SunPower to acquire SolarBridge to develop the next generation of AC component products

Mainstream SunPower photovoltaic energy suppliers will acquire a US small-cap micro-inverter company SolarBridgeTechnologies, the amount has not been announced.

According to SunPower, specializing in integrated micro-inverter technology, SolarBridge SunPower's technology uses highly efficient components for residential and commercial rooftop markets, will be able to develop operational.

CormacGilligan IHS senior analyst, said in an interview: "In 2013 the revenue side, SolarBridge is the third largest supplier of micro inverter since early 2013, it has expanded beyond the United States, access to international markets, made in Australia. some success. "

IHS expects significantly lower due to AC component "soft costs" such as a large proportion of the labor force is currently in the United States overall system cost, which will be the fastest growing micro-inverter type, the annual growth of over 100% in 2018 reach 800MW or more.

SunPower will acquire a US small-cap micro-inverter company SolarBridgeTechnologies, the amount has not been announced

SolarBridge week in October SolarPowerInternational stressed that it has to choose the United States conducted a survey installers, noting that due to the vast selection of hardware on the market, for the installer to select the best application in terms of the technical aspects, challenges.

SolarBridgeTechnologies Bill Mulligan, president and CEO, in a statement during SPI, said: "Today's installers face of the modules, inverters power electronics technology in the field and a lot of hardware options .SolarBridge customers have been telling us, by virtue of their TRUEAC components to achieve significant cost savings, and this study aims to clarify the decisions entrusted soft costs associated with the hardware. "

Mulligan added: "The installer told us that it is no exaggeration to say that without the use of micro-inverter or AC components, they will inevitably be a quarter of the unemployment rate which emphasizes the AC photovoltaic technology makes installation business more. obvious advantages productivity and profitability aspects. "

However, according to a report earlier GTMResearch 2014, the PV inverter market competition is intensifying, and the integration is in progress.

Senior analyst and author of the report GTMResearch of MJShiao said: "Although there are many companies attacks MLPE (component-level power electronics) in the field, but the three companies --Enphase, SolarEdge and Tigo-- accounted shipments and market share of total installed capacity more than 93%, Enecsys, SolarBridge, PetraSolar and others far behind. first-mover advantage has enabled the participants reached an important development and distribution partnerships, and later to gain significant market traction before. However, we expect changes appear in the rankings, especially since the conventional inverter companies such as SMA and Power-One, continue to develop and promote their own MLPE product. "

In fact, SMASolar has slowed the development of its own micro-inverter technology, and to withstand a late market entry. SunPower has long been in their installers for large US base system (Kit) product supply, use SMASolar renamed string inverters.

IHS's Gilligan added:. "Between the US housing market large installers / EPC and BOS providers, there are many examples of vertical integration, as happened last year Solarcity acquisition ZepSolar these major concern in lower installation costs .IHS expected since suppliers continue to seek to optimize their supply complete systems and simplify its route to market, this trend will continue in 2015 and further. "

SunPower PV modules for its own direct purchase and development of power electronics technology, a move in the coming years in terms of business for SMASolar could be a hit. SMASolar has been struggling in the fierce competition, and the loss of market share.

SunPower also with SolarCity and Vivint and other companies in the US housing market competition, SolarBridge competitors include leading micro-inverter company Enphase, the company is the provider of these types of PV installed a major supplier.

SunPower President and CEO Tom Werner, said: "SunPower acquisition SolarBridge its high-performance micro inverter technology that will allow us to develop a differentiated product, specifically optimized for our highly efficient solar panels which are integrated. electronic beginning to our world-class solar panel technology. in this case, the result of the merger will provide our residential customers a simple, reliable and complete solution for their family size, including a flexible system design resistance, ease of installation and maintenance, and improves the overall appearance. "

SunPower was founded in 2004, has about 70 five employees. The company has a SunPower as an existing customer, the customer also includes joint venture manufacturing partners and component manufacturer BenQ ETSolar.