• On TechRepublic: Windows 7: Slower to boot than Vista?
June 10, 2008 9:11 AM PDT

Microinverters track solar panels via the Web

by Martin LaMonica

Enphase Energy on Monday released a solar power system that takes a dramatically different approach to harnessing energy from solar panels.

With an inverter on every solar panel, owners can view performance of each individual module via the Web.

(Credit: Enphase Energy)

The start-up company, which raised $6.5 million in funding earlier this year, has built a "microinverter" that converts a solar electric panel's direct current to alternating current on the panel.

Inverters are typically separate devices that are hung outside or in a basement. By placing an inverter right on a panel, Enphase Energy says that it is more efficient at converting light to electricity.

In addition, the microinverters give panel owners a better means for monitoring the performance of individual panels.

The company also has a gateway that transfers panel performance data which is displayed on a Web site.

The microinverter on a solar panel.

(Credit: Enphase Energy)

Its design has garnered high praise from University of California at Berkeley professor Dan Kammen who is director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory. In a statement, he called microinverters "disruptive technology" and said, "I think this is, in some sense, the most important technological breakthrough solar has ever seen."

Solar installer Borrego Solar beta-tested the microinverter system at residential sites and intends to use it.

Martin LaMonica is a senior writer for CNET's Green Tech blog. He started at CNET News in 2002, covering IT and Web development. Before that, he was executive editor at IT publication InfoWorld. E-mail Martin.
Recent posts from Green Tech
Al Gore: It's not just about the planet
Wind Pole Ventures tackles faulty wind data
Hybrid Humvee coming up over the horizon
Lack of global climate deal won't crush green tech
Senate panel approves Democratic climate bill
PetroAlgae signs deal with Indian Oil
Save some energy (and cash) this winter
LA changing its glow for more efficiency
Add a Comment (Log in or register) (3 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
by wonthedublein08 June 10, 2008 1:22 PM PDT
This is great news for anyone interested in solar energy or energy management solutions
Reply to this comment
by praveen67 September 9, 2008 8:40 AM PDT
This is a great step forward. We'd be greatly interested to know its lifecycle costs
Reply to this comment
by dllorens1979 September 11, 2008 10:18 AM PDT
I wrote a pros Vs. Con's article on microinverters here:
http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/solar-trends/microinverters-my-turn-the-boring-technical-stuff/
Reply to this comment
(3 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next

FAQ: Buying the right Windows 7 upgrade

Readers still have lots of questions on just which version of the software they need to buy in order to upgrade their PC. CNET News tries to offer some answers.

N.Y. lawsuit details Intel's 'largesse' toward Dell

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's federal antitrust case filed Wednesday alleges a longstanding symbiotic relationship between Intel and Dell.

About Green Tech

Innovation in energy and environmental technologies is long overdue, in business and at home. Green-tech guru Martin LaMonica and other CNET writers serve up fresh clean-tech news and commentary.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Green Tech topics

advertisement
advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right