APsystems Exhibits at SPI 2016 – Sept 12-15

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192b3d9d-30bb-4b34-9831-5a427aa69045Solar Power International, North America’s largest PV convention, comes to Las Vegas Sept. 12-15 – and APsystems will be there in force.

Look for our enhanced, interactive booth 659, where we’ll be offering APsystems product training, hands-on demonstrations, and great promotional giveaways.

We’ll have the full line of APsystems advanced microinverters on display, including the powerful new YC500i with EnergyMax™ and the ArrayApp all-in-one mobile installer tool.

Email sales@APsystems.com to set up a meeting with a team member, or just drop by and find out why APsystems is the global leader in next-generation microinverters for solar PV applications.

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Join APsystems at SNEC 2016 in Shanghai, May 24

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APsystems will be a featured exhibitor and presenter at the upcoming SNEC 2016, May 24-26 in Shanghai, China.

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SNEC is an ideal platform for PV companies to share their products and services, as the event draws technology leaders from across the global industry to spark ideas and innovation. Distributors, installers and manufacturers can keep on top of the latest policies and issues impacting the international renewable production and storage markets.

See the APsystems microinverter line and new products at booth E5-210.

A press conference will be held at our booth to formally announce new product releases and share the APsystems development path. A microinverter installation demonstration and competition will also be held, with the winner receiving a free microinverter.

More activities and giveaways will be offered throughout the event.

Join APsystems at Booth E5-210 on 24~26 May at SNEC 2016.

Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Centre, 2345 Longyang Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201204, P.R.C.

We look forward to sharing this special event with you!

 

 

Olivier Jacques to lead APsystems Europe, Middle East and Africa operations

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Olivier Jacques has joined APsystems as Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa. He is based in the APsystems branch in Lyon, France. The company also maintains a European office in Netherlands.

Jacques brings more than 20 years of experience in construction, industrial and high-tech industries. Prior to joining APsystems, he served as Managing Director EMEA for Enphase Energy. There, he developed the microinverter market in Europe from scratch, achieving leading share positions in key European solar regions.

7285e9b5-5431-4cdc-9d18-74b6c5fc9714“European, Middle Eastern and African solar market opportunities open up to APsystems with the addition of Olivier Jacques,” said Dr. Zhi-Min Ling, APsystems co-founder, CEO and president, global operations. “His solar industry leadership in these key territories is unmatched, and enhances our position as a global leader in renewable energy technologies.”

APsystems ranked no. 2 in global market share among microinverter suppliers by shipments in 2014 (source: GTM Research, Smart and AC PV Modules 2015 – 2020).

“I am very excited to join APsystems in such a key development phase globally,” Jacques said. “The company is now increasing its presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and I am absolutely convinced that AP systems’ portfolio strategy will bring outstanding value to solar professionals in these regions, especially given the current energy management market trends dynamic.”

Jacques previously served as Managing Director for several international companies including Norgren (IMI group), a leading industrial automation and fluid control company, where he spurred growth despite an economic recession.

As Managing Director and HVAC-R Southern Europe Director at Danfoss Drives, he increased revenues, created sales channels, launched a new product platform and repositioned the company as a value-added solutions provider.

He has also held senior executive positions of Sales & Marketing and Managing Director at major companies ranging from WATTS Industries (fluid control and HVAC), Schlumberger (water, gas and thermal energy) and Samsung Electronics (launching of the HVAC business).

Since its founding in Silicon Valley in 2009, APsystems has become an industry leader through innovative solar products including dual-module microinverters and the first true 3-phase, four-module unit.

5 Reasons a String Inverter Won’t Cut It.

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Microinverters or string? PV system designers fall into two camps, some favoring big inverters and others moving toward the powerful little boxes that meet each module where the real action is: on the roof.

Knowing the limitations of string inverters may tell you just why the Module Level Power Electronics segment – microinverters – is on the rise.

 

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Not made in the shade:
A PV array only works as well as the lowest-performing module. That means intermittent shading from trees, flagpoles – even fallen leaves – can cripple a string of modules as even minor shadows pass across the array throughout the day.

By offering independent, module-level inversion, a microinverter installation can outperform a conventional string array by up 20 percent. You’ll get the most out of every module, every hour of the day.

 

Want to add modules? Too bad:
A string inverter that’s right-sized for an array today may be too small if you want to add more modules tomorrow. That means buying a bigger inverter, too. Ouch.

Microinverters are the forward-thinking choice, letting you add on to your array at any time, easily and cost effectively.

 

Better value in the long run:
Startup costs of a string system might be lower on a per-watt basis, but what you save up front, you’ll lose over time in lower performance.

