SolarBridge Technologies, which makes microinverters that are integrated directly into solar modules, raised $19 million in Series C funding, bringing its total funding to over $46 million to date.
Microinverters convert DC current to AC current for each individual solar module in contrast to traditional inverters, which convert the output of the entire solar array. Microinverters offer greater efficiency, greater flexibility in design and enable more detailed monitoring.
The microinverter system that SolarBridge makes is installed onto the back of solar modules in the factory, resulting in a complete AC module assembly. The integrated AC module comes with a 25-year warranty, an industry first.
Current investors and new investors participated in this funding round, which will enable SolarBridge to ramp up production capacity, expand sales support and logistics, and scale up research and development.
The company aims to increase production capacity for its Pantheon microinverter to over 70 megawatts (MW) by the end of 2011.
Last month, SolarBridge announced the start of volume production in China with manufacturing partner Celestica (NYSE: CLS).
Solarbridge is one of a handful of companies hoping to take a slice of the microinverter market away from Enphase Energy, which has had the niche to itself for several years.
They’ve doubled the size of their Austin, Texas headquarters and will have 75 employees worldwide by year end.
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