Enphase energised Longi Solar AC Modules (ACMs) based on seventh-generation Enphase IQ microinverters will be making an appearance soon.
An AC Module is a solar panel fitted with a microinverter that produces Alternating Current (AC) instead of Direct Current (DC). A microinverter is a miniature solar inverter that operates at the per-panel level instead of the conventional arrangement of a single string inverter being used with multiple solar modules. Among the advantages are more flexible system design, per-panel monitoring and panel level optimisation (PLO). You can learn more about AC solar panels and microinverters here; along with their benefits and challenges.
Longi Solar says it will initially start off with two AC solar panel product lines – its 300-320W 60-cell mono panels will be paired with the Enphase IQ 7 microinverter and Longi’s 340-375W 72-cell mono modules will feature the Enphase IQ 7+.
The companies state the ACMs will enable installers to be more competitive through improved capital management, reduced labor costs, improved SKU management with accelerated design and installation times.
It’s expected the ACMs will be available in the US sometime this quarter, but a date wasn’t provided for availability in Australia.
“LONGi Solar is the world’s leading manufacturer of monocrystalline PERC PV modules, and this AC module partnership is yet another validation of the ACM concept and of Enphase microinverter technology,” said Enphase Energy president and CEO Badri Kothandaraman.
Other panel manufacturers to team up with Enphase on AC solar panels include SunPower, Solaria Corporation, Panasonic, JinkoSolar (Eagle AC) and LG (NeON 2 ACe).
While Enphase Energy is well-established in Australia, Longi Solar products only arrived on the local scene in 2017 – you can read more about the company and its solar panels here. We don’t have a lot of Longi Solar reviews here on SolarQuotes as yet, but the feedback to date has been positive.
Longi solar panels many have only been available in Australia for just over a year, but the company established local ties well prior. It teamed up with the University of New South Wales in 2015 on technology R&D, industrialisation and personnel training activities. One of the breakthroughs from the collaboration, which was renewed earlier this month, was in relation to addressing Light Induced Degradation (LID) in monocrystalline silicon solar cells.
As for Enphase Energy, it has shipped more than 17 million microinverters to date, and 790,000 Enphase-based solar power systems have been deployed in over 120 countries.
About Michael Bloch
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I’ve got Longi panels and Enphase inverters and it is a great combination! Very happy with both products..
I’m looking at installing 100kW of Longi 430w panels on a commercial building with no shade issues and consistent orientation, do I need DC Optimisers and will they increase the output.
DC optimisers will increase the output by perhaps a few percent as they’ll reduce the effects of dirt and panel mismatch, but if there are no shade issues the optimisers won’t pay for themselves. Some people like that extra few percent for environmental or personal reasons, but as a straight business investment the return won’t be high enough to justify them.