JLM Energy’s ‘micro’ system connects directly to PV panels

JLM's Phazr. Image: JLM Energy.
System provider JLM Energy has launched the first in a suite of energy storage products that connects battery storage directly to solar panels.

The California-headquartered company makes a range of energy products and offers services aimed at residential, commercial and utility customers ranging from solar panel system design to thermostat technologies, as well as battery-based energy storage systems with integrated management and control systems.

Its newest line, MicroStorage, couples a battery directly to a corresponding solar panel. It means power from the solar PV can charge the batteries or be fed into the grid. It can also do both simultaneously, JLM Energy claims. Additionally, as solar generation tails off in the late afternoon or evening, the battery discharges, while the system supplies power directly to the building it is connected to.

JLM Energy claims that Phazr, the first product launched in the range which nestles behind a solar panel, can be used in everything from residential to utility-scale applications. The company says it makes for “virtually cost free” installation. The briefcase-sized product weighs about 7kg, uses lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, operates at a voltage of 20-40V and comes with a 20-year warranty. Additionally, as the battery charges directly from solar PV alone, it qualifies for the full 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) from the US government.