Like any innovation, solar technology isn’t perfect. When solar panels can’t absorb light efficiently due to obstruction or shade, the entire array becomes inefficient. Azuray Technologies will unveil its new solar optimizer, AP 260, next week, at Solar Power International 2011. The optimizer may help improve solar harvest by up to 25 percent, according to its website.

Gil Miller, vice president of business development at the company, said that the optimizer provides new options for arrays struggling with imperfect operations due to external circumstances.

“Today, with most installations that do not use a power optimizer, all of the solar modules are put together in a column fashion,” said Miller. “What happens is, if there is any type of shading, or mismatch, you have a reduction, and that brings down the power of the entire string—it’s kind of like a Christmas light effect. When you have an under-performing solar module, you have an under-performing solar array.”

Miller said the optimizer acts to compensate for these loses by tracking at the solar module level, instead of the string level. With the optimizer, each module will operate at its optimum power point while adjusting the entire array to get the most energy.

“Our products are able to be used only on the solar modules that require them,” said Miller. “So if you have a string of 12 solar modules on a roof, and you have shading that’s the result of a chimney, with our product you only have to put the solar optimizer on those modules that require it.”

According to product information on the Azuray website, the technology is compatible with all other solar modules, can last 25 years (even in poor conditions), and employ automotive-grade components. The optimizer combines with AC 160, also to be released next week. AC 160 is a safety and monitoring device and, according to Azuray’s website, the two devices can be used together on solar arrays.
The products will be unveiled Oct. 18-20, at Solar Power International next week in Dallas (Hall B, booth 1455).