Enphase Energy, announced the Enphase Energy Management System for energy management that delivers on the vision of enabling large-scale implementation of solar power integrated with the grid.
The Enphase system intelligently integrates the critical technologies needed to solve solar energy challenges at scale: smart grid intelligence, communications, big data analytics and storage. The energy management system offers the next-generation, smart-grid ready Enphase microinverter, plug-and-play storage, advanced control capabilities and load management. The new system has three distinct advantages: it provides a better return on investment for system owners, expands the range of profitable business models for installers, and provides broader insight into and control for utilities.
“Enphase is taking a fundamentally different approach to energy management,” said Paul Nahi, Enphase CEO. “The solar industry is dominated by static, isolated systems that do not integrate, communicate, scale or adapt quickly to changes in power generation. Our energy management system is designed to accelerate mass penetration of solar globally and make mainstream access to clean, affordable energy a reality.”
Benefits for Solar System Owners
Building on the company’s track record of disruptive technology innovation, the Enphase Energy Management System is a leap forward in reliability, productivity, cost savings and total energy management. By making solar energy more affordable today and reliable for the future, Enphase is providing owners with more choice and control to optimize and manage their energy.
Benefits for Installers and Distributors
Solar installers and distributors are faced with a rapidly changing energy landscape. With the seamless integration of solar generation, storage, cloud-connected communications and load management on a unified, future-proof platform, installers and distributors can more easily manage the design, installation and management of solar arrays. This higher level of efficiency helps installers and distributors operate more profitably.
Benefits for Utility Companies
The Enphase Energy Management System provides utilities with a higher level of visibility, insight and control over the energy grid. The smart-grid ready system shares information, and in some cases control functions, with the utilities over the cloud. By making it easier for utilities to integrate and sustain solar energy on an optimized energy grid, Enphase systems help maximize their profits and their infrastructure.
The Enphase Energy Management System components will be available on a rolling basis beginning in the third quarter of 2015.
Also, Enphase offers its AC Battery, a storage solution with a modular, plug-and-play storage device fully integrated with the just-introduced Enphase Energy Management System. Based on a distributed architecture, the AC Battery is a safe, reliable and easy-to-install storage solution, designed for residential and commercial applications. The modular battery provides system owners with the ability to store solar energy for nighttime or future use, optimizing solar power consumption and giving owners greater energy independence.
“Storage is going to be a multi-billion dollar market and will be essential in helping solar gain broader acceptance and higher penetration,” said Raghu Belur, co-founder and vice president of products and strategic initiatives at Enphase. “It provides benefits for the system owner, while also helping with grid stability. We are bringing the same technological innovation to storage that we brought to solar, by pairing our innovative distributed architecture with the best-in-class battery chemistry in the industry.”
The AC Battery and Enphase Energy Management System will provide new opportunities for the company’s strong sales channels. As part of the AC Battery rollout, Enphase has engaged several installation companies for pilot projects, including Lennar Homes, Hawaii Energy Connection and Vivint Solar in the U.S.; Pretty Green Energy, CJ Electric and Domuneo in Europe; and Metro Solar in Australia.
“Lennar and Enphase have developed a strong relationship that helps enable our groundbreaking Solar 20/20 Plan™ to bring clean energy and monthly savings to buyers of our new homes,” said David Kaiserman, president of Lennar Ventures and CEO of SunStreet Energy Group. “We are pleased to be selected as a participant in the Enphase AC Battery beta testing program and recognize the importance of energy storage to expanding solar further into the mainstream.”
Enphase has selected ELIIY Power, a Japanese battery manufacturer backed by Daiwa House, as the chemistry provider for Enphase AC Battery. Daiwa House is Japan’s largest homebuilder. ELIIY Power is dedicated to the development and manufacturing of large-sized stationary batteries, putting safety above all else.
“We wanted to find a battery partner that would provide us with the right technology for stationary storage, especially around performance and safety,” continued Belur. “After an extensive evaluation of different energy storage companies and battery chemistries, we chose lithium iron phosphate and ELIIY Power. The batteries’ long cycle life, high performance and safety features, as well as the company’s impeccable quality standards, fit in well with Enphase’s strong commitment to reliability, performance and continuous improvement.”
“We believe the intelligent combination of solar power and storage will be an increasingly important energy solution for the world,” said Hiroichi Yoshida, president of ELIIY Power. “We are so honored and excited about our partnership with Enphase, which is a testament to our batteries’ performance and safety. The combination of our leading battery technology with Enphase’s leading power electronics creates a truly innovative storage solution. We welcome the opportunity to deliver volume quantities of our high-quality batteries and to work together with Enphase to become a global market leader.”
The Enphase AC battery, equipped with the S-series microinverter, will provide 1.2 KWh of energy storage and 275W/550W power-output. Scalable and easy to install, the battery can also be monitored and controlled with the Enphase Enlighten software interface. The Enphase Energy Management System, including the Enphase AC Battery, will be available through authorized distribution channels in limited quantities in the second half of 2015.
To learn more about the Enphase AC Battery and the Enphase Energy Management System, visit Enphase at Solar Power International (Booth 812) in Las Vegas, October 21-23, 2014.