MUNICH, Germany, June 8, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intersolar Europe – Aquion Energy's Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI™) batteries are now fully recognized and supported by SMA Solar Technology AG for use with their Sunny Island Inverters. This official designation by SMA makes it easy for solar installers to confidently integrate Aquion's batteries with SMA's inverters.
Aquion collaborated with SMA to complete the testing and ensure its Battery Monitoring System (BMS) can seamlessly communicate with the SMA Sunny Island Inverter to monitor important indicators such as battery health and state of charge. Aquion engineered the integration using CAN bus specifications outlined by SMA, which allows the SMA Inverter to respond to Battery Monitoring System (BMS) telemetry.
Traditionally, renewable energy systems that include a storage component have typically used lead acid batteries, known for their environmental toxicity and relatively short lifespan under partial state of charge cycling conditions, which is a common cycling profile in solar-based systems. Aquion Energy's AHI batteries offer a clean, sustainable, and long-lasting alternative that do not degrade from partial state of charge cycling. The batteries deliver robust performance across a wide temperature operating range, require no maintenance, and are easy to scope, site and install.
AHI batteries have a unique environmentally-friendly electrochemical design, and are the first and only batteries in the world to be Cradle to Cradle Certified™. AHI batteries contain no heavy metals or toxic chemicals and are non-flammable and non-explosive making them the safest battery in the world – designed for use in pristine environments, island locations, homes and businesses.
"SMA is delighted to support the integration of Aquion batteries with our inverters. The AHI battery is a new energy storage option that can help customers maximize self-consumption of PV power, and is an attractive option for off-grid applications" said Martin Rothert, SMA Director of Product Management Residential. "The Sunny Island Inverter is designed for maximizing battery performance and overall system efficiency and can be used for off-grid and grid-tied solar installations."
"We are proud to have achieved this important milestone in our partnership with SMA, a global leader in the solar industry. Our collaboration with SMA demonstrates that our batteries can be integrated with state of the art power electronics and will foster greater market adoption of AHI batteries," said Matthew Maroon, vice president of product management at Aquion Energy. "We're making it easy for solar installers to integrate our batteries into solar energy systems."
Aquion Energy and SMA are exhibiting at Intersolar Europe in booths B1.584 and B2.210.
About Aquion Energy
Aquion Energy is the manufacturer of proprietary Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI™) batteries and battery systems for long duration stationary energy storage applications. AHI batteries are optimized for daily deep cycling for off-grid and microgrids, energy management, and grid-scale applications. Aquion's high-performance, safe, sustainable and cost-effective batteries deliver industry-leading value for customers. Aquion's battery systems provide flexible, modular energy storage that enables broad adoption of renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, and optimization of existing grid-tied generation assets. For more information, visit www.aquionenergy.com.
About SMA
The SMA Group with sales of more than €800 million in 2014 is the global market leader for solar inverters, a key component of all PV plants and offers innovative key technologies for future power supply structures. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented in 21 countries. The Group employs more than 4,500 people worldwide. SMA's broad product portfolio includes a compatible inverter for every type of module on the market and for all PV system sizes. The repeatedly awarded product range includes system technologies for grid-connected photovoltaic systems as well as off-grid and hybrid systems. The technology is protected by more than 550 patents. The range of services is supplemented by comprehensive services and operational management of large-scale PV power plants. Since 2008, the Group's parent company, SMA Solar Technology AG, has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index.