Do We Need Solar Inverter Reliability Standards? Here’s What Manufacturers Think

/in

APS 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

APS 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

April-Cover

APS VP Ludgate a notable hire, Greentech Media says

/in
APS America’s new VP for Business Development Michael Ludgate is among solar industry’s notable hires, says Greentech Media:“Microinverter maker APS America has hired Michael Ludgate as VP of business development. Ludgate was previously Sr. Director of Sales and Marketing for Sharp’s Solar Energy Solutions Group and Kyocera Solar.”Jobs-on-the-move_11_310_224Read the article here: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Green-Jobs-Executive-Moves-at-Enbala-Utilidata-Power-Analytics-Solar-Mo

Meet the APS Team at GTM SOLAR SUMMIT, April 14-16 In Phoenix

/in
APS is bringing its advanced microinverter technology to the 2014 Greentech Media Solar Summit, April 14-16 in Phoenix.Paul Barlock, APS America Senior VP, and Michael Ludgate, VP for Business Development, will promote the APS line at the annual conference sponsored by the Greentech Media. This year’s event is being held at the Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, Ariz.solarsummit“This is a great industry event to explore new innovative opportunities,” Michael Ludgate says. “APS is already ahead of the curve in three-phase microinverter technology, and now the CIGS/Thin Film community is actively exploring our solutions.”Now in its seventh year, the Solar Summit is Greentech Media’s annual solar conference on global market trends, emerging technologies, consumer demand and project financing, organizers say, bringing top decision makers together from around the solar industry. APS is on an aggressive growth curve in 2014, bringing our advanced microinverter technology to new markets across the US. Our flagship product is the YC500, a two-PV, dual-MPPT microinverter with 500W maximum output, supported by advanced monitoring and analysis.Email the APS team directly at paul.barlock@apsamerica.com and michael.ludgate@apsamerica.com to meet with them during the Greentech Media Solar Summit. Find out more about APS microinverter products at www.usa.apsystems.com.

For information on the 2014 GTM Solar Summit event, see www.greentechmedia.com.

APS microinverters power new net-zero neighborhood

/in

APS 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/

 

modelsongrow

Tim Bailey of Blue Frog Solar/APS America to speak at Solar Washington on March 10

/in

Tim 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.

tim_baileyTim is a co-founder of Blue Frog Solar and an executive with APS America. APS ranked No. 2 in global market share among top microinverter suppliers by shipments in 2013 (source: GTM Research).

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.

 

Unknown

APS America names Michael Ludgate 
new Vice President for Business Development

/in

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.

michael-apsBefore 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.

Renewable Energy Magazine’s 2014 Market Outlook

/in

apsystems-rew-ad

Incentives are driving growth of solar energy — and of Poulsbo business – North Kitsap Herald

/in

by RICHARD WALKER,  North Kitsap Herald Editor
posted Nov 22, 2013 at 12:36 PM— updated Nov 22, 2013 at 2:41 PM

POULSBO — There are several incentives for Washingtonians to go solar.

Residential and commercial property owners with a “Made in Washington” solar array may be eligible for a check up to $5,000 per year for the power their panels put into the grid. At the same time, their power bill is reduced by the amount of power they produce.

35780nkitsap1122Solar-300x200Put a solar array onto your home, and you may qualify for a credit of up to 30 percent of the cost from the federal government.

Installation of solar-energy systems in Washington is exempt from sales and use taxes.

With the incentives in place today, a new solar-energy system can pay for itself in five to seven years. After that, money from all the power you generate goes into your pocket. (And you can periodically watch your meter run backwards.)

“With some of the most progressive incentives in the nation, the return on investment for Washington residents today is real and substantial,” said Tim Bailey, co-founder of Blue Frog Solar. “Working together, our state has made solar a smart buy.”

Those incentives are driving consumer investment in solar-energy systems for homes and businesses in Washington state — and driving the success of a Poulsbo-based manufacturer and distributor of solar energy equipment.

Before we go on, here’s a simplified explanation of how a solar energy system works. An array of photovoltaic panels — on your roof or on groundlevel open space — captures energy from sunlight (even when it’s cloudy). Energy goes from the panels to a microinverter, which converts the energy into AC current. That energy supplements the electricity you use from Puget Sound Energy.

When you produce more electricity than you use, that electricity is made available for use elsewhere, and PSE buys it from you.

Blue Frog Solar, 1015 Hostmark St., manufactures and distributes inverters. Working with a network of certified installers, Blue Frog Solar designs solar-energy systems for homes and businesses using APS America’s inverter technology and Itek Energy’s photovoltaic panels — all made in Washington to qualify for the financial incentives.

Click here to read more –>

 

 

itekenergy in the news

/in

APS America’s manufacturing partner itekenergy is profiled in the Bellingham (Wash.) Business Journal’s November issue. itek is Washington state’s leading producer of PV panels and a real success story for solar manufacturing. Read the story here.

thumb-300x199