Replies to post #204 on Ideal Power Inc (IPWR)

[tykundegex]

Some of the comments below the article challenge the author's claims that the tech isn't ready.

It's my understanding (albeit technically limited) that the software controls built into Ideal's converters (that control voltage, frequency, direction, cut-off, isolation, etc.), as well as their bi-directional and multi-port nature, make them a perfect fit for micro-grids.

But I'll let somebody with an electrical engineering background give a more detailed explanation.

If we're right, Ideal ought to pen a public rebuttal to Mr. Deign's article. Would make for some good PR.

[tykundegex]

There are two main claims in the article:

Designing equipment for isolated grids is already complicated because of the wide range of formats encompassed within the broad term "microgrid." Systems can range from less than 5 kilowatts to several megawatts, and contain a range of generation sources, potentially along with storage.

and

once PV penetration hits 40 percent, some form of energy storage becomes essential and more sophisticated control is needed. That isn’t easy, because the load keeps changing at the same time as the energy available from solar. In the absence of control systems, bidirectional inverters have to balance power coming in from PV with that going to users and batteries. Current inverters aren’t up to it

I believe Ideal's CTO Bill Alexander addressed this in his white paper entitled "Battery-Utility Interface using Soft Switched AC Link Buck Boost Converter", here: http://www.idealpower.com/PDFs/IPC_IEMDC_full_paper6.pdf), in which he specifically states that Ideal's technology can

provide the required grid stabilization ... which can switch in a few milliseconds from charging batteries to supplying power to the electric grid