Hi- tech protection, solar energy

MALAYSIA receives abundant sunlight year round thanks to its geographic location near the Earth’s equator.

Recognising the potential of harnessing the sun’s rays as a significant source of energy, the Government has taken steps to develop the solar energy or photovoltaic ( PV) industry in the country.

These steps include establishing agencies that are focused on renewable energy as well as the introduction of the feed- in- tariff ( FiT) programme.

Experienced PV system provider

Established in 1999, Pekat Teknologi Sdn Bhd has carved a niche for itself as a competent solutions provider specialising in the design, supply, distribution and installation of lightning protection, earthing and surge protection technology.

The name Pekat ( perlindungan elektronik daripada kilat akibat transient) means protecting your electronic equipment from transient ( technical term for lightning surge).

The Pekat Group leads the market as the biggest lightning protection specialist and PV provider with its own innovative brand of PV surge protection devices that comply to international standards.

Its expansion into the fields of PV renewal energy technology led to the founding of Pekat Solar Sdn Bhd in 2010.

The first PV installer to receive ISO50001: 2011 accreditation in Malaysia, Pekat Solar is certified by the Sustainable Electricity Development Authority ( Seda) as a Grid- Connected Photovoltaic ( GCPV) system provider, complying with power requirements and guidelines set by national governing bodies.

Previously operating on B2B ( business- to- business) and B2G ( business- to- government) business models, Pekat Solar is now offering B2C ( business- toconsumer) services.

All PV products and systems are tested at Pekat Solar’s headquarters.

The company has worked on prestigious residential projects, including several phases of Setia Eco Park, Sunway Property projects such as Sunway SPK Harmoni, Sunway Montana, Sunway Rymba Hill and Sunway East Wood, as well as The Treez and The Leafz by Exsim Development.

Pekat Solar is currently commissioned to install solar PV system to 25 blocks of government buildings in Putrajaya, a project under the Government Lead by Example ( GLBE) programme.

The company has partnered with leading international PV component manufacturers, including Solar- Log, CSUN, BenQ, Darfon, Delta and Noark.

Pekat Solar is also the authorised service partner for Steca Elektronik GmbH of Germany, a company with more than 20 years of experience manufacturing the finest products in solar inverter technology.

Latest innovation

PV systems consist of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight to electricity and solar inverters that convert electrical power from direct current ( DC) to alternating

current ( AC).

Representing the latest trend in PV technology, people can now choose to install PV systems with AC micro inverters instead of conventional string inverters.

The key difference of the conventional PV system is that it connects all solar panels in a series before transferring all the generated DC energy into a bulky centralised inverter.

In the micro PV system, there are small inverters mounted underneath each solar panel.

“One of the biggest advantages of the new Darfon AC micro inverter is that it is much safer for both solar installers and system owners as it eliminates the need for high- voltage DC wiring,” says Wee Chek Aik, managing director of Pekat Solar Sdn Bhd and executive director of the Pekat Group of Companies.

“The conventional string system can generate currents up to 1,000V and this high DC voltage is potentially fatal if not handled by qualified PV service providers. In most cases, it is beyond the knowledge of homeowners who operate it,” says Wee.

Not many electricians are familiar with such high DC power in Malaysia but they would be familiar with 240V AC outputs Wee Chek Aik, managing director of Pekat Solar Sdn Bhd.

produced by the micro inverters.

In the case of a fire and when the inverter and grid power are cut off, conventional systems continue to generate high DC voltage, endangering the lives of rescuers. In a similar situation, PV systems with micro inverters only release a DC output of 40V.

Installing Darfon AC micro inverters optimises power generation from individual solar panels.

This means that even if one solar panel is covered by shade or dirt, it will not drag down the performance of the entire solar array.

“In conventional systems, the overall power output depends on the entire string of panels. If one panel is faulty or under some shade, the entire line is weakened,” says Wee.

Another advantage of installing the AC micro inverter PV system with Pekat Solar is that it allows the flexibility in terms of solar panel arrangement and future expansion.

The solar panels can be positioned across complex roof structures to receive the most sunlight and system owners do not need to rewire or deal with complicated cabling circuits if they decide to install additional solar panels in the future.

As the Darfon AC micro inverter is not exposed to high power and heat loads compared to central inverters, the product is also highly reliable and easy to maintain.

Wee believes that this plug and play Darfon AC micro inverter home solar system that comes handy with complete mounting kits can easily be DIY ( Do- ItYourself) in the near future, such as in Australia or European countries, if the Government implements net energy metering.

It will be the wave of the future for several reasons. These AC micro- inverters have taken some of the mystery out of solar installations such as termination of DC cables and made the installation nearly idiot- proof.

Quality service

In Malaysia, all PV installations must be carried out by qualified engineers who are certified by Seda.

“All our engineers undergo a stringent Grid- Connected Photovoltaic Systems Design Course set by Seda and our products are sourced from established companies.

“Darfon, for example, has acquired more than 1,300 patents worldwide and won eight international design awards in the past 15 years,” says Wee.

Believing in testing its products, Pekat Solar has installed the micro inverter PV system at its headquarters, which allows the engineers to understand the products and mitigate any problems that may arise before pushing the products into the market.

“We offer a one- stop solution for customers as we provide a comprehensive service from free consultation to on- call after- sales service and maintenance,” says Wee.

With a strong company history, partnership and impeccable service, Pekat Solar will continue to develop its in- house capabilities, experience and expertise to lead this niche industry.

For more information, call 03- 2300 8010 or visit www. pekat. com. my