SOLAX UNVEILED NEW X1-MINI G4 RESIDENTIAL STRING INVERTER

In January, SolaX unveiledits newest single-phase residential on-grid inverter, X1-MINI G4 (0.6-3.3kW).This incredibly light product has an efficiency of 98% (96-97% for the European version), weighs only 5.2 kg and measures 297 x 206 x 120mm (width, height, depth) — smaller than an A4 paper sheet.

As one of the world’s well-known manufacturers in the photovoltaic industry, SolaX Power continues to break through technological barriers and innovatively launch new products. The most updated X1-MINI G4, which was released on Jan.9, is available in eight versions with power output ranging from 0.6kW to 3.3kW.This newproductimproves upon the previous generation, providing a number of fantastic features to truly meet customer needs.Itrepresents another significant stride forward for SolaX’s PV technology. Compared with the former generation, X1-MINI G4 is smaller and lighter. Its compact design makes it easy to handle with only one hand, and installation becomes simpler.

Besides, X1-MINI G4 comes with a refreshed look, while the machine is still white, the functional panels have been more stylish and neat. Despite being even smaller, X1MINI G4 delivers better performance.It has an efficiency of 98% (96-97% for the European version),a maximum MPPT input current of 16A, a MPP voltage range of 40550V (for 2.5kW, 3kW and 3.3kW) and supports 200% oversized DC input. It also features a built-in global MPP scan function for higher yield efficiency.The low starting voltage of 50 V ensures that X1-MINI G4 can generate electricity for a longer time, bringing more profit to customers.

In today’s market, product intelligence emerges as a vital trend and a key factor influencing the user experience. With SolaX Cloud, X1-MINI G4 can easily achieve remote maintenance updates and 24-hour monitoring of solar power generation, system data, load consumption, and other data at a glance. With 10s level interval of data update, customers can track the performance of the product and pinpoint the period of abnormal data more precisely.

In order to improve the user experience and further achieve smart living, X1-MINI G4 supports Modbus for the extendable parallel solutionas well as DataHub for mass management and extension solution.Additionally, X1-MINI G4 is compatible with a heat pump system and a home EV charger, and it also supports microgrids with energy storage inverters, ensuring that customers’ electricity supply demands and safety can still be guaranteed even if the external power grid fails.

X1-MINI G4 has also seen an upgrade in reliability to guarantee the safety of customers. It supports a built-in export control function, I-V curve diagnosis, AC/DC built-in Type II SPD (optional), optional ARC detection (AFCI), external Rapid Shutdown Device (RSD) and other safety detection and emergency protection functions to guarantee overall protection during operation.With a high IP66 Ingress Protection rating, X1-MINI G4 can operate reliably in most harsh conditions, including temperatures ranging from -25 ~ 60 °C or altitudes up to 4000 meters.

Founded in 2012, SolaX has always been committed to the R&D, production, and sales of PV systems and solutions, including on-grid inverters, energy storage inverters (with their accessories), batteries, and EV chargers.With branches in 6 countries, SolaX has around 2,500 global employees and sells products to more than 80 countries. Additionally,SolaX has been named the top brand ofPV inverter in many countries by EuPD Research, a famous research institute in the energy markets.To achieve a clean, sustainable future powered by renewable energy, SolaX Power keeps researching solar inverter technology and has been able to produce some of the most efficient solar inverters on the market today, enabling customers to harness more free, clean energy from the sun.

Being perhaps the smallest in its power range on the current market, X1-MINI G4 offers superior performance, which makes it outstanding. It features the most advanced technology of SolaX Power, representing that SolaX is moving forward steadily to improved efficiency, enhanced intelligence, in-depth compatibility, and strengthened safety. As a compact residential single-phase on-grid inverter, X1MINI G4 will provide clients with a more satisfying experience. RecentlySolaX also introduced X1-BOOST G4, which has an impressive performance as well. With nominal power ratings of 2.5 kW to 6 kW,X1-BOOST G4 is designed for residential applications and can reachesa maximum efficiency of 98% (97% for the European version).

MR. AMIT AROKAR Managing Director, ECE

India Energies

Icome from a middle class family. My father used to work in a bank. He was fond of collecting different types of electronics, electrical items and my inquisitive nature was itching to find out what was hidden inside those objects. My father encouraged this curiosity of mine. I think, the seeds of becoming an entrepreneur must have been planted in the mind since then. While studying engineering in Amravati I started a business of selling batteries and inverters. I would take advance amount from the customer and buy inverter from it. The business model was to buy batteries on credit from the seller and install them at the customer's house itself. Then the crisis of load regulation began to increase. Subsequently, business started to improve, money started coming in hand. But my father told me, “Don't look at the net profit, think about how your work will beneficial for people”. After getting money in hand, one should be able to recognize the difference between what is good and what is bad, these were his Sanskar. I was a student of computer science. After completing my engineering education, I received a well-paying offer letter from a renowned company, Infosys. However, we were determined to build an industry. As the demand for conventional energy is increasing in the country, non-conventional energy will soon become important alternative in the future. This urgency of the future was recognized. After completing my post-graduation in engineering, instead of going to Pune, Mumbai and getting a job, I thought of setting up my own business in my native land. For this, my friends Sameer Kale, Shrikant Tikhile, Aniket Tondare, Suraj Gawande tagged along. Dr. V. T. Ingole also guided us for our project.

