FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEATTLE — APS America, a global leader in solar micro inverter technology, has hired Michael Ludgate as Vice President for Business Development.
“We’re gratified to attract someone of Michael’s caliber,” said Kelly Samson, APS America CEO. “Michael knows the solar market, and he’s well known in the industry. He’ll be a dynamic presence as we establish new strategic partnerships for sales and growth.”
Ludgate comes to APS America with over six years in the solar industry, and will lead the company’s sales, business partnership and engagement strategy. Previously, Ludgate served as Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for Sharp’s Solar Energy Solutions Group and Kyocera Solar. As a member of the senior leadership team there, Ludgate successfully developed more than 45MW of commercial solar installations.
Before joining the solar market, he held senior management positions in the high technology sector (20+ years) including Intel Corporation (Managing Director for Storage and Industrial Automation); Hewlett-Packard (head of marketing for two startup initiatives); and Iomega Corporation (General Manager for the $1B Zip storage division).
Michael knows the solar market, and he’s well known in the industry. He’ll be a dynamic presence as we establish new strategic partnerships for sales and growth.” – Kelly Samson, APS America CEO
Ludgate earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from York University (with distinction). He is also the Judging Chair (AZ) for the Clean Tech Open in the Rocky Mountain District.
“We are hitting on all cylinders and our third- and fourth-generation products are well received,” Ludgate said of APS. “Aside from the incredible value proposition that we offer with the YC500 micro inverter, launching the industry’s first three-phase microinverter (YC1000) is an exciting milestone.”
Ludgate noted that APS ranked No. 2 in global market share among top microinverter suppliers by shipments in 2013 (Source: GTM Research).
APS microinverters convert the DC (direct) current generated by rooftop solar panels into the AC (alternating) current of home appliances and the surrounding power grid. Unlike conventional “string” inverters, which channel all the output from a solar array through a single unit, APS microinverters allow monitoring and management of individual panels in a solar array. APS’ proprietary, chip-based architecture ensures maximum system efficiency and power output in all conditions.
The company’s flagship product is the YC500 microinverter, a powerful unit that handles two solar (PV) panels simultaneously. The new YC1000-3, a groundbreaking microinverter supporting 3-phase power, is an APS exclusive.
Based near Seattle, APS America supplies and services APS products in North America. APS was founded in Silicon Valley in 2009 and is now a global leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of solar microinverters based on their own leading-edge technology.
For information on APS solar microinverter products, see www.usa.apsystems.com or call 206-855-5100.
Flux Renewables’ Award-Winning Solar Installation in AlbertaMay 6, 2025 - 4:24 pm
APsystems APstorage hands-on training with Pytes, in KelownaMay 2, 2025 - 10:07 pm
Honoring Innovation in Canadian Solar: Meet the 2024 APsystems Project of the Year WinnersApril 15, 2025 - 2:43 am
APsystems Celebrates 15 Years of Solar LeadershipMarch 24, 2025 - 5:34 am
Letting the sun shine in: Habitat for Humanity neighborhood gets solar panels
/in Press CoverageBlue Frog Solar and Habitat for Humanity have teamed up to bring solar to 32 new homes in Port Orchard (using APS microinverters, of course!), and we get great coverage in the Kitsap Sun newspaper. Read the whole story here.
Microinverter tech shines bright, APS VP Ludgate tells Solar Power World
/in Press CoverageAPS VP Michael Ludgate sees a bright future for microinverters in a new column at Solar Power World online.
“Microinverters have only scratched the surface of their potential, as focused research and development across the industry pushes this technology even farther forward,” Michael says.
Read the whole column at solarpowerworldonline.com.
THANK YOU to Solar Power World for inviting Michael and APS to share his insights on microinverter R&D and the module-level power electronics market’s exciting prospects!
Do We Need Solar Inverter Reliability Standards? Here’s What Manufacturers Think
/in Press CoverageAPS VP Michael Ludgate is among the industry elite invited to weigh in on solar equipment reliability standards at Solar Power World online:
Do We Need Solar Inverter Reliability Standards? Here’s What Manufacturers Think
“It is common practice in telecommunication and military power equipment to meet certain predictions on product life and reliability, better known as mean time before failure (MTBF) estimates. Some form of MTBF could separate the good from the bad and force solar module manufactures to address failures with analysis and constant product improvement.”
