inverter shoot-out at high noon [RE-wrenches]

[Matt Lafferty]

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All:

OK.  I've heard enough.  I have been biting my tongue on this so far, but
we're going in the wrong direction here!  Where are the largest # of $ spent
on a system?  On the glass!  As John B's post so eloquently and sensitively
related, "It's always the Inverter"....  While I have my own data and
perspectives about "who's telling the whole truth".... Ergo, "Supporting the
Industry in a responsible manner"....  I am highly sensitive to and desirous
of HONEST & RELIABLE specs, data, and support from the Inverter Manus.  This
is only one piece of the puzzle (Did I mention.... Honest?  Who's gonna pick
up the tab for monies already spent based on the shortsighted "$/kW"
incentives???? That's my money, too!)

(My sincere thanks and appreciation to all who have contributed on this....
Marco for starting it, Bill B for chiming in, Chris F and John B for their
perspectives... Where the heck are Xantrex, Sharp, Fronius, Ballard, PV
Powered, Beacon, et al, by the way?)

Marco:  Hey, how 'bout some caps in the subject line?  A little pizazz is
good!  ;-)

Joel D: What does a report from 1994 have to do with where we're at ten
years later?  I sure hope the answer is: "History Lesson"

Graham O: Dadgummit!  You beat my "Send" Button on the "Automobile MPG"
thing!  (Read on for reference)

Bill:

Yourself, myself and several others have long discussed the factors
surrounding this issue.... My take on "the general consensus of these
discussions" is that the Industry needs to embrace and support a Module and
"System" Certification approach first!  The Glass Manufacturers (Where are
they on this, come to think of it?????) need to be HONESTLY supporting both
efforts.  Period!

All:

Glass Manu's are the High $$$$ piece of the puzzle.  They have the most to
gain or lose in all this.... Manufacturing, R&D, Marketing... They all cost
$ and there are many of those $$$ invested.  I support, and believe others
should as well, those Glass Manus that are willing to put their products
"under the microscope" because they KNOW they will emerge with an accepted
"Stamp of Certified Approval" (I'm leaving the details of what that should
involve and what standards should be included out for short-reading
purposes), and the market-share that will result as the "US PV World"
evolves. Why can't the collective IQ embodied in this list come up with an
"array simulator that doesn't exist"????  Perhaps.... Nah, couldn't be...
Well, maybe.... Is the dreamt-up standard simply too "Engineerish" (No, I'm
not sorry for the reference!) to actually mean anything real out in the
Sunshine?

Think about it... Solar Hot Water did it... They HAD to for survival!  But
they only did it after some very real hard and costly lessons were learned.

What makes PV think it's immune from the same thing?  By approaching it from
a Module and System perspective, the glass manu's will quickly recognize the
value of collaborating with and supporting the inverter manu's in a
"Certifiied Systems" model.  In their ever-present and growing world of
competition, the inverter manu's will have to put forth their best foot...
feet.... errrrr...... Inverters, if they are to be a significant player.

The "Inverter Conversion Efficiency" is part of the puzzle, without
question. But that's only "part of the puzzle".

In my opinion, the standard "+/- 10%" (Does anybody have any reliable data
to support a '+ 10%' result???????') that glass manu's have been allowed to
market & distribute under is the single largest "$$$ drainer" going.
Roughly akin to the "Your results may vary" schtick on Automobile (Yes, the
Enemy!) MPG stickers!  How many of you gripe about those when "Your personal
results vary"?????  Ever notice how your results NEVER are above the sticker
reference?  Now that gas is $2.30/gallon, how does that "variation"
financially affect you?  It's the same with PV.... Just using a different
standard of measurement.... $3 per watt (+/- 10%.... Are you getting my
point????)

By way of market forces, the Systems Certification model forces the manu's
(Glass & Inverters) that you, the Wrenches buy product from, to work
together to come up with "the best combinations and provide you with the
information you need to do your job more efficiently".... If the Glass don't
pass, the system doesn't pass.  If the Inverter don't pass, the system
doesn't pass.  Each needs the other.  The more combinations of "Certified
Systems" a Glass Manu has out there, it stands to reason that they will
enjoy a larger market share.  It also stands to reason that, the more
"Certified Systems" an Inverter Manu has out there, the larger their market
share.  Econ-101.  I see a potential for an "If you want this many kW, this
is the System to go with.  If you want that many kW, this is the System to
go with" situation in the not-too-distant future once this is "mandated"....
And it will be mandated, if the regulators are going to keep justifying
their decisions to spend more $$$ in our direction.... That along with
Installer Certification and at least one other mechanisim of "public benefit
valuation".... Did I say, "Production Based Incentives"???? Guess I kinda
did, huh?

