Industry manufacturer, Eaton, recently joined with electrical equipment manufacturer, Cooper Bussman is showcasing their combiner box in the UK for one of the first times ever, at Solar Energy UK.
Speaking to Solar Power Portal, Richard Molloy, Eaton UK spokemsan and Simon Bircham, product manager for Cooper Bussmann, said live demonstrations of Eaton’s DC Combiner Box is one of the first times the box has been demonstrated by the new joint companies.
The Combiner Box is designed to increase energy efficiency by tailoring to customers’ needs, to ensure products effectively match demand, said Bircham.
Cooper and Eaton has completed its merger, and is now legally the same entity, although the complete integration process will take approximately another 18 months to complete.
“We really complement each other, we’re culturally similar, with almost the same customer base, so we could hit the ground running,” said Molloy.
The new Eaton entity develops hydraulics for jumbo planes, to renewable energy and fuel efficiency. In PV, Eaton is focusing on integration, providing services from installers to financiers.
On the UK industry Molloy said: “It’s quite an exciting time, there has been phenomenal growth in large-scale solar and we can now see the stability we need. The anti-dumping dispute threw a curve ball [at the UK solar industry] now we are seeing people getting ready for another rush, we can drive down costs with the incentives forecast.”
On the minister for energy and climate change Greg Barker’s speech earlier at Solar Energy UK, Molloy said the solar industry’s ambitions are being taken “more seriously, overall it’s more positive.”
Bircham said UK solar is an “exciting industry, that’s clearly more serious, Eaton is well positioned to take advantage of this with total solutions and customisation – no installation is the same.”
Molloy also added a “cautionary note” on not compromising quality and safety when aiming for price parity. And Bircham added that focus is needed on the “cost over a long period of time, and the right approach for long-term confidence and bankability, making [solar] fit for purpose.”
Cooper and Eaton are exhibiting at stand F34 at Solar Energy UK.