SolarBridge Technologies

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SolarBridge Technologies
Company type Private
Industry Solar energy
Founded2004 (2004)
FateAcquired by SunPower in 2014 and then Enphase Energy in 2018
Headquarters,
United States
Products Solar micro-inverter
Website www.solarbridgetech.com

SolarBridge Technologies (SolarBridge) is an American company specializing in solar micro-inverters for photovoltaic arrays, designed to enhance energy output and system reliability while aiming to lower installation and maintenance costs. [1] The company was acquired by solar panel manufacturer SunPower in autumn of 2014. [2] In 2018 SunPower sold the former SolarBridge microinverter business to Enphase Energy. [3]

Contents

History

SolarBridge was established in 2004 at the University of Illinois to bring power electronics technologies to market. The company is venture capital backed, having raised US $71 million to-date. Investors include Battery Ventures, Rho Ventures, and Osage University Partners. [4]

Products

The SolarBridge Pantheon microinverter, mounted directly on solar panels, converts power at each module instead of using central or string inverters, facilitating a roof-ready AC module. It achieved Underwriters Laboratories 1741 certification by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) in early 2011. [5]

SolarBridge works directly with module manufacturers to develop integrated AC modules for the North American market, which were commercially available in 2011.

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. The Promise of Reliable Inverters for PV Systems: The Microinverter Solution Russell, Miles C. “Greentech Media”, US, 18 June 2010.
  2. SunPower Buys VC-Funded Microinverter Startup SolarBridge Wesoff, Eric “Greentech Media”, US, 10 November 2014.
  3. Osborne, Mark (June 13, 2018). "SunPower sells former SolarBridge microinverter business to rival Enphase". pv-tech.org. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  4. [https://archive.today/20120723161343/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-30/solarbridge-gets-25-million-in-funding-plans-europe-expansion SolarBridge Gets $25 Million in Funding, Plans Europe Expansion Herndon, Andrew. Bloomberg BusinessWeek , US, 30 May 2012.
  5. SolarBridge’s Pantheon PV microinverter achieves UL 1741 certification Archived 2011-03-19 at the Wayback Machine . Staff. “SolarServer” 16 March 2011.