a software platform to enable the owner of the system to accurately monitor the performance of the system and ensure it is operating optimally at all times

Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 5

Microinverters the key pointsIn Australia microinverters are generally considered to be small inverters designed to be located adjacent to a PV module so the DC cable length is less than one metre The DC connection between the PV modules and microinverter is accessible and may be made at the time of installation The capacity of the microinverter output is limited to 350 volts-ampere and DC connection is at an extra-low voltage and is limited to no more than two PV modules

Microinverters are the first technology to take low-voltage DC and efficiently transform it upward to AC voltages To achieve power conversion efficiencies of 96 per cent requires precision and responsiveness that is not possible using traditional analogue design Instead microinverters are fundamentally based on a digitally controlled architecture that delivers extremely rapid response time and advanced predictive modelling capabilities

Until recently microinverter technology had long been a dream of the solar industry The microinverter concept was first introduced in the 1970s but faced fundamental problems for commercialisation in terms of manufacturing cost unit reliability and power conversion efficiency Enphase Energy launched the latest generation of microinverter technology in 2008

The development process for the microinverter has involved an interdisciplinary approach and combined technologies from the semiconductor power electronics and telecommunications and software industries In addition to producing new inverter architecture this approach resulted in new hardware designs packaging systems and testing processes for inverters

In Australia microinverters are generally considered to be small inverters designed to be located adjacent to a

PV module so the DC cable length is less than one metre

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 6

Microinverter benefitsThe key benefits of a microinverter system fall into three key areas for system owners

1) Reliability ndash Because a microinverter is designed with digitally controlled architecture it eliminates the reliability issues typically related with traditional inverter failures Also by eliminating a single point of failure by converting DC to AC at the module level overall system reliability is increased

The new design topologies employed in microinverter systems allow the specification and selection of better quality longer-lasting components These components are simply not able to be used in string inverters at this time Also the elimination of high voltage DC from within the system improves reliability in itself as it is the high voltage DC connections and circuit breakers that are prone to failure in traditional DC systems

2) Production ndash Designed to optimise the power conversion process microinverters ensure that if one panel suffers from environmental interference or failure (from shading dust and debris non-uniform temperatures or sub-optimal irradiance angles) it doesnrsquot affect the entire array This significantly reduces the risk of system failure while increasing efficiency

Each module is individually maximum power point tracked to maximise the performance of each module ndash even in unshaded situations

Natural variation in the performance of modules both when they are new and as they age over time can be captured and taken advantage of

The system performs better under normal operating conditions as well as having much greater resilience to issues such as shading and soiling

3) System intelligence ndash Solar professionals and system owners receive ongoing assurance of system performance through the microinverter systemrsquos intelligent software platform For solar professionals the software similarly found within some string inverters offers web-based sophisticated back-end tools to monitor and manage installations Plus an engaging interface for system owners provides them with insight into system health and earned environmental benefits that can easily be enjoyed with others

The monitoring systems allow much faster identification and resolution of any problems with the solar system

This reduces down time and minimises loss of income from incentives such as feed-in tariffs It also allows system owners to monitor their system remotely providing peace of mind that the system is operating correctly

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 7

Microinverter applicationsMicroinverters were originally used for installations where shading or module orientation issues made the use of DC systems inefficient or impossible In recent timeshowever microinverters have become popular for all types of installations due to the fact that they are quicker to install are safer due to the absence of high voltage DC cabling and often perform better than equivalent DC systems Based on data collected separately and independently by Westinghouse Solar and SunEdison in the United States over a two-year period from 2008ndash10 the reliability of microinverters is 45 to 70 times greater than traditional central inverters

Microinverter usage can scale from a single solar module to thousands In North America the worldrsquos largest microinverter market microinverter systems are the dominant residential inverter technology used In addition there are several megawatt-sized power plants that utilise microinverter technology

If one looks to other markets for future trends the shift to microinverter systems is dominant in other markets with similar conditions to Australia For example in the United States the number one inverter vendor in the residential segment based on Californian market data is a microinverter manufacturer California is the largest market in the United States for solar

It is early days for this technology in Australia and current estimates suggest that the market share that microinverters hold in Australia is less than 5 per cent

System architecture for a string inverter Image courtesy of Enphase

System architecture for a microinverter Image courtesy of Enphase

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 8

Main steps in installing a microinverterFor a typical residential installation the five main steps to installing a microinverter system are

1 Component selection ndash There are a wide range of microinverters and AC modules available so it is important to select a unit that is suited to the application it is going to be used in Factors to consider include

Device temperature rating

Input voltage rating

Output power rating

Mounting arrangements

Cabling requirements

Datacommunications distance and requirements

2 Install AC cable between switchboard and array ndash It is important to select and install this cable such that the maximum voltage drop is below 1 per cent This will ensure that the microinverters do not switch off unnecessarily due to high AC volts

3 Install microinverters and cabling ndash Microinverters should be installed in accordance with manufacturerrsquos requirements Generally microinverters should be physically installed and oriented so as to maintain the maximum possible distance between the back of the module and the top surface of the microinverter

4 Install solar modules and test ndash Once solar modules have been installed it is useful to test the operation of each one by measuring the DC current flowing into the microinverter Checking this while still on the roof enables connection or other problems to be quickly identified and resolved while roof access is readily available

5 Set up monitoring ndash Once the system is fully installed the module level monitoring is set up This enables the performance of each module to be assessed and monitored on an ongoing basis

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 9

What is the importance of a warranty for a microinverter product

A warranty offers comfort for any product for the purchaser Microinverters are a critical component of PV systems and as such need to operate reliably for

the full life of the system Most microinverters have a design life of 25 years or more and have warranty periods of between 10 and 25 years

Typically microinverters carry a longer warranty than traditional string inverters as they are a completely different kind of technology and are built to last the lifetime of a solar system

How can component selection balance cost and performance so that solar module output is close to its lsquonameplatersquo rating

The inverterrsquos nameplate rating is a minimum hurdle that the inverter must be able to consistently and continuously clear when operating in the field For this

reason most inverter products are capable of producing 4ndash5 per cent more power than their rating

Sizing your inverter to match the module would mean you are paying for inverter capacity that rarely if ever gets used In other words the goal of a good system design should be to regularly saturate the inverter and not just in year one but also in years 10 to 15 once degradation and soiling have taken effect on the module

The rating of the microinverter should be such that the full output power of the solar module can be utilised under the specific conditions that apply to the proposed installation To this extent selecting the size of the microinverter is a similar process to selecting the size of a string inverter If in doubt you should obtain advice from the microinverter supplier

How else can different sizes of microinverters impact solar system cost and performance

Microinverters that are undersized will limit the amount of energy able to be produced by the system and result in the under-utilisation of the solar modules

Oversizing the microinverter can result in reduced operating (system) efficiency and under-utilisation of the investment made in the inverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 10

Misconceptions busted

MYTH Microinverters are small string inverters

MYTH Microinverters are only for niche applications

MYTH Microinverters are all the same

MYTH Microinverters are fail-proof

MYTH Microinverters do not perform well in hot conditions

False they are a completely different design architecture

False microinverters scale to any sized array and deliver benefits to any system

False like in any market there are microinverter system technologies of varying quality

False like string inverters if microinverters are incorrectly installed or operated then problems can occur

False microinverters are designed tested and proven in the field to operate under the harshest of conditions

Turn to page 7 for a diagram comparing string and microinverters

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 11

Industry standards applicable to microinverters

Adherence to Australian Standards is not only a benefit itrsquos also a requirement If a microinverter you install doesnrsquot comply with relevant standards you run the risk of losing the system and your investment

A microinverter complies with a standard only if it is installed according to the productrsquos installation guide andor accreditation letter If that is the case you can sign off on the documents for a PV system knowing that the system is safe It is also important to comply with Clean Energy Council (CEC) guidelines and provide a maintenance plan when installing a microinverter according to Australian Standards

Microinverters must adhere to standards to ensure safety compliance and ultimately peace of mind for those who purchase and install them

Australian Standards relevant to microinverter installation and maintenance

bull AS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays

bull AS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ndash installation requirements

bull AS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the AustralianNew Zealand Wiring Rules)

bull AS 3008 Electrical installations ndash Selection of cables ndash Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 061 kilovolts ndash Typical Australian installation conditions

If yoursquore a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer you must have and use a copy of each of these standards ndash they can be purchased from Standards Australia

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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and

spe

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ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 2: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 2

WelcomeMicroinverters are a relatively new technology introduced to the Australian market as an alternative to centralised string inverters Microinverters replace this centralised system individually converting a panelrsquos direct-current electricity into alternating-current electricity

Produced by the publishers of EcoGeneration ndash the premier magazine for Australiarsquos clean energy industry ndash The Australian Microinverter Guide answers important questions every solar system designer and installer needs to ask before adopting this new technology

This guide also outlines common mistakes made in relation to microinverter systems and how to avoid them while purchasing the highest quality products best suited to your projects

Click on hyperlinked text and images to access extra information online and to find Australian microinverter experts who can help ensure your installations have the strongest start possible

Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 3

What yoursquoll learn from this guideWelcome 2

Introduction 4

Microinverters the key points 5

Q amp A 9

Misconceptions busted 10

Industry standards applicable to microinverters 11

Important questions to ask a supplier 12

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid them 13

Important considerations for your next microinverter purchase a checklist 14

About the sponsors 15

Product examples and their specifications 17

Featured product Enphase M215 18

Featured product Microinverter GT260 19

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTD 20

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverter 21

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM Module 22

Need more information 23

The resource for Australian solar professionals looking for microinverter technology

The Australian Microinverter Guide

SPONSORS Cover image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 4

Introduction

Traditionally solar energy systems use a large central string inverter to convert the direct-current (DC) electricity from tens hundreds or even thousands of solar modules into the alternating-current (AC) electricity consumed in buildings and homes Microinverters are designed to replace this centralised architecture with a distributed network of electronics where each modulersquos DC electricity is individually converted into AC electricity

With every module connected in parallel and operating as an independent power producer using microinverters the solar system achieves maximum productivity dramatically higher reliability and is more resilient to environmental factors At the same time the flexibility and intelligence of an all-AC photovoltaic (PV) system reduces installation cost and simplifies monitoring and management

It is important to understand that a microinverter is also different from traditional inverters in terms of how it is fundamentally part of a system A microinverter is one component of a microinverter system that should also include communications hardware and a software platform to enable the owner of the system to accurately monitor the performance of the system and ensure it is operating optimally at all times

Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 5

Microinverters the key pointsIn Australia microinverters are generally considered to be small inverters designed to be located adjacent to a PV module so the DC cable length is less than one metre The DC connection between the PV modules and microinverter is accessible and may be made at the time of installation The capacity of the microinverter output is limited to 350 volts-ampere and DC connection is at an extra-low voltage and is limited to no more than two PV modules

Microinverters are the first technology to take low-voltage DC and efficiently transform it upward to AC voltages To achieve power conversion efficiencies of 96 per cent requires precision and responsiveness that is not possible using traditional analogue design Instead microinverters are fundamentally based on a digitally controlled architecture that delivers extremely rapid response time and advanced predictive modelling capabilities

Until recently microinverter technology had long been a dream of the solar industry The microinverter concept was first introduced in the 1970s but faced fundamental problems for commercialisation in terms of manufacturing cost unit reliability and power conversion efficiency Enphase Energy launched the latest generation of microinverter technology in 2008

