Tigo Energy has expanded the availability of its Inverter Power Output Control (IPOC) to the 3.8-kW Tigo EI Inverter designed for smaller residential systems with utility interconnection constraints.
IPOC provides installers with the ability to limit the AC power output of Tigo inverters via software during the commissioning process. The ability to reduce the maximum AC power rating of an inverter, also referred to as inverter power derating, allows solar installers to set the AC power rating of an inverter during commissioning when precise system power targets are required.
The 3.8-kW inverter joins the 7.6-kW and 11.4-kW Tigo EI Inverters with IPOC capability for repowering applications and situations where permitting or utility requirements incentivize certain output limits. The Tigo EI Inverter offers a wide operating voltage range and a small form factor, making it a fit for a wide variety of inverter repowering applications. Together, these capabilities help enable installers to extend system life while minimizing the need for additional hardware, labor and project complexity
“The expansion of our repowering capabilities reflects the growing need for solutions that work within the constraints of existing systems,” said Jing Tian, chief growth and revenue officer at Tigo Energy. “By combining flexible output control with compatibility across system configurations, we are helping installers complete upgrades more efficiently while maintaining system compliance and performance.”
Roughly 400,000 U.S. residential solar systems are now more than a decade old. As many of these early systems fall within the 3- to 4-kW range, and research shows repowering is often driven as much by reliability issues as by economics, installers increasingly need solutions that preserve system capacity to avoid costly permitting or electrical upgrades. Meeting these constraints requires inverter technology that can adapt to legacy system conditions without requiring a redesign of the entire installation. IPOC allows installers to adjust AC output during commissioning to align with original system specifications or utility requirements.
“We’re seeing strong demand for cost-effective repowering solutions in the Midwest, especially for smaller, early-generation systems that are starting to experience inverter failures,” said Mike Skala, vice president of operations at SunSystem Technology. “Having a right-sized option that allows us to complete upgrades without re-permitting or panel upgrades helps us deliver faster, more affordable solutions for homeowners while keeping systems productive.”
News item from Tigo
