History of the Technology

It's a simple idea, but hard to achieve. No one else has done it successfully before - except for us.  The concept of the AC modules dates back to the late 1990’s when this industry was fledgling. The GreenRay team has a long history of working together on solar panel technology, starting at Ascension Technology where they designed, manufactured, sold, and installed the world’s first AC Module, the SunSine™ from 1997 to 2002.  These were the first AC modules to market.

The First AC Module System
The first installation of the Ascension Technology SunSine AC Modules was in White Plains, NY on the roof the New York Power Authority's headquarters building in November 1997.  The system of 20 SunSine AC modules (~5 kW) is still operating today and has been operating continuously at this site in White Plains, NY for 11+ years.

See the New York Power Authority Profile on this System at:
http://www.nypa.gov/services/profiles/wposolar.htm

Demonstrating Flexibility
This first generation of the solar technology was also used in many innovative installations that need the flexibility of an AC Module.  Two of the best examples of this are the curved PV array on the grounds of the Pentagon's Heating and Refrigeration plant and the awning system on the Houston Health Science Center both installed in 2000. Many SunSine modules were also used as starter PV systems for homes.

What Happened?
The first generation SunSine AC Module was ahead of its time with an enthusiastic customer base.  While it demonstrated the concept of an AC Module, it was an expensive and bulky product that was not ready for the mass market.  Ascension Technology went through several acquisitions throughout this period.  In 2002, when Schott Solar acquired the product it was considered to be outside of the core PV Module product line and discontinued.

What's Next?
This prior experience designing, building and installing the original AC Modules has allowed us to bring you the next generation AC Module.  Our top notch design team has applied their combined 70+ years of solar industry experience to introduce a Solar Appliance to meet today’s needs founded on a portfolio of proprietary technology.