SatCon Technology Corp. (Cambridge, MA), a developer of power control electronics, reported that it has successfully listed five additional PowerGate™ AE-PV Series utility-grade, photovoltaic (PV) inverter designs on the California Energy Commission's (CEC) list of eligible inverters. The efficiency rating of the PowerGate AE-PV 75 kW and 135 kW models tested and accepted was 95.5 percent, with peak efficiencies in excess of 96 percent, which are the highest efficiency ratings that have been given to any of the PV inverters listed by the CEC. The efficiency values are important to purchasers of solar PV systems as they are used to determine the amount of rebate incentive available to the purchaser, and enable the owner/operator to accurately calculate the payback of the total PV system.
The PowerGate Series inverters offer sophisticated software-driven controls that allow the unit to maximize the kilowatt-hours exported. The software, coupled with a proprietary design, enables the inverters to supply more power to the electrical grid, shortening the payback cycle for the entire PV power system. The PowerGate AE-PV Series inverter is a commercial-grade product available in 208 V, 240 V, and 480 V models for grid-connected operation in low-voltage and medium-voltage applications as single-unit and parallel multi-megawatt systems. The PowerGate is a completely integrated package with all electrical and control system components pre-assembled and tested in a common enclosure. The PowerGate is available in power ratings from 30 kW to 500 kW, and meets all requirements of UL1741 and IEEE1547.
