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Taylor, based in the Netherlands, is a spin-off company from Eindhoven University of Technology that has raised €8 million ($8.6 million) to expand sales of its cell chain optimizers, which the company says , improve the performance and safety of rooftop photovoltaic systems. Taylor, a spin-out of Eindhoven University of Technology and developer of cell chain optimizers (CSOs), communications gateways and inverter technologies, has raised €8 million ($8.6 million ) to finance its international expansion. “Contracts have already been signed in Belgium and France. Next is the expansion to Germany,” Michiel Roelofs, CEO of Taylor, told pv magazine . “To enter a new market, there are no real changes to the product. But it is very important for us to collaborate with the right distribution partners and our local teams to offer the best service to our customers.” The new investor, the Dutch pension fund ABP, provided capital together with the existing Rubio Impact Ventures, a venture capital investor, and the Brabant Development Agency (BOM). Taylor products were developed to address photovoltaic performance degradation resulting from shading, microcracks or dirt. Its CSO is often demanded in rooftop applications, where space is limited and there are potentially more obstacles to creating shadows. “This type of customer wants maximum power per square meter. This is where it has the most value,” explains Roelofs. Each CSO can communicate with an integrated app that offers monitoring, management and data access functions. The CSO reportedly optimizes current six times per panel. “There have been similar optimization technologies, but without the monitoring and security functions the technology does not have the same value,” Roelofs said, adding that implementation “requires strong collaboration between manufacturing partners to design and produce” the modules. Currently, Taylor CSO technology is integrated into modules manufactured by Sonnex Energie, a German module manufacturer. Specifically, it is available in the Sonnex 405-410 W Full Black and in the new tunnel oxide passivated contact line (TOPCon), known as the Sonnex Topcon 430-440 W Full Black. The latter has a 20-year product warranty, a 30-year power warranty, and a 25-year optimizer warranty. Taylor CSO technology is compatible with inverters from Goodwe, FoxEss and Solis. “We are working to launch more models and brands of inverters. The most important thing for us is to thoroughly test the compatibility of the inverters to make sure everything works as expected,” said Roelofs. |
