Distributed Power Architecture Design Reduces Commercial PV System Costs, Increases Energy Yield, and Complies with HDPV Alliance Interoperability Standards

Grass Valley, Calif. and Fort Collins, Colo.—July 9, 2013—KACO new energy, one of the world's largest solar inverter manufacturers with more than 6.8 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic (PV) inverters in the field, today announced the availability of its blueplanet 50 TL3 SM solar PV inverter with Ampt Mode™, a setting that optimizes the inverter for use in a distributed power architecture. Used in combination with Ampt DC/DC module-level optimizers, KACO's 50 kW inverter operates at full rated output power in both 600 VDC and 1000 VDC systems. This technology partnership increases the allowable amount of modules per string, reduces balance-of-system (BOS) costs and increases energy yield from every module.

KACO will showcase its new inverter offering at booth #8047 during Intersolar North America, taking place from July 9-11, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. The blueplanet 50 TL3 SM is the first of a series of "Smart Module Mode" inverters in to be released by KACO, featuring Ampt Mode™ to serve commercial and utility-scale solar projects.

"Recognizing the benefits of a distributed power architecture, we incorporated both a Standard and ‘Smart Module Mode' setting into the global platform of the 50 TL3 inverter," said Bill Reaugh, Sr. Director of Product Management at KACO new energy. "The Smart Module Mode setting deployed with Ampt DC/DC converters gives PV engineers the ability to optimize system designs to save up to 40 percent on inverter and cabling costs. The inverter operates at a higher efficiency, and maximum power is captured from each PV module to increase overall performance of the system," said Reaugh. "The combination of more energy at a lower cost gives our customers a significant economic advantage."

"As a top global supplier of PV inverters, KACO has an impressive track record of embracing innovation," said Levent Gun, CEO at Ampt. "Together, we deliver a unique value to customers. Pairing KACO DC/AC inverters with Ampt DC/DC converters puts in place a distributed power conversion architecture that represents a best-in-class PV plant design."

Both KACO new energy and Ampt are founding members of the HDPV Alliance, a commercially-focused network of companies working together to realize up to 50 percent improvement in PV system return on investment (ROI). HDPV, or High Definition PV, is the solar industry's standard for delivering more energy at a lower cost by utilizing higher resolution power optimization, information gathering and controls.

KACO's blueplanet Smart Module Mode inverters are compatible with HDPV Alliance standards. For more information on the HDPV Alliance please visit www.hdpv.org.
More information regarding KACO products is available at www.kaco-newenergy.com. For additional information about Ampt's products, please visit www.ampt.com.

About KACO new energy
KACO new energy is one of the world's largest manufacturers of grid-tie inverters for feeding solar energy. KACO offers a comprehensive range of inverters for PV systems for everything from single-family homes to multi-megawatt solar farms. The company has been producing inverters with a cumulative capacity of more than 6.8 gigawatts since 1999. Besides grid-tie and battery-based solar inverters, the company also supplies inverters for combined heat and power plants and concentrator modules as well as energy storage systems for solar power plants.

About Ampt
Ampt delivers innovative power conversion technology and communications capabilities that are changing the way PV systems are designed. The company, along with strategic partners, is lowering system cost, improving ROI, increasing energy generation and broadening the PV solar market. The result? Energy realized™.