SolarEdge

In May 2015, SolarEdge partnered with Tesla Motors[7] for the joint development of a photovoltaic (PV) storage and backup power solution for the residential solar market, based on the Powerwall home and industrial battery packs that were unveiled in April 2015,[8] and quickly received orders to a total value of US$800 million.[9]

Using SolarEdge's direct current (DC) optimized inverter and Tesla's automotive-grade battery technology, the solution requires only a single SolarEdge inverter to manage both PV and storage functions. The system is designed for efficient, outdoor installation and includes remote monitoring and troubleshooting to keep operations and maintenance costs low.[10]

Traditional PV systems are typically characterized by a centralized inverter or string inverter architecture*. In this topology the inverter performs MPPT for large quantities of solar panels as a whole. Since the solar panels are connected in series to form strings, the same current must flow through all the modules, so the solar inverter continuously adjusts the electric current in the system to find the average optimal working point of all the modules. As a result, potential power may be lost whenever a mismatch exists between modules.[2][3]* Panel mismatch is unavoidable in many cases, due to panel manufacturing tolerance, partial shading,[4] uneven soiling, or uneven tilt angle. In addition, power may also be lost due to slow tracking of dynamic weather conditions caused by moving clouds,[5] and on extremely hot or cold days when the system DC voltage may exceed the inverter's permissible input voltage range*. These factors cause small losses in yearly yields, but they are present. Other drawbacks of traditional PV systems include:

• System design is constrained by the need to match all strings’ length and orientation
• Monitoring visibility and fault detection are limited to the inverter (or in some cases, to the string level)
• High DC voltage is present as long as the sun is up, posing a possible risk of electrocution to installers, maintenance personnel and firefighters*

These drawbacks, however, can be mitigated by newer string inverters with advanced electronics and features such as dual, shade-tolerant and improved MPPT.

The SolarEdge Power Optimizer is embedded into each panel by panel manufacturers instead of the junction box, or retrofitted by PV installers onto regular modules. The power optimizer optimizes energy output by performing Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) individually for each panel and maintains a fixed DC string voltage. Power optimizers also collect performance measurements and telemetries of each panel, and transmit the data over existing power lines.

The SolarEdge Solar inverter is responsible for DC to AC inversion while MPPT and voltage management are handled by power optimizers separately for each module. Fixed string voltage ensures operation at the highest efficiency at all times (97% maximum efficiency), independent of string length and temperature. The company offers single-phase inverters with a rated AC power output of between 3,000 and 11,000 watts, as well as three-phase inverters with a rated AC power output ranging between 7,000 and 25,000

Web-based and smartphone (both iOS and Android) applications provide module-level, string-level and system-wide PV Monitoring. The software provides alerts on a wide range of issues affecting energy generation that might otherwise go undetected. Data and alerts are presented on a virtual site map and can be pinpointed to specific location to reduce maintenance time and costs. Tesla has stopped supporting web-based applications and has never supported module-level monitoring in any application for residential customers.

SolarEdge provides a set of freeware software tools with its products. The Site Designer recommends string layout and inverter and power optimizer selection, according to the site's size. The Configuration Tool allows remote configuration of the SolarEdge inverter as well as real-time, on-site verification of correct installation, and the iPhone Site Mapping Tool application, allows for swift and easy creations of a virtual map of the PV site.