SMA, a German solar energy equipment manufacturer, just announced that it is releasing its new Sunny Boy Tesla Powerwall–compatible inverter. PV Tech notes that SMA’s new Sunny Boy inverter will join SolarEdge and Fronius products as adaptable inverters for Tesla’s Powerwall.
SMA Chief Executive Officer Pierre-Pascal Urbon said a storage system allows for self-determination away from utilities, which allows consumers more electricity choice. This allows more consumers to lower their electricity bills, while helping the environment, Urbon said.
Image Credit: Solar Panels by Eric Delonda via WikiCommons. (Some Rights Reserved)
“Within a year, the cumulated number of battery-storage systems installed in Germany so far has more than doubled to over 30,000, thanks to the decline in prices. Our future energy supply is decentralized and renewable. With the new Sunny Boy Storage, SMA ensures the cost-effective, easy and flexible integration of the solution into new or existing photovoltaic systems,” Urbon added.
Head of the Off-Grid and Storage business unit at SMA, Volker Wachenfeld said SMA is the only manufacturer which could provide an AC-based system for high-voltage batteries. Wachenfeld added this means storage systems run in tandem with the PV solar system, which improves the overall storage system’s performance.
Sunny Boy inverter’s can also work well with electric vehicles in your garage, according to Wachenfeld:
“Thanks to AC coupling of the storage system and standardized interfaces, the system can be expanded and adapted to individual needs brought about by changes in living circumstances, such as the integration of an electric vehicle or changed energy demands, even after installation.”
Meanwhile, Sunny Places, an online portal, will allow users an overview of how much energy they are storing, while a mobile app for tablets and smartphones can show possible savings and energy flows.
Earlier this month, Tesla announced it’s starting to produce and ship its Tesla Powerwall to customers who pre-ordered it last spring. As Tesla Energy’s battery storage system becomes more widespread, the need for inverters will become greater. Over time, like other technology markets that see accessories grow to complement the main products (i.e. 3rd party controllers for video game systems), we will see a growing list of inverters coming from more manufacturers.
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