Tigo Energy Adds Power Control Feature to 3.8-kW Inverter
Tigo Energy has made its Inverter Power Output Control (IPOC) available for the 3.8-kW Tigo EI Inverter, which is meant for smaller home systems that can’t connect to the grid.
Software-Based Power Output Management
IPOC lets installers use software to restrict the AC power output of Tigo inverters during the commissioning process. Inverter power derating, or the ability to lower the maximum AC power rating of an inverter, lets solar installers adjust the AC power rating of an inverter during commissioning when they need to hit certain system power objectives.
The 3.8-kW inverter is now available alongside the 7.6-kW and 11.4-kW Tigo EI Inverters, which include IPOC capabilities for repowering applications and scenarios where utility or licensing constraints prohibit specific outputs. The Tigo EI Inverter has a compact size and a broad range of operating voltages, which makes it useful for many different inverter repowering situations. These features work together to assist installers in making systems last longer while cutting down on the need for extra hardware, labor, and project complexity.
Jing Tian, Tigo Energy’s chief growth and revenue officer, stated,
“The growth of our repowering capabilities shows how much more we need solutions that can work with existing systems.”
“By combining flexible output control with compatibility across system configurations, we are helping installers complete upgrades more efficiently while maintaining system compliance and performance.”
Meeting Demand for Legacy System Upgrades
About 400,000 solar systems in homes in the U.S. are already more than ten years old. A lot of these early systems are in the 3 to 4 kW range, and research suggests that repowering is typically motivated by reliability concerns as much as by cost. As a result, installers require more and more solutions that keep the system’s capacity so they don’t have to pay for expensive permits or electrical improvements. Meeting these constraints requires inverter technology that can adapt to legacy system conditions without requiring a redesign of the entire installation. IPOC lets installers change the AC output during commissioning to make sure it meets the original system specs or the needs of the utility.
Mike Skala, vice president of operations at SunSystem Technology, stated,
“We’re seeing a lot of demand for affordable repowering solutions in the Midwest, especially for smaller, older systems that are starting to have inverter problems.”
“Having a right-sized option that lets us make upgrades without having to get new permits or upgrade panels helps us give homeowners faster, cheaper solutions while keeping systems running.”
