The University of Texas at Austin’s (UT) new 200kW solar system is sporting seven of Ideal Power Converters (IPC) 30kW PV inverters. Each inverter weighs only 94 pounds, compared to traditional inverters, which can weigh nearly 1,200 pounds. IPC’s inverter delivers 480V AC 3-phase power and supports grounded solar arrays without an internal or external transformer.
Citing an expected strong Japanese market, PV inverter market leader, SMA Solar Technology has officially opened its new sales and service subsidiary in Japan, which will initially support small-scale PV system installations. The company noted that support for larger-scale system installations would come later, without providing timelines.
Preliminary figures from IMS Research indicate that PV inverter shipments reached a new record high in 2011. According to the market research firm, shipments grew by more than 10% and exceeded 26GW for the first time. IMS Research’s preliminary Q4’11 report, projects inverter shipments grew by up to 15% in 2011, with more than 8GW shipped in the last quarter of the year.
PV inverter shipments may have dipped slightly in 2011, according to IHS PV Inverter Market Tracker report, yet shipments are expected to more than double to 52GW in 2015. Shipments of PV inverters fell to the equivalent of 23.4GW in 2011, down 1% from 23.6GW in 2010, according to the market research firm.
PV inverter manufacturer, Power-One reported net sales of US$267 million, with Renewable Energy Solutions contributing US$191 million and Power Solutions segment sales reaching US$76 million for the fourth quarter of 2011. Driving sales was greater market penetration in the utility-scale sector in North America and Asia-Pacific, as revenue in these regions increased to 25%, compared to 17% in the prior quarter. Power-One had sales of 829MW of PV inverters in the fourth quarter.
Danfoss Solar Inverters and MimtaSolar have entered an agreement, which will see MimtaSolar distribute Danfoss’s TLX and ULX inverter series throughout Turkey. The company will offer its single phase products in the 1.8kW to 5.4kW range and three phase products in the 6kW to 15kW range. The Danfoss inverter line is slated to be integrated into Mimta’s turnkey PV systems.
A global survey conducted by IMS Research has found that an increasing number of PV inverter customers consider Chinese inverters to be of acceptable quality.
Citing an intensely competitive market environment, SMA Solar Technology, the leading PV inverter manufacturer, reported preliminary full-year financial results of €1.7 billion in sales for 2011. SMA Solar had previously cut €200 million from its previous forecast of €1.9 billion to €1.7 billion, with results therefore coming in at the lowered figure. SMA Solar reported 2010 sales of €1.9 billion. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were reported as being more than €240 million.
PV inverter supplier, Satcon Technology is realigning its business operations and significantly cutting operating expenses to reach breakeven mid-year. Europe and Canada business efforts are being scaled back, which includes the closure of its manufacturing facility in Ontario, Canada and an overall headcount reduction of 140 worldwide, or approximately 35%. Satcon will also stop production of its Solstice product line.
Market research firm, IHS iSuppli has undertaken its first product teardown and analysis within the PV industry. An Aurora PVI-4.2-OUTD-S-US Inverter from Power-One was used in the teardown, which IHS iSuppli said provided a path-setting benchmark for cost reduction within a sector of the industry expected to undergo rapid price erosion, inline with other industry sectors such as polysilicon, wafers, cells and modules.