The key metric of Levelized Cost of Energy – that is, system cost measured over its lifetime – favors microinverters. The microinverters start generating power at lower light levels than string inverters, so the power curve raises and peaks earlier in the day and extends further into the afternoon and evening.

Thanks to module-level inversion at these lower light levels, microinverters enjoy a superior output and higher rate of energy production.

 

Don’t forget safety:
Every module in a string adds more to the DC current flowing across the rooftop – quite a volt load by the time it reaches a inverter, up to 1,000 volts DC. Not very safe for installers or emergency responders who may have to cross the roof.

Microinverters take the jolts out of the volts. Module-level inversion means only low-voltage DC in each circuit, keeping you safe over the life of the system.

 

Module-level power is the future:
String inverters still have their niche, but module-level power inversion is tomorrow’s technology today. A leading analytics firm recently noted that sales of microinverters and related products should top 2 gigwatts by year’s end, and predicts the microinverters’ share of the larger MLPE market could triple by 2018.

That’s a product with a bright future.

Still not convinced? Hear what solar professionals have to say at our APsystems video channel on YouTube. Find out why installers choose APsystems microninverter technology over conventional string systems, and then put module-level power to work in your next PV project.

 

Module-inverter mismatch:
For best performance, the power rating of modules must be matched to that of the string inverter that serves them. Yet these inverters offer a narrow range of power ratings that may not correspond to the cumulative output of the array. You may be buying more inverter than you really need.

Module-level inversion lets you to match inverters to modules throughout the array. Pay for the inversion power you need to get the job done – and no more.

 

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EMA app upgraded for APsystems microinverter users

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EMA-app-image-228x300Smartphones get even smarter with the newly upgraded EMA App from APsystems.

The EMA App lets homeowners track the performance of their APsystems solar array in real time, more quickly and conveniently than ever.

See comprehensive system data including power output by day, month, year or lifetime of the array. EMA App also calculates energy savings based on price per kilowatt hour, and shows environmental benefits in gallons of gasoline, trees and carbon emissions.

All data is displayed through an easy-to-use graphical interface.

EMA App is available for iPhone and iPad through the Apple iTunes store, or through the APsystems website.

 

VIDEO: Learn the APsystems EMA and ECU monitoring system basics

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From system setup to performance tracking, a robust monitoring package is essential to installers and end users alike.

The Energy Communication Unit and EMA software from APsystems offer this powerful but easy-to-use monitoring and analysis at every step.

Chris Barrett, APsystems USA director of technical services, demonstrated our advanced user interface at this year’s Solar Power International North America show, and you can see the video now.

Find out how installers can pre-configure the ECU-4 gateway with microinverter serial numbers for plug-and-power at the job site, and how customers can easily track their array’s performance in real time from their computer or device.

See the EMA and ECU Basics video on our APsystems Youtube channel here, along with more videos highlighting our installations and products.

Global solar technology leader APS rebrands as APsystems

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JIAXING, CHINA – APS, a global leader in solar technology, is now APsystems.

The brand refinement highlights the company’s commitment to powerful alternative energy solutions, and its evolution from a product-oriented portfolio to a whole-systems innovator.

The phrase “Altenergy Power,” a nod to the company’s original legal name, will appear beneath APsystems in the company’s new mark.

“Our company has earned a high profile in the solar marketplace, and we want to emphasize our commitment to alternative energy through our new brand,” said Zhi-Min Ling, APsystems co-founder, CEO and president, global operations. “Our range of product offerings is growing each year, and the new name also highlights our evolution toward whole-systems solutions.”

The new positioning follows the company’s strong growth and industry recognition in the U.S. and international solar markets over the past two years.

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APsystems is headquartered in Jiaxing, China, and Seattle, USA, with regional offices in Europe and Australia, and Shanghai, China for global marketing and sales.

The company was founded in Silicon Valley in 2009 with a single product offering, a first-generation microinverter.

An ongoing commitment to research and development, engineering and technology innovation has created a robust module-level power electronics (MLPE) solutions portfolio. The company’s technology is also featured in integrated PV solutions by other solar industry leaders.

More than half of the APsystems workforce is involved in R&D engineering, underscoring the focus on constant product advancement and innovation.

The company’s flagship product, the YC500 microinverter, broke ground among MLPE offerings as the most powerful unit to handle two solar modules simultaneously, simplifying PV system design and significantly lowering installation costs on a per-watt basis.

More recently, the YC1000 microinverter entered the solar market as an innovative, purpose-designed unit for commercial applications. The fourth-generation technology offers true 3-phase (balanced AC) output and handles up to four modules per unit, bringing microinverter technology to the untapped commercial segment for the first time.

The microinverters have been successfully deployed on six continents.

