Simplified System Uses SunSpec Communication Signal for Cost-Effective Compliance with NEC 2017

Today SMA and Tigo have announced a new rapid shutdown solution for the commercial market, which will be available in the second half of 2018. The solution will use proven technology from SMA and Tigo to provide rapid shutdown only, creating a reliable, economical product that focuses on key functions to enable NEC compliance.

"Since we introduced the Power+ Solution, we have received feedback from installers who are looking for a more cost-optimized way to achieve rapid shutdown in commercial installations," said Nick Morbach, executive vice president of SMAs Residential and Commercial Business Unit. "This new offering gives our commercial customers an SMA branded option to comply with the NEC 2017 rapid shutdown requirement, and gives them the specific functionality they need."

The new rapid shutdown solution will fulfill UL 1741, NEC 2014 and NEC 2017 requirements - particularly the stricter module-level shutdown requirements that will be effective in January 2019. It will be compatible with the power line-based SunSpec Communication Signal for Rapid Shutdown, making it simple and robust. Using the existing DC wires between the inverter and module-level electronics as a communication channel will drastically reduce installation time. Mechanically, it will be compatible with Tigos existing TS4 platform.

The product will offer outstanding system safety thanks to full integration with SMAs world-leading AFCI function. It joins SMAs portfolio of products that comply with rapid shutdown requirements, including the Power+ Solution and the Rapid Shutdown System.

"We are pleased to work with SMA to develop an option that meets the needs of commercial installers," said Zvi Alon, CEO of Tigo Energy. "The rapid shutdown solution will be compatible with a variety of modules, and we anticipate that commercial integrators will widely adopt the module-integrated platform."

About SMA
The SMA Group with sales of around €1 billion in 2016 is the global market leader for solar inverters, a key component of all PV plants. SMA offers a wide range of products and solutions that allow for high energy yields for residential and commercial PV systems and large-scale PV power plants. To increase PV self-consumption efficiently, SMA system technology can easily be combined with different battery technologies. Intelligent energy management solutions, comprehensive services and operational management of PV power plants round off SMAs range. The company is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, is represented in 20 countries and has more than 3,000 employees worldwide, including 500 working in Development. SMAs multi-award-winning technology is protected by approximately 900 patents and utility models. Since 2008, the Groups parent company, SMA Solar Technology AG, has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and is currently the only company in the solar industry that is listed in the TecDAX index.