eIQ Energy emerges from stealth mode, enters solar system power optimization space

September 1, 2009
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

A new venture-funded player has come out of stealth mode and entered the increasingly crowded photovoltaic system power optimization space. San Jose-based eIQ Energy says its just-launched Parallux product and Parallel Solar technology will lower the installed cost and improve the energy output of solar systems, while eliminating the design and installation constraints found in conventional string architectures.

The hardware heart of Parallux is the vBoost DC-to-DC converter module (shown below), which the company says uses advanced DC power management technology to permit easy connection of solar panels in parallel rather than in series–allowing the connection of an unprecedented number of panels on a single cable.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

In the case of thin-film panels, Parallel Solar facilitates the connection of more than 100 solar panels on each cable run—a twentyfold improvement over conventional string architecture.

Parallel Solar–which includes panel-level monitoring–also mitigates the effects of panel mismatch caused by shading, soiling, and manufacturing variations, which can disrupt the performance of an entire string array.

vBoost allows any solar panel to be connected in parallel to a constant high-voltage DC power bus and also incorporates distributed maximum power point tracking. The DC bus voltage can be fixed at the optimal level for any inverter and, along with the distributed MPPT, enables PV systems to harvest 5-30% more energy than conventional systems, the company says.
 
vBoost has been tested with a wide range of crystalline-silicon and thin-film panels at eIQ’s San Jose test facility and at several ongoing beta-site installations.

Formerly known as Sympagis, eIQ Energy began operations in 2007; its development and management teams include personnel with global experience in power supplies, power management, and renewable energy. The company has received funding of $10 million from NGEN Partners and Robert Bosch Venture Capital.

“Our team includes top DC power supply and power management engineers, and together they have developed a unique solution that addresses the inherent limitations of string architectures,” said eIQ CEO Oliver Janssen. “Parallel Solar simultaneously addresses fundamental problems facing plant designers, installers, and operators, and provides quantifiable incremental performance without increasing cost.”

Bosch’s Luis Llovera commented that “in addition to optimizing PV system and inverter performance, Parallux can reduce the cost of the entire balance-of-systems side of an array, including cabling, hardware, design, and labor. The result can give a positive impact on the solar PV ROI [return on investment] model.”

Read Next

Premium
October 17, 2025
According to Ronak Maheshwari of CRC-IB, there has been a struggle for US renewable power projects to secure necessary equity .
October 17, 2025
Norwegian renewable energy firm Scatec has signed lease agreements for 64MW of solar PV and 10MWh of energy storage capacity in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
October 17, 2025
A group of over 20 US states are suing the Trump administration for the cancellation of the US$7 billion Solar For All Scheme.
October 16, 2025
Masdar and Turkey have entered the final stage of US$1 billion agreement to develop the 1.1GW plant in Bor, Niğde Province, central Turkey.
October 16, 2025
T1 Energy and Nextracker have agreed to use the latter’s steel module frames at the former’s new 5GW module manufacturing facility in Dallas.
October 16, 2025
US utility-scale solar additions grew by 56% in 2024, reaching 30GW from 2023’s 19GW and representing over 54% of all new electricity generation capacity added in the country last year.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK