Smarts for solar arrays

More than a dozen venture-capital-backed start-ups are vying to bring some smarts to solar farms in the hope of boosting photovoltaic arrays´ ability to deliver carbon-free energy. The offering by Tigo Energy, based in Los Gatos, Calif., may be the simplest and most cost-effective of these distributed intelligence schemes. The three-yearold firm is exploiting wireless communications to minimize the added cost and complexity of PV arrays- energy-harvesting electronics, an approach that could quickly win over risk-averse system installers.