MPPC Technology is a privately held company which enables photovoltaic power systems to reliably deliver maximum power at the lowest cost. Company name (MPPC) means Maximum Power Point Control, a patented concept invented by Antoine Capel. Maximum Power Point Control (MPPC) is the exact calculation of the Maximum Power Point (MPP) coordinates (voltage and current and therefore power).
Technology innovation from MPPC is based on 5 keys to maximum power :
- 100 % MPP Control
MPPC does not track available power. When the PV power system starts up, the MPPC process calculates the Maximum Power Point (MPP) coordinates and stores them in the microprocessor’s memory. MPPC maintains 100% MPP control for the system regardless of the number of PV strings. The system power output is always at MPP.
- Dynamic Performance Management
The MPPC micro-processor monitors the whole solar array. The system’s performance is communicated in real-time to the power plant operator via a performance dashboard. MPPC process :
- Maintains the system at MPP in dynamic lighting conditions such as clouds, sunrise/sunset, dust, snow, shading. The MPPC process ptimizes the MPP when a PV array has multiple lighting conditions (100%sun, partial lighting, and 100% shade), or multiple MPPs. MPPT systems can be blocked at a less than optimal MPP. MPPC identifies all MPPs and instructs the system to work at the MPP providing maximum power output.
- Monitors in real-time to see if all panels are functioning. If a panel’s performance is not performing due to an incident (theft, failure,…), an automatic alert is sent to the plant operator or maintenance team.
- Automatic PV system reconfiguration
When a panel is lost or performing poorly it is immediately identified and an alert is generated to the management control tower for action or repair. Also, the malfunctioning panel is taken into account automatically by the MPPC process. The panel or series of panels needing repair are automatically disconnected from the inverter to avoid short circuiting and power loss. The remaining “healthy” panels continue to contribution power at MPP voltage until the repair is completed and the panel plugged back into the string.
- Efficient power regulator
MPPC uses extremely efficient power regulators developed by the space industry. The shunt power regulator uses less that 1% of power so, the power transferred from the PV array to the inverter is nearly100%.Also, the MPPC process provides the inverter with a constant voltage, this enables the inverter to optimize its’ efficiency when transferring power to the grid.
- Fail Proof design
The MPPC power regulator has reliability built-in. For the past 30 years, satellites have flown with the same power regulator as MPPC. Over the past 30 years, our power regulator has millions of hours of “flight” without failure because of two features: redundancy and rechanneling. Redundancy – If one of our “power channels” components should fail, MPPC has a redundant component built-in that replaces it . Also, if one of the power channels fails, the system transfers the power to the other channels and sends an alert to the system operator. MPPC power regulation systems last 25-30 years.
Company technology’s product work on any type of PV power system :
- On-grid or Off Grid
- Utility, commercial, residential
- kilowatts to megawatt
The company is in the incubation phase and just joined the midi pyrennées incubator. MPPC is managed by Antoine Capel who received the Ph.D. degree from the University of Toulouse, France. After teaching at Toulouse and at the University of Pernambouc in Brazil, he joined the European Space Agency as a power system engineer. In 1983 he joined Alcatel Espace in Toulouse, France, where he was first manager of the Power Supply Laboratory and after head of the Power System Simulation division. The company is also managed by Pete Pierce who has more than 12 years of hands-on experience in developing high-growth sales strategies and deploying marketing solutions in an global business environment. Pete has a proven management record in rapid business growth, innovative thinking, and transformation of marketing organizations.
Source : MPPC Technology & Linkedin
October 2nd, 2009 at 9 h 30 min
Very interesting technology !
October 5th, 2009 at 10 h 21 min
I would be pleased to learn more about MPPC…
November 4th, 2009 at 9 h 23 min
the cost of Solar Cells for Solar Energy utilization has been decreasing over the past years. pretty soon, solar energy would be a more viable alternative than fossil fuels,-
November 16th, 2009 at 12 h 24 min
Make solar panels…
Very interesting information. On the other hand, solar thermal collectors use energy from sunlight to heat water and other fluids, like oil. They typically use plastic tubing, hoses or coils in the panel. The liquid runs through the coils and is heated…
March 10th, 2010 at 21 h 31 min
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