SolarBridge Technologies Partners With AUO to Launch AC Modules to North American Market
SolarBridge Technologies announced a partnership with AU Optronics Corp. (AUO to deliver the AUO AC Unison integrated ac module to the North American market. AUO and SolarBridge have been working closely together to develop what they describe as a game-changing solution. The AUO AC Unison, a high-efficiency ac module with a preinstalled SolarBridge Pantheon™ microinverter, will be sold by AUO through its network of distribution partners.
AUO’s pretested, prequalified AC Unison is built to last 25+ years and is backed by what the company says is the industry’s first integrated AC module warranty. The frame-attached SolarBridge Pantheon microinverter is uniquely capable of matching the lifetime of AUO’s module, eliminating inverter replacements which can result in a dramatic reduction in PV system costs. The reliability, low installation cost and energy harvest benefits of the AC Unison are expected to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for PV systems by as much as 25 percent compared to alternative solutions.
"We are very pleased to work with SolarBridge to make AC Unison a simple, flexible, safe and integrated module that provides high energy yields, high efficiency, and the lowest LCOE solution on the market," said L.J. Chen, President of AU Optronics Corp. "The AC Unison is designed for 25-year reliability and comes with the industry’s first integrated ac module warranty from AUO."
"The advantages of native ac systems over dc-based systems have been known for some time and can now be fully realized," said Ron Van Dell, President and CEO, SolarBridge Technologies. "SolarBridge is proud to enable this ground-breaking solution with such an impressive combination of features."
The AC Unison is a complete, preassembled system, eliminating the cost of inverter installations in the field. In addition, grounding wires between inverters are not needed and there are dc cables to manage in the field. The module is easy to install, with "one click" ac wiring.
The SolarBridge microinverter is able to harvest the full output of the AUO module by performing panel-level Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). The result is an increase in energy production up to 25 percent over traditional string and central inverter based systems.
As a complete ac assembly, the AC Unison makes system design easy by eliminating the need for string sizing. Because of its energy harvest benefits, the AC Unison can be installed at many sites that were previously unsuitable for solar due to shading or roof obstructions.
The AC Unison module eliminates high voltage (up to 600V) dc strings. In emergency situations, first responders are able to turn off power at the ac module so that there is no live wiring anywhere in the building.
The complete AC Unison assembly is designed and tested to meet UL1703 and UL1741 requirements for ac modules. Initially targeting the North American residential market, AUO is accepting advance orders from its distribution partners and will begin shipping AC Unison modules in Q3 2011.
More news and information regarding the latest developments in Smart Grid electronics can be found at Darnell’s SmartGridElectronics.Net.
