Maxout News and Milestones
October 2023
Maxout has been named a finalist in the DHS Clean Power for Hours Challenge.
August 2023
Maxout’s Virtual Synchronous Condenser technology featured in North American Clean Energy, Magazine
June 2023
Maxout will be participating in the RE Plus / SPI Solar Power International Exhibit in Las Vegas, September 11–14, 2023, booth 18023.
September 2022
Maxout will be participating in the RE Plus / SPI Solar Power International Exhibit, September 19-22, 2022, booth 3264.
Dr. Eric Cummings will be giving a talk entitled, “Evergrid: The Right Solution When the Grid is Down” as part of the RE+ 2022 Startup Showcase, Wed. Sept 21, 12:30-12:45pm in the Showcase Lounge, Booth #2131. More details on the event can be found here.
April 2022
Maxout will be exhibiting at Ignite 2022, May 4-5, Live at AltSea at the port of Los Angeles, CA. Click here for more details on the event.
September 2021
Maxout’s Kirsten Pace was recently named one of 40 “founders to watch in 2021.” The article details thirty “inspiring moonshots from women entrepreneurs who are designing for a climate-positive future.” Read about these clean energy leaders here. Pace was also profiled as one of 4 female founders of clean energy startups which were boosted by CalSEED grants. Read the article here.
September 2021
Maxout will be participating in the SPI Solar Power International Exhibit, booth 6320, as part of the North America Smart Energy Week. PLEASE NOTE due to complications from hurricane Ida this event has been cancelled. More details on the event here.
Febuary 2021
Maxout’s Eric Cummings was featured in the Winter 2021 edition of Solar Builder, discussing the benefits and novel design of the Evergrid solar backup system. Read the full interview in Solar Builder Magazine.
January 2021
Maxout’s Eric Cummings was featured in E&E News, discussing the development of the Evergrid solar backup system. E&E News reports on energy and environment issues for professionals. Read the full article at eenews.net.
December 2020
Maxout Renewables has been named one of two winners in the Department of Energy’s American-Made Solar (AMS) Prize. During the competition Maxout developed the Evergrid, a cost-effective system that keeps power flowing from a residential solar installation during a grid outage.
“In a power outage, a residential solar power system will stop functioning— just when it is most needed,” said Eric Cummings, Maxout founder and inventor of the Evergrid technology. “Battery backup units will keep the power on, but their cost is prohibitively expensive for most homeowners. We are developing the Evergrid to keep daily life functioning, regardless of grid conditions, at a price that the vast majority of homeowners can afford.”
Maxout has been developing the Evergrid in part with funding from the first two phases of the American-Made Solar Prize challenge. “With support from the AMS and its network we have been able to take the Evergrid from concept to prototype in under twelve months. We are very focused on bringing the product to market within the next year.”
The two winning companies announced today were Maxout and Wattch, an Atlanta-based company that has developed an inexpensive solution for monitoring solar array components. Both teams earned a $500,000 cash prize plus program vouchers for use at national laboratories and connector facilities.
November 2020
Maxout’s Evergrid is making the news this month. Read, “Maxout Tackles Solar Power Backup Challenges” in Solar Power World and, “Cool concept: Evergrid keeps solar PV systems up when the grid goes down” in Solar Builder Magazine.
November 2020
Maxout Renewables is announcing a Pilot Test program for the Evergrid, an affordable solution to keep solar power flowing during a grid outage. The Evergrid provides voltage stabilization, load balancing, and enough surge power capacity to maintain daytime, whole-house power, at a very affordable price. Installers interested in pilot testing the Evergrid, or in becoming a distributor, can email info@maxoutrenewables.com.
October 2020
Maxout’s patent for U.S. Application No. 16/232,888 has issued. The patent, titled, “Highly Interleaved Converter for Reliable Power Processing,” covers key aspects of Maxout’s Polyverter, an ultra-reliable hybrid inverter with integrated optimization.
The new patent raises Maxout total number of patents to 11 (7 in the US, 4 in China). Three more patents are pending, including two which were filed this year.
September 2020
Maxout will be exhibiting in the Solar Power International (SPI) virtual education microconference, Oct 21-22, 2020.
Maxout Renewables is addressing the challenging issue of solar power backup with a new system called the Evergrid.
“The problem with residential solar energy right now is that very few rooftop installations can produce power when the grid goes down,” says Dr. Eric Cummings, President of Maxout Renewables. “Battery backup systems can do the job—but at a cost of $10,000–30,000. That’s simply more than most homeowners can afford. So, they go without. And when the grid goes down, all of that rooftop solar capacity goes dark as well.”
Most solar installations require the presence of the energy grid to maintain a consistent voltage and to provide surge power when large appliances (refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.) start up. When the grid is not present, most systems automatically stop producing energy, just when homeowners need power the most.
During a power outage the Evergrid stands in for the power grid, providing voltage stabilization, load balancing and surge power.