The development process for the microinverter has involved an interdisciplinary approach and combined technologies from the semiconductor power electronics and telecommunications and software industries In addition to producing new inverter architecture this approach resulted in new hardware designs packaging systems and testing processes for inverters

In Australia microinverters are generally considered to be small inverters designed to be located adjacent to a

PV module so the DC cable length is less than one metre

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 6

Microinverter benefitsThe key benefits of a microinverter system fall into three key areas for system owners

1) Reliability ndash Because a microinverter is designed with digitally controlled architecture it eliminates the reliability issues typically related with traditional inverter failures Also by eliminating a single point of failure by converting DC to AC at the module level overall system reliability is increased

The new design topologies employed in microinverter systems allow the specification and selection of better quality longer-lasting components These components are simply not able to be used in string inverters at this time Also the elimination of high voltage DC from within the system improves reliability in itself as it is the high voltage DC connections and circuit breakers that are prone to failure in traditional DC systems

2) Production ndash Designed to optimise the power conversion process microinverters ensure that if one panel suffers from environmental interference or failure (from shading dust and debris non-uniform temperatures or sub-optimal irradiance angles) it doesnrsquot affect the entire array This significantly reduces the risk of system failure while increasing efficiency

Each module is individually maximum power point tracked to maximise the performance of each module ndash even in unshaded situations

Natural variation in the performance of modules both when they are new and as they age over time can be captured and taken advantage of

The system performs better under normal operating conditions as well as having much greater resilience to issues such as shading and soiling

3) System intelligence ndash Solar professionals and system owners receive ongoing assurance of system performance through the microinverter systemrsquos intelligent software platform For solar professionals the software similarly found within some string inverters offers web-based sophisticated back-end tools to monitor and manage installations Plus an engaging interface for system owners provides them with insight into system health and earned environmental benefits that can easily be enjoyed with others

The monitoring systems allow much faster identification and resolution of any problems with the solar system

This reduces down time and minimises loss of income from incentives such as feed-in tariffs It also allows system owners to monitor their system remotely providing peace of mind that the system is operating correctly

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 7

Microinverter applicationsMicroinverters were originally used for installations where shading or module orientation issues made the use of DC systems inefficient or impossible In recent timeshowever microinverters have become popular for all types of installations due to the fact that they are quicker to install are safer due to the absence of high voltage DC cabling and often perform better than equivalent DC systems Based on data collected separately and independently by Westinghouse Solar and SunEdison in the United States over a two-year period from 2008ndash10 the reliability of microinverters is 45 to 70 times greater than traditional central inverters

Microinverter usage can scale from a single solar module to thousands In North America the worldrsquos largest microinverter market microinverter systems are the dominant residential inverter technology used In addition there are several megawatt-sized power plants that utilise microinverter technology

If one looks to other markets for future trends the shift to microinverter systems is dominant in other markets with similar conditions to Australia For example in the United States the number one inverter vendor in the residential segment based on Californian market data is a microinverter manufacturer California is the largest market in the United States for solar

It is early days for this technology in Australia and current estimates suggest that the market share that microinverters hold in Australia is less than 5 per cent

System architecture for a string inverter Image courtesy of Enphase

System architecture for a microinverter Image courtesy of Enphase

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 8

Main steps in installing a microinverterFor a typical residential installation the five main steps to installing a microinverter system are

1 Component selection ndash There are a wide range of microinverters and AC modules available so it is important to select a unit that is suited to the application it is going to be used in Factors to consider include

Device temperature rating

Input voltage rating

Output power rating

Mounting arrangements

Cabling requirements

Datacommunications distance and requirements

2 Install AC cable between switchboard and array ndash It is important to select and install this cable such that the maximum voltage drop is below 1 per cent This will ensure that the microinverters do not switch off unnecessarily due to high AC volts

3 Install microinverters and cabling ndash Microinverters should be installed in accordance with manufacturerrsquos requirements Generally microinverters should be physically installed and oriented so as to maintain the maximum possible distance between the back of the module and the top surface of the microinverter

4 Install solar modules and test ndash Once solar modules have been installed it is useful to test the operation of each one by measuring the DC current flowing into the microinverter Checking this while still on the roof enables connection or other problems to be quickly identified and resolved while roof access is readily available

5 Set up monitoring ndash Once the system is fully installed the module level monitoring is set up This enables the performance of each module to be assessed and monitored on an ongoing basis

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 9

What is the importance of a warranty for a microinverter product

A warranty offers comfort for any product for the purchaser Microinverters are a critical component of PV systems and as such need to operate reliably for

the full life of the system Most microinverters have a design life of 25 years or more and have warranty periods of between 10 and 25 years

Typically microinverters carry a longer warranty than traditional string inverters as they are a completely different kind of technology and are built to last the lifetime of a solar system

How can component selection balance cost and performance so that solar module output is close to its lsquonameplatersquo rating

The inverterrsquos nameplate rating is a minimum hurdle that the inverter must be able to consistently and continuously clear when operating in the field For this

reason most inverter products are capable of producing 4ndash5 per cent more power than their rating

Sizing your inverter to match the module would mean you are paying for inverter capacity that rarely if ever gets used In other words the goal of a good system design should be to regularly saturate the inverter and not just in year one but also in years 10 to 15 once degradation and soiling have taken effect on the module

The rating of the microinverter should be such that the full output power of the solar module can be utilised under the specific conditions that apply to the proposed installation To this extent selecting the size of the microinverter is a similar process to selecting the size of a string inverter If in doubt you should obtain advice from the microinverter supplier

How else can different sizes of microinverters impact solar system cost and performance

Microinverters that are undersized will limit the amount of energy able to be produced by the system and result in the under-utilisation of the solar modules

Oversizing the microinverter can result in reduced operating (system) efficiency and under-utilisation of the investment made in the inverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 10

Misconceptions busted

MYTH Microinverters are small string inverters

MYTH Microinverters are only for niche applications

MYTH Microinverters are all the same

MYTH Microinverters are fail-proof

MYTH Microinverters do not perform well in hot conditions

False they are a completely different design architecture

False microinverters scale to any sized array and deliver benefits to any system

False like in any market there are microinverter system technologies of varying quality

False like string inverters if microinverters are incorrectly installed or operated then problems can occur

False microinverters are designed tested and proven in the field to operate under the harshest of conditions

Turn to page 7 for a diagram comparing string and microinverters

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 11

Industry standards applicable to microinverters

Adherence to Australian Standards is not only a benefit itrsquos also a requirement If a microinverter you install doesnrsquot comply with relevant standards you run the risk of losing the system and your investment

A microinverter complies with a standard only if it is installed according to the productrsquos installation guide andor accreditation letter If that is the case you can sign off on the documents for a PV system knowing that the system is safe It is also important to comply with Clean Energy Council (CEC) guidelines and provide a maintenance plan when installing a microinverter according to Australian Standards

Microinverters must adhere to standards to ensure safety compliance and ultimately peace of mind for those who purchase and install them

Australian Standards relevant to microinverter installation and maintenance

bull AS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays

bull AS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ndash installation requirements

bull AS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the AustralianNew Zealand Wiring Rules)

bull AS 3008 Electrical installations ndash Selection of cables ndash Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 061 kilovolts ndash Typical Australian installation conditions

If yoursquore a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer you must have and use a copy of each of these standards ndash they can be purchased from Standards Australia

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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Prod

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and

spe

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Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 3: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 3

What yoursquoll learn from this guideWelcome 2

Introduction 4

Microinverters the key points 5

Q amp A 9

Misconceptions busted 10

Industry standards applicable to microinverters 11

Important questions to ask a supplier 12

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid them 13

Important considerations for your next microinverter purchase a checklist 14

About the sponsors 15

Product examples and their specifications 17

Featured product Enphase M215 18

Featured product Microinverter GT260 19

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTD 20

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverter 21

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM Module 22

Need more information 23

The resource for Australian solar professionals looking for microinverter technology

The Australian Microinverter Guide

SPONSORS Cover image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 4

Introduction

Traditionally solar energy systems use a large central string inverter to convert the direct-current (DC) electricity from tens hundreds or even thousands of solar modules into the alternating-current (AC) electricity consumed in buildings and homes Microinverters are designed to replace this centralised architecture with a distributed network of electronics where each modulersquos DC electricity is individually converted into AC electricity

With every module connected in parallel and operating as an independent power producer using microinverters the solar system achieves maximum productivity dramatically higher reliability and is more resilient to environmental factors At the same time the flexibility and intelligence of an all-AC photovoltaic (PV) system reduces installation cost and simplifies monitoring and management

It is important to understand that a microinverter is also different from traditional inverters in terms of how it is fundamentally part of a system A microinverter is one component of a microinverter system that should also include communications hardware and a software platform to enable the owner of the system to accurately monitor the performance of the system and ensure it is operating optimally at all times

Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 5

Microinverters the key pointsIn Australia microinverters are generally considered to be small inverters designed to be located adjacent to a PV module so the DC cable length is less than one metre The DC connection between the PV modules and microinverter is accessible and may be made at the time of installation The capacity of the microinverter output is limited to 350 volts-ampere and DC connection is at an extra-low voltage and is limited to no more than two PV modules

Microinverters are the first technology to take low-voltage DC and efficiently transform it upward to AC voltages To achieve power conversion efficiencies of 96 per cent requires precision and responsiveness that is not possible using traditional analogue design Instead microinverters are fundamentally based on a digitally controlled architecture that delivers extremely rapid response time and advanced predictive modelling capabilities

Until recently microinverter technology had long been a dream of the solar industry The microinverter concept was first introduced in the 1970s but faced fundamental problems for commercialisation in terms of manufacturing cost unit reliability and power conversion efficiency Enphase Energy launched the latest generation of microinverter technology in 2008

The development process for the microinverter has involved an interdisciplinary approach and combined technologies from the semiconductor power electronics and telecommunications and software industries In addition to producing new inverter architecture this approach resulted in new hardware designs packaging systems and testing processes for inverters

In Australia microinverters are generally considered to be small inverters designed to be located adjacent to a

PV module so the DC cable length is less than one metre

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 6

Microinverter benefitsThe key benefits of a microinverter system fall into three key areas for system owners

1) Reliability ndash Because a microinverter is designed with digitally controlled architecture it eliminates the reliability issues typically related with traditional inverter failures Also by eliminating a single point of failure by converting DC to AC at the module level overall system reliability is increased

The new design topologies employed in microinverter systems allow the specification and selection of better quality longer-lasting components These components are simply not able to be used in string inverters at this time Also the elimination of high voltage DC from within the system improves reliability in itself as it is the high voltage DC connections and circuit breakers that are prone to failure in traditional DC systems

2) Production ndash Designed to optimise the power conversion process microinverters ensure that if one panel suffers from environmental interference or failure (from shading dust and debris non-uniform temperatures or sub-optimal irradiance angles) it doesnrsquot affect the entire array This significantly reduces the risk of system failure while increasing efficiency

Each module is individually maximum power point tracked to maximise the performance of each module ndash even in unshaded situations

Natural variation in the performance of modules both when they are new and as they age over time can be captured and taken advantage of

The system performs better under normal operating conditions as well as having much greater resilience to issues such as shading and soiling

3) System intelligence ndash Solar professionals and system owners receive ongoing assurance of system performance through the microinverter systemrsquos intelligent software platform For solar professionals the software similarly found within some string inverters offers web-based sophisticated back-end tools to monitor and manage installations Plus an engaging interface for system owners provides them with insight into system health and earned environmental benefits that can easily be enjoyed with others

