Solar Energy Installations Help Combat Climate Change

When looking at the aftermath of the increasing number of extreme weather events in recent years, renewable energy continues to be a main focus to counteract the results of climate change. Switching to sustainable energy sources such as wind, water and sunlight has the potential to decrease the effects of climate change in the future. According to IHS, 2020 was a record year for new solar installations even during the ongoing pandemic. While analysts expect that to decrease in the near future due to supply chain constraints, geopolitical forces are continuing to drive renewable energy campaigns.

In order to transmit energy generated by solar panels to a home or electric grid, it must first be converted from DC to AC power. To accomplish this, a solar invertor is employed to regulate the flow of electrical power and is a critical component in solar energy systems.

Characteristics of Solar Inverter Equipment

There are a few different types of solar inverters: central inverters, string inverters and microinverters. As component costs decrease, microinverters are rising in popularity because they are attached to individual panels which reduces the effects of single-panel damage on overall power draw. String inverters are also popular for residential installations because only one inverter is needed and it is easier to troubleshoot when issues arise.

Federal and state incentives have accelerated adoption of solar energy at the residential level. While there are many benefits of switching, home owners need to understand the risks of dealing with new equipment. It is important for equipment to be robust and operate efficiently over a long service life while being easy to maintain. This presents challenges for manufacturers because these units are typically installed outdoors in a wide variety of environments.

Building a Robust Solar Inverter

New solar inverters are being developed with internal monitoring technology that can alert users to potential issues or adverse events. While this helps troubleshoot the issue, it would be ideal to avoid equipment failures from the onset. Integrating components that can withstand extreme temperatures and are resistant to dust can help prolong the life of the equipment. Active cooling can also be used to reduce any effects of high temperatures on internal electronics.

NMB Fans Drive Reliable Operation in Extreme Locations

Harsh environment DC fans from NMB are manufactured using an advanced potting technique that fully encapsulates the motor with epoxy resin. This layer of epoxy protects the fan from ingress of water and dust which helps extend the life of the fan and also the equipment. MinebeaMitsumi, the manufacturer of NMB cooling fans, performs the potting procedure in-house using proficiencies developed from high precision injection molding.

Our R&D teams are also developing new DC fans that can perform efficiently within a wider operating temperature range using automotive product development expertise. PWM control adds another layer of security and feedback to provide piece of mind for both manufacturers and consumers.

As the heart of the solar energy system, inverters need to reliably perform the necessary function to convert solar power into usable energy. Integrating robust components from trusted suppliers helps reduce failures and fuels solar energy adoption.