ENGLISH
More Energy
Enhanced Safety
Active Management
THE TIGO ENERGY®® MAXIMIZER™
SOLUTION
™
The Tigo Energy System
Tigo Energy provides a solution to maximize the power output of today’s PV systems. The Tigo
Energy Maximizer Solution provides more energy, active management, and enhanced safety for
utility, commercial, and residential solar arrays. Tigo Energy’s patented impedance-matching
technology provides the most efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solution in the industry.
www.tigoenergy.com
The Tigo Energy Maximizer Solution increases the output of solar arrays by up to 20 percent,
provides per-panel monitoring, automated performance analytics, maintenance alerts,
and remote panel-level deactivation. The Tigo Energy Solution works with all standard
photovoltaic panels and inverters providing flexibility and reliability to the end user.
Existing systems may be retrofitted using the Tigo Energy Maximizer system (MM-ES)
in a series configuration without modification to the existing wiring or inverter.
More Energy
Enhanced Safety
The Tigo Energy Maximizer Solution implements
Maximum Power Point Control (MPPC) at
the module level, thus eliminating the impact
of underperforming panels on the stronger
panels. Negative effects of module mismatch
is a major problem found in solar installations
worldwide. Even “perfectly” architected
systems are subject to: soiling, clouds, uneven
thermals, co-planarity, and long-term material
degradation. Many arrays are also subject
to partial shading. Tigo Energy can deliver
up to 20% more energy from these arrays.
Tigo Energy uses a patented impedancematching technology, rather than a buck-boost
circuit. This makes the Tigo Energy Maximizer
Solution an industry best 99.5% efficient,
which allows system owners to harvest the
maximum potential energy out of their arrays.
The Tigo Energy Maximizer Solution improves
the safety of arrays through its patent-pending
PV-SafeTM technology. The PV-Safe function
can stop the flow of energy onto the system
cables when issued a command by the system
operator. This can be done either from the
management software or on-site by pressing
the PV-Safe button on the Management
Unit. When this feature is used alongside the
standard DC disconnect at the inverter, the
system or sub-section voltage can be turned off
for safer maintenance or emergency services.
The Maximizer solution also has an
optional theft prevention solution which
alerts the system owner if modules are
unexpectedly disconnected from the system
day or night. This triggers alerts that can
be sent directly to the owner, security
companies, and law enforcement.
Active Management
The Tigo Energy Maximizer Solution utilizes
the Tigo Energy Module Maximizers located
on each panel to relay communication
information every few seconds to the Tigo
®
Energy MaximizerTM Management Unit (either
a stand-alone box or integrated into an
optimized inverter). While this data is used to
calculate the optimal operating point for each
module, it is also sent through an internet
communications gateway to a central server.
®
The Tigo Energy MaxiManagerTM Software
includes advanced analytics which look for
anomalies, degradation patterns, and regularly
occurring issues. The management console
provides performance monitoring with module
level granularity, problem alerts, maintenance
reports (exactly where the issues are and when
it makes financial sense to fix them), and macro
analysis relative to other similar systems.
With the Tigo Energy MaxiManager software
suite, solar projects can be kept at peak
operation throughout their life cycle.
By understanding the performance levels of
each system component, maintenance can
be quickly and effectively performed. Regular
“blanket” maintenance is no longer necessary.
Instead system owners can preprogram targeted
actions with much higher return. On-demand
maintenance reports help crews directly target
problem areas which greatly reduces time in the
field and O&M costs. They can arrive at the site
with exactly the right replacement components
and tools to get the job done quickly.
For owners and installers with multiple arrays,
each subsequent project can be managed
from the same, centralized site. Over time, the
macro analytics can help refine and optimize
the design, maintenance, and development of
new projects.
