Aug 12 2015
Tigo Energy Inc., LLC, (“Tigo”) the smart module technology market leader, has partnered with PV installer Renewable Energy Services, Inc. (“RES”) to form one of the world’s largest residential renewable energy microgrid installations featuring Tigo’s smart module platform.
Tigo powers Bakken Hale ground mounted system (Photo: Business Wire)
This solar-battery system is on the privately owned residence called Bakken Hale. It is equipped with 176kW ground mounted PV modules powered by Tigo and capable of generating 350MWh per year from the sun.
Owner and environmentalist Earl Bakken, inventor of the first battery-powered pacemaker and founder of Medtronic, Inc. commented, “I want to demonstrate using a solar and battery-powered microgrid is the best solution because it allows us to meet all of our power needs day and night.” Bakken went on to say, “We are attracted to Tigo’s platform in particular because their technology is of the highest quality, which will enable us to generate solar power at the optimal level for many years into the future.”
Bakken Hale utilizes the world’s leading solar optimizer, Tigo’s Smart optimization product. Tigo solutions enable customers to monitor their systems at the module-level, deactivate high voltage with a push of a button, and allow for the greatest design flexibility on systems of any size. Tigo’s innovative technology performs data acquisition via a cloud-connected data logger across new systems and retrofits of all sizes. Tigo-optimized modules work efficiently with battery backup systems, charging from the sun during the day, then discharging during the night.
“We are proud to be the only company capable of servicing a range of inverters and charge controllers for off-grid PV systems,” said Tigo’s chairman and CEO Zvi Alon. “We look forward to continue to increase the number of hybrid PV+Battery systems and working on similar solar-battery projects worldwide.”
Roland Shackelford, Vice President of RES stated, “This project was done with the highest level of workmanship and components selected from every nut and bolt, to the use of Tigo. Tigo's reliability and ability to get the maximum power output from each module is exactly what we were looking for. The per-module monitoring and performance notification capabilities are benefits that ensure that the system is working optimally in the years to come.”