News

Sharp Solar Showcases Residential Solar Appliance

March 11, 2012 by Jeff Shepard

Sharp Electronics’ Solar Energy Solutions Group has showcased SunSnap, its new residential PV solar appliance. The installation was completed in collaboration with LivingHomes, which introduced the LivingHome C6, its first low-cost home. The prefabricated home is zero energy, zero carbon, Energy Star-certified, and LEED Platinum-certifiable.

The SunSnap modules are designed for ease-of-installation and Sharp said they were easily integrated into the building design. They are designed to be easily scaled up to offset the energy usage of the entire home.

The solar home appliance consists of black-on-black, 235W Sharp photovoltaic (PV) modules. The system integrates Enphase’s microinverter system, which converts dc from the solar modules to grid-compliant ac at the module-level.

The appliance is designed to help consumers and contractors use home-generated solar through a simplified product design and installation process. As a scalable PV appliance, it offers a small, modestly priced "starter kit." Homeowners can install as few as one solar appliance initially; the system can then be expanded in the future as desired.

The new residential solar power appliance becomes available on a limited basis in March 2012 and through retail channels in the second half of 2012.

More news and information regarding the latest developments in Smart Grid electronics can be found at Darnell’s SmartGridElectronics.Net.