Sanmina-SCI Corp. (Nasdaq: SANM) said it partnered with SPARQ Systems to manufacture new microinverters and communications hubs for solar photovoltaic systems intended for the homeowner market.

SPARQ said it has developed an efficient and low-cost microinverter that produces more AC power from PV, even under lower light and partial shadowing conditions. The design also is intended to eliminate unreliable components, which increases the lifespan of the microinverters threefold, giving homeowners up to 25 years of performance, according to a jointly issued press release.

Microinverters are gaining traction as an alternative to conventional, centralized inverters. They convert the DC current produced by photovoltaics to AC current, which is used in homes and by businesses, at the module level, whereas a centralized inverter is tied to all the panels in an array—or at least a run of panels. AC current also is a more efficient way to transport electricity, with less transmission loss.

Sanmina is a U.S.-based manufacturing company that produces complex electronic and mechanical products. SPARQ Systems, a Canada-based developer of microinverters that launched its product line last June, will produce the microinverters in Canada, which are eligible for the rich feed-in tariff offered by Ontario to locally made photovoltaics.

The partnership with Sanmina will help SPARQ speed the availability of its devices worldwide, since Sanmina has manufacturing facilities on multiple continents.

“Initial development and manufacturing will be in Ottawa, with the opportunity to build in other geographies as the market expands,” said Sanmina spokesperson Maggie Canon.

"Sanmina-SCI's core strengths include a focus on alternative energy technologies," said Praveen Jain, president and chief executive officer of SPARQ Systems. "They have the expertise, the infrastructure and the track record to meet all of our product needs as we move into full-scale production. And Sanmina-SCI's multi-continental manufacturing presence is well suited for SPARQ in producing the microinverters to meet local content requirements globally. We are delighted to be working with this quality focused organization."

Details of the partnership are still being worked out.

“Our partner SPARQ is currently developing its product strategy and plans to launch the microinverter and hub products at Intersolar North America in July. We’ll have specifics on volume, cost, etc., after the launch,” Canon said.