Princeton Power Builds Integrated Solar Pumping Power Converter; AC-link Technology Offers Significant Cost and Efficiency Benefits for Solar Engineering and Water Management

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 2005--Princeton Power Systems, developer of AC-link(TM) technology for advanced electrical power conversion and conditioning, has delivered a prototype power converter that has been integrated into the solar pumps at a leading international solar engineering and water management company. The power converter uses Princeton Power's patented AC-Link technology to convert solar power into usable regulated electricity, which is then used to power a large water pump. This is particularly useful in agricultural applications, which consume a great deal of electricity and require reliable water movement.

"We built an integrated unit that could efficiently and reliably maximize the amount of power drawn from the solar panels, and complement it with power from the utility grid whenever necessary," explained Darren Hammell, president and CEO of Princeton Power Systems. "Princeton Power's AC-link performs 'Max Power Tracking' to make the solar panels operate as efficiently as possible, which lowers costs by 30%."

“We built an integrated unit that could efficiently and reliably maximize the amount of power drawn from the solar panels, and complement it with power from the utility grid whenever necessary”

The work that Princeton Power has performed is the final deliverable of a subcontract from WorldWater & Power Corp., a prime contractor to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities under its Renewable Energy and Economic Development (REED) program. The REED grant has been used to develop power electronics for controlling interaction between the electric grid, solar power, and an electric motor. The REED program provides funding that is focused on growing the renewable energy industry in New Jersey and to make New Jersey the new "Silicon Valley" for renewable energy economic development.

About Princeton Power Systems

Princeton Power Systems is developing advanced power conversion technologies, including AC-link(TM), a patented control method that provides a more reliable and cost-effective means for converting electric power cleanly and efficiently. This technology can be used in the industrial motor control, renewable electricity and distributed power generation markets, and will reduce industrial energy consumption, lower peak electric usage, and provide clean, renewable energy sources at a much lower cost than existing power conversion technologies.

Princeton Power's core products include motor controllers, wind turbine converters, and grid-tied inverters. AC-link uses simpler, more reliable components and incorporates advanced algorithms for controlling various aspects of the electric power, which allows the use of less complex, less expensive hardware to achieve precision power control. This makes AC-link devices rugged, reliable and cost-effective, and yields high-quality power waveforms.