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Alencon to Unveil Latest SPOT for Solar + Storage and PV Retrofits at SPI 2017

Alencon’s latest DC-DC Optimizer, the SPOT X2, will debut at SPI 2017 in Las Vegas. The newest SPOT is more powerful yet lighter and easier to install.

Alencon Systems LLC will mark the debut of the latest generation of its DC-DC optimizer, the SPOT, at Solar Power International 2017, September 10 – 13, 2017 in Las Vegas. The newest version of Alencon’s industry leading DC-DC optimizer, the SPOT X2, will be on display in Alencon Systems’ booth #1115.

The SPOT X2 includes a number of improved features from previous product generations.  The SPOT X2 is lighter and easier to install than previous models, while at the same time offering more power and higher efficiency than ever before.  Additionally, the SPOT X2 features significantly improved on-board firmware to insure greater energy yield. Headlining the software improvements in the SPOTX2 is an improved maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm that assures optimal PV power harvesting under fast changing weather conditions. The SPOT X2 takes its name from the improved printed circuit board (PCB) design of this newest version, which features two rugged main boards to drive the product’s four PV string inputs. The SPOTX2 carries by ETL certification by Intertek for UL1741 (U.S.), CSA C22.2#107.1 (Canada) and IEC 62109-1 (European Union).

Alencon’s SPOT X2 has been specifically targeted at two, in demand PV applications: PV retrofits and DC-coupled Solar + Storage.

The SPOT X2 has been recast in a manner to make it easier to install to minimize the ‘soft’ costs – such as labor and ancillary installation materials - associated with PV retrofits. Minimizing installation costs is key to achieving the highest rate of return on PV retrofits.

“With a number of PV assets now changing hands as PV plants get older and PV fleets get consolidated, we are seeing a great deal of interest in retrofitting PV plants to improve energy yield. The SPOT X2 makes performing larger commercial and industrial or utility scale PV retrofits much easier than ever before,” explains Alencon Systems President Hanan Fishman. “Retrofitting a PV plant with Alencon’s SPOT can significantly increase PV yield by introducing more granular MPPT while at the same time improving safety and decreasing on-going O&M costs. Visitors to the Alencon booth at SPI will be able to see first-hand just how easy the Alencon’s SPOT PV retrofit solution is to deploy.”

At SPI, Alencon will also be demonstrating the SPOT for its unique application in enabling DC-coupled Solar + Storage installations.  The SPOT provides an unparalleled solution for enabling collocated, DC-coupled Solar+ Storage solutions. At the heart of the SPOT’s unique ability to facilitate large scale DC-coupled Solar + Storage installations is its galvanic isolation. Galvanic isolation between the PV array and the battery’s DC-bus is a critical feature for a DC-coupled Solar + Storage installation.  Galvanic isolation is so important to such systems because it offers more flexible grounding options and greater system reliability among other benefits. Alencon’s SPOT is able to achieve galvanic isolation in such a small package as a result of its unique silicon carbide transistor power electronics architecture which offers significantly higher power density versus the traditional silicon carbide semi-conductors found in other DC-DC optimizers on the market today.

“Alencon’s has cracked the code for enabling large scale, DC-couple Solar + Storage deployments,” explains Fishman. “As a result of the SPOT’s unique features, including galvanic isolation of the PV and battery DC bus, project developers can now truly benefit from the advantages of large scale DC couple Solar + Storage, benefits which include lower cost, greater energy yield and higher overall system efficiency.”

About Alencon

Alencon’s solutions for ALternative ENergy CONversion provide high modularity and scalability for systems from several megawatts to several-hundred megawatts. By helping to dramatically reduce balance of system costs, and increase power production through new inverter and energy harvesting technology, Alencon helps advance the state of the art and increase the financial viability of solar power.  Headquartered in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, has been building PV power conversion hardware since 2009, drawing on the combined decades of power electronics experience of its engineering team.