Ampt Selected by Major U.S. Utility to Enable Mixed-Module Solar Projects with String Optimizers
Ampt, widely recognized as the leading DC optimizer company for large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems, has announced that its advanced String Optimizer technology is being deployed in a major U.S. utility’s portfolio of solar projects. These projects are unique in that they blend PV modules from different manufacturers within the same systems—a strategy aimed at delivering the lowest possible cost-structure while maintaining operational reliability and maximizing long-term performance.
Tackling the Challenges of Mixed-Module Solar Projects
Traditionally, utility-scale solar developers prefer to use PV modules from a single manufacturer in order to ensure uniform performance across the system. Mixing modules, also known as module blending, introduces complications because each manufacturer’s panels typically have different electrical and performance characteristics. If these modules are connected to the same inverter without any optimization, mismatched current-voltage profiles can lead to energy losses, uneven degradation, and even irreversible damage to certain modules.
The risks of electrical mismatch have historically made mixed-module designs impractical. However, the U.S. solar market is undergoing a period of rapid change due to new trade policies, shifting tariffs, and domestic content requirements tied to federal incentives. These factors are pressuring developers to diversify their supply chains. By enabling module blending, Ampt’s technology provides developers with a new level of supply chain flexibility that allows them to keep projects on track despite market disruptions.
The major U.S. utility behind this project portfolio recognized these challenges early on and adopted Ampt’s String Optimizers as a solution. Deployment began earlier this year, and the systems are already demonstrating the advantages of mixing PV modules from multiple suppliers without compromising performance.
How Ampt String Optimizers Work
At the core of this strategy are Ampt String Optimizers, DC/DC converters that perform maximum power point tracking (MPPT) at the string level. Instead of forcing the entire array to operate at a compromise voltage and current dictated by mismatched modules, the optimizers individually manage each string. This ensures that every module string contributes its maximum available power, eliminating mismatch losses.
Beyond balancing output, Ampt technology also provides additional layers of protection and performance enhancement:
- Reduced degradation rates: By operating modules at their optimal electrical points, stress on the hardware is minimized, extending module lifetime.
- Prevention of reverse-current flow: Optimizers block damaging backflow of current that could void manufacturer warranties.
- Deployment flexibility: Utilities can choose to apply String Optimizers to all strings or only to specific sections of the system, tailoring cost and performance trade-offs for maximum efficiency.
The result is a system design that not only accommodates diverse module types but also delivers long-term reliability and cost savings.
Addressing U.S. Solar Market Pressures
The timing of Ampt’s solution is particularly relevant. U.S. solar developers are navigating a highly uncertain supply environment. Several policy shifts are influencing procurement strategies:
- Domestic Content Rules: New federal incentives require higher percentages of U.S.-made components, which limits module availability.
- Tariffs: Import duties on certain PV products continue to raise costs for developers reliant on foreign suppliers.
- OBBBA Restrictions: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces constraints on sourcing modules from “Foreign Entities of Concern” (FEOC). Noncompliance could jeopardize eligibility for tax credits, undermining project economics.
In this environment, mixed-module system designs represent an attractive path forward. Developers can combine modules from various approved suppliers, ensuring that construction deadlines are met while optimizing for lowest overall cost. By making these designs viable, Ampt’s String Optimizers are not just solving a technical problem—they are helping the U.S. solar industry adapt to evolving regulatory and market dynamics.
A Track Record in Blended Module Applications
While this utility portfolio may represent one of the most visible large-scale applications of Ampt’s technology in new-build projects, the company has long been a pioneer in enabling blended module use. For more than a decade, Ampt has supported repowering applications—upgrades to existing solar plants where operators replace damaged or aging modules with new ones.
Repowering often results in arrays containing multiple module types, either due to supply limitations or changes in module technology. Ampt’s optimizers have been key to ensuring smooth integration in these scenarios. What makes today’s announcement significant is that Ampt’s role has evolved from enabling repowering to becoming a deliberate design choice in new power plants from the outset.
Voices from Ampt Leadership
The company’s leadership views this project portfolio as a major milestone in advancing solar innovation in the U.S.
“Our customer’s safe harbor strategy created the need to integrate modules from multiple manufacturers, and this portfolio demonstrates how Ampt technology makes that possible,” said Mary Adam, VP of Global Sales at Ampt. “By enabling supply chain flexibility and lowering system costs, we’re helping to deliver projects that meet both economic and operational goals.”
Ampt CEO Aaron Gomolak echoed this perspective, emphasizing how String Optimizers are reshaping the landscape of utility-scale solar:
“Last quarter, Ampt added over a gigawatt of utility-scale PV systems in the U.S. that are under design by customers to reduce electrical balance of system costs and improve performance using String Optimizers. While these systems are not currently designed with blended module arrays, our programmable optimizers provide customers with the flexibility for late-stage changes in module choice to respond to new market conditions.”
