SPARQ CEO recognized by world’s largest engineering association
Sept. 22, 2011
For immediate release
KINGSTON, ON – SPARQ Systems Inc. is pleased to announce that Dr. Praveen Jain, President and CEO, has been recognized by the world’s largest professional technology advancement association for his work in the field of power conversion.
Dr. Jain has been named the 2011 recipient of the William E. Newell Power Electronics Award by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). It is the organization’s highest award in the field of power electronics. Dr. Jain is being honoured for his advancements in the theory and practice of high-frequency power conversion systems.
Dr. Jain is a world renowned expert in power electronics and a highly successful serial entrepreneur. He was the founder of CHiL Semiconductor, which was recently sold to International Rectifier for $75 million, and has worked with a wide array of industries, including Ballard Power, Canadian Aeronautics, General Electric, Intel and Nortel Networks.
His most recent efforts have focused on developing advanced photovoltaic (PV) microinverter products and systems, now being brought to market by Kingston-based SPARQ Systems Inc.
Microinverters are the heart of solar panel installations, converting direct current, harvested by the panel, into alternating current compatible with the electric utility grid. Dr. Jain’s technology uses advanced digital control techniques that eliminate unreliable hardware, creating a more efficient, compact and lightweight microinverter that meets both the current and future needs of the rapidly evolving solar industry. It also enables homeowners and small businesses to connect solar panels to the grid at reasonable prices.
The SPARQ microinverter was recently approved for use across North America.
Dr. Jain holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC) and the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE). In addition to the William E. Newell Award, he is also a recipient of the Engineering Medal (R&D) from the Professional Engineers of Ontario. He is Canada Research Chair in Power Electronics at Queen’s University, where he is Director of the Centre for Energy and Power Electronics Research (ePOWER). Dr. Jain’s research contributions have resulted in more than 375 publications and 38 patents.
“Dr. Jain’s work has resulted in a solar PV product that is truly next-generation. It is efficient, reliable, responsive and capable of being easily adapted to the increasing integration and miniaturization of solar systems,” says John Molloy, Chair of the SPARQ Board of Directors and President and CEO of PARTEQ Innovations, the technology transfer office of Queen’s. “The impact of his innovations in power electronics is considerable and make him a highly deserving recipient of this award.”
The award is being presented by the IEEE at the Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition in Phoenix, Arizona on Sept. 22. The IEEE has 395,000 members in more than 160 countries.
Contact:
Mary Anne Beaudette
Director, Communications
SPARQ Systems Inc.
116 Barrie St.
Kingston, ON Canada K7L 3N6
P: +1 613. 533. 6000 x 78238
M: +1 613. 483. 5000
About SPARQ Systems Inc:
SPARQ Systems Inc. is the global enabler of integrated AC modules. SPARQ microinverters are highly reliable, lightweight and compact, giving the user faster return on investment and increased flexibility. The company is based in Kingston, Ontario.
- HIGH VOLTAGE MICROINVERTER
SPARQ’s software-based system eliminates unreliable components, giving you 25 years of hassle-free operation with a full replacement guarantee. This means that your power conversion system now lasts as long as your PV panel – an industry first. SPARQ microinverters: your best choice for the most reliable energy solution.
- SPARQ MONITORING SYSTEM
SPARQ’s user-friendly monitoring system ensures that your PV system is operating at peak reliability and giving you the highest yield on your solar investment. The LCD display of the SPARQ Energy Hub provides real-time performance indication on the health of your system.
