The power electronics firm offers its new converter as an OEM solution for builders of "smart battery" solutions.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pika Energy will offer bidirectional smart battery converters to enable breakthrough integrated solar and energy storage solutions, the company announced Tuesday at the Intersolar North America conference in San Francisco.

A leading provider of smart power electronics for solar-plus-storage, Maine-based Pika Energy said its new B Link battery converter opens up a new segment of the energy storage market by enabling solar equipment suppliers and installers to connect currently-available battery technology to next-generation inverters.

B Link is on display at Pika Energy's booth (#8125) at the EES Pavilion at Intersolar North America.

"We're pleased to announce B Link, our latest product to take full advantage of the simplicity and flexibility of Pika Energy's power electronics platform," said Pika Energy President Ben Polito. "Until now, broad adoption of solar-plus-storage has awaited mature battery solutions with the right mix of features, form factor and pricing. With B Link, virtually any conventional battery technology ranging from lead acid to lithium ion can be used to make a highly efficient, compact smart battery ideal for load shifting, demand response and backup power applications."

The B Link features 30-amp charging, bidirectional power flow and a peak power capacity of 8000W. The converter is designed to connect high voltage battery stacks to REbus™, Pika Energy's patented plug-and-play 380VDC nanogrid.

"Our B Link converter does for batteries what our PV Link™ optimizer does for solar modules, allowing safe, fast, flexible integration of a large assortment of widely-available technology options," said Pika Chief Technology Officer Joshua Kaufman.

With a compact size (16.5" x 6.5" x 3.7", 13.05 lbs) and high efficiency and peak power, B Link has already begun attracting OEM partners who will use B Link to assemble smart batteries, energy storage systems, or, in the case of Ontario-based Sentinel Solar, both. Sentinel Solar selected B Link after determining it is the optimal solution for building cost-effective, small form factor and flexible systems that can turn a range of conventional battery options into a "smart battery" solution.

"With the large range of battery technologies emerging in the market place, we felt it was very important to partner with Pika Energy as their focus aligned with ours," said Sentinel Solar President Adam Webb. "With our smart battery approach, we are solving the integration of a wide range of new batteries into both existing and new system installations, which will enable past and future projects to be built with a platform that will save installers valuable time without compromising on system quality."

Pika Energy says B Link will begin shipping to its partners in Q1 2017.