Fat Spaniel Partners with OutBack to Monitor Off-Grid Solar Energy Systems
Monitoring Services Manage Remote Battery-Based Photovoltaic Installation
San Jose, CA, December 4, 2007
Source: Fat Spaniel Technologies Inc press release
http://www.fatspaniel.com/news/press-OutBack-20071204.html
Fat Spaniel Technologies, Inc., the market leader in providing monitoring and reporting services for distributed renewable energy systems, today announced a service for managing solar inverter and battery systems from OutBack Power Systems, Inc., a global manufacturer of power electronics products. Fat Spaniel’s monitoring system now communicates directly with the OutBack hardware to deliver real-time and historical energy system data about charge status, output, faults and greenhouse gas avoidance. The integrated offering helps system installers and operators effectively monitor and maintain remote, off-grid solar installations as well as grid-tie battery backup systems.
“Support for OutBack’s energy systems expands Fat Spaniel’s battery backup and off-grid services to ensure that our installers and end-customers worldwide are able to effectively monitor and maintain even the most remote solar energy systems,” said Chris Beekhuis, president and CTO of Fat Spaniel Technologies. “The partnership also builds on Fat Spaniel’s strong service offering which already has made the company the leader in monitoring services in the North American solar electric market.”
Fat Spaniel’s integration with OutBack’s power components delivers:
* The full monitoring and reporting capabilities of Fat Spaniel’s Insight Manager™ multi-site management platform;
* Web-based display of information for end-users and installers alike;
* Support for up to three charge controllers and up to three inverters per system;
* Flexible communications options including reliable cell-modem or satellite communications to best meet off-grid system needs.
Fat Spaniel is currently monitoring OutBack systems at remote sites throughout North America. A recent installation was an eight kilowatt system on Guemes Island, one of approximately 450 small islands in the San Juan archipelago. The photovoltaic system provides primary and emergency power for the Guemes Island Fire Station. Only accessible by ferry, the system was installed and maintained by Solar Energy International which now uses Fat Spaniel’s service to reduce travel time and costs, optimize energy generation, and rapidly identify and respond to system faults.
“The grid-tied solar-electric system at the Guemes fire hall will generate local, renewable energy for the facility while providing back-up for critical loads during utility outages” said Ian Woofenden of Solar Energy International. “Fat Spaniel’s integration with OutBack will allow project supporters and community members to monitor the solar energy production of the system, and to be aware of system performance issues.”
About Fat Spaniel Technologies
Based in San Jose, Calif., Fat Spaniel Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of monitoring and reporting services for distributed, renewable energy systems – enabling more efficient diagnostics and maintenance, more compelling visualization, and more usable revenue-grade data for billing, REC trading and performance-based incentives. Fat Spaniel acts as an independent, third party monitoring service provider and delivers information that is used by system owners, system installers, PPA service providers, equipment manufacturers, project financing firms, renewable energy credit markets and energy utility regulatory agencies.
The company specializes in renewable energy systems including grid-tied solar electric, solar water heating, geothermal and wind. Fat Spaniel products are presently deployed in over 1000 locations across the United States and Canada as well as nine other countries. With our customers and partners, we share the vision of a world where renewable energy is the first and best energy source. For more information, see www.fatspaniel.com.