By Kathie Zipp, SPW editor
Partnerships among microinverter manufacturers and mounting suppliers, like those between Darfon and IronRidge, and Enphase and Unirac, are on the rise in an effort to make installation easier. IHS expects these types of partnerships to increase in the next two years to help reduce labor and total PV system costs for installers.
Nextracker Fusion
While these partnerships began in the residential sector, more commercial and utility suppliers are following suit, such as SunPower’s fully integrated Helix system that uses SMA’s Tripower string inverters, and NEXTracker’s single-axis tracker NX Fusion with Huawei string inverters.
Bryan Whitton, product manager at Darfon America, said there are many advantages for installers using an integrated inverter and mounting system, such as the ACRak from Darfon and IronRidge. “You have fewer parts to order, inventory and carry up to the roof,” he explained. “Everything is in one piece which allows for faster, safer installations with less wear and tear on the roof from walking on it during the installation.”
Faster installations allow contractors to install more systems per year, therefore enabling them to save on labor while increasing business. Whitton said DNV-GL is conducting a study on ACRak to give definitive answers to installers wondering how much labor they can save using the product.