Meralco, US firm offer solar storage systems

THE renewable energy arm of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has partnered with California-based supplier Enphase Energy, Inc. in distributing the latter’s micro inverter-based solar storage systems within the country, the US firm said on Monday.

MSpectrum, Inc. is set to distribute Enphase’s seventh-generation microinverters, including IQ 7, IQ 7+ , IQ 7A , and IQ 7X , to residential and commercial installers in the Philippines.

According to a press statement, Enphase microinverters are subjected to a rigorous reliability and quality testing regimen, and they can operate in hot, humid and coastal conditions.

“We are proud to provide Enphase Energy seventh-generation microinverters in the Philippines,” Robert Marlon T. Pereja, chief operating officer of MSpectrum, said in a statement.

“This next-generation technology will benefit solar customers through its high performance, flexibility, reliability, and most importantly, safety, due to the rapid shutdown device (RSD) built into Enphase microinverters,” he added.

For Enphase chief commercial officer Dave Ranhoff, the country’s solar market is promising for the residential and small commercial rooftop market segments.

“We believe Enphase’s unique value proposition of high-output performance and flexible installation, as well as a safe low voltage all-AC system architecture and rapid shutdown capability, resonates well in the Philippines solar market,” he said.

Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., that has interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Angelica Y. Yang