EdgeIQ is a globally-patented Voltage Regulation device. While Voltage Regulation has been used to reduce electricity costs for decades, traditional solutions use an inefficient process, known as ‘AC-DC-AC’ conversion, which is expensive and unsuitable for residential sites. EdgeIQ is the world’s first Voltage Regulation technology to reduce grid voltage at your home through an efficient and low-cost process, known as ‘AC-AC’ conversion. Read about Voltage Regulation

Unlike common ‘2 stage’ DC link Voltage Regulation technologies, EdgeIQ uses a single stage, AC-AC voltage conversion process. Firstly, EdgeIQ chops the input AC waveform up to 40,000 Hz, under the digital control of a sophisticated 200 Mhz Digital Signal Processor (DSP). It then processes the digitised AC waveform to the remotely configurable regulated output voltage (E.g. 225 VAC).

Yes, EdgeIQ is covered by a 5-year warranty.

EdgeIQ’s lifespan is 15 years.

EdgeIQ employs full communications (3G/4G/LAN) to provide granular power quality data to the Cloud, which is used for diagnostics, and summarised in the edgeConX app. Additionally, any alternative communications (E.g. Mesh) can be easily integrated.

EdgeIQ is fully bidirectional, meaning it can exchange reactive and real power between the grid and the load. Regardless of the input volatile grid voltage, the output voltage is accurately regulated to a set value and is remotely configurable.

While almost all existing solar inverters have no communications or visibility, EdgeIQ gathers granular data from the inverter which is summarised in the EdgeIQ Customer Portal. Direct communications for smart inverters will be introduced later this year.

EdgeIQ’s intelligent software and behavioural algorithms will monitor customers’ individual lifestyles and solar performance. As EdgeIQ better understands each customer over time, it will optimise voltage differently by day and season. This characteristic underpins the true value of EdgeIQ’s software, communications and data analytics.

EdgeIQ will not negatively impact a solar hot water system. As the electric booster element of a solar hot water system is a purely resistive load, it will not be impacted by reduced voltage, but will still work as intended when there is too much cloud cover for the hot water unit

Unlike EdgeIQ, Electricity Networks can only manage voltage at substation-level, which means they have a very small voltage adjustment range (between 3-5%). EdgeIQ manages voltage at site-level, meaning it has a larger voltage adjustment range (12%), which delivers greater savings for individual customers. Currently the only way to reduce voltage levels at customers’ homes is to request the network to make changes for the whole area. EdgeIQ gives customers and networks the ability to regulate voltage at a premise level in order to maximise solar export. Additionally, Electricity Networks have little or no visibility of their voltage management systems. Where it is available, it demonstrates that grid voltages are dangerously high due to legacy systems (e.g. the limited ability of tap changers) and the impact of solar penetration.

Solar inverter configuration for higher voltages, which is not applicable to the vast majority of installed and available inverters, does not provide the same range of benefits as site voltage regulation. In fact, almost the entire range of benefits from using EdgeIQ would not be available by using a re-configured inverter alone. These include real-time visibility of solar, energy and savings performance, as well as reduced electricity usage and appliance voltage protection. Finally, reconfiguring an inverter makes it non-compliant with AS4777. Networks have stated issued warnings that they will shut down non-compliant inverters when found.