Beacon Power Corp. (Wilmington, MA), a development-stage manufacturer of flywheel energy-storage systems that provide uninterruptible electric power, announced an expansion of its energy technology product line with the launch of its new Smart Power M5 renewable energy inverters. The new products are based on the development and enhancement of electronics technology and assets purchased from Advanced Energy Systems Inc. (Wilton, NH).
The initial product release is an upgraded and improved 5kW inverter system for grid-connect applications. The system takes dc power from solar-energy sources and converts it to ac power for local use (or for feeding back to the electric grid). Based on, and upgraded from, the MM5000 unit purchased from Advanced Energy, the system will feature flexible (multi-mode) operation in a variety of system configurations. Unlike most competitive systems, the M5 is designed to provide uninterrupted power to a home or business, even in the event of a grid power outage.
The inverter, backed by a warranty of up to five years, will offer a range of features in one compact, integrated system, including a two-stage, dc/ac inverter; a charge controller with maximum power-point tracking capability; complete switchgear; a patented, anti-islanding technology; and battery backup (UPS) capability. Systems can be equipped with optional performance-monitoring software, residential battery boxes and string combiners.