The monitoring systems allow much faster identification and resolution of any problems with the solar system

This reduces down time and minimises loss of income from incentives such as feed-in tariffs It also allows system owners to monitor their system remotely providing peace of mind that the system is operating correctly

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 7

Microinverter applicationsMicroinverters were originally used for installations where shading or module orientation issues made the use of DC systems inefficient or impossible In recent timeshowever microinverters have become popular for all types of installations due to the fact that they are quicker to install are safer due to the absence of high voltage DC cabling and often perform better than equivalent DC systems Based on data collected separately and independently by Westinghouse Solar and SunEdison in the United States over a two-year period from 2008ndash10 the reliability of microinverters is 45 to 70 times greater than traditional central inverters

Microinverter usage can scale from a single solar module to thousands In North America the worldrsquos largest microinverter market microinverter systems are the dominant residential inverter technology used In addition there are several megawatt-sized power plants that utilise microinverter technology

If one looks to other markets for future trends the shift to microinverter systems is dominant in other markets with similar conditions to Australia For example in the United States the number one inverter vendor in the residential segment based on Californian market data is a microinverter manufacturer California is the largest market in the United States for solar

It is early days for this technology in Australia and current estimates suggest that the market share that microinverters hold in Australia is less than 5 per cent

System architecture for a string inverter Image courtesy of Enphase

System architecture for a microinverter Image courtesy of Enphase

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 8

Main steps in installing a microinverterFor a typical residential installation the five main steps to installing a microinverter system are

1 Component selection ndash There are a wide range of microinverters and AC modules available so it is important to select a unit that is suited to the application it is going to be used in Factors to consider include

Device temperature rating

Input voltage rating

Output power rating

Mounting arrangements

Cabling requirements

Datacommunications distance and requirements

2 Install AC cable between switchboard and array ndash It is important to select and install this cable such that the maximum voltage drop is below 1 per cent This will ensure that the microinverters do not switch off unnecessarily due to high AC volts

3 Install microinverters and cabling ndash Microinverters should be installed in accordance with manufacturerrsquos requirements Generally microinverters should be physically installed and oriented so as to maintain the maximum possible distance between the back of the module and the top surface of the microinverter

4 Install solar modules and test ndash Once solar modules have been installed it is useful to test the operation of each one by measuring the DC current flowing into the microinverter Checking this while still on the roof enables connection or other problems to be quickly identified and resolved while roof access is readily available

5 Set up monitoring ndash Once the system is fully installed the module level monitoring is set up This enables the performance of each module to be assessed and monitored on an ongoing basis

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 9

What is the importance of a warranty for a microinverter product

A warranty offers comfort for any product for the purchaser Microinverters are a critical component of PV systems and as such need to operate reliably for

the full life of the system Most microinverters have a design life of 25 years or more and have warranty periods of between 10 and 25 years

Typically microinverters carry a longer warranty than traditional string inverters as they are a completely different kind of technology and are built to last the lifetime of a solar system

How can component selection balance cost and performance so that solar module output is close to its lsquonameplatersquo rating

The inverterrsquos nameplate rating is a minimum hurdle that the inverter must be able to consistently and continuously clear when operating in the field For this

reason most inverter products are capable of producing 4ndash5 per cent more power than their rating

Sizing your inverter to match the module would mean you are paying for inverter capacity that rarely if ever gets used In other words the goal of a good system design should be to regularly saturate the inverter and not just in year one but also in years 10 to 15 once degradation and soiling have taken effect on the module

The rating of the microinverter should be such that the full output power of the solar module can be utilised under the specific conditions that apply to the proposed installation To this extent selecting the size of the microinverter is a similar process to selecting the size of a string inverter If in doubt you should obtain advice from the microinverter supplier

How else can different sizes of microinverters impact solar system cost and performance

Microinverters that are undersized will limit the amount of energy able to be produced by the system and result in the under-utilisation of the solar modules

Oversizing the microinverter can result in reduced operating (system) efficiency and under-utilisation of the investment made in the inverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 10

Misconceptions busted

MYTH Microinverters are small string inverters

MYTH Microinverters are only for niche applications

MYTH Microinverters are all the same

MYTH Microinverters are fail-proof

MYTH Microinverters do not perform well in hot conditions

False they are a completely different design architecture

False microinverters scale to any sized array and deliver benefits to any system

False like in any market there are microinverter system technologies of varying quality

False like string inverters if microinverters are incorrectly installed or operated then problems can occur

False microinverters are designed tested and proven in the field to operate under the harshest of conditions

Turn to page 7 for a diagram comparing string and microinverters

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 11

Industry standards applicable to microinverters

Adherence to Australian Standards is not only a benefit itrsquos also a requirement If a microinverter you install doesnrsquot comply with relevant standards you run the risk of losing the system and your investment

A microinverter complies with a standard only if it is installed according to the productrsquos installation guide andor accreditation letter If that is the case you can sign off on the documents for a PV system knowing that the system is safe It is also important to comply with Clean Energy Council (CEC) guidelines and provide a maintenance plan when installing a microinverter according to Australian Standards

Microinverters must adhere to standards to ensure safety compliance and ultimately peace of mind for those who purchase and install them

Australian Standards relevant to microinverter installation and maintenance

bull AS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays

bull AS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ndash installation requirements

bull AS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the AustralianNew Zealand Wiring Rules)

bull AS 3008 Electrical installations ndash Selection of cables ndash Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 061 kilovolts ndash Typical Australian installation conditions

If yoursquore a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer you must have and use a copy of each of these standards ndash they can be purchased from Standards Australia

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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ess

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eles

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co

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atio

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wer

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ns

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cito

r ty

peEl

ectr

olyt

icEl

ectr

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ytic

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olyt

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in F

ilmTh

in F

ilmFi

lm c

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sFi

lm c

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itor

s

Am

bien

t te

mpe

ratu

re ra

nge

-40

˚C t

o +6

5 ˚C

-4

0 ˚C

to

+65

˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

to 7

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-40

˚C t

o

+65

˚C

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˚C t

o

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to +

65 ˚

C-4

0 to

+65

˚C

Prod

uct e

xam

ples

and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 4: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 4

Introduction

Traditionally solar energy systems use a large central string inverter to convert the direct-current (DC) electricity from tens hundreds or even thousands of solar modules into the alternating-current (AC) electricity consumed in buildings and homes Microinverters are designed to replace this centralised architecture with a distributed network of electronics where each modulersquos DC electricity is individually converted into AC electricity

With every module connected in parallel and operating as an independent power producer using microinverters the solar system achieves maximum productivity dramatically higher reliability and is more resilient to environmental factors At the same time the flexibility and intelligence of an all-AC photovoltaic (PV) system reduces installation cost and simplifies monitoring and management

It is important to understand that a microinverter is also different from traditional inverters in terms of how it is fundamentally part of a system A microinverter is one component of a microinverter system that should also include communications hardware and a software platform to enable the owner of the system to accurately monitor the performance of the system and ensure it is operating optimally at all times

Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 5

Microinverters the key pointsIn Australia microinverters are generally considered to be small inverters designed to be located adjacent to a PV module so the DC cable length is less than one metre The DC connection between the PV modules and microinverter is accessible and may be made at the time of installation The capacity of the microinverter output is limited to 350 volts-ampere and DC connection is at an extra-low voltage and is limited to no more than two PV modules

Microinverters are the first technology to take low-voltage DC and efficiently transform it upward to AC voltages To achieve power conversion efficiencies of 96 per cent requires precision and responsiveness that is not possible using traditional analogue design Instead microinverters are fundamentally based on a digitally controlled architecture that delivers extremely rapid response time and advanced predictive modelling capabilities

Until recently microinverter technology had long been a dream of the solar industry The microinverter concept was first introduced in the 1970s but faced fundamental problems for commercialisation in terms of manufacturing cost unit reliability and power conversion efficiency Enphase Energy launched the latest generation of microinverter technology in 2008

The development process for the microinverter has involved an interdisciplinary approach and combined technologies from the semiconductor power electronics and telecommunications and software industries In addition to producing new inverter architecture this approach resulted in new hardware designs packaging systems and testing processes for inverters

In Australia microinverters are generally considered to be small inverters designed to be located adjacent to a

PV module so the DC cable length is less than one metre

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 6

Microinverter benefitsThe key benefits of a microinverter system fall into three key areas for system owners

1) Reliability ndash Because a microinverter is designed with digitally controlled architecture it eliminates the reliability issues typically related with traditional inverter failures Also by eliminating a single point of failure by converting DC to AC at the module level overall system reliability is increased

The new design topologies employed in microinverter systems allow the specification and selection of better quality longer-lasting components These components are simply not able to be used in string inverters at this time Also the elimination of high voltage DC from within the system improves reliability in itself as it is the high voltage DC connections and circuit breakers that are prone to failure in traditional DC systems

2) Production ndash Designed to optimise the power conversion process microinverters ensure that if one panel suffers from environmental interference or failure (from shading dust and debris non-uniform temperatures or sub-optimal irradiance angles) it doesnrsquot affect the entire array This significantly reduces the risk of system failure while increasing efficiency

Each module is individually maximum power point tracked to maximise the performance of each module ndash even in unshaded situations

Natural variation in the performance of modules both when they are new and as they age over time can be captured and taken advantage of

The system performs better under normal operating conditions as well as having much greater resilience to issues such as shading and soiling

3) System intelligence ndash Solar professionals and system owners receive ongoing assurance of system performance through the microinverter systemrsquos intelligent software platform For solar professionals the software similarly found within some string inverters offers web-based sophisticated back-end tools to monitor and manage installations Plus an engaging interface for system owners provides them with insight into system health and earned environmental benefits that can easily be enjoyed with others

The monitoring systems allow much faster identification and resolution of any problems with the solar system

This reduces down time and minimises loss of income from incentives such as feed-in tariffs It also allows system owners to monitor their system remotely providing peace of mind that the system is operating correctly

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 7

Microinverter applicationsMicroinverters were originally used for installations where shading or module orientation issues made the use of DC systems inefficient or impossible In recent timeshowever microinverters have become popular for all types of installations due to the fact that they are quicker to install are safer due to the absence of high voltage DC cabling and often perform better than equivalent DC systems Based on data collected separately and independently by Westinghouse Solar and SunEdison in the United States over a two-year period from 2008ndash10 the reliability of microinverters is 45 to 70 times greater than traditional central inverters

Microinverter usage can scale from a single solar module to thousands In North America the worldrsquos largest microinverter market microinverter systems are the dominant residential inverter technology used In addition there are several megawatt-sized power plants that utilise microinverter technology

If one looks to other markets for future trends the shift to microinverter systems is dominant in other markets with similar conditions to Australia For example in the United States the number one inverter vendor in the residential segment based on Californian market data is a microinverter manufacturer California is the largest market in the United States for solar

It is early days for this technology in Australia and current estimates suggest that the market share that microinverters hold in Australia is less than 5 per cent

System architecture for a string inverter Image courtesy of Enphase

System architecture for a microinverter Image courtesy of Enphase

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 8

Main steps in installing a microinverterFor a typical residential installation the five main steps to installing a microinverter system are

1 Component selection ndash There are a wide range of microinverters and AC modules available so it is important to select a unit that is suited to the application it is going to be used in Factors to consider include