Maxout is developing the Evergrid, a stand-alone appliance that stands in for the grid during a power outage. The Evergrid maintains the voltage waveform, allowing a solar installation to continue to generate power when the grid is down. It also mechanically stores energy to handle power surge requirements when large appliances start up. At a target cost of one thousand dollars,
Evergrid will provide an affordable solution for most homeowners, whether they have existing solar installations or are considering new ones.
“In a power outage the first few watts of power are the most important,” said Cummings. “Being able to charge cell phones and laptops, and to continue to run a refrigerator and air conditioner—these are so critical to a home, especially right now with so many families working and studying in the house. We are developing the Evergrid to keep daily life functioning, regardless of grid conditions.”
The Evergrid also benefits systems that do have battery backup. By providing the surge power, the Evergrid allows a battery system to be sized for a home’s continuous load, rather than for the maximum surge load. This reduction in system size translates to a significant reduction in upfront installation costs. The Evergrid’s surge power also protects batteries from overload events, a common cause of service calls with backup battery systems.
Maxout has been developing the Evergrid with the support of the American Made Solar (AMS) Prize, a competition designed to energize U.S. solar manufacturing. “With funding from the AMS and support from its network we have been able to take the Evergrid from concept to prototype in under twelve months. We are very focused on bringing the product to market within the next twelve months.”
Cummings said that the company is now contacting solar installers to assist with pilot testing programs. Maxout is also working to certify the Evergrid in advance of wider testing and sales. The company will focus its initial efforts in California, Florida and Puerto Rico, regions where the grid is particularly unreliable and where residential solar is both economical and productive.
“Affordable backup power has been a missing piece in the energy puzzle,” said Cummings. “We believe the Evergrid is that missing piece.”
To learn more about the Evergrid and Maxout Renewables visit www.maxoutrenewables.com. Maxout can be contacted at info@maxoutrenewables.com.
Maxout Renewable’s Evergrid provides affordable, safe backup power when the grid is down. A high-resolution version of this image is enclosed.
October 2020
Maxout’s patent for U.S. Application No. 16/232,888 has issued. The patent, titled, “Highly Interleaved Converter for Reliable Power Processing,” covers key aspects of Maxout’s Polyverter, an ultra-reliable hybrid inverter with integrated optimization.
The new patent raises Maxout total number of patents to 11 (7 in the US, 4 in China). Three more patents are pending, including two which were filed this year.
September 2020
Maxout will be exhibiting in the Solar Power International (SPI) virtual education microconference, Oct 21-22, 2020.
In addition to exhibiting, Maxout Renewables will also be presenting the poster, Converting a Solar Installation into a Microgrid Using a Residential Synchronous Condenser, as part of the Grid Integration & Generation poster track.
SPI Is the fastest growing and largest solar show in North America. In 2020 SPI is part of the North America Smart Energy Week, the premier gathering of industry experts, leaders, and professionals from the solar, energy storage, smart energy, microgrid solutions, distributed wind, geothermal, and EV infrastructure industry.
July 2020
Maxout Renewables has been named as one of 10 finalists in the Department of Energy’s American-Made Solar Prize. As part of the competition Maxout has developed the Evergrid, a cost-effective system that turns a residential solar installation into a microgrid to keep power flowing during a grid outage. The finalists were selected from 20 teams that demonstrated their proof of concept to a panel of experts.
The American-Made Solar Prize is a $3 million competition designed to revitalize solar manufacturing in the United States. This challenge requires competitors to make progress on a condensed timeline, form private-sector partnerships, and secure investments to make their ideas a reality. The competition is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is funded by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office.
This fall, the finalists will present their prototypes for a chance to win the grand prize as well as vouchers to use at the DOE National Labs or other qualified partner facilities to advance their innovation.
Read the full Department of Energy’s press release here.
July 2020
PV Magazine featured Maxout Renewables and Dr. Eric Cummings in its July 20 article, Chips, commercial CSP and a solar river: What the DOE is doing with its solar innovation dollars.
April 2020
Maxout is participating in the MatterHackers Maker Response Hub, which is addressing the need for medical equipment and PPE for the fight against COVID-19. The hub connects hospitals and government agencies that need medical aid with companies and individuals who can create it. Maxout is 3D digital printing mask extenders, which relieve tension on the ears from mask elastics being worn for long shifts.
To date, MatterHackers has 3D printed and delivered over 25,000 face shields and other protective equipment to more than 80 hospitals. lLearn more here.
March 2020
Maxout has moved into new, expanded facilities. The new headquarter is powered by a 44-panel rooftop solar panel installation that includes space for test installations as well.
February 2020
Maxout has been named a semi-finalist in the Department of Energy's American-Made Solar Prize. Maxout earned the honor for its Evergrid, an affordable solution for turning a solar installation into a microgrid during a grid outage.
