The SunSpec Alliance reported that six additional SunSpec members have announced products and services supporting the SunSpec Communication Signal for Rapid Shutdown standard, bringing the size of the SunSpec Rapid Shutdown ecosystem to 12 companies.

SunSpec Rapid Shutdown ecosystem participants include balance-of-system suppliers with stand-alone PV module-level initiators and transmitter products (APsystems, JMTHY, Midnite Solar, Stäubli and ZERUN); inverter manufacturers with integrated transmitters (Fronius, Ginlong and SMA); semiconductor companies (Texas Instruments) and SunSpec Authorized Testing Laboratories (CSA, Intertek and UL).

“With the addition of these influential companies, the SunSpec Rapid Shutdown ecosystem is stronger than ever and has increased capacity to promote safety and standardization across the distributed energy landscape,” said Tom Tansy, chairperson of the SunSpec Alliance. “As more solutions come to market to help integrators comply with rapid shutdown requirements, these leaders are ensuring safe deployment of solar and storage systems in the U.S.”

Since it launched the SunSpec Communication Signal for Rapid Shutdown standard, the SunSpec Alliance has continued to hone and simplify the SunSpec Certification process and interoperability program. Important advancements include harmonizing test requirements with the UL 1741 standard and mobilizing a co-operative marketing and educational program to raise the visibility and awareness of SunSpec Rapid Shutdown solutions. SunSpec has also recently enhanced its local support capabilities for manufacturing partners in Asia.

With this ecosystem expansion, solar professionals have more choices and a wider range of cost-effective, standardized solutions to comply with rapid shutdown requirements. A total of nine product lines from six manufacturers have achieved SunSpec Certified status, adding to a list of 79 products from 56 companies that have achieved SunSpec Certified status so far.

“The SunSpec Rapid Shutdown standard provides a communication platform for PV system module level rapid shutdown devices (MLRSD). APsystems develops MLRSD and transmitters certified to the SunSpec standard,” said Yuhao Luo, CTO of APsystems. “The products allow seamless integration and high reliability in solar systems with many inverters. This provides designers and installers the flexibility to optimize the system cost and performance. Since the standard unifies MLRSD communication and simplifies our design, APsystems can focus on optimizing product design and manufacturing to drive down the cost. The standard brings great value to the solar industry in safety, cost and performance.”

“By using a SunSpec certified rapid shutdown device, SMA and our partners benefit from a best-in-class shutdown solution,” said Brad Dore, director of marketing for SMA America. “Solar integrators can meet code, expedite installation, reduce component count for improved reliability, and eliminate risk associated with proprietary single-sourced alternatives. SunSpec has been a game-changer for SMA and our installers.”

News item from the SunSpec Alliance