APS America names Michael Ludgate 
new Vice President for Business Development

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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

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

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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

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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.

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APS at SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL – October 21-24

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APS technology will be on display at  Solar Power International in Chicago October 21-24 at booth #318. Come see our products and meet the APS team! 

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Sustainable Business: Washington state’s largest solar community tests the marketplace

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Puget Sound Business Journal
May 10th, 2013
click here to read article

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APS will be showing at this year’s International Solar Photovoltaic Exhibition in Beijing

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APS continues to show its leadership in the solar market at the 4th annual International Solar Photovoltaic Exhibition, running February 23rd-25th.  APS will be focusing on the very latest in microinverter systems innovations.  APS can be found at booth numbers 3155 & 3156

APS CEO Zhi-Min Ling attends the “Modern PV” awards ceremony

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In November 2011, selection of the top ten solar inverter suppliers was kicked off by “Modern PV” magazine. APS won a place among the “2011 Top Ten Inverter Suppliers.” On November 28, APS CEO Zhi-Min Ling attended the awards ceremony with other industry leaders. He stated that this award recognizes APS’ continued microinverter innovation and development within the PV industry.Related link: http://www.pvtop50.com/

APS exhibits at Intersolar Europe Conference 2011

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APS exhibited its sophisticated solar products, including the APS Microinverter YC200-EU, at the Intersolar Europe Conference in Munich. This show laid the foundation for APS to more effectively service the European PV market.