STRATEGY AND BEST PRACTICES, ENERGY
Exro | February 08, 2023
On February 7, 2023, Exro Technologies Inc. (Exro), a leading clean technology firm that has developed new generation power control electronics that extend the capabilities of electric motors and batteries, announced entering into a channel partnership agreement with Greentech Renewables Southwest (Greentech), one of the major solar equipment distributors in the United States.
The agreement is coherent with Exro's targeted go-to-market strategy for its Cell Driver™ Energy Storage System (Cell Driver™) product offering, partnering with renowned clean energy integrators to provide scalability and expertise in order to enhance and accelerate market penetration to commercial and industrial (C&I) customers.
The non-exclusive partnership will expedite Exro's market presence by addressing Greentech's expanding demand for energy storage in C&I applications and EV charging stations.
The primary goal for 2023 is to successfully present the Cell Driver™ product to Greentech's network of commercial integrators. It is anticipated that these objectives will be accomplished in two phases, commencing with the development of a collaborative sales and marketing plan that includes a pilot project for which multiple locations are being examined. During the second phase of the agreement, Greentech and its network of solar installers will provide a flexible 12 and 24-month rolling demand forecast for the duration of the 5-year agreement.
The Exro Cell Driver™ offers more control over battery cells, resulting in more efficient charging, deeper discharge rates, higher safety, and uninterrupted operation. This allows commercial and industrial establishments to regulate energy usage, protect against grid failures, store energy produced on-site, and profit from peak shaving and load shifting.
Additionally, Cell Driver™ is outfitted with Exro's proprietary Battery Control System™, which dynamically manages cells depending on their State-of-Charge (SoC) and State-of-Health (SoH). This enables micro-protection systems to isolate defects electronically, drastically lowering the likelihood of thermal runaways without interfering with system performance. With its active cell balancing features, the Exro Cell Driver™ addresses issues in the stationary energy storage market while also providing an appropriate solution for the influx of retired electric car batteries by repurposing them into a second life in stationary energy storage.
About Exro Technologies Inc.
Founded in 2014, Exro Technologies Inc. is a leading clean technology firm that has developed new generation power control electronics that are changing how the world optimizes energy by increasing the capabilities of electric motors and batteries. The company's cutting-edge technologies help close the performance-cost gap in stationary energy storage (Cell Driver™) and e-mobility (Coil Driver™), as well as expedite the adoption of a circular electrified economy by delivering a minimum amount of energy for maximum results.
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ENERGY
Power Integrations | March 21, 2023
Power Integrations, the leader in high-voltage integrated circuits (ICs) for energy-efficient power conversion, today announced a 900-volt gallium-nitride (GaN) extension to the company’s InnoSwitch3™ family of flyback switcher ICs. The new ICs, which feature the company’s proprietary PowiGaN™ technology, deliver up to 100 watts with better than 93 percent efficiency, eliminating the need for heat sinks and streamlining design of space-challenged applications. InnoSwitch3 designs also offer exceptional light-load efficiency making them ideal for providing auxiliary power in electric vehicles during low-power sleep modes. The AEC-Q100-qualified InnoSwitch3-AQ family is particularly suitable for EVs based on 400-volt bus systems where the 900-volt PowiGaN switch provides more power and increased design margin―required for 12-volt battery-replacement systems―with enhanced efficiency over silicon-based converters.
“The dominant bus voltage for electric vehicles is 400 volts,” stated Peter Vaughan, automotive business development director at Power Integrations. “EV manufacturers are optimizing their new generation of 400-volt systems and re-engineering various power stages in the vehicle, such as the on-board charger. The 900-volt PowiGaN switch is extremely beneficial because it easily accommodates inductive noise spikes, yet it can operate from as low as 30 VDC, enabling systems to meet functional safety active discharge requirements. The extra power delivered by our GaN technology matches the increasing power demands of EV manufacturers, moreover, efficiency in power conversion―even in auxiliary systems―is important for both range extension and thermal management.”
In the industrial space, extra power and increased efficiency are extremely advantageous in applications such as appliances, three-phase motors and auxiliary power supply units (PSUs) in servers. The new 900-volt parts are pin-for-pin compatible with existing 725-volt and 750-volt InnoSwitch3-EP parts and offer increased safety margin which is ideal for countries with unstable line voltages.
“Our ability to deliver GaN parts rated at up to 900 volts demonstrates the reliability and ruggedness of our PowiGaN technology,” stated Silvestro Fimiani, senior product marketing manager at Power Integrations.
The new 900-volt InnoSwitch3-EP and InnoSwitch3-AQ off-line CV/CC flyback switcher ICs employ synchronous rectification, a valley switching discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) and continuous conduction mode (CCM) flyback controller. FluxLink™ communication technology enables the IC package to bridge the isolation barrier, optimizing efficiency and eliminating the need for optocouplers. PowiGaN technology enables InnoSwitch3-EP ICs to deliver up to 100 watts (230 volts alternating current [VAC] plus or minus 15 percent) without heat sinks. InnoSwitch3-EP devices incorporate multiple protection features including line over- and under-voltage protection, output over-voltage and over-current limiting, and over-temperature shutdown. Devices are available with standard and peak power delivery options. Automotive InnoSwitch3-AQ devices can also deliver 100 watts from a 400-volt bus and provide performance and protection features similar to those of the popular 1700-volt silicon-carbide InnoSwitch3-AQ ICs currently used in 800-volt EV systems.
Availability & Resources
Pricing for the new 900-volt GaN InnoSwitch3-EP devices for industrial applications start at $2.00 for 10,000-unit quantities. For the InnoSwitch3-AQ automotive-qualified devices or further information on all Power Integrations’ solutions, contact a Power Integrations sales representative or one of the company’s authorized worldwide distributors: Digi-Key, Farnell, Mouser and RS Components, or visit power.com.
About Power Integrations
Power Integrations, Inc. is a leading innovator in semiconductor technologies for high-voltage power conversion. The company’s products are key building blocks in the clean-power ecosystem, enabling the generation of renewable energy as well as the efficient transmission and consumption of power in applications ranging from milliwatts to megawatts.
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SOLAR+STORAGE, ENERGY
Intersect Power, LLC | January 13, 2023
Intersect Power, LLC announced that its Athos III solar project in Riverside County, California, will start making money on December 22, 2022. The Athos III solar project was constructed by union workers, with solar panels, batteries, and steel piles made in America. This means that it is expected to comply with the domestic content and prevailing wage requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
The Athos III solar project (Blythe Mesa Solar II) is generating 224 MWac/310 MWp of dependable solar energy to power about 94,000 households and features 448 MWh of co-located storage.
Sheldon Kimber, Intersect Power CEO, stated, "Today marks a major milestone for the Intersect Power team and our impact as a clean energy developer, owner, and operator."
Source – Cision PR Newswire
Intersect Power's Athos III solar project is part of its near-term portfolio, which includes 2.2 GW of solar photovoltaic and 1.4 GWh of co-located storage. The majority of the portfolio will go live in 2023. As a result, the Athos III solar project generated 500 peak union positions.
Funding for the project's operations and construction was secured as part of the expanded portfolio financing announced in November 2022, when Intersect Power closed on commitments from critical financial institutions and investors for portfolio-level term loans, tax equity, and construction finance.
HPS Investment Partners provided the portfolio term debt. The tax equity was delivered by Morgan Stanley Renewables Inc. The construction debt was provided by coordinating Lead Arrangers Santander Corporate & Investment Banking and MUFG. Along with Cobank, Helaba, KeyBanc Capital Markets, and Nord LB as joint lead arrangers.
About Intersect Power
Intersect Power is a clean energy firm that provides retail and wholesale energy markets with innovative and scalable low-carbon solutions. The corporation produces some of the world's most significant clean energy resources, supplying North American clients with low-carbon power, fuels, and related products. Intersect Power's base portfolio consists of 2.2 GW of solar PV and 1.4 GWh of co-located storage that are either under development or in service. The company's business model calls for expanding grid-connected renewables and large-scale clean energy assets like green hydrogen.
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