We are excited to share some news from YouSolar since we closed our campaign in March. We have been busy building out features of the PowerBloc. YouSolar’s STEP is the micro-converter that enables the PowerBloc’s high-voltage direct current (DC) architecture. It steps up each solar panel’s potential to 380 V DC, the emerging DC standard already adapted by server farms and commercial LED lighting systems.

STEP has many advantages over AC micro-inverters, such as those offered by Enphase, including:

• Higher reliability
• Higher efficiency
• Simpler wiring
• DC output for batteries

Key benefits of YouSolar’s STEP DC-DC micro-converter.

We have always been able to send commands to the STEP  for rapid shutdown and throttling back output, but now STEP also provides panel-level energy production monitoring. It is a finishing touch, and we are happy to have it.

YouSolar’s EDISON energy management system can now compare STEP output data with predicted real-time solar energy production delivered by our global satellite-based solar irradiance forecast, SPOT. This allows the PowerBloc to:

• Detect underperforming solar panels;
• Predict daily and seasonal shading; and
• Recommend solar panel cleaning.

We continue to make the PowerBloc the “ultimate solar-battery” system. Stay tuned for more features coming in 2023.