Alpha Energy Shows Photovoltaic Power System at Solar Power International 2011

The new photovoltaic power system (PVPS) is a hybrid DC powering system that integrates solar power and advanced charge controller technology to improve overall network reliability, reduce operating energy expenses and increase system efficiency.  

The PVPS by Alpha Energy is a universal DC solution operating independently of the local utility regulations and the various electrical service entrance voltage configurations found throughout the world.  The PVPS solar harvesting technology uses the OutBack Power MPPT Charge Controllers with industry leading conversion efficiencies of 97 percent. In addition, the unique DC powering design improves system efficiency by at least 10 percent over traditional grid tie AC inverter system designs.  The design achieves this increased efficiency by eliminating the losses associated with the conversion of DC from the solar panels to AC by the grid-tied inverter and then rectifying or converting AC back to DC to operate the loads.

This design eliminates electrical AC permits and associated electrical design costs, and greatly improves reliability by allowing for the use of solar power during daytime outages to augment and increase battery backup time in critical facilities.

• Increases reliability of current DC power plant
• Extends battery runtime
• Reduces OpEx and CapEx
• Lowers carbon footprint
• Eligible for various federal, state and utility incentives, depending on location of installation

The PVPS is modular and scalable from 4.23 kW to 25.38 kW (see Figure 8).  Each 4.23 kW subsystem uses a base panel configuration of Qty 18 x 235 W sharp high-efficiency panel arrays configured as 3 series x 6 parallel.  These six panel arrays will feed low-voltage (less than) 150VDC to breakers in the FLEXware PV12 Combiner box to complete the 4.23 kW subsystem.  Up to six of these low DC voltage subsystems can feed the PVPS allowing the system to scale from 4.23 kW to 25.38 kW.  These low voltage 4.23 kW DC combiner outputs (one to six at 150VDC) are then fed to the individual 4.23 kW charge controllers integrated into the SPDB collocated with the 48 VDC Plant in the critical facility.  The charge controller output is set slightly above the float voltage of the -48VDC rectifiers and tied to the DC plant distribution bay.  All solar-generated DC power is set as "the primary" to the output and consumed by the load as the priority. 

“With Alpha’s PVPS, solar harvested efficiency is 97 percent.  It is designed to be scalable for budgets over time, and, by eliminating design and installation barriers, the PVPS is ready to deploy immediately in any site worldwide that uses a 48VDC power plant,” said John Meyer, director of engineering and operations for Alpha Energy. 

Alpha Energy is a full-service engineering and project development company for turnkey renewable energy technologies and photovoltaic systems for commercial, institutional and remote (off-grid) applications. Alpha Energy is a division of Alpha Technologies, a world-leading Total Power Solutions provider for more than 35 years.  Alpha Energy is a member of The Alpha Group.

The Alpha Group represents a global alliance of independent companies that share a common philosophy: create world-class Total Power Solutions for communication, commercial, industrial and renewable energy markets.

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Press Contact:

jgrubb@alpha.com