Silicon Valley PV experts choose Exeter firm

Silicon Valley ‘smart module optimisation’ company Tigo is looking to become a key player in the UK solar PV market, and it’s chosen Exeter-based solar experts SunGift Trade to help boost its sales.

SunGift, based on Christow Road, Marsh Barton, Exeter, will hold stock of Tigo’s Dual Maximiser (a solar panel optimiser) and its Maximiser Management Unit (a wireless network communication tool).

These ‘add ons’ work with all solar panel brands and enable installers to create systems where each module works independently. This gives greater flexibility, enabling more energy to be produced and enhances safety and reliability.

“Tigo’s range is a is a real breakthrough,” said Scott Oldfield, Distribution Manager at SunGift Trade, “which we’ve been monitoring and testing on the test array at our HQ for some time. Tigo is a relatively new company to the UK, so it’s great news that they’ve chosen us to partner them, help raise their profile, and increase sales of their systems.”

SunGift Trade is the distribution arm of award-winning renewable energy installer SunGift Energy, which has been installing bespoke renewable energy systems for more than eight years. The company now uses its knowledge and relationships with some of the world’s leading renewable energy companies to distribute to and educate other installers in the Westcountry.

“A string of solar panels is only as good as the weakest panel in the string, which can underperform significantly if it is shaded or has dirt on it,” added Scott. “However, as the Tigo system allows modules to work independently, each one can work to its optimum capacity. This works perfectly for systems that either have shading in certain areas or that are split across multiple roofs. Normally systems on multiple roofs need multiple inverters, but with Tigo one correctly-sized inverter is enough.”

Christian Carraro, European sales representative from Tigo, said: “We are tremendously exited about this opportunity and looking forward to working with SunGift Trade. They will have a constant stock of our products and direct access to us for technical support, so we’re expecting to see increasing numbers of our solar module optimisers and management units being used by UK installers.”

In the next few months SunGift will also be hosting a training session in Exeter for installers run by one of Tigo’s technical experts.

For more information see www.sungifttrade.co.uk.