Though a relatively small operation in the industry, Enecsys are bringing their game-changing micro inverter technology to the residential and commercial market. PES talks to Enecsys CEO Henrik Raunkjaer…
PES: Can you begin by telling us a little about Enecsys and what role your products play in the solar/PV market?
Henrik Raunkjaer: Enecsys was founded in 2003 to commercialise a patented solar PV micro inverter technology that was originally developed at Cambridge University. Today, most solar PV systems consist of a ‘string’ of connected PV modules (panels); the high voltage DC output of which is fed into an inverter to convert it to grid-compliant AC.
The string inverter has long been the least reliable part of the system, with a typical service life that’s less than half that of solar modules. Enecsys has developed micro inverters, small DC to AC converters that accept DC input from one or two solar modules and convert this to grid-compliant AC. The AC outputs of the micro inverters, which are mounted on the rails behind solar modules, are then connected in parallel and fed into the grid. This provides a lot of benefits to both system users and installers, one of the most important being that the service life of the power conversion electronics now matches that of the PV modules themselves.
PES: Henrik, the last time we spoke, you were with a different organisation. What differing perspectives does this new position present to you?
HR: Yes, I was heading Danfoss Solar Inverters (DSI), one of the leading European string inverter manufacturers. The perspectives are obviously very different. DSI is a big established company with a well-known brand name focusing on string inverters and competing with around 50 other string inverter manufacturers. Enecsys is still a relatively small and unknown company with an inherently great breakthrough technology that has the potential to change the game in PV. Micro inverters will penetrate the residential and commercial PV market – they are perfect for rooftop applications. We are the first in Europe with a commercially available micro inverter and the second in North America. We are also the first to introduce a micro inverter with specifications and a lifetime that matches those of the PV modules. So, all in all, when I was given the opportunity to build a great and successful company it was there to be taken.
