Eguana Technologies Inc V.EGT

INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN DURR on October 24, 2016

[JBTYCOON]

HOME MEMORY INVERTERS
(GERMAN interview with Martin Durr- Eguana Technologies) October 24th, 2016

Cells + inverters + peripherals = home memory

In my previous posts I have given you information about different cell technologies and some manufacturers of home Save closer. One of the core issues of "smart battery" is that intelligent home memories are more than just lithium-ion cells. There are the electrical peripherals, intelligent power electronics and clever control software, make a battery "smart" .

The essential link between the electrochemically stored DC for home storage and the AC, which we can use in our electricity networks at home, is the inverter . This converts the direct current into the 50Hz alternating current or there are also inverters, which convert the 50Hz alternating current into direct current. This back-conversion is necessary in order to be able to store current electrochemically. In my post about AC coupling and DC systems , I detail below on this topic.

The company Eguana Technologies from Canada

A leading manufacturer of inverters for home memory is the Canadian company Eguana Technologiesof Calgary; The listed company produces so-called "Bi-Direx" inverters, which are used worldwide in fuel cell, photovoltaic and, above all, home storage.

Mr Martin Drr was kindly invited to an interview: Martin Drr heads the business development and marketing at Eguana Technologies.

dsb: Mr Drr, what exactly does the company Eguana Technologies, where the company comes from and what is your core segment?

Eguana Technologies is a Canadian company that has been developing inverters for decentralized energy applications for over 15 years. Our core area, which we specialize in and where we also have numerous patents, is bi-directional power electronics, which is indispensable for home storage. Our technology has been designed from the ground up to charge batteries and fuel cells, which is why we have a lot of experience with many other manufacturers. In Europe and North America, we already have more than 5,000 devices in the still relatively new market for home storage and are thus among the market leaders in our segment.

The advantage of Bi-Direx inverters for home storage

dsb: What is the great advantage of the installation of an inverter of Eguana Technologies?
As a network-parallel inverter, the Bi-Direx can seamlessly charge or discharge the battery, provide power to the grid and provide emergency power. The multi-patented bidirectional inverter dispenses with external DC / DC conversion or separate AC / DC charging circuits, thus enabling very high overall efficiency for battery systems. In contrast to some conventional inverters which only deliver their full rated output under ideal conditions, the Bi-Direx also provides its full nominal power even at varying voltages or operating temperatures.

dsb: Which applications are available for your products and how has it developed from your perspective of the market?

Our customers use our inverters for a wide range of applications, from self-consumption maximization in home storage systems to energy trading and network stabilization. We believe that, in the medium term, the merger of several home stores into a virtual power plant, which can be used to improve grid stability and quality, will provide a win-win situation for the storage owner as well as the network operator. Some of our customers in North America are already demonstrating such aggregation concepts and our development team works closely with network operators to tailor our inverters exactly to their needs.

Final acceptance and test of the electronic components

Exciting developments in the market for home storage

dsb: Where is your company represented everywhere and what is happening in these markets just exciting?

We are represented both in our home market of North America and in the European market. The most exciting market in North America is certainly Hawaii. There, the network operator has minimized the annual contingent for the installation of grid-feeding photovoltaic systems, but allows homeowners to use home storage as part of the so-called "self-supply" program, thus supplying themselves with PV electricity. At current prices of partly over $ 0.40 / kWh and the sun exposure, the self-consumption maximizing course makes absolutely sense.

In Europe, Germany remains, thanks to funding and innovative business models of the storage vendors, the most interesting market and we expect that this will continue to grow strongly and at the latest when from 2020 the first ECG contracts are set to expire, will be a mass market. However, we are increasingly receiving inquiries from England, as well as from the Mediterranean region.

Compatibility with all home memory manufacturers

dsb: If your inverter with any home storage compatible as well with the Tesla Power Wall?

Our inverters are basically with all battery technologies, Lithium-ion to lead to flow or salt water batteries, compatible. However, our inverters are not available in wholesale. We work exclusively with partner companies, who then offer a complete storage system and, if desired, also support them in the integration with the selected battery management or energy management system.

In North America, we have established a partnership with the battery manufacturer LG Chem and, together with the engineers, have developed a fully integrated complete system, which optimally harmonizes the components to guarantee the highest performance, safety and longevity. We also work with other battery manufacturers together and have basically the customer ( Note: the partner companies ) decide which battery technology and brand, he wants to offer.

The LG Chem memory Eguana inverter - LG Chem is by an independent survey of EuPD Research with the seal "Top Brand PV" was honored in the Storage area for Germany.

dsb: The market for home storage is increasingly on the (electric) automobile manufacturers interesting. These have, above all, large contingents on lithium-ion cells. However, they lack the appropriate inverters, such as Eguana Technologies. In the news Eguana Technologies has announced a cooperation with a German car manufacturer, can you tell the readers of "the smart battery", which manufacturer is it?

It is true that the automotive sector is also increasingly interested in the topic of "home storage", since the area naturally has synergies in the development, purchasing and sales as well as its great future "electromobility". For more information on our press release may I at this time not to pass on, but as soon as the product is developed, "The smart battery" among the first to be natlcih the blog readers are informed of!

dsb: How do you come into contact with Eguana Technologies or your dealers, how much does your product or products about?

The prices are basically determined by our partners, the providers of the complete systems. Inquiries to dealers in Europe or North America or to development partnerships may be addressed to me.

Note: This interview is not a translation, but was conducted in German; Mr. Martin Drr is under the email address [e-mail] accessible for questions. Alternatively, you can se also like [e-mail] contact.