eIQ Energy Signs Two Canadian Distributors for Parallel Solar to Expand Available Market, Give Access to FIT Programs
eIQ Energy Inc. has signed new distribution agreements with two Canadian companies supplying that country’s commercial and residential solar energy sectors. According to eIQ Energy, the agreements will broaden the available market for the company’s vBoost dc-dc converter modules, and represent an important step forward in the company’s distribution strategy.
The newly signed distributors, Generation PV, Inc. of Markham, Ontario, and WSE Technology of Saskatoon, Canada both have non-exclusive national rights to sell vBoost and eIQ Energy’s Parallux family of products, which are said to improve performance and reduce cost by allowing solar panels to be connected in parallel rather than the traditional series.
An important market driver in Canada is a pair of recently launched feed-in tariff programs, FIT and MicroFIT, sponsored by the Ontario Power Authority to boost that province’s already substantial renewable energy installations. The programs guarantee the right to connect solar arrays and other electrical sources to the main power grid, and pay a generous rate of 80.2 cents (Canadian) per kilowatt-hour of solar power fed into the grid – a strong incentive for commercial and residential installations.
In addition, eIQ Energy has also signed U.S. distribution agreements with Ra Power, Inc., SDE Solar Power, and Seven Summits Green. Like the Canadian distributors, each has non-exclusive national distribution rights for the vBoost modules.
"End-user demand for solar technology is bringing more and more installers into the market – we know of over 500 in California alone," noted Gregg Cook, Vice President of Worldwide Sales for eIQ Energy. "We’re expanding our roster of local and regional distributors because they typically have strong relationships with installers in their area. This group is very strong, and we are planning further expansion of our distribution network."
eIQ Energy’s Parallux system uses advanced dc power management technology, incorporated in the vBoost dc-dc converter module, to allow easy connection of solar panels in parallel rather than in series. This approach allows the connection of an unprecedented number of panels on a single cable. In the case of thin-film photovoltaic panels, the company’s Parallel Solar architecture enables the connection of over 100 solar panels on each cable run – a twenty-fold improvement over conventional string architecture. In combination with distributed MPPT, this enables solar photovoltaic systems to harvest 5 to 30% more energy than conventional systems.
