A case study from Ahana Renewables by Philip Williams, Director of Asset Management, Ahana Renewables

As the U.S. solar power industry continues to grow dramatically, many asset managers are experiencing growing pains from PV portfolio holdings that are expanding and diversifying. Often portfolio holdings are spread across multiple monitoring platforms, while operational and financial considerations typically demand standardization with a single provider (my own feeling is that it is impossible to successfully manage a portfolio with assets split among multiple platforms). Those who are adding bigger and more sophisticated systems may find they have outgrown historical monitoring platforms—or there simply may be a desire to upgrade monitoring functionality. The decision to review monitoring strategies may also be prompted by contract renewals with existing providers, or by occasions when field service is needed.

This was the situation we faced at Ahana Renewables (then Green Lake Capital) in 2012. We had made the strategic decision to monetize our portfolio. To do that we needed to do a thorough survey of our portfolio, find and correct any problems, and then validate asset health for potential buyers. However, because our fleet included legacy systems, system data was scattered among five different monitoring platforms. It was a time-consuming hassle to collect data from all systems into single reports, and impossible to see real-time portfolio data in one place. In order to improve our operations and to expedite our sale effort, we decided to standardize with a single monitoring provider. We ultimately green-lighted a migration project for 59 systems totaling 45.7 MW of production.

Fast forward one year and a half: With our portfolio assets consolidated onto a single monitoring platform, it was easy to share real-time portfolio data and analytics with potential buyers. What’s more, having all systems on a single platform was a great leap forward for our asset management efforts. With more administrative tasks grouped into a single software interface (one that had been customized to our specifications), we could show a lower cost of operations. These improvements were instrumental in the successful sale of our portfolio assets in December 2014.

Needless to say, transferring this many systems to a single provider was a complex job. In addition to questions of hardware compatibility and replacements, we needed to ensure a seamless transition for agency reporting and billing activities, as well as transferring historical data. We worked extensively with our new monitoring provider (AlsoEnergy) to achieve these goals, and to design and deploy the new software solution. This article draws upon our experiences to provide our Top Three Tips for other companies considering a portfolio migration to a single monitoring platform.

Background

Green Lake Capital began in 2009 as a captive equity fund to Borrego Solar Systems and was originally focused on financing Borrego Solar developed projects. Green Lake was established by Walsin Lihwa, the Taiwan-based parent of Borrego Solar. Over the course of four years Green Lake structured seven solar funds totaling $220 million in total developed costs and 45.7 MWs of nameplate capacity. The Green Lake portfolio was comprised of 59 sites in California, Massachusetts and New Jersey, ranging in size from 10 kW to 5.6 MW. After the final site in the portfolio received permission to operate at the end of 2013, the team turned our attention to monetizing the portfolio.

Through 2014 the Green Lake team explored all possible portfolio monetization options ranging from securitization to a cash-sale. At the end of 2014, after extensive review, Green Lake sold the portfolio to Atlantic Tele-Network (ATN), a publicly traded Telecom company based in Massachusetts. Founded in 1987, ATN specializes in providing digital wireless, wireline, terrestrial and submarine optic fiber lines in geographically challenging markets in the U.S., the Caribbean and South America. ATN purchased the Green Lake assets and also acquired the Green Lake management team to continue operating the assets as well as expand ATN