Device temperature rating

Input voltage rating

Output power rating

Mounting arrangements

Cabling requirements

Datacommunications distance and requirements

2 Install AC cable between switchboard and array ndash It is important to select and install this cable such that the maximum voltage drop is below 1 per cent This will ensure that the microinverters do not switch off unnecessarily due to high AC volts

3 Install microinverters and cabling ndash Microinverters should be installed in accordance with manufacturerrsquos requirements Generally microinverters should be physically installed and oriented so as to maintain the maximum possible distance between the back of the module and the top surface of the microinverter

4 Install solar modules and test ndash Once solar modules have been installed it is useful to test the operation of each one by measuring the DC current flowing into the microinverter Checking this while still on the roof enables connection or other problems to be quickly identified and resolved while roof access is readily available

5 Set up monitoring ndash Once the system is fully installed the module level monitoring is set up This enables the performance of each module to be assessed and monitored on an ongoing basis

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 9

What is the importance of a warranty for a microinverter product

A warranty offers comfort for any product for the purchaser Microinverters are a critical component of PV systems and as such need to operate reliably for

the full life of the system Most microinverters have a design life of 25 years or more and have warranty periods of between 10 and 25 years

Typically microinverters carry a longer warranty than traditional string inverters as they are a completely different kind of technology and are built to last the lifetime of a solar system

How can component selection balance cost and performance so that solar module output is close to its lsquonameplatersquo rating

The inverterrsquos nameplate rating is a minimum hurdle that the inverter must be able to consistently and continuously clear when operating in the field For this

reason most inverter products are capable of producing 4ndash5 per cent more power than their rating

Sizing your inverter to match the module would mean you are paying for inverter capacity that rarely if ever gets used In other words the goal of a good system design should be to regularly saturate the inverter and not just in year one but also in years 10 to 15 once degradation and soiling have taken effect on the module

The rating of the microinverter should be such that the full output power of the solar module can be utilised under the specific conditions that apply to the proposed installation To this extent selecting the size of the microinverter is a similar process to selecting the size of a string inverter If in doubt you should obtain advice from the microinverter supplier

How else can different sizes of microinverters impact solar system cost and performance

Microinverters that are undersized will limit the amount of energy able to be produced by the system and result in the under-utilisation of the solar modules

Oversizing the microinverter can result in reduced operating (system) efficiency and under-utilisation of the investment made in the inverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 10

Misconceptions busted

MYTH Microinverters are small string inverters

MYTH Microinverters are only for niche applications

MYTH Microinverters are all the same

MYTH Microinverters are fail-proof

MYTH Microinverters do not perform well in hot conditions

False they are a completely different design architecture

False microinverters scale to any sized array and deliver benefits to any system

False like in any market there are microinverter system technologies of varying quality

False like string inverters if microinverters are incorrectly installed or operated then problems can occur

False microinverters are designed tested and proven in the field to operate under the harshest of conditions

Turn to page 7 for a diagram comparing string and microinverters

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The Australian Microinverter Guide 11

Industry standards applicable to microinverters

Adherence to Australian Standards is not only a benefit itrsquos also a requirement If a microinverter you install doesnrsquot comply with relevant standards you run the risk of losing the system and your investment

A microinverter complies with a standard only if it is installed according to the productrsquos installation guide andor accreditation letter If that is the case you can sign off on the documents for a PV system knowing that the system is safe It is also important to comply with Clean Energy Council (CEC) guidelines and provide a maintenance plan when installing a microinverter according to Australian Standards

Microinverters must adhere to standards to ensure safety compliance and ultimately peace of mind for those who purchase and install them

Australian Standards relevant to microinverter installation and maintenance

bull AS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays

bull AS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ndash installation requirements

bull AS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the AustralianNew Zealand Wiring Rules)

bull AS 3008 Electrical installations ndash Selection of cables ndash Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 061 kilovolts ndash Typical Australian installation conditions

If yoursquore a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer you must have and use a copy of each of these standards ndash they can be purchased from Standards Australia

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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Prod

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xam

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and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 5: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 5

Microinverters the key pointsIn Australia microinverters are generally considered to be small inverters designed to be located adjacent to a PV module so the DC cable length is less than one metre The DC connection between the PV modules and microinverter is accessible and may be made at the time of installation The capacity of the microinverter output is limited to 350 volts-ampere and DC connection is at an extra-low voltage and is limited to no more than two PV modules

Microinverters are the first technology to take low-voltage DC and efficiently transform it upward to AC voltages To achieve power conversion efficiencies of 96 per cent requires precision and responsiveness that is not possible using traditional analogue design Instead microinverters are fundamentally based on a digitally controlled architecture that delivers extremely rapid response time and advanced predictive modelling capabilities

Until recently microinverter technology had long been a dream of the solar industry The microinverter concept was first introduced in the 1970s but faced fundamental problems for commercialisation in terms of manufacturing cost unit reliability and power conversion efficiency Enphase Energy launched the latest generation of microinverter technology in 2008

The development process for the microinverter has involved an interdisciplinary approach and combined technologies from the semiconductor power electronics and telecommunications and software industries In addition to producing new inverter architecture this approach resulted in new hardware designs packaging systems and testing processes for inverters

In Australia microinverters are generally considered to be small inverters designed to be located adjacent to a

PV module so the DC cable length is less than one metre

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 6

Microinverter benefitsThe key benefits of a microinverter system fall into three key areas for system owners

1) Reliability ndash Because a microinverter is designed with digitally controlled architecture it eliminates the reliability issues typically related with traditional inverter failures Also by eliminating a single point of failure by converting DC to AC at the module level overall system reliability is increased

The new design topologies employed in microinverter systems allow the specification and selection of better quality longer-lasting components These components are simply not able to be used in string inverters at this time Also the elimination of high voltage DC from within the system improves reliability in itself as it is the high voltage DC connections and circuit breakers that are prone to failure in traditional DC systems

2) Production ndash Designed to optimise the power conversion process microinverters ensure that if one panel suffers from environmental interference or failure (from shading dust and debris non-uniform temperatures or sub-optimal irradiance angles) it doesnrsquot affect the entire array This significantly reduces the risk of system failure while increasing efficiency

Each module is individually maximum power point tracked to maximise the performance of each module ndash even in unshaded situations

Natural variation in the performance of modules both when they are new and as they age over time can be captured and taken advantage of

The system performs better under normal operating conditions as well as having much greater resilience to issues such as shading and soiling

3) System intelligence ndash Solar professionals and system owners receive ongoing assurance of system performance through the microinverter systemrsquos intelligent software platform For solar professionals the software similarly found within some string inverters offers web-based sophisticated back-end tools to monitor and manage installations Plus an engaging interface for system owners provides them with insight into system health and earned environmental benefits that can easily be enjoyed with others

The monitoring systems allow much faster identification and resolution of any problems with the solar system

This reduces down time and minimises loss of income from incentives such as feed-in tariffs It also allows system owners to monitor their system remotely providing peace of mind that the system is operating correctly

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 7

Microinverter applicationsMicroinverters were originally used for installations where shading or module orientation issues made the use of DC systems inefficient or impossible In recent timeshowever microinverters have become popular for all types of installations due to the fact that they are quicker to install are safer due to the absence of high voltage DC cabling and often perform better than equivalent DC systems Based on data collected separately and independently by Westinghouse Solar and SunEdison in the United States over a two-year period from 2008ndash10 the reliability of microinverters is 45 to 70 times greater than traditional central inverters

Microinverter usage can scale from a single solar module to thousands In North America the worldrsquos largest microinverter market microinverter systems are the dominant residential inverter technology used In addition there are several megawatt-sized power plants that utilise microinverter technology

If one looks to other markets for future trends the shift to microinverter systems is dominant in other markets with similar conditions to Australia For example in the United States the number one inverter vendor in the residential segment based on Californian market data is a microinverter manufacturer California is the largest market in the United States for solar

It is early days for this technology in Australia and current estimates suggest that the market share that microinverters hold in Australia is less than 5 per cent

System architecture for a string inverter Image courtesy of Enphase

System architecture for a microinverter Image courtesy of Enphase

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 8

Main steps in installing a microinverterFor a typical residential installation the five main steps to installing a microinverter system are

1 Component selection ndash There are a wide range of microinverters and AC modules available so it is important to select a unit that is suited to the application it is going to be used in Factors to consider include

Device temperature rating

Input voltage rating

Output power rating

Mounting arrangements

Cabling requirements

Datacommunications distance and requirements

2 Install AC cable between switchboard and array ndash It is important to select and install this cable such that the maximum voltage drop is below 1 per cent This will ensure that the microinverters do not switch off unnecessarily due to high AC volts

3 Install microinverters and cabling ndash Microinverters should be installed in accordance with manufacturerrsquos requirements Generally microinverters should be physically installed and oriented so as to maintain the maximum possible distance between the back of the module and the top surface of the microinverter

4 Install solar modules and test ndash Once solar modules have been installed it is useful to test the operation of each one by measuring the DC current flowing into the microinverter Checking this while still on the roof enables connection or other problems to be quickly identified and resolved while roof access is readily available

5 Set up monitoring ndash Once the system is fully installed the module level monitoring is set up This enables the performance of each module to be assessed and monitored on an ongoing basis

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 9

What is the importance of a warranty for a microinverter product

A warranty offers comfort for any product for the purchaser Microinverters are a critical component of PV systems and as such need to operate reliably for

the full life of the system Most microinverters have a design life of 25 years or more and have warranty periods of between 10 and 25 years

Typically microinverters carry a longer warranty than traditional string inverters as they are a completely different kind of technology and are built to last the lifetime of a solar system

How can component selection balance cost and performance so that solar module output is close to its lsquonameplatersquo rating

The inverterrsquos nameplate rating is a minimum hurdle that the inverter must be able to consistently and continuously clear when operating in the field For this

reason most inverter products are capable of producing 4ndash5 per cent more power than their rating

Sizing your inverter to match the module would mean you are paying for inverter capacity that rarely if ever gets used In other words the goal of a good system design should be to regularly saturate the inverter and not just in year one but also in years 10 to 15 once degradation and soiling have taken effect on the module

The rating of the microinverter should be such that the full output power of the solar module can be utilised under the specific conditions that apply to the proposed installation To this extent selecting the size of the microinverter is a similar process to selecting the size of a string inverter If in doubt you should obtain advice from the microinverter supplier

How else can different sizes of microinverters impact solar system cost and performance

Microinverters that are undersized will limit the amount of energy able to be produced by the system and result in the under-utilisation of the solar modules

Oversizing the microinverter can result in reduced operating (system) efficiency and under-utilisation of the investment made in the inverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 10

Misconceptions busted

MYTH Microinverters are small string inverters

MYTH Microinverters are only for niche applications

MYTH Microinverters are all the same

MYTH Microinverters are fail-proof

MYTH Microinverters do not perform well in hot conditions

False they are a completely different design architecture

False microinverters scale to any sized array and deliver benefits to any system

False like in any market there are microinverter system technologies of varying quality

False like string inverters if microinverters are incorrectly installed or operated then problems can occur

False microinverters are designed tested and proven in the field to operate under the harshest of conditions

Turn to page 7 for a diagram comparing string and microinverters

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 11

Industry standards applicable to microinverters

Adherence to Australian Standards is not only a benefit itrsquos also a requirement If a microinverter you install doesnrsquot comply with relevant standards you run the risk of losing the system and your investment

A microinverter complies with a standard only if it is installed according to the productrsquos installation guide andor accreditation letter If that is the case you can sign off on the documents for a PV system knowing that the system is safe It is also important to comply with Clean Energy Council (CEC) guidelines and provide a maintenance plan when installing a microinverter according to Australian Standards