I know how much we all hate "mandates"... It is nevertheless one of those
things we all have to deal with.... I just hold that we, as an Industry need
to be writing the "mandates" before "they" do it for us!  Chew on that for a
minute.

For those of us working in the "not so easy to come up with a standard
system that meets my needs" category, like myself, the Certified Module
approach will much more cost effectively serve our needs.... For instance,
let's say an unnamed but well-known intervener manu (not a typo) has a
realistic, day to day or year by year,  5% error in their "Efficiency"....
How much does that affect the overall System compared to a "+/- 10% Glass"
number?  (Nobody's getting a free pass, here... And yes, I have read the
"Sandia" Inverter Efficiency Certification Recommendations stuff that
doesn't corroborate other stuff publicized here a couple of months ago, for
one example, even though both were written by the same parties....)
Remember, Glass at $3 / Watt versus Inverters at $1 / Watt.... Sounds to me
like the Glass gets a 3:1 ratio incentive.... Wouldn't we all LOVE to have
all those numbers?  Hmmmmmm?????  What's been the real $ impact to the
"Non-PV Public" when their $ have been spent subsidizing all this?  What
about the Public who has put up their own $$$?  Sure don't want to be
answering that phone line in a lot of the cases I know of.... Isn't Caller
ID a Good Thing?

Market forces would create "Glass Manu's Pressing the Inverter Manu's to
Meet Spec or You Don't Get Our Support" dynamic.... Bet me!  (As long as
it's a buck or less per bet!  Same price as a Lotto Ticket...)

Wouldn't we all LOVE to have an IV Curve Tracer Of Our Very Own?  (If not,
you should be having wet, Tim Allen-Like, dreams of one!  I consider the
benefit of having access to one a privilege... A privilege I never take for
granted!  This statement is in no way to be construed with anything
resembling anything that is not in compliance with The Homeland Security
Act, in any shape, form, or iteration.  Sic!)

I support a "+/- 3% of STC Nameplate" tolerance on all Glass sold, or at
least subsidized, in the US.  If it doesn't meet that tolerance, then it's a
different piece of glass, with a different model # and a different set of
specs, in my book!  I support a "+/- 1% of Stated Nameplate Efficiency"
tolerance for Inverters, Tested and Published!!!!!.... Nameplate ratings for
25%, 50%, 75%, & 100% of Max Input Wattage at the Middle of their Input
Voltage Range.  (I know, this is related to the UNAVAILABLE Array
Simulator.... Come on!  Gator Tom is obviously the smartest one here, I'm
not the only one to recognize this fact, I hope.... I'm sure he has some
helpful ideas for coming up with this thing....)

What about the "New to the US" Inverters?  Haven't seen / heard much
regarding their performance.  Or "Customer Support When Things Aren't
Perfect", come to think of it.  It may or not be fair and level ground, what
in this world is, but I think their immediate duty to their own survival has
to be "putting it all on the table", and, in Marco's words, "Shooting it out
at High Noon"!  

I hold that what we, as Wrenches and the general public, need is
Comprehensive, Honest, Easy to Understand, and Reliable info.  Plain and
Simple.  Having an "Inverter Certification Standard Recommendation That We
Don't Have An Array Simulator For" is a bunch of crap.... Sorry Bill B, but
that's just the truth.  We CAN do BETTER!  The whole premise of nit-picking
for the sake of "Engineer Comfort" as the foundational basis is crap, too.
I CARE ABOUT THE THINGS I NEED AND CAN UNDERSTAND!  FROM AN INTEGRATOR'S
STANDPOINT!  (For the record:  I don't sell or physically install things
these days... This is for "The Wrenches", of whom I consider myself to be
not only "one of", but an "advocate for"!  I sincerely hope that is
understood by all.)

Hey, Michael W... In our next version of what's looking like a Kurt A hosted
list, can we include the capability to BOLD, Underline, Italicize?  Pretty
please?  I'll pay more!

Lot's to spew on all this... Unfortunately.  I'll leave it at what's said
and just wish everybody a happy New Year.... You know, the new year....
After you've voted once in your state and once in Florida!  Just to be sure
that Florida is paying attention this time around!  Heck, might as well cast
your ballot in Tokyo, too.  Never know what good it's gonna do ya!

Aloha, Mali Aki Noki Sushi (Mattspeak for Sunshine!) and a "We'd better get
it together before we go it alone" thought for everybody!

Matt Lafferty
Universal Energies Institute
mlafferty at universalenergies.com
(916) 422-9772
(916) 628-7694 Cell
(916) 914-2247 Fax
www.universalenergies.com

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