Skip to Main Content
Frequently Asked Questions
Submit an ETD
Global Search Box
Need Help?
Keyword Search
Participating Institutions
Advanced Search
School Logo
Files
File List
case1301506263.pdf (2.49 MB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
SolarBridge Technologies: Entrepreneurship in the Solar Inverter Industry
Author Info
Blair, Daniel P.
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1301506263
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2011, Master of Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Physics.
Abstract
The solar PV has been marked by rapid growth in the past decade. As the industry strives to improve energy output and reduce cost, SolarBridge presents an innovative product that can improve the economics of residential solar by granting an average of 10% greater output and significantly reducing the cost of inverter failures—typically around $3,000 for a residential system. By eliminating the failure-prone elements in a micro-inverter, SolarBridge is able to offer an inverter warranty equal to that of the PV modules. The increased reliability allows for module level integration of inverters into AC modules by companies like SunPower. Large module manufacturers benefit from integrated AC modules because of the increased quality control and increased integration, which may protect shrinking margins. Residential integrators also benefit from AC modules because of the decreased time required for installation as well as the value-added services made available. Because of increasing price competition in the industry, ancillary services such as monitoring and reactive power compensation may become highly valuable to installers. The inherent monitoring capabilities and relative ease of adding reactive power capability may make AC modules a sought-after product in the residential installation industry. In short, SolarBridge provides AC/DC power converter for residential installers who want to minimize the risk of system failure in comparison to current micro-inverter leaders, because only SolarBridge offers a 25-year product warranty.
Committee
Philip Taylor, Dr. (Committee Chair)
Ed Caner (Advisor)
Bruce Terry (Committee Member)
Subject Headings
Business Community
;
Electrical Engineering
;
Entrepreneurship
Keywords
Solar
;
micro-inverter
;
microinverter
;
inverter
;
entrepreneurship
;
power electronics
;
Recommended Citations
Refworks
EndNote
RIS
Mendeley
Citations
Blair, D. P. (2011).
SolarBridge Technologies: Entrepreneurship in the Solar Inverter Industry
[Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1301506263
APA Style (7th edition)
Blair, Daniel.
SolarBridge Technologies: Entrepreneurship in the Solar Inverter Industry.
2011. Case Western Reserve University, Master's thesis.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1301506263.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Blair, Daniel. "SolarBridge Technologies: Entrepreneurship in the Solar Inverter Industry." Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1301506263
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
Abstract Footer
Document number:
case1301506263
Download Count:
2,198
Copyright Info
© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.