Microinverters must adhere to standards to ensure safety compliance and ultimately peace of mind for those who purchase and install them

Australian Standards relevant to microinverter installation and maintenance

bull AS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays

bull AS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ndash installation requirements

bull AS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the AustralianNew Zealand Wiring Rules)

bull AS 3008 Electrical installations ndash Selection of cables ndash Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 061 kilovolts ndash Typical Australian installation conditions

If yoursquore a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer you must have and use a copy of each of these standards ndash they can be purchased from Standards Australia

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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225

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250

W30

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Prod

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and

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cific

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Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 6: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 6

Microinverter benefitsThe key benefits of a microinverter system fall into three key areas for system owners

1) Reliability ndash Because a microinverter is designed with digitally controlled architecture it eliminates the reliability issues typically related with traditional inverter failures Also by eliminating a single point of failure by converting DC to AC at the module level overall system reliability is increased

The new design topologies employed in microinverter systems allow the specification and selection of better quality longer-lasting components These components are simply not able to be used in string inverters at this time Also the elimination of high voltage DC from within the system improves reliability in itself as it is the high voltage DC connections and circuit breakers that are prone to failure in traditional DC systems

2) Production ndash Designed to optimise the power conversion process microinverters ensure that if one panel suffers from environmental interference or failure (from shading dust and debris non-uniform temperatures or sub-optimal irradiance angles) it doesnrsquot affect the entire array This significantly reduces the risk of system failure while increasing efficiency

Each module is individually maximum power point tracked to maximise the performance of each module ndash even in unshaded situations

Natural variation in the performance of modules both when they are new and as they age over time can be captured and taken advantage of

The system performs better under normal operating conditions as well as having much greater resilience to issues such as shading and soiling

3) System intelligence ndash Solar professionals and system owners receive ongoing assurance of system performance through the microinverter systemrsquos intelligent software platform For solar professionals the software similarly found within some string inverters offers web-based sophisticated back-end tools to monitor and manage installations Plus an engaging interface for system owners provides them with insight into system health and earned environmental benefits that can easily be enjoyed with others

The monitoring systems allow much faster identification and resolution of any problems with the solar system

This reduces down time and minimises loss of income from incentives such as feed-in tariffs It also allows system owners to monitor their system remotely providing peace of mind that the system is operating correctly

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 7

Microinverter applicationsMicroinverters were originally used for installations where shading or module orientation issues made the use of DC systems inefficient or impossible In recent timeshowever microinverters have become popular for all types of installations due to the fact that they are quicker to install are safer due to the absence of high voltage DC cabling and often perform better than equivalent DC systems Based on data collected separately and independently by Westinghouse Solar and SunEdison in the United States over a two-year period from 2008ndash10 the reliability of microinverters is 45 to 70 times greater than traditional central inverters

Microinverter usage can scale from a single solar module to thousands In North America the worldrsquos largest microinverter market microinverter systems are the dominant residential inverter technology used In addition there are several megawatt-sized power plants that utilise microinverter technology

If one looks to other markets for future trends the shift to microinverter systems is dominant in other markets with similar conditions to Australia For example in the United States the number one inverter vendor in the residential segment based on Californian market data is a microinverter manufacturer California is the largest market in the United States for solar

It is early days for this technology in Australia and current estimates suggest that the market share that microinverters hold in Australia is less than 5 per cent

System architecture for a string inverter Image courtesy of Enphase

System architecture for a microinverter Image courtesy of Enphase

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 8

Main steps in installing a microinverterFor a typical residential installation the five main steps to installing a microinverter system are

1 Component selection ndash There are a wide range of microinverters and AC modules available so it is important to select a unit that is suited to the application it is going to be used in Factors to consider include

Device temperature rating

Input voltage rating

Output power rating

Mounting arrangements

Cabling requirements

Datacommunications distance and requirements

2 Install AC cable between switchboard and array ndash It is important to select and install this cable such that the maximum voltage drop is below 1 per cent This will ensure that the microinverters do not switch off unnecessarily due to high AC volts

3 Install microinverters and cabling ndash Microinverters should be installed in accordance with manufacturerrsquos requirements Generally microinverters should be physically installed and oriented so as to maintain the maximum possible distance between the back of the module and the top surface of the microinverter

4 Install solar modules and test ndash Once solar modules have been installed it is useful to test the operation of each one by measuring the DC current flowing into the microinverter Checking this while still on the roof enables connection or other problems to be quickly identified and resolved while roof access is readily available

5 Set up monitoring ndash Once the system is fully installed the module level monitoring is set up This enables the performance of each module to be assessed and monitored on an ongoing basis

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 9

What is the importance of a warranty for a microinverter product

A warranty offers comfort for any product for the purchaser Microinverters are a critical component of PV systems and as such need to operate reliably for

the full life of the system Most microinverters have a design life of 25 years or more and have warranty periods of between 10 and 25 years

Typically microinverters carry a longer warranty than traditional string inverters as they are a completely different kind of technology and are built to last the lifetime of a solar system

How can component selection balance cost and performance so that solar module output is close to its lsquonameplatersquo rating

The inverterrsquos nameplate rating is a minimum hurdle that the inverter must be able to consistently and continuously clear when operating in the field For this

reason most inverter products are capable of producing 4ndash5 per cent more power than their rating

Sizing your inverter to match the module would mean you are paying for inverter capacity that rarely if ever gets used In other words the goal of a good system design should be to regularly saturate the inverter and not just in year one but also in years 10 to 15 once degradation and soiling have taken effect on the module

The rating of the microinverter should be such that the full output power of the solar module can be utilised under the specific conditions that apply to the proposed installation To this extent selecting the size of the microinverter is a similar process to selecting the size of a string inverter If in doubt you should obtain advice from the microinverter supplier

How else can different sizes of microinverters impact solar system cost and performance

Microinverters that are undersized will limit the amount of energy able to be produced by the system and result in the under-utilisation of the solar modules

Oversizing the microinverter can result in reduced operating (system) efficiency and under-utilisation of the investment made in the inverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 10

Misconceptions busted

MYTH Microinverters are small string inverters

MYTH Microinverters are only for niche applications

MYTH Microinverters are all the same

MYTH Microinverters are fail-proof

MYTH Microinverters do not perform well in hot conditions

False they are a completely different design architecture

False microinverters scale to any sized array and deliver benefits to any system

False like in any market there are microinverter system technologies of varying quality

False like string inverters if microinverters are incorrectly installed or operated then problems can occur

False microinverters are designed tested and proven in the field to operate under the harshest of conditions

Turn to page 7 for a diagram comparing string and microinverters

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 11

Industry standards applicable to microinverters

Adherence to Australian Standards is not only a benefit itrsquos also a requirement If a microinverter you install doesnrsquot comply with relevant standards you run the risk of losing the system and your investment

A microinverter complies with a standard only if it is installed according to the productrsquos installation guide andor accreditation letter If that is the case you can sign off on the documents for a PV system knowing that the system is safe It is also important to comply with Clean Energy Council (CEC) guidelines and provide a maintenance plan when installing a microinverter according to Australian Standards

Microinverters must adhere to standards to ensure safety compliance and ultimately peace of mind for those who purchase and install them

Australian Standards relevant to microinverter installation and maintenance

bull AS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays

bull AS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ndash installation requirements

bull AS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the AustralianNew Zealand Wiring Rules)

bull AS 3008 Electrical installations ndash Selection of cables ndash Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 061 kilovolts ndash Typical Australian installation conditions

If yoursquore a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer you must have and use a copy of each of these standards ndash they can be purchased from Standards Australia

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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ut ra

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225

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-40

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o +6

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-4

0 ˚C

to

+65

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-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

to 7

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o

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Prod

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xam

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and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 7: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 7

Microinverter applicationsMicroinverters were originally used for installations where shading or module orientation issues made the use of DC systems inefficient or impossible In recent timeshowever microinverters have become popular for all types of installations due to the fact that they are quicker to install are safer due to the absence of high voltage DC cabling and often perform better than equivalent DC systems Based on data collected separately and independently by Westinghouse Solar and SunEdison in the United States over a two-year period from 2008ndash10 the reliability of microinverters is 45 to 70 times greater than traditional central inverters

Microinverter usage can scale from a single solar module to thousands In North America the worldrsquos largest microinverter market microinverter systems are the dominant residential inverter technology used In addition there are several megawatt-sized power plants that utilise microinverter technology

If one looks to other markets for future trends the shift to microinverter systems is dominant in other markets with similar conditions to Australia For example in the United States the number one inverter vendor in the residential segment based on Californian market data is a microinverter manufacturer California is the largest market in the United States for solar

It is early days for this technology in Australia and current estimates suggest that the market share that microinverters hold in Australia is less than 5 per cent

System architecture for a string inverter Image courtesy of Enphase

System architecture for a microinverter Image courtesy of Enphase

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 8

Main steps in installing a microinverterFor a typical residential installation the five main steps to installing a microinverter system are

1 Component selection ndash There are a wide range of microinverters and AC modules available so it is important to select a unit that is suited to the application it is going to be used in Factors to consider include

Device temperature rating

Input voltage rating

Output power rating

Mounting arrangements

Cabling requirements

Datacommunications distance and requirements

2 Install AC cable between switchboard and array ndash It is important to select and install this cable such that the maximum voltage drop is below 1 per cent This will ensure that the microinverters do not switch off unnecessarily due to high AC volts

3 Install microinverters and cabling ndash Microinverters should be installed in accordance with manufacturerrsquos requirements Generally microinverters should be physically installed and oriented so as to maintain the maximum possible distance between the back of the module and the top surface of the microinverter

4 Install solar modules and test ndash Once solar modules have been installed it is useful to test the operation of each one by measuring the DC current flowing into the microinverter Checking this while still on the roof enables connection or other problems to be quickly identified and resolved while roof access is readily available

5 Set up monitoring ndash Once the system is fully installed the module level monitoring is set up This enables the performance of each module to be assessed and monitored on an ongoing basis

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 9

What is the importance of a warranty for a microinverter product

A warranty offers comfort for any product for the purchaser Microinverters are a critical component of PV systems and as such need to operate reliably for

the full life of the system Most microinverters have a design life of 25 years or more and have warranty periods of between 10 and 25 years

Typically microinverters carry a longer warranty than traditional string inverters as they are a completely different kind of technology and are built to last the lifetime of a solar system

How can component selection balance cost and performance so that solar module output is close to its lsquonameplatersquo rating

The inverterrsquos nameplate rating is a minimum hurdle that the inverter must be able to consistently and continuously clear when operating in the field For this

reason most inverter products are capable of producing 4ndash5 per cent more power than their rating

Sizing your inverter to match the module would mean you are paying for inverter capacity that rarely if ever gets used In other words the goal of a good system design should be to regularly saturate the inverter and not just in year one but also in years 10 to 15 once degradation and soiling have taken effect on the module

The rating of the microinverter should be such that the full output power of the solar module can be utilised under the specific conditions that apply to the proposed installation To this extent selecting the size of the microinverter is a similar process to selecting the size of a string inverter If in doubt you should obtain advice from the microinverter supplier

How else can different sizes of microinverters impact solar system cost and performance

Microinverters that are undersized will limit the amount of energy able to be produced by the system and result in the under-utilisation of the solar modules

Oversizing the microinverter can result in reduced operating (system) efficiency and under-utilisation of the investment made in the inverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 10