—Michael Ludgate, VP of Business Development, APS America
Read the whole article here.
APS USA co-founder Samson a serial solar entrepreneur
/in Press CoverageAPS America CEO Kelly Samson is featured in the latest issue of the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal for his leadership in the solar industry. Thanks to the Journal and writer Rodika Tollefson for the great coverage of APS and our solar future!
Click here to read the article
APS VP Ludgate a notable hire, Greentech Media says
/in Press CoverageMeet the APS Team at GTM SOLAR SUMMIT, April 14-16 In Phoenix
/in EventsFor information on the 2014 GTM Solar Summit event, see www.greentechmedia.com.
APS microinverters power new net-zero neighborhood
/in Press CoverageAPS Microinverters are highlighted in a great Solar Power World feature on the Grow Community development on Bainbridge Island, Wash. Read ‘Welcome to the Net-Zero Neighborhood’ to find out why the developers chose APS Microinverters for the largest planned solar community in Washington. Thank you, Solar Power World!
http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2014/03/installation-notes-welcome-net-zero-neighborhood/
Tim Bailey of Blue Frog Solar/APS America to speak at Solar Washington on March 10
/in EventsTim Bailey of Blue Frog Solar and APS America will discuss solar microinverter technology at the March 10 general meeting of Solar Washington.
Tim will join a panel of local solar manufacturers reviewing the history and future of solar inverter technology in Washington State.
The Solar Washington event runs 6-8 p.m. March 10 in Education Center Classroom 2 at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.
Solar Washington meets during odd months and is free and open to solar and related businesses, homeowners and solar enthusiasts. The meetings are an opportunity to network with industry representatives and learn about current products, services and issues surrounding the solar industry in Washington State.
For those unable to attend the meeting in person, the event will be streamed live at https://global.gotomeeting.com/meeting/join/154050909. See www.solarwashington.org for more information.
APS America, representing APS in the US market, is based near Seattle. APS was founded in Silicon Valley in 2009, and is now a global leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of microinverters based on their own proprietary, leading-edge solar technology.
For more information on APSmicroinverters, see www.usa.apsystems.com or www.bluefrogsolar.com.
APS America names Michael Ludgate new Vice President for Business Development
/in Press ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEATTLE — APS America, a global leader in solar micro inverter technology, has hired Michael Ludgate as Vice President for Business Development.
“We’re gratified to attract someone of Michael’s caliber,” said Kelly Samson, APS America CEO. “Michael knows the solar market, and he’s well known in the industry. He’ll be a dynamic presence as we establish new strategic partnerships for sales and growth.”
Ludgate comes to APS America with over six years in the solar industry, and will lead the company’s sales, business partnership and engagement strategy. Previously, Ludgate served as Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for Sharp’s Solar Energy Solutions Group and Kyocera Solar. As a member of the senior leadership team there, Ludgate successfully developed more than 45MW of commercial solar installations.
Ludgate earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from York University (with distinction). He is also the Judging Chair (AZ) for the Clean Tech Open in the Rocky Mountain District.
“We are hitting on all cylinders and our third- and fourth-generation products are well received,” Ludgate said of APS. “Aside from the incredible value proposition that we offer with the YC500 micro inverter, launching the industry’s first three-phase microinverter (YC1000) is an exciting milestone.”
Ludgate noted that APS ranked No. 2 in global market share among top microinverter suppliers by shipments in 2013 (Source: GTM Research).
APS microinverters convert the DC (direct) current generated by rooftop solar panels into the AC (alternating) current of home appliances and the surrounding power grid. Unlike conventional “string” inverters, which channel all the output from a solar array through a single unit, APS microinverters allow monitoring and management of individual panels in a solar array. APS’ proprietary, chip-based architecture ensures maximum system efficiency and power output in all conditions.
The company’s flagship product is the YC500 microinverter, a powerful unit that handles two solar (PV) panels simultaneously. The new YC1000-3, a groundbreaking microinverter supporting 3-phase power, is an APS exclusive.
Based near Seattle, APS America supplies and services APS products in North America. APS was founded in Silicon Valley in 2009 and is now a global leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of solar microinverters based on their own leading-edge technology.
For information on APS solar microinverter products, see www.usa.apsystems.com or call 206-855-5100.
Renewable Energy Magazine’s 2014 Market Outlook
/in Press Coverage