For more information please go to:
tigoenergy.com/downloads
BENEFITS OF A TIGO ENERGY®® POWERED ARRAY
Installers
An ideal solution for utility, commercial, and residential systems
The most viable solution for utility scale shadeless arrays
Reduced installation cost and faster design
Increase the number of financially viable projects
More flexibility in design layout
No need for complicated string planning
Rapid commissioning of PV arrays
Improved installation safety by eliminating exposure to dangerous voltages
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OEM’s
Differentiate products by integrating Tigo Energy technology into panels and inverters
Improve the efficiency of systems by eliminating mismatch
Create new business models using Tigo Energy’s management software
Track and monitor products in the field
Improve the safety of product lines
Increase module architecture options by better control of string voltage and current
Matched by a 20-year warranty
PPA, ESP or Utility Scale Developer
Ensure that projects are performing to their full capability
Improve the IRR of projects, often by 30 or 40 basis points or more
Monitor and manage assets across a wide geographic portfolio
Consolidate and reduce operational overhead
Streamline information into accounting processes
Asset protection through anti-theft measures
Understand trends, which will make future plant design more efficient
System Owners
Produce up to 20% more energy from arrays
Track and monitor panels remotely for maintenance needs
Integrate monitoring into home or business displays and web sites
Improved safety for maintenance and fire fighting
Anti-theft measures
Tigo Energy® Module
Maximizer -ES (MM-ES)
Tigo Energy® Module
Maximizer -EP (MM-EP)
The Tigo Energy Maximizer corrects for
performance mismatch issues, which
drag down the energy output of arrays.
Each Tigo Energy Module Maximizer ensures
that the panel is set to its Maximum Power
Point (MPP) through a patented method of
impedance matching (rather than DC to DC
power conversion). In the Tigo Energy MMES solution panels are connected in series
as in a normal array (1 Module Maximizer per
module). The MM-ES solution provides an
industry-leading 99.5% average conversion
efficiency, the smallest electronics footprint
of its kind, and a polycarbonate enclosure,
which eliminates the need for extra grounding.
The MM-ES may enhance the performance
of both shaded and unshaded arrays.
In the parallel solution (MM-EP) the Tigo
Energy Module Maximizer distributes
MPPT to the panel, adds galvanic isolation,
and DC conditioning. This solution outputs
a fixed 375 Volts to a parallel bus. For highvoltage panels, which are limited to short
string lengths, this technology enables longer
branches (up to 30 amps). The MM-EP is ideal
for BIPV and branches with different types
of panels. This solution also works well for
systems needing galvanic isolation and provides
enhanced arc protection. The fixed voltage bus
also allows the system to work at the optimal
voltage range of the inverter, eliminating the
need for the DC pre-conditioning stage while
increasing the inverter’s conversion efficiency.
TM
www.tigoenergy.com
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TM
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4
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Tigo Energy® Maximizer
Management Unit
TM
The Tigo Energy Maximizer Management
Unit (MMU) communicates with each
of the Maximizers in an array via wireless or
powerline communication. The MMU calculates
the maximum power point of each panel and
relays that information to the Maximizer. The
Tigo Energy® PV-Safe™ feature allows system
owners to disconnect the panel from the bus
at the Maximizer. This application can be
activated with a safety button located on the
MMU or via a remote command console. This
allows for system installation, maintenance,
and emergency work to be done without
endangering personnel with high DC voltage.
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Tigo Energy® MaxiManager
Software
TM
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The Tigo Energy MaxiManager
software provides greater control over
performance with module-level granularity,
alerts, maintenance reports, and many
other applications. With the Tigo Energy
MaxiManager software, solar projects can be
kept at peak operation throughout their lifecycle.
By understanding the performance levels of
each system component, maintenance can be
quickly and effectively performed. On-demand
maintenance reports help crews directly target
problem areas which greatly reduces time in
the field and O&M costs. They can arrive at the
site with the correct replacement components
and tools to get the job done quickly.
Printed on recycled paper
10.05.2010.ENG.VER.2
About Tigo Energy
Tigo Energy provides an innovative solution to maximize the power output
of today’s PV systems. The Tigo Energy® Maximizer Solution provides more
energy, active management, and enhanced safety for utility, commercial, and
residential solar arrays. Tigo Energy’s patented impedance-matching technology
provides the most efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solution in the industry.
TM
The industry-leading efficiency of the Tigo Energy Solution lends
itself as the first truly scalable solution that may improve the financial
bottom line of utility, commercial, and residential systems.
Tigo Energy is a technology, reliability, and cost leader that will enable
a wider and more rapid adoption of solar technology worldwide.
www.tigoenergy.com
Tigo Energy, Inc.
Headquarters:
Offices:
P: +1.408.402.0802
420 Blossom Hill Road,
Frankfurt, Germany
F: +1.408.358.6279
Los Gatos, California, U.S.A.
Osaka, Japan
Tel Aviv, Israel