Ideal Power has introduced its new SunDial solar photovoltaic (PV) string inverter.
The inverter can be directly integrated into solar and energy storage during initial installation stages or any time in the future.
The initial SunDial product is a 30kW system (Model 30PV+S) based on on Ideal Power’s Power Packet Switching Architecture with 1000V max PV DC input and 480V, 3-phase output.
It includes an optional, low cost plug and play bi-directional DC port kit. a newly designed AC link offers galvanic isolation from the AC to the DC ports, allowing PV installations to be either grounded or true floating.
Ideal Power CEO Dan Brdar said: "The SunDial is a major milestone for the industry — it is the first bi-directional PV string inverter that gives solar installers the flexibility to build their project with storage now or plan for its integration in the future without having to replace the solar inverter or add a separate battery converter.
"The growing installed base of solar and resulting grid instabilities will increasingly force the coupling of solar and storage.
"Our new SunDial represents a tremendous opportunity for Ideal Power to capture a share of this market, while giving our customers the flexibility to create additional value from their system via direct storage integration."
Ideal Power aims to target commercial and industrial scale PV installations with options of adding energy storage or other DC sources at the time of installation or in the future.
The 30kW product will be UL-1741 listed as well as NEC 2014 compliant for behind-the-meter installations. The company is currently taking pre-orders for delivery in September this year.