Misconceptions busted

MYTH Microinverters are small string inverters

MYTH Microinverters are only for niche applications

MYTH Microinverters are all the same

MYTH Microinverters are fail-proof

MYTH Microinverters do not perform well in hot conditions

False they are a completely different design architecture

False microinverters scale to any sized array and deliver benefits to any system

False like in any market there are microinverter system technologies of varying quality

False like string inverters if microinverters are incorrectly installed or operated then problems can occur

False microinverters are designed tested and proven in the field to operate under the harshest of conditions

Turn to page 7 for a diagram comparing string and microinverters

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 11

Industry standards applicable to microinverters

Adherence to Australian Standards is not only a benefit itrsquos also a requirement If a microinverter you install doesnrsquot comply with relevant standards you run the risk of losing the system and your investment

A microinverter complies with a standard only if it is installed according to the productrsquos installation guide andor accreditation letter If that is the case you can sign off on the documents for a PV system knowing that the system is safe It is also important to comply with Clean Energy Council (CEC) guidelines and provide a maintenance plan when installing a microinverter according to Australian Standards

Microinverters must adhere to standards to ensure safety compliance and ultimately peace of mind for those who purchase and install them

Australian Standards relevant to microinverter installation and maintenance

bull AS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays

bull AS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ndash installation requirements

bull AS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the AustralianNew Zealand Wiring Rules)

bull AS 3008 Electrical installations ndash Selection of cables ndash Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 061 kilovolts ndash Typical Australian installation conditions

If yoursquore a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer you must have and use a copy of each of these standards ndash they can be purchased from Standards Australia

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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Prod

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xam

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and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 8: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 8

Main steps in installing a microinverterFor a typical residential installation the five main steps to installing a microinverter system are

1 Component selection ndash There are a wide range of microinverters and AC modules available so it is important to select a unit that is suited to the application it is going to be used in Factors to consider include

Device temperature rating

Input voltage rating

Output power rating

Mounting arrangements

Cabling requirements

Datacommunications distance and requirements

2 Install AC cable between switchboard and array ndash It is important to select and install this cable such that the maximum voltage drop is below 1 per cent This will ensure that the microinverters do not switch off unnecessarily due to high AC volts

3 Install microinverters and cabling ndash Microinverters should be installed in accordance with manufacturerrsquos requirements Generally microinverters should be physically installed and oriented so as to maintain the maximum possible distance between the back of the module and the top surface of the microinverter

4 Install solar modules and test ndash Once solar modules have been installed it is useful to test the operation of each one by measuring the DC current flowing into the microinverter Checking this while still on the roof enables connection or other problems to be quickly identified and resolved while roof access is readily available

5 Set up monitoring ndash Once the system is fully installed the module level monitoring is set up This enables the performance of each module to be assessed and monitored on an ongoing basis

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 9

What is the importance of a warranty for a microinverter product

A warranty offers comfort for any product for the purchaser Microinverters are a critical component of PV systems and as such need to operate reliably for

the full life of the system Most microinverters have a design life of 25 years or more and have warranty periods of between 10 and 25 years

Typically microinverters carry a longer warranty than traditional string inverters as they are a completely different kind of technology and are built to last the lifetime of a solar system

How can component selection balance cost and performance so that solar module output is close to its lsquonameplatersquo rating

The inverterrsquos nameplate rating is a minimum hurdle that the inverter must be able to consistently and continuously clear when operating in the field For this

reason most inverter products are capable of producing 4ndash5 per cent more power than their rating

Sizing your inverter to match the module would mean you are paying for inverter capacity that rarely if ever gets used In other words the goal of a good system design should be to regularly saturate the inverter and not just in year one but also in years 10 to 15 once degradation and soiling have taken effect on the module

The rating of the microinverter should be such that the full output power of the solar module can be utilised under the specific conditions that apply to the proposed installation To this extent selecting the size of the microinverter is a similar process to selecting the size of a string inverter If in doubt you should obtain advice from the microinverter supplier

How else can different sizes of microinverters impact solar system cost and performance

Microinverters that are undersized will limit the amount of energy able to be produced by the system and result in the under-utilisation of the solar modules

Oversizing the microinverter can result in reduced operating (system) efficiency and under-utilisation of the investment made in the inverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 10

Misconceptions busted

MYTH Microinverters are small string inverters

MYTH Microinverters are only for niche applications

MYTH Microinverters are all the same

MYTH Microinverters are fail-proof

MYTH Microinverters do not perform well in hot conditions

False they are a completely different design architecture

False microinverters scale to any sized array and deliver benefits to any system

False like in any market there are microinverter system technologies of varying quality

False like string inverters if microinverters are incorrectly installed or operated then problems can occur

False microinverters are designed tested and proven in the field to operate under the harshest of conditions

Turn to page 7 for a diagram comparing string and microinverters

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 11

Industry standards applicable to microinverters

Adherence to Australian Standards is not only a benefit itrsquos also a requirement If a microinverter you install doesnrsquot comply with relevant standards you run the risk of losing the system and your investment

A microinverter complies with a standard only if it is installed according to the productrsquos installation guide andor accreditation letter If that is the case you can sign off on the documents for a PV system knowing that the system is safe It is also important to comply with Clean Energy Council (CEC) guidelines and provide a maintenance plan when installing a microinverter according to Australian Standards

Microinverters must adhere to standards to ensure safety compliance and ultimately peace of mind for those who purchase and install them

Australian Standards relevant to microinverter installation and maintenance

bull AS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays

bull AS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ndash installation requirements

bull AS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the AustralianNew Zealand Wiring Rules)

bull AS 3008 Electrical installations ndash Selection of cables ndash Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 061 kilovolts ndash Typical Australian installation conditions

If yoursquore a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer you must have and use a copy of each of these standards ndash they can be purchased from Standards Australia

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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t te

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-40

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o +6

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-4

0 ˚C

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+65

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-40

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Prod

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xam

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and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 9: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 9

What is the importance of a warranty for a microinverter product

A warranty offers comfort for any product for the purchaser Microinverters are a critical component of PV systems and as such need to operate reliably for

the full life of the system Most microinverters have a design life of 25 years or more and have warranty periods of between 10 and 25 years

Typically microinverters carry a longer warranty than traditional string inverters as they are a completely different kind of technology and are built to last the lifetime of a solar system

How can component selection balance cost and performance so that solar module output is close to its lsquonameplatersquo rating

The inverterrsquos nameplate rating is a minimum hurdle that the inverter must be able to consistently and continuously clear when operating in the field For this

reason most inverter products are capable of producing 4ndash5 per cent more power than their rating

Sizing your inverter to match the module would mean you are paying for inverter capacity that rarely if ever gets used In other words the goal of a good system design should be to regularly saturate the inverter and not just in year one but also in years 10 to 15 once degradation and soiling have taken effect on the module

The rating of the microinverter should be such that the full output power of the solar module can be utilised under the specific conditions that apply to the proposed installation To this extent selecting the size of the microinverter is a similar process to selecting the size of a string inverter If in doubt you should obtain advice from the microinverter supplier

How else can different sizes of microinverters impact solar system cost and performance

Microinverters that are undersized will limit the amount of energy able to be produced by the system and result in the under-utilisation of the solar modules

Oversizing the microinverter can result in reduced operating (system) efficiency and under-utilisation of the investment made in the inverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 10

Misconceptions busted

MYTH Microinverters are small string inverters

MYTH Microinverters are only for niche applications

MYTH Microinverters are all the same

MYTH Microinverters are fail-proof

MYTH Microinverters do not perform well in hot conditions

False they are a completely different design architecture

False microinverters scale to any sized array and deliver benefits to any system

False like in any market there are microinverter system technologies of varying quality

False like string inverters if microinverters are incorrectly installed or operated then problems can occur

False microinverters are designed tested and proven in the field to operate under the harshest of conditions

Turn to page 7 for a diagram comparing string and microinverters

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 11

Industry standards applicable to microinverters

Adherence to Australian Standards is not only a benefit itrsquos also a requirement If a microinverter you install doesnrsquot comply with relevant standards you run the risk of losing the system and your investment

A microinverter complies with a standard only if it is installed according to the productrsquos installation guide andor accreditation letter If that is the case you can sign off on the documents for a PV system knowing that the system is safe It is also important to comply with Clean Energy Council (CEC) guidelines and provide a maintenance plan when installing a microinverter according to Australian Standards

Microinverters must adhere to standards to ensure safety compliance and ultimately peace of mind for those who purchase and install them

Australian Standards relevant to microinverter installation and maintenance

bull AS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays

bull AS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ndash installation requirements

bull AS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the AustralianNew Zealand Wiring Rules)

bull AS 3008 Electrical installations ndash Selection of cables ndash Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 061 kilovolts ndash Typical Australian installation conditions

If yoursquore a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer you must have and use a copy of each of these standards ndash they can be purchased from Standards Australia

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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irel

ess

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eles

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wer

line

co

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nsW

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line

co

mm

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wer

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mm

unic

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Capa

cito

r ty

peEl

ectr

olyt

icEl

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olyt

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trol

ytic

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olyt

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in F

ilmTh

in F

ilmFi

lm c

apac

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sFi

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apac

itor

s

Am

bien

t te

mpe

ratu

re ra

nge

-40

˚C t

o +6

5 ˚C

-4

0 ˚C

to

+65

˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

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o

+65

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o

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to

+7

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to +

65 ˚

C-4

0 to

+65

˚C

Prod

uct e

xam

ples

and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 10: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 10

Misconceptions busted

MYTH Microinverters are small string inverters

MYTH Microinverters are only for niche applications

MYTH Microinverters are all the same

MYTH Microinverters are fail-proof

MYTH Microinverters do not perform well in hot conditions

False they are a completely different design architecture

False microinverters scale to any sized array and deliver benefits to any system

False like in any market there are microinverter system technologies of varying quality

False like string inverters if microinverters are incorrectly installed or operated then problems can occur

False microinverters are designed tested and proven in the field to operate under the harshest of conditions

Turn to page 7 for a diagram comparing string and microinverters

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 11

Industry standards applicable to microinverters

Adherence to Australian Standards is not only a benefit itrsquos also a requirement If a microinverter you install doesnrsquot comply with relevant standards you run the risk of losing the system and your investment

A microinverter complies with a standard only if it is installed according to the productrsquos installation guide andor accreditation letter If that is the case you can sign off on the documents for a PV system knowing that the system is safe It is also important to comply with Clean Energy Council (CEC) guidelines and provide a maintenance plan when installing a microinverter according to Australian Standards

Microinverters must adhere to standards to ensure safety compliance and ultimately peace of mind for those who purchase and install them

Australian Standards relevant to microinverter installation and maintenance

bull AS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays

bull AS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ndash installation requirements

bull AS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the AustralianNew Zealand Wiring Rules)

bull AS 3008 Electrical installations ndash Selection of cables ndash Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 061 kilovolts ndash Typical Australian installation conditions

If yoursquore a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer you must have and use a copy of each of these standards ndash they can be purchased from Standards Australia

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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ess

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eles

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line

co

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co

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mm

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cito

r ty

peEl

ectr

olyt

icEl

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ytic

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olyt

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in F

ilmTh

in F

ilmFi

lm c

apac

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sFi

lm c

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itor

s

Am

bien

t te

mpe

ratu

re ra

nge

-40

˚C t

o +6

5 ˚C

-4

0 ˚C

to

+65

˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

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o

+65

˚C

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˚C t

o

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to

+7

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to +

65 ˚

C-4

0 to

+65

˚C

Prod

uct e

xam

ples

and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 11: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 11

