Ideal Power Converter Unveils New Solar Inverter Prototype And Pilot Test That Reduces Size & Weight By More Than 90%
Ideal Power Converters (IPC) unveils its prototype and successful pilot test of its 30kW commercial-scale PV inverter. For this IPC is using its patented current-modulation electronic power converter technology.
- (1888PressRelease) February 26, 2011 - WASHINGTON, DC - Ideal Power Converters (IPC) unveils its prototype and successful pilot test of its 30kW commercial-scale PV inverter using its patented current-modulation electronic power converter technology. The IPC inverter delivers industry leading performance in a design that is an order of magnitude smaller and lighter than conventional best-in-class inverters that deliver the same power (30kW), output voltage (3-phase 480VAC), and support for standard grounded PV arrays. IPC is displaying its PV inverter prototype at the 2011 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in Washington DC on February 28 and March 1, 2011 at the Technology Showcase booth #221.
IPC's current-modulation electronic power converter topology uses a completely new patented control methodology, while using commodity components and materials. As a result the cost of materials, manufacturing, shipping and installation is dramatically reduced. "Ideal Power Converters has successfully installed and operated our 30kW prototype inverter system since last November on an existing PV array at the Austin Convention Center," commented Bill Alexander, CEO of IPC. "The PV industry recognizes that PV inverter cost, performance, reliability and grid support are industry bottlenecks in meeting grid-parity, and IPC's products improve all of these metrics."
IPC's initial product will be a 30kW PV inverter for the US market that weighs less than 100lbs. The lightweight design will reduce indirect costs of inverter shipping and installation by more than 80%, and will simplify installation of rooftop PV installations with space and structural support constraints. IPC is continuing development of its initial 30kW PV inverter product. IPC will manufacture its products in high volume in the US for distribution to both domestic and international markets, while generating much needed manufacturing jobs and exports in the clean energy sector.
The Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) will be further improved through the inverter's higher efficiency and improved reliability. Intertek, a leading independent testing laboratory for PV inverters in the US, has tested the IPC prototype inverter and measured it to have better efficiency than of competing products. The efficiency of the IPC inverter will be further improved for production. The IPC converter topology has several significant design improvements for reliability including eliminating all electrolytic capacitors, the components mostly likely to fatigue and fail in PV inverter systems.
IPC has released a whitepaper that discusses the results from its PV inverter pilot test and the comparative advantages of its power converter technology.
About Ideal Power Converters
Electronic power converters provide the infrastructure for the clean energy revolution improving electrical energy efficiency, renewable energy production, smart power grids, and economic electric vehicles. Ideal Power Converters has patented and is further developing a revolutionary new power-converter technology, and its products will improve both energy and cost efficiency for applications including solar inverters, wind converters, AC motor drives, and hybrid-electric vehicles. IPC is a member of the Austin Technology Incubator, and has received funding from the State of Texas Emerging Technology Fund and Battery Ventures. http://www.IdealPowerConverters.com
About ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit
The second annual ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit will take place February 28 - March 2, 2011 at the Gaylord Convention Center just outside Washington, D.C. The Summit will feature high-profile speakers including U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, ARPA-E Director Arun Majumdar, U.S. Navy Secretary Raymond Mabus, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bank of America Chairman Charles Holliday. To learn more or to register for the summit, please visit: http://www.ct-si.org/events/EnergyInnovation.
Contact information:
Ideal Power Converters:
Paul Bundschuh, V.P., Business Development
1-512-801-3679
paul.bundschuh ( @ ) idealpowerconverters dot com
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