The American-Made Solar Prize is a $3 million competition designed to accelerate and sustain solar innovation in the United States. As one of 20 semifinalists Maxout will receive funding to develop and prototype the Evergrid, and the opportunity to advance to the next contest in this 3-part competition. Read more about the American-Made challenges here.
January 2020
Maxout has been awarded a CalSEED (California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development) Prototype Award of $450,000 to continue development of its Polyverter solar inverter. The six awardees were selected through a rigourous business plan competition in which each company demonstrated the significant commercial promise of their energy innovations.
Maxout's Polyverter is a multimode, all-in-one solar inverter which includes integrated per-panel optimization, battery storage, and emergency back-up capability. Read more about the CalSEED awards.
December 2019
Maxout joined three other companies presenting clean technologies and products at CleanTech's first CONNEX event in Sacramento. The event was held in collaboration with New Energy Nexus (formerly the California Clean Energy Fund or CalCEF). Read more about the event and CleanStart's efforts to put the spotlight on investable clean tech companies.
February, 2018
Maxout has won a Concept Award from the CalSEED program to develop its Polyverter smart string inverter. CalSEED, which aims to fund promising energy entrepreneurs with early-stage concepts, is funded by the California Energy Commission and is administered by the California Clean Energy Fund.
August, 2016
US Patent number 9,407,093 issues, covering a method for balancing circuit voltage.
March, 2016
US Patent number 9,300,133 issues, covering central inverter technology.
October, 2015
US Patent number 9,729,062 issues, covering isolated flyback converter technology.
September, 2015
US Patent number 9,136,703 issues. According to CEO and inventor Dr. Cummings, "this patent covers our finding that the same power electronics that make the Balancer optimizer work can also keep inverters producing power in dim light and cloudy days. The Balancer can be the boost stage for the inverter, which saves about a third of the inverter cost." This patent is the nexus of Maxout's Balancer and Polyverter development and results in savings of about $500 on a typical install.
September, 2015
US Patent number 9,136,704 issues. "This is the first of our inverter patents and a real milestone. This patent covers key technical features that improve central inverter reliability and serviceability," explains Maxout CEO and inventor Dr. Eric Cummings. Maxout aims to make a central inverter with maximum energy harvest and minimum capital and operating costs---compatible with $0.02/kW-hr solar power.
May 22, 2015
Maxout's Polyverter functionality proven in lab tests. "We finished proof-of-principle testing and verified four of our architectural advances. The next stage is product development, but first we have some patent writing to finish," said CEO Dr. Cummings.
February 27, 2015
Maxout's Polyverter design released for fabrication. The Polyverter will bring residential inverter costs below $0.10/W with unprecedented reliability. "It took five discrete architectural advances to achieve our breakthrough in cost and performance and four generations of in-silico design development to get to this milestone. I've never seen such a cost and time-effective development of an unprecedented product. This is a real triumph of teamwork and tenacity," claims CEO Dr. Cummings.
November, 2014
Maxout was selected as the Cleantech Open national category finalist in the Energy Generation category. The announcement was made in San Francisco at the Cleantech Open Global Forum, the “Academy Awards of Cleantech,” which marked the grand finale of this year’s Cleantech Open Accelerator and the culmination of the 2014 Cleantech Open Global Ideas Competition.
Meet all of the winners at:http://events.cleantechopen.org/globalforum/2014/global-forum-news-winners/Congratulations to everyone at Maxout, and to all of the inspired companies that participated in the Cleantech Open at the regional and national levels.
October, 2014
Maxout is heading to the finals of the CleanTech Open! The Cleantech Open is a not-for-profit organization that runs the world’s largest accelerator for cleantech startups. Their mission is to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent energy, environmental and economic challenges.
As one of four Western Region finalists Maxout is on its way to the Global Forum next month in San Francisco. This event will showcase the best new clean technology start-ups from 8 US regions and 6 other countries who have just completed the Cleantech Open Accelerator program.
Congratulations to the entire Maxout team, and to all of the Cleantech Open finalists and semifinalists!
September, 2014
Maxout has been selected as a finalist to present at VERGE SF this October. VERGE focuses on practical, scalable energy solutions.
July, 2014
Maxout installs 3200W freestanding test system at The Oasis at Livermore, in Livermore, CA.
June, 2014
Maxout announces opening of convertible note of up to $1.5 million.June, 2014 - Maxout Renewables is selected as a semifinalist for the 2014 CleanTech Open.
April, 2014
Maxout's patent 8,786,139 issues for "Architecture for Power Plan Comprising Clusters of Power-Generation Devices."
January, 2012
Maxout Renewables was invited to display at the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in National Harbor, Maryland.
December, 2011
Maxout celebrates its successful development of a second-generation Balancer.
May, 2011
Maxout successfully tests first generation electrical prototype balancer, exceeding target conversion efficiency over a wide range in module and string voltage.