Commercial solutions that maximize ROI

The challenge of traditional commercial PV systems

The increasing cost of carbon-based energy, combined with strong incentive programs that support alternative renewable energy sources, are fueling demand for solar generated electricity by businesses and government organizations.  Solar energy helps these organizations save on current electricity costs, and hedge against the uncertainty of future costs.

Whether the electricity is generated by a self-financed PV system, or through a power purchase agreement (PPA), commercial systems are typically designed to deliver the most energy possible in a given space.  Roof-mounted systems can be particularly challenging as obstructions, seasonal shade, high temperatures, uneven airflow, custom wiring designs, and restricted access often result in lower performance and higher lifetime costs than expected.

Ampt improves the performance of commercial PV systems while lowering upfront and lifetime maintenance costs

PV modules with Ampt active electronics increase the usable space of commercial PV systems, and deliver more power per square meter.  This allows you to deploy modules in variable length strings to work around land features or roof structures without causing imbalances that would otherwise decrease power in a conventional system.  You can also place modules in partial or transient shade locations, as shaded modules no longer disrupt the harvest of neighboring modules.  With Ampt, your systems achieve a higher footprint utilization and greater lifetime output.

PV modules powered by Ampt also lower both upfront and ongoing system costs.  System designers use less wiring and related materials by deploying more modules per string.  Ampt’s controlled PV module output also helps designers to avoid building systems with multiple under-utilized inverters, which often occurs in conventional systems.

To further lower the cost of commercial PV systems, Ampt converters include optional module-level communication capabilities.  These provide access to module, string, and array-level performance trends, and supply greater visibility into failures and faults, which reduces the number of maintenance calls and the time needed for onsite repairs.

Ampt technology significantly reduces the risk of faults and fire hazard—a growing concern in commercial rooftop PV systems.  With both prevention and detection features, Ampt mitigates potentially hazardous conditions, disabling the output of individual modules, strings, or the entire system if needed.

Features

  • Reliable – demonstrated 90 million hour MTBF, backed by a 25 year warranty
  • Multi-mode MPPT – patented technology for highest operating efficiency
  • Programmable output – patented technology lowers BOS costs and maximizes layout
  • Inverter compatible – deploy with the central or string inverter of your choice
  • Module-level control – detect faults and disable module output

Benefits

  • Mitigate faults and fire hazard – prevent and detect faults on modules and strings
  • Recover shade and mismatch losses – maximize lifetime production despite environmental and manufactured sources of mismatch
  • Higher footprint utilization – deploy variable string lengths or in partial shade
  • Lower BOS – more modules per string to lower wiring costs and maximize inverter utilization
  • More efficient O & M – rapidly locate and repair module and wiring problems

Results

  • Safer deployments
  • Higher output
  • Greatest savings on energy
  • Higher return on investment
  • More projects with viable economics