A screengrab of a Generac YouTube video
Generac Power Systems has introduced a rooftop solar optimization package it’s calling PWRzone. According to the company, PWRzone uses fewer components than micoinverter-equipped systems.
PWRzone consists of PV Links (Generac’s 2.5-kW optimizer) and SnapRS (a rapid shutdown switch). Installers can use up to nine solar modules per PV Link optimizer.
“We saw an opportunity to simplify and improve a complex system for installers and homeowners alike,” said Russ Minick, Chief Marketing Officer for Generac. “PWRzone creates a cost savings for the installer and a power savings to the system owner. As the clean energy market grows, PWRzone will enable installers to tackle more installations and allow more homeowners to harness clean energy to power their homes and lives. We observed that the straight string approach performs better than MLPE in sunny and mostly sunny conditions, while MLPE performs better in significantly shaded installations. We decided to make a system that delivers the best of both approaches. That is PWRzone. It is innovative, it is simply a better way.”
News item from Generac
This article states that this is a 1:9 optimizer. Yet NEC code states that anything on an occupied building must have individual module rapid shutdown. I know SE has a 1:2 optimizer that still meets that requirement but will a 1:9 meet that requirement? Also, if one module of that string of 9 is experiencing a loss of production, are the remaining 8 now dragged down to that production?
Removing modules from each solar PV panel, and allowing less modules to be required on solar PV arrays should make the system more robust. Without such innovation, the roof top solar PV installation could be “safety regulated” out of existence.