Ed Gunther [Orlando, Florida USA]
SMA Sunny Boy 240 microinverter delayed again until 1Q13.
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| From Solar Light Flashes: SPI12 Edition |
As I tweeted at the start of the Solar Power International 2012 (SPI12) exhibition, SMA America, LLC, a unit of SMA Solar Technology AG (ETR:S92), delayed the introduction of the Sunny Boy 240-US microinverter system until the first quarter of 2013 (1Q13) despite the webpage continuing to claim “Coming 2012!”
The Sunny Boy 240 is in the midst of US field trials that SMA said are going well. While SMA said the Sunny Boy 240 microinverter system is in the final stages of the launch process, unofficially I heard product changes were required for UL compliance.
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| From Solar Light Flashes: SPI12 Edition |
Photovoltaic (PV) modules with microinverters were displayed at the SMA stand and illustrated the cabling arrangement with the Y cable DC module input to the left, center AC daisy chain input, and AC daisy chain output to the right when viewed from the back of the module. The last Sunny Boy 240 AC daisy chain output connects to the Sunny Multigate-US providing the electrical interface for the daisy chain to the main service panel.
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| From Solar Light Flashes: SPI12 Edition |
Perhaps revealing a limitation, SMA has reduced the maximum number of Sunny Boy 240 microinverters connected to each Sunny Multigate from the expected 15 to 16 units at SPI11 to a daisy chain of up to twelve (12) resulting in a 2880 Watt maximum AC power rating per Multigate. SMA envisions the majority of installations with up to two (2) Multigates and displayed a clear cover wall panel with the Multigates, fuse terminal blocks, and a disconnect switch.
SMA did not demonstrate the module level monitoring software or configuration process at the stand. SMA said: “The monitoring software and tools are not yet public. They have been tested and shown but not to a broad public audience.” A dashboard monitoring screenshot was included in the Sunny Boy 240 printed brochure handed out at SPI12.
SMA was promoting a hybrid approach using microinverters just where partial shading or complex roofs require them and string inverters for the majority of PV modules. The stated goal of the SMA hybrid approach was to optimize cost, performance, and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) in order to maximize return on investment. One installer I chatted with thought the hybrid concept was a nonstarter in most residential installations. Larger commercial rooftop installations might benefit from the hybrid microinverter and string inverter combination.
SMA will manufacture the Sunny Boy 240 microinverter at the SMA America Production, LLC, facility in Denver, Colorado USA, and SMA America will also launch the microinverter product line.
The Fastest Time To Install A Residential Solar Photovoltaic System at RecordSetter.com was achieved by Sierra Pacific Home and Comfort installing a twelve (12) module 2.82 kiloWatt (kW) solar photovoltaic SunSnap System from Sharp Corporation (TYO:6753, OTC:SHCAY). The SunSnap AC modules integrate discrete microinverters and Zep Compatible frames to simplify scalable solar installations. According to SMA, the one hour, fifteen minutes, and 48.17 seconds pending record installation used the Sunny Boy 240 microinverter system.
DISCLOSURE: No position in any of the stocks mentioned.
Edgar Gunther is a photovoltaic enthusiast who researches and pens the GUNTHER Portfolio under the Photovoltaic Blogger moniker. The GUNTHER Portfolio is an eclectic collection of niche Blog posts about solar photovoltaic technologies, companies, industry developments, and occasional energy politics sprinkled with insight, analysis, and irreverent commentary.
