Solving the triangle for solar mass adoption – Cost, Efficiency and Simplicity

Project Information

OptiVerter

Grant agreement ID: 828076

DOI

10.3030/828076

Project closed

EC signature date 6 August 2018

Start date 1 September 2018

End date 28 February 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

UBIK SOLUTIONS OU
Estonia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OptiVerter (Solving the triangle for solar mass adoption – Cost, Efficiency and Simplicity)

Reporting period: 2018-09-01 to 2019-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

To date there have been significant improvements in solar panels but not in the bottleneck hindering solar adoption today – inverters. To enable solar mass adoption, the inverters should satisfy the triangle for solar mass adoption: simplicity (ability to install solar on their own), efficiency (shading not to hinder output) and affordability (lowers cost barriers to trying solar).

UBIK’s OptiVerter® is the only solution to solve the triangle for solar, making things simple (anyone can plug in our device like they plug a tea kettle), efficient (with our device, a little shade does not hurt the solar energy’s output) and cheap (Installing just a few on a balcony is now easier and cheaper than ever before).

The overall objectives of the project are:

• Feasibility assessment of Gen 2 OptiVerter® using 30% less components;
• Updated business plan to account for partnerships and market growth in balcony solar;
• Business model specification – is it profitable to disrupt the solar market with a B2C approach.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The work performed during the project includes:

• Business development assessment that scanned the market and compared the S350 OptiVerter® against competitive devices.
• Technical feasibility assessment that put to question whether the planned features of the device are achievable.
• Freedom to operate assessment that checked if our OptiVerter® IP is properly secured.

The results achieved are the following:

• Business development: Our prototype device has the widest MPPT range of all devices on the market. Output power is larger than the majority of competitors, while maximum efficiency is slightly lower than market leader.
• Technical feasibility: Estimated production price is currently too high and therefore margins not large enough to sustain the business. Prototype device has efficiency and communication issues that need to be addressed.
• Freedom to operate: Technology is protected under US patent 9214876B2 and EE patent 05654B1, being EU patent pending. OptiVerter® name is registered in EU, India, US and Australia.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Future plans:
Due to the realization that the device is currently underperforming and that it can’t be yet produced for a competitive price at the current stage of development, our intention is to further redesign the PCBA and the supply chain in order to reach the optimal state that would allow us to decide, once we have in hand “the best we can do”, whether to pivot or persevere. This is expected to happen during the current year by applying what was learnt during the grant period.

Potential impacts:
Should the device be possible to manufacture for a competitive price, it could unlock a market that is right now dominated by the DIY kits (the balcony solar) by making installation simpler, cheaper and more efficient. With it, the exploitable surface for PV generation would rapidly increase thanks to the addition of balconies, terraces and gardens as suitable PV installation sites.

Tests of the UBIK S350 OptiVerter®

UBIK S350 OptiVerter® front view

UBIK S350 OptiVerter® side view