PV inverter manufacturer, Satcon Technology has said that new orders have increased 130% in the first quarter of 2012 compared to previous quarter, reaching a bookings value of approximately US$45 million. The company said the quarter had been the most successful bookings period in four quarters, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.9:1.
Nextronex has been selected by the American Municipal Power (AMP) to supply a 4.2MW solar plant in Napoleon, Ohio with its 1,000V DC converters. The project is expected to be completed in July 2012.
The Isle of Wight, located off the southern coast of Great Britain, has a new 1.6MW solar plant to thank for helping to contribute to its electricity grid. The project was completed using 80 strings, each with 88 solar modules, and outfitted with SunMaster CS20 inverters from Mastervolt. The company advised that this is one of the largest systems with sting inverters in Britain.
SolarBridge Technologies and NESL-USA have partnered in order to provide an AC module system using SolarBridge’s microinverter. The module is backed by an end-to-end 25-year warranty. The NESL AC module system uses SolarBridge’s Pantheon microinverter in the pre-assembled panel, with the company offering its AC module system up to 250W per panel.
AEG Power Solutions, part of parent company 3W Power, has updated its guidance for its financial performance for 2012. The company, which is currently the subject of a friendly takeover bid by Andrem Power, which is itself wholly owned by Nordic Capital Fund VII, expects its revenue to grow to between €430 and €460 million from €428 million in 2011. However, profitability margins are expected to fall as a result of economic factors.
The 290MW Agua Caliente solar project in Arizona, being built by First Solar, will be utilizing over 400 SMA Sunny Central 720CP inverters. SMA American advised that its technology had been chosen for the plant, which is expected to reach operation in 2014. The company notes that its Sunny Central CP inverters were designed for use in large, open-field PV plants and are able to withstand ambient temperatures up to 50?C.
PV inverter market leader, SMA Solar Technology, has provided 2012 guidance that has sent shockwaves through the investment community as revenue and margins are expected to take a significant nosedive. Management said in a statement that 2012 sales would be between €1.2 billion and €1.5 billion, while EBIT margin would be between 5-10%. SMA Solar reported preliminary 2011, full-year financial results in January of €1.7 billion in sales and EBIT of more than €240 million. The mid-point of the guidance, which the company had previously declined to provide due to uncertainty in the market, will represent over a 20% decline in revenues and a 60% fall in EBIT.
The University of Texas at Austin’s (UT) new 200kW solar system is sporting seven of Ideal Power Converters (IPC) 30kW PV inverters. Each inverter weighs only 94 pounds, compared to traditional inverters, which can weigh nearly 1,200 pounds. IPC’s inverter delivers 480V AC 3-phase power and supports grounded solar arrays without an internal or external transformer.
Citing an expected strong Japanese market, PV inverter market leader, SMA Solar Technology has officially opened its new sales and service subsidiary in Japan, which will initially support small-scale PV system installations. The company noted that support for larger-scale system installations would come later, without providing timelines.
Preliminary figures from IMS Research indicate that PV inverter shipments reached a new record high in 2011. According to the market research firm, shipments grew by more than 10% and exceeded 26GW for the first time. IMS Research’s preliminary Q4’11 report, projects inverter shipments grew by up to 15% in 2011, with more than 8GW shipped in the last quarter of the year.
