Xantrex Technology Inc., Burnaby BC, has launched its new solar grid tie inverter into the Spanish market at the recent International Energy and Environment Fair in Madrid.

The GT 3.0E was first introduced in North America last October. The manufacturer says the product's success here, as well as increasing interest in solar power in Europe, prompted it to accelerate international expansion in countries such as Spain where it has already installed more than 100MW of renewable energy inverters.

“Xantrex is well-positioned to build on its off-grid inverter success in Europe and be part of the European market’s tremendous growth in the solar grid-tie market,” Lloyd Gomm, Xantrex Director of Marketing, Renewable Power Market, says. “The GT 3.0E Grid Tie Solar Inverter has a peak efficiency of 94.7% and offers excellent energy harvest."

"In addition, the GT 3.0 has excellent thermal performance and is well-suited for Spain’s hot ambient temperatures, allowing owners to maximize their photovoltaic (PV) investment,” he adds.

Xantrex has a broad service network in Spain, offering a telephone hotline service and a two-day replacement service for the GT 3.0E. The product is backed by a five-year warranty and available through local partners.

"With the arrival of additional solar grid-tie manufacturers, such as Xantrex, we see the quality, reliability and thermal efficiency improving and the product offerings becoming more competitive, which will further drive the demand in Europe," Peter Schiele, Xantrex Sales Manager, Europe & Africa, says. “The GT 3.0E is a perfect solution. It offers a wider input voltage range, thermal performance and first-rate service, all which help us meet our costumers’ needs.”

Using optimized maximum power point tracking (MPPT), the unit maximizes the energy output of PV modules. It outperforms other inverters on the market and continues to operate at maximum power point in a wide range of conditions, including high-temperature environments, Xantrex says.

It has been checked out extensively using highly accelerated life test methods to detect and address potential product design issues. It has been exposed to extreme thermal and mechanical conditions that go beyond conventional testing methods typically used by inverter manufacturers, Xantrex says.

Light enough to be lifted by one person without assistance, it has a convenient mounting plate that makes installation easy. The unit fulfills all European requirements including CE and RD 1663/2000 in Spain.