Construction of Solar Energy Panel Manufacturing Plant was undertaken in 2018. The first solar energy signal light (solar blinker) for road safety was hence created. Seeing the quality of these signal lights, IRB awarded the contract to ECE India Company to manufacture the lights under their jurisdiction. The company then decided to manufacture the panels required for solar power generation. Due to the COVID-9 crisis, this project could not be started then. Production had to be resumed from July 2021 after the second layoff. The project has since then produced more than 50 MW of solar panels. There are 350 such companies across the country and 4 in the state. Interestingly, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under the Union Government has certified the ECE company and placed it in the 'ALMM' list of ten reputed companies in the country. So now the company is getting an opportunity to work across the country. It is resolved to generate 100 MW of energy per year. However, building this project was not easy. We had the will, the skills, the knowledge, the experience but, there was no capital. In 2018, we occupied space in the industrial estate of Amravati. The project was supposed to cost 8 crore rupees, but the capital raised by the 5 of us was not even 1 crore rupees. Then, we appealed to all our old customers, well-wishers, that we are setting up such a project and we need Rs.1 crore. Once we receive the loan, we will return your amount with interest. I am happy to say that only through this appeal, Rs. 1.5 Crores were collected in four days. Our confidence grew from there. At that time there was not a single industry manufacturing solar energy panels within a radius of five hundred kilometers in central India. There was no Marathi entrepreneur in such an industry. Those who were established entrepreneurs, had created the industry as an alternative business. We are proud to say that we are the first marathi solar energy panel manufacturers in the world. My friends who are company directors also belong to a middle class family like me.

So, we decided to take a loan from the bank to build this project. We reached out to the banks. Our propeties had to be mortgaged for the loan in the bank. The cost of the house for 5 of us was not more than 3 crore rupees. A problem arose again. No bank was ready to lend money in such a condition. But, Akola Urban Bank lend us a helping hand. Along with us directors, 3 of our fellow employees in the company had also mortgaged their houses. Even the bank directors realised that the employees were willing to mortgage their houses for this project. Finally, we got a loan of Rs. 8 crore for this project. Construction started in March 2019. The bank gave us 18 months for the construction of the project, but we stubbornly completed the work before that. The bank was also quite surprised with this.

The machinery was set up in August and actual production began in December. Solar panels require Bureau of Indian Standards approval. Without this approval this product cannot be sold in the market. This entire process requires 90 to 120 days. At that time there were only three laboratories approved by the Central Government in India. The product, shipped in December, received the Certificate of Competence in March 2020. But due to the COVID-19 crisis, layoffs came into force in this month. Since January, we had developed a product worth around two and a half crore rupees. We were going to sell it when the certificate came in March, but it all came to a standstill due to the pandemic.

After a month we tried to start everything, but it was also a difficult time. Many employees had gone back to their hometowns and it was not easy to bring them back. Then our colleagues called and persuaded the families of these employees and these employees returned. In June-July, the project work resumed. In one and a half years, the network of the project expanded to twenty states in India.

2500 solar panel businesses matched with our project. Our project has also won many awards. Percentage of marathi people is less in an industry sector. Our willpower was strong and that helped us overcome the difficulties. As a child, I had seen and handled the 'emergency lamp' brought home by my father. But I never imagined then that these lights would illuminate the path of many people throughout the industry. 350 people got employment in our company. The percentage of female employees is higher in the company. This industry has provided direct and indirect employment to around 2200 people. We have adopted a policy of giving preference to locals in the company. 99 percent of the employees here are locals.

With the feeling that we owe something to the society, we implement various social activities. We gift products produced by the Orphan-handicapped organization to the dignitaries who visit our project. These organizations get help through our initiatives. Many appreciate this concept. We also buy products from the entire Bamboo Center in Melghat.

Our company is working to provide all the necessary guidance to the local youth who want to create their own independent existence by setting up their business. It is expected that Marathi youth should start their own industry and provide employment to others without looking for a job. Everyone needs to contribute to make the country self-sufficient, the dream of a self-sufficient India can be realized only if local products are given importance.