Nextek Power Systems Inc. (Ronkonkoma, NY), a manufacturer of dc power networks and accessories for variable speed motor controllers, announced the launch of its new high-efficiency 75 kW Digital Power Gateway to be manufactured under an agreement with Ballard Power Systems Inc. (Vancouver, BC, Canada). The Nextek Digital Power Gateway is designed for commercial buildings that generate some of their own power with solar panels, fuel cells and other distributed generation methods.
Acting quite literally like a gateway, the digitally controlled router uses the locally generated power first, then "fills in" with power from the grid as necessary, allowing for unparalleled efficiency when using local energy because power is used where, when and how it is being generated. A smaller version of the Digital Power Gateway, the NPS-1000, has been successfully commercialized in grocery stores, big box retail establishments, distribution centers and more.
"I am very pleased to have Ballard as our manufacturing partner for our new high-power Digital Power Gateway," said Nextek CEO Paul Savage. "Their superb engineering and manufacturing team will enable us to further commercialize our breakthrough technologies in more varied locations."
Ballard Marketing and Business Development Vice President Noordin Nanji stated, "This agreement fits well into our plan to leverage our world-class engineering and manufacturing facilities as we work with our customers and partners to penetrate the alternative energy market."
Currently the Nextek system uses locally generated dc to power dc devices like fluorescent lighting, HID lighting and variable speed motor drives. Coming soon is Nextek’s Bi-Directional Power Gateway that will further change the power equation by delivering all the functionality of an inverter plus the features found in Nextek’s Direct Coupling® platform.