Industry standards applicable to microinverters

Adherence to Australian Standards is not only a benefit itrsquos also a requirement If a microinverter you install doesnrsquot comply with relevant standards you run the risk of losing the system and your investment

A microinverter complies with a standard only if it is installed according to the productrsquos installation guide andor accreditation letter If that is the case you can sign off on the documents for a PV system knowing that the system is safe It is also important to comply with Clean Energy Council (CEC) guidelines and provide a maintenance plan when installing a microinverter according to Australian Standards

Microinverters must adhere to standards to ensure safety compliance and ultimately peace of mind for those who purchase and install them

Australian Standards relevant to microinverter installation and maintenance

bull AS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays

bull AS 4777 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ndash installation requirements

bull AS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the AustralianNew Zealand Wiring Rules)

bull AS 3008 Electrical installations ndash Selection of cables ndash Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 061 kilovolts ndash Typical Australian installation conditions

If yoursquore a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer you must have and use a copy of each of these standards ndash they can be purchased from Standards Australia

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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icEl

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in F

ilmTh

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lm c

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s

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t te

mpe

ratu

re ra

nge

-40

˚C t

o +6

5 ˚C

-4

0 ˚C

to

+65

˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

to 7

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-40

˚C t

o

+65

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o

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to +

65 ˚

C-4

0 to

+65

˚C

Prod

uct e

xam

ples

and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 12: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 12

Important questions to ask a supplier

Who is the manufacturer

Be sure to ask questions about a companyrsquos financial backing their market share technology reputation where the product is made if the product has support services located in Australia and how long the manufacturer has been operating in the market

Is the product reliable

Make sure the microinverter meets Australian Standards is engineered to the highest possible standards and can perform in harsh environmental conditions To source information on quality and performance contact a reputable supplier who will be able to advise an installer on the relative quality and performance of different technologies and products

What is the efficiency of the product

When looking at efficiency be sure to look for weighted efficiency numbers Some manufacturers quote peak efficiency which is a best-case metric for product performance A weighted efficiency looks at performance in a more real-world context

Is the product proven in the field

Make sure the microinverter has been thoroughly tested and that this is backed up by performance data that demonstrates reliability

When evaluating microinverter products it can be challenging to understand what value one will receive for the money spent

Buyers should think about the value for money they will receive with the products purchased rather than price alone What might seem cheaper up front could end up costing much more in the long term if the product doesnrsquot last and deliver the promised value

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

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Prod

uct e

xam

ples

and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 13: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 13

Common mistakes when purchasing ndash and how to avoid themBuyers often make the mistake of not looking into the company behind the products It is not enough to offer a microinverter the backing of the company will be what ultimately delivers the best solar experience Should there ever be any issues that require addressing a stable long-lasting company who focuses on customer satisfaction and support is a part of what a buyer is purchasing

Take the time to do initial research into the company offering the products This information can be found on microinverter manufacturersrsquo and suppliersrsquo websites

Consider the following

Financial performance track record

Market share

Length of time in business

Location of headquarters and local offices

Another common mistake installers make is buying a microinverter based on price alone The cost of just one trip back to a roof to replace a microinverter or rectify a problem easily outweighs the savings made by using a cheap microinverter

Other common mistakes include

Incorrect sizing of the AC cable between the switchboard and the array

Incorrect branch sizing (ie too many microinverters per branch)

Forgetting to write down microinverter serial numbers

A reputable wholesaler will provide installation checklists and cable sizing schedules specific to each microinverter system

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Prod

uct

man

ufac

ture

rEn

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e En

ergy

i-En

ergy

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er-O

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wer

-One

Alt

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gy

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er

Syst

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ecsy

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enQ

Sol

arSo

larl

and

Sola

rlan

d

Prod

uct

nam

eM

215

Mic

roin

vert

er

Syst

emi-

Ener

gy G

T260

Mic

roin

vert

erM

icro

inve

rter

APS

m

icro

inve

rter

Enec

sys

Gen

2

mic

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Prod

uct e

xam

ples

and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 14: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 14

Important considerations for your next microinverter pur-chase a checklist

Know your system specifications before making any

microinverter purchase

Consider if the microinverter is part of a complete

microinverter system including communications

hardware and a software platform Each of these

system elements must be as technologically

advanced as the microinverter itself

Ensure monitoring system requirements and selected

microinverter are compatible

Check the output rating and overall compatibility of

the microinverter with the proposed PV module

Ensure technical support is readily available from

supplier

Obtain pricing for a number of systems for

comparison

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Prod

uct

man

ufac

ture

rEn

phas

e En

ergy

i-En

ergy

Pow

er-O

nePo

wer

-One

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ener

gy

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er

Syst

emEn

ecsy

sB

enQ

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arSo

larl

and

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rlan

d

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uct

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erM

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uct

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el n

umbe

rM

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0M

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-02

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OU

TDM

ICRO

-03

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TDYC

250

500

240-

60-M

PPM

245P

A2

SLP2

50-2

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CSL

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uct

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ribu

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tral

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I Sol

ar A

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olar

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areh

ouse

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olar

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olar

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stra

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rlan

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se

Is a

n in

stal

lati

on g

uide

av

aila

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for

this

pro

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sYe

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Wha

t A

ustr

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n St

anda

rds

does

thi

s pr

oduc

t m

eet

AS4

777

AS4

777

23

AS3

100

AS4

777

AS

3100

AS4

777

AS

3100

AS4

777

A

S310

0A

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7 A

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0A

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ZS50

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ZS50

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yea

rs)

1010

yea

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p to

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s pu

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ase

opti

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1010

2520

102

5 ye

ars

2525

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stry

cer

tifi

cati

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ived

UL1

741

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1547

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10

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cl

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ARN

4105

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11 G

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000-

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t te

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o +6

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Prod

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xam

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and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 15: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 15

About usFounded in 2009 i-Energy is a pioneer in advanced PV power optimisation and conversion products for residential and commercial applications dedicated to making smart renewable energy for all i-Energyrsquos

solar microinverter solutions offer high reliability increased energy optimisation enhanced safety and simplified installation and service to the solar energy field

About usEnphase Energy (Nasdaq ENPH) is the worldrsquos leading provider of microinverter systems Since introducing the first commercially-available microinverter in 2008

Enphase has shipped over 3 million units into 11 countries across the globe and is the number one residential inverter supplier in the Americas Enphasersquos microinverter technology increases energy production simplifies design and installation improves system uptime and reliability reduces fire safety risk and provides a platform for intelligent energy management wwwenphasecomau

About the sponsors

About usAC Solar Warehouse is Australiarsquos leading solar wholesaler specialising in microinverters and AC solar equipment We offer competitive pricing on leading brand microinverters and AC solar modules including

products from Enecsys Enphase iEnergy APS Power One BenQ Solar and Solarland We provide professional unbiased advice as to the most appropriate product for any particular installation Our customers have access to AS3000 compliant installation drawings installation and troubleshooting checklists switchboard labels and all the information and advice required to competitively provide residential and commercial customers with access to this breakthrough technology

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Prod

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MC

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AC

outp

ut ra

ting

225

W A

C23

0 W

250

W30

0 W

250

W24

0 W

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8 W

238

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ecti

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ype

Tru

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aisy

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ain

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k ca

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sy C

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sy C

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ion

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irel

ess

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eles

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wer

line

co

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atio

ns

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cito

r ty

peEl

ectr

olyt

icEl

ectr

olyt

icEl

ectr

olyt

ic

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trol

ytic

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ectr

olyt

icTh

in F

ilmTh

in F

ilmFi

lm c

apac

itor

sFi

lm c

apac

itor

s

Am

bien

t te

mpe

ratu

re ra

nge

-40

˚C t

o +6

5 ˚C

-4

0 ˚C

to

+65

˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

˚C t

o

+65

˚C

-40

˚C t

o

+85

˚C-4

0 ˚C

to

+7

5 ˚C

-40

to +

65 ˚

C-4

0 to

+65

˚C

Prod

uct e

xam

ples

and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 16: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 16

About usPower-One is the worldrsquos second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters Its renewable energy products enable the industryrsquos highest yielding

conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes Power-One has a 40-year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy data storage and networking industrial and network power systems The company is headquartered in Camarillo California and has global sales offices manufacturing and research and development operations in Asia Europe and the Americas

About usSolarland Australia the joint venture of Solarland International and a group of local Australian renewable energy professionals is the wholesale supplier of

Solarlandrsquos products in Australia Solarland is a world class manufacturer of PV panels based out of Wuxi China and exports its products around the world Based in Sydney New South Wales Solarland Australia supplies a range of CEC-approved on-grid and off-grid products to the Australian and Pacific region

A solar installation at Corte Madera School in the Portola Valley California United States Image courtesy of Enphase Energy

Prod

uct

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ture

rEn

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e En

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4 w

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0 ce

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ng

or p

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ive

term

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gr

oun

din

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Floa

tin

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ndi

ng

Mos

t 60

an

d 72

ce

ll m

odu

les

Mos

t 60

cel

l mod

ule

sBe

nQ

Sol

ar

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5P00

Sola

rlan

d A

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mod

ule

s of

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ze

Sola

rlan

d A

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mod

ule

s of

any

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Mod

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peM

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4 co

mpa

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C4

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C4

com

pati

ble

(QC

)

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4 co

mpa

tibl

e (A

mph

enol

)M

C4

com

pati

ble

(Am

phen

ol)

MC

4M

C4

AC

outp

ut ra

ting

225

W A

C23

0 W

250

W30

0 W

250

W24

0 W

250

W23

8 W

238

W

AC

conn

ecti

on t

ype

Tru

nk

cabl

eD

aisy

Ch

ain

Tru

nk

cabl

eTr

un

k ca

ble

Dai

sy C

hai

nTr

un

k ca

ble

Dai

sy C

hai

nA

C C

onn

ecti

on

ndash A

PP S

olar

SP

EC P

ak

AC

Con

nec

tion

ndash

APP

Sol

ar

SPEC

Pak

Com

mun

icat

ions

typ

ePo

wer

lin

e co

mm

un

icat

ion

sPo

wer

lin

e co

mm

un

icat

ion

sW

irel

ess

Wir

eles

sPo

wer

line

co

mm

unic

atio

nsW

i-Fi

Wi-

FiPo

wer

line

co

mm

unic

atio

nsPo

wer

line

co

mm

unic

atio

ns

Capa

cito

r ty

peEl

ectr

olyt

icEl

ectr

olyt

icEl

ectr

olyt

ic

Elec

trol

ytic

El

ectr

olyt

icTh

in F

ilmTh

in F

ilmFi

lm c

apac

itor

sFi

lm c

apac

itor

s

Am

bien

t te

mpe

ratu

re ra

nge

-40

˚C t

o +6

5 ˚C

-4

0 ˚C

to

+65

˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

˚C t

o

+65

˚C

-40

˚C t

o

+85

˚C-4

0 ˚C

to

+7

5 ˚C

-40

to +

65 ˚

C-4

0 to

+65

˚C

Prod

uct e

xam

ples

and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 17: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

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typ

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ion

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lin

e co

mm

un

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ion

sW

irel

ess

Wir

eles

sPo

wer

line

co

mm

unic

atio

nsW

i-Fi

Wi-

FiPo

wer

line

co

mm

unic

atio

nsPo

wer

line

co

mm

unic

atio

ns

Capa

cito

r ty

peEl

ectr

olyt

icEl

ectr

olyt

icEl

ectr

olyt

ic

Elec

trol

ytic

El

ectr

olyt

icTh

in F

ilmTh

in F

ilmFi

lm c

apac

itor

sFi

lm c

apac

itor

s

Am

bien

t te

mpe

ratu

re ra

nge

-40

˚C t

o +6

5 ˚C

-4

0 ˚C

to

+65

˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

to 7

5 ˚C

-40

˚C t

o

+65

˚C

-40

˚C t

o

+85

˚C-4

0 ˚C

to

+7

5 ˚C

-40

to +

65 ˚

C-4

0 to

+65

˚C

Prod

uct e

xam

ples

and

spe

cific

atio

ns

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 18: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 18

Featured product

Enphase M215Based on Enphasersquos third generation technology the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96 per cent CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximise the performance of 60 cell solar modules

In addition the M215 is lightweight and offers a lsquosingle-boltrsquo mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market

The Enphase Microinverter System improves energy harvest increases reliability and dramatically simplifies design installation and management of solar power systems

The Enphase System includes the microinverter the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten Enphasersquos monitoring and analysis software

ProductiveMaximum energy production

Resilient to dust debris and shading

Performance monitoring

ReliableSystem availability greater than 998 per cent

No single point of system failure

SmartQuick and simple design installation and management

247 monitoring and analysis

SafeLow-voltage DC

Reduced fire risk

Enphasersquos M215 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 19: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 19

Featured product Microinverter GT260The i-Energy microinverter solutionThe i-Energy microinverter solution offers significant advantages over deployment of conventional string or central inverters These include

Increased energy harvestCompared with string inverters the i-Energy microinverter delivers 5-25 greater energy harvest per solar module by applying Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to each solar module to optimise energy harvest The normalised energy harvest of the i-Energy GT260 can reach over 6 kW in good weather conditions As a result with microinverter deployment there is no dramatic reduction in system output when a solar module or part of a module has its output reduced by shading or surface debris

Enhanced system monitoringThe i-Energy microinverter solution features real-time monitoring of each panel to track performance and pinpoint any problems You can easily troubleshoot or do fault-isolation to a single point with microinverters even remotely via the web or mobile devices

Improved safety The i-Energy microinverter eliminates the need for DC cables carrying high voltage currents from the PV module to the string inverters and the risks associated with high voltage DC wires such as arc-faults This not only improves the safety of the solar power system for system owners and installers but simplifies installation as well

Simple scalabilityWith the i-Energy microinverter adding solar panels to a preexisting solar system is simple and straightforward Simply add the additional number of solar panels needed and install the same number of microinverters

Ease of installationi-Energy offers true Plug and Play installation with a fully-integrated cableconnector with the GT260 inverter unit This saves the costs of additional cables and connectors for the system contributing to overall lower balance of system costs in terms of both labour and materials in addition to the elimination of the need to wire high voltage DC cable connections

Reliable and rugged design i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed for a service life of 25 years compared with a 10-12 year life of a typical string inverter and operate in real world conditions from -40 degC to +85 degC achieving a peak efficiency of 945 per cent for high reliability over the temperature range To achieve high reliability i-Energyrsquos microinverters are designed and built with

Highest grade electronic components (such as high end E-capacitors)

Simpler electronic board design with lower part count

Rugged external chassis with a proprietary heat management design

Waterproof and dust-proof protective vent and internal sealing

Deployment flexibility The i-Energy microinverter can be used with both 60 and 72 cell PV panels offering additional deployment flexibility for the installer and system owner

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 20: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 20

Featured product MICRO-03-I-OUTDPower-Onersquos new AURORA MICRO establishes a new concept in PV inverters designed to satisfy the key and common needs of all those involved during the lifetime of a plant

Problem-free designThe AURORA MICRO gives you the greatest possible design flexibility

With AURORA MICRO there are no longer strings to scale and orientations that must be respected this increases the space that can be used for the plant thus rendering usable roof pitches that cannot be reached with a string inverter with no more than 2 MPPT channels

Thanks to the DC decoupling of the panels and to the wide range of input voltage from 12 to 60 volts (with an absolute maximum of 65 volts) AURORA MICRO offers the further design freedom of being able to install modules of different make and performance

Small but a big performerThanks to its double-switch topology with high frequency galvanic isolation AURORA MICRO can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of

Efficiency achieving a peak performance of 965 per cent (CEC = 960 per cent) among the best in its inverter class

Safety in the case of maintenance or fire simply flick the general plant switch on the AC panel and the MICRO now disconnected from the grid will immediately go into stand-by mode in this state the voltage at its AC clamps and the maximum DC voltage on the plant is that of the panel (which is intrinsically safe given that the values are typically below 120 volts) and no longer that of the string (hundreds of volts)

DC grounding thanks to the grounding of the positive input pole AURORA MICRO is suitable both for panels that do not need grounding and panels that require the positive pole to be grounded

Guaranteeing return on investmentBesides its high level of efficiency worthy of a much bigger inverter the real strength of MICRO is the ability to maximise the potential of each panel in your plant at any moment of the day with the objective of achieving a return on the investment as quickly as possible

Monitoring panel by panelThe presence of wireless communication between each MICRO and AURORA CDD enables constant monitoring of the production of each individual PV panel 24 hours a day

Guaranteed productionShould a string inverter break down the whole plant stops producing energy while in the case of a breakdown of MICRO only the energy produced by a single panel is lost In fact by using MICRO the chance of losing the whole power of the plant due to the inverter becomes practically zero Power-Onersquos MICRO-03-I-OUTD microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 21: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 21

Featured product Enecsys Gen2 microinverterThe Enecsys second-generation microinverter dramatically boosts energy harvest through a combination of improved efficiency and increased maximum output power ability

The Enecsys second-generation microinverter is offered in increments from 240 W up to 300 W maximum AC output with a microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency of 965 per cent

Enecsys technology is at the forefront of maximum energy harvest capacity and has the broadest global certifications

The microinverter is accompanied by a next generation Enecsys Gateway enabling seamless field configurability and upgradability along with the Enecsys Monitoring System This drives system owners and installers the ability to monitor energy production on a panel-by-panel basis in real-time and to pro-actively and precisely address any maintenance issues

The Enecsys second-generation microinverterrsquos packaging has been significantly redesigned featuring a new patented form factor with an integrated mounting method This hermetically sealed package along with the incorporation of high reliability components assures a reliable solution backed by an impressive 20 year warranty

Maximised harvestbull Delivers microinverter industry-leading peak efficiency

bull Lessens the impact of shading and debris to the array

bull Maximum Power Point Tracking at each module maximises array output

Simplified PV array design and installationbull Field configurable for Australian voltage and frequency settings

bull Menu-driven monitoring guides installers through the set-up process

bull Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies and accelerates installation time

Enhanced monitoring capabilitybull Real-time monitoring for each module

bull Historical pattern of energy generation and total energy generated

bull Mobile access capability

Increased lifetime and reliabilitybull Extensive temperature range (-40 to +85˚C) to address Australian conditions

bull IP 67 connections to maintain system integrity

Improved safetybull Installer safety

improved by eliminating high-voltage DC

bull Reduced fire risk by eliminating arc failures from DC wiring The Enecsys Gen2 microinverter

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 22: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

Sponsors

The Australian Microinverter Guide 22

Featured product Solarland TrueACTM ModuleWith the Solarland SLP250-230AC TRUEACtrade Module retailers and installers can offer their customers a complete roof-ready AC module solution

TRUEACtrade Modules are not DC Modules with detached microinverters they are real AC modules that are factory-assembled and come with an integrated 25 year warranty

Solarlandrsquos TRUEAC modules are designed to capture up to 25 per cent more energy per site and cut installation time by up to 50 per cent

An installation using TRUEACtrade Modules will have the following features

Pantheon II MicroinverterSolarBridge Technologiesrsquo microinverters have no failure-prone components such as electrolytic capacitors optoisolators or tantalum capacitors

The patented architecture requires a fraction of the capacitance of traditional inverter architectures enabling the use of highly reliable film capacitors

Power ManagerThe SolarBridge Power Manager serves as the communications hub of the solar array and constantly monitors the performance of every module All communications take place with the AC modules over AC wiring mdash no additional data cabling or wireless repeaters are required

The SolarBridge Power Manager communicates directly with the SolarBridge Power Portal

Power PortalThe Power Portal is a web-based management system that enables system owners installers and module manufacturers to monitor system performance 247

The Power Portalrsquos rich graphical interface is available through internet-connected computers and mobile devices

System owners and operators are instantly alerted to potential problems preventing costly downtime and reducing troubleshooting time and maintenance costs

The SolarLand SLP250-230AC

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 23: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

The Australian Microinverter Guide 23

Need more informationWe hope this guide has assisted you in the process of purchasing microinverter products

Interested in any of the featured products or want to know more about microinverters

Website wwwacsolarwarehousecom

Phone Number 1300 55 44 67

Fax Number 07 5636 1009

Postal Address PO Box 408 Cairns QLD 4870

Business Address Unit 9 4 Tingira Street Cairns Queensland 4870

Contact Email infoacsolarwarehousecom

Website wwwi-energyinccom

Phone Number +886 22545-8097

Fax Number +886 22546-6523

Address 7F-4 No128 Sec 3 Mingsheng E Rd Taipei Taiwan 105 ROC

Contact Email contacti-energycomtw

Website wwwsolarlandcomau

Phone Number +61 2 9450 2095

Address Unit 8 20 Narabang Way Belrose New South Wales 2085

Contact Email infosolarlandcomau

Website wwwenphasecomau

Phone Number 03 8669 1679

Contact by visiting httpenphasecomcontactus

Contact Email aus-supportenphasecom

Phone Number +61 2 9735 3111

Fax Number +61 2 9763 2422

Address 34 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127

Contact Email salesaustraliapower-onecom

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news

Page 24: The Australian Microinverter Guide - Geelong Solar …greenenergyoptions.com.au/.../The_Australian_Microinverter_Guide.pdf · The Australian Microinverter Guide SPONSORS. ... MICRO-0.3-I-OUTD

The Australian Microinverter Guide 24

Need more information

EcoGeneration is Australiarsquos leading clean energy publication Recognised as one of the strongest business-to-business brands in Australia at the recent Publishers Australia Awards EcoGeneration integrates content over print online social media and event platforms to maximise reach and engagement

Click here to subscribe to EcoGeneration magazine SPECIAL EDITIONIntroducing the APVIOur place in the clean energy worldWind myths busted

An Independent Australian Energy Reserve Authority

issue 78 | october 13PRINCIPAL MEDIA PARTNER ndash ALL-ENERGY AUSTRALIA 2013

The role of renewables

normalThe new

in our energy markets

Click here to sign up for EcoGenerationlsquos free newsletters including the recently launched solar

installer newsletter

Click here to follow EcoGeneration on twitter

Click here to learn more about EcoGenerationrsquos Australian Solar Installersrsquo Industry Guide the valuable handbook for solar system designers and installers featuring reference tools measurement conversions common electrical symbols industry contacts and more

Click here to view EcoGenerationrsquos full suite of clean energy industry products

THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTALLERSrsquo INDUSTRY GUIDEA handy reference guide to solar-specifi c standards accreditation and conversions

1st edition

e-news