Inverters are an integral part of any solar power system and convert the module-generated direct current electricity into grid-compatible alternating current. The assembly facility has a production capacity of up to 250 Megawatts per year and the first Fronius IG Plus V inverters rolled off the assembly line on March 28, 2011.
This event marks six months of production and is a celebration not only of the growth, but the tenacity and resilience of the solar industry, said Romuald Gouré, Managing Director of Fronius Canada. Public and developer interest in the feed-in tariff program has surpassed all expectations, and some constraints are developing, slowing down the rate of installations.
A continued decline in demand for Ontario-made components could permanently stunt job growth in the industry. Solar PV manufacturing, including inverter, module and racking manufacturing, will contribute a minimum of 14 percent of all new solar PV jobs created in the province. However, a recent report by consulting firm ClearSky Advisors found that this number could triple, from 14 to 42 percent, only if manufacturers continue to sell and export their products.
Solar has been in Ontario long before the feed-in tariff (FIT) and the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP), and we believe it is here to stay. Many of the distributors and installers we work with are veterans and have been in this business for 10 or 20 years. That is the message we want to send: that Fronius and our partners are committed to building quality products and clean energy jobs in Ontario over the long term, added Gouré.
