Cypress, Calif. — The introduction of two photovoltaic (PV) inverters for the North American market marks Mitsubishi Electric’s entry into the North American large-scale PV inverter market. The 100 kW and 250 kW inverters will be marketed in the United States by Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, Inc.
With the new inverters, solar installation companies and systems integrators will be able to buy both PV modules and high-efficiency inverters from the same manufacturer, which will make purchasing, installation and maintenance easier, said Gina Heng, general manager for Mitsubishi Electric’s Photovoltaic Division, in a statement.
Inverters are used to convert DC electricity generated from solar cells into AC electricity for power grid use.
Mitsubishi Electric recently announced the development of new technologies that will help achieve a CEC weighted efficiency rate of 97.5 percent, the highest rating in 100 kW-480 V PV inverters currently on the market, according to the company.
Mitsubishi’s PV inverters use the gradationally-controlled inverter technology and a transformer-less specification, which reduces voltage loss and decreases the weight of the inverter. The products are designed for indoor and outdoor use, including desert environments, areas with limited-access and other locations with severe conditions.
A prototype of the 100-kW type will be on display at the Solar Power International 2009 in Anaheim, Calif., October 27-29. The 100-kW model is scheduled for an October 2010 launch and the 250-kW model will be available in April 2011.