Direct Grid Technologies, LLC and Echelon Corp. have partnered to develop smart micro-inverters. The devices allow each micro-inverter to communicate back to the system operators and report data on each module or cluster of modules.

Micro-inverters are making big splashes in the solar industry lately. Formerly, most photovoltaic arrays relied on a centralized inverter tied to all the panels in an array to transform the DC power from the array into AC power, which is used in homes. AC power is more efficient for transporting electricity than is DC current. The micro-inverter converts the DC power into AC power on each module within the array.

Building the Echelon networking communications technology into the Direct Grid micro-inverters is a next step. Echelon’s ISO smart transceivers in each micro-inverter communicate with Echelon’s i.LON SmartServer, which is then presented to operators of Direct Grid’s WattTrack software. The software visualizes tracking, harvesting and performance data, according to Echelon.

"Echelon's energy control network multiplies the benefits of micro-inverters and gives us tremendous system control capabilities as well as insight into what is happening throughout the installation—system wide, by rows of panels, and at the individual panel. Efficiency and control are the combination that our customers want," said Frank Cooper, Direct Grid's president, in a press release.

The micro-inverters are built into each panel or clusters of two panels, said Jerry Powder, Direct Grid program manager.

“Each panel can be watched individually; [information] is communicated over the power line. You can watch it on your laptop, your iPhone, a plethora of things,” he said. “This product is going to be a market disruptor.”

He explained that it can handle modules up to 460 watts and runs “very cool.” The wattage is significantly higher than that offered by Direct Grid’s competitors. The micro-inverters also process and optimize the harvesting efficiency of the panels.

“Its harvesting efficiency is in the 95 percent to 99 percent range,” he said.

The reporting element can help system operators identify whether or not the modules are working, where there are problems and what their output is.

“It tells you the performance of each panel cluster. If [a cluster is] not performing properly, it’s obvious, and you could investigate,” Powder said. So if one module isn’t operating in a field of thousands, it can quickly be isolated for service.

Pictured: Direct Grid’s DGA Series smart micro-inverter.