After publicly launching its new solar power technology in San Francisco at the largest solar conference and trade show in North America, SPARQ is drawing a large amount of attention for what many in the field are calling a potential game changer in the solar industry.
The technology is a compact, lightweight photovoltaic microinverter – a lower cost option for harvesting solar power for household use. It also offers users a product that will match the lifespan of their solar panels, which is typically 25 or more years.
The concept was developed by Dr. Praveen Jain, the Canada Research Chair in Power Electronics at Queen’s University. Dr. Jain is also serving as the CEO of SPARQ Systems Inc., the Queen’s spin-off company in charge of developing and marketing the product.
Dr. Jain felt that the product launch was very successful, stating “The feedback we received from solar panel manufacturers, installers and power companies worldwide was that our product fills a real and pressing need in the industry.”
Randall North, Chief Operating Officer at SPARQ, believes that their microinverter brings a number of innovations to the table. “Our proprietary power point tracking method enables maximum power extraction from the panels,” he stated. “We have eliminated components that reduce the lifetime of existing systems.”
The organization has also improved the overall efficiency of the solar electrical system, even under conditions like snow or shade. This makes it an excellent choice for urban rooftop application, where less than ideal sun exposure can affect the amount of energy harvested by panels.
Consumer interest in solar rooftop systems at an all-time high, partly due to government incentives which pay owners for renewable energy they produce. The SPARQ booth at the conference received hundreds of visitors from around the world, and the company continues to receive inquiries regarding purchasing their product.
SPARQ is currently working on refinements and certification testing and plan to have their new solar technology on the market by early 2011.
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Photo: Steve Jurvetson