“Our exclusive microinverter technology has proven itself powerful, reliable and attractive in the solar marketplace, in both residential and commercial installations worldwide,” said Wesley Tong, who is responsible for APsystems corporate strategy and new business development in global markets. “With our dedication to research and development, our portfolio of innovative solar solutions will continue to see new offerings of benefit to both consumers and the environment.”

APsystems products are designed around a flexible and powerful Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) integrated circuit, giving the company a significant competitive advantage in design, manufacturing, reliability and cost effectiveness.

The company’s microinverter line is programmable to any grid standard anywhere in the world, and is backed by industry-leading warranties and support.

See global.apsystems.com/ for information on the company’s worldwide operations, with links to offices in each regional market.

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APsystems is a worldwide leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of alternative energy solutions based on its own proven, leading-edge technology. APsystems is headquartered Jiaxing, China, and Seattle, USA, with regional offices in Europe and Australia.

APS YC1000 microinverter enters the Australia market

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Solar power is widely used in Australia and many families have installed PV system on their roofs. APS is proud to be first among microinverter suppliers in the Australian market, providing the best and most economical products available.

australia1Our best seller, the YC500 dual-module unit, is already popular here. Now, the new YC1000 microinverter is ready for Australia and certified for this market after successful rollout in China and the USA.

The YC1000 is the world’s first true 3-phase microinverter (balanced AC output) and offers a proven solution for commercial-scale PV systems. The 1:4 microinverter-to-module ratio significantly lowers balance of system costs.

Unlike other microinverter products entering the commercial segment, the YC1000 line requires no step-up or step-down transformer to operate. Add-on transformers reduce system efficiency and add thousands of dollars in balance-of-system costs – issues the YC1000 microinverter are specifically designed to avoid.

The YC1000 microinverter connects directly to low-voltage DC modules, eliminating the possibility of “arc” fires from high-voltage arrays typical of conventional string inverter systems. The unit also offers revolutionary trunk cabling, eliminating the need for branch cables and resolving “landscape vs. portrait” configuration issues.

Conventional “string” systems only operate as efficiently as the lowest-performing module, meaning reduced output from a shadow or leaf on one module cuts output across the whole array. The YC1000 offers module-level MPPT, increase the array performance.

Using the YC1000 simplifies system design, increases system flexibility, saves the cost of installation and maintenance, and also shortens setup time. It is the best solution for 3-phase residential and commercial systems for the Australian market.

Through the APS Energy Communication Unit and Energy Monitoring and Analysis software, the user can follow the performance of their array in real time and also see historical output data. Precise monitoring lets the user pinpoint the location and nature of any system issues and get precise guidance for necessary maintenance, all within our user-friendly graphic interface.

APS now offers the EMA 2.0 with even more detailed system tracking. Coming soon: the EMA APP for handheld devices, bringing even more convenient monitoring to APS Microinverter end users.

World’s largest true 3-phase microinverter installation powered by APS YC1000

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The groundbreaking YC1000 microinverter from APS will power a milestone true 3-phase installation going into service in China’s Zhejiang Province this week.

More than 1.4 MW of the total 8.13 MW project will be generated using APS Microinverter technology – earning it distinction as the world’s largest true 3-phase microinverter installation.

The project at the Haining Hailide Jianshan factory began development four weeks ago, and is planned to join China’s national power grid on Dec. 30.

The installation includes 1,200 APS YC1000 microinverters. Now available in all APS markets worldwide, the YC1000 is the industry’s first true 3-phase microinverter and handles up to four modules per unit, simplifying PV system design and installation while significantly lowering balance of system costs.

The YC1000’s balanced 3-phase output features a low-voltage, parallel circuit design, promoting system safety by negating the possibility of “arc fires” from high-voltage current.

Independent output and tracking optimizes the performance of each PV module while minimizing shading effects across the whole array.

APS Microinverter technology increases array output by 5-25 percent compared to conventional “string” inverter systems.

Using the integrated APS Energy Communication Unit (ECU), Haining system managers will be able to track power output, voltage, current, temperature and other performance data of every module in the array.

The completed project will provide approximately 8.14 million kWh of energy per year, saving nearly 3,000 tons of coal while reducing CO2 admissions by more than 700 tons. Over the plant’s projected 25-year lifespan, the reduction in coal use and carbon and sulfur dioxide emissions will be multiplied many times over.

The year 2014 has marked the first widespread development of distributed PV power throughout China, an effort vigorously promoted by the Chinese government.

The electricity generated by the Haining system promises a strong economic return for investors, powering the factory even as it protects the local environment and promotes APS 3-phase microinverter technology in the robust China market and worldwide.