National Semiconductor and Shoals Technologies Collaborate on Smart Panel Product Lines
INTERSOLAR EUROPE, MUNICH, Germany - June 9, 2010 - National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM) and Shoals Technologies Group, providers of energy solutions that create and maintain clean and sustainable energy, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to implement National Semiconductor’s SolarMagic™ power optimization technology into Shoals’ upcoming product offerings.
National’s SolarMagic suite of products are intelligent power electronics that maximize energy output capture at either the panel or string level. Coupling this technology with Shoals’ offerings—which include junction boxes, combiner boxes, “plug-and-play” harness solutions, photovoltaic monitoring systems, and racking—provides system integrators a complete smart panel solution that cost-effectively optimizes solar energy system performance.
“Balance of system solutions like SolarMagic are essential to driving the solar market forward—as the market evolves, customer demand increases for smart electronics products that maximize power production at the lowest cost,” said Mike Polacek, Senior Vice President, National Semiconductor. “By collaborating with Shoals Technologies, a global leader in balance of system components, National Semiconductor is further improving the cost-effectiveness of solar power optimization and facilitating a quicker return on investment for array owners.”
“We are excited to collaborate with a power management pioneer like National Semiconductor to incorporate SolarMagic technology into our industry-leading products,” said Dean Solon, President & CEO, Shoals Technologies Group. “With this strategic relationship in place, we are able to develop and introduce to the market the next generation of smart solar electronics that will shape the direction of the industry.”
Introduced in 2009, SolarMagic enables each solar panel to produce the maximum energy regardless of whether other panels in the array are under-performing due to mismatch. SolarMagic technology monitors and maximizes the energy harvest of each individual PV panel through a combination of advanced algorithms and leading-edge mixed-signal technology. In worldwide tests, SolarMagic power optimizers were shown to recoup an average of 50 percent of lost energy, and in some cases captured as much as 71 percent of otherwise lost energy.
About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor is a leader in analog power management technology. Its products include easy-to-use integrated circuits, PowerWise products that enable more energy-efficient systems, and SolarMagic products which improve the energy output of solar arrays. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary last May. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., National reported sales of $1.46 billion for fiscal 2009. Additional information is available at www.national.com. Visit National Semiconductor at Intersolar Europe in hall B5, booth #429.
About Shoals Technologies Group
Shoals Technologies Group is a leading manufacturer of balance of systems solutions. Through innovation and diversification Shoals has grown exponentially since its founding in 1996. Shoals maintains a diverse portfolio of PV balance of systems products, including, combiner/re-combiner boxes, disconnecting combiner boxes, custom harnessing solutions, junction boxes, PV wire, in-line fuses, racking and PV monitoring solutions. Visit Shoals Technologies Group at Intersolar Europe in hall A3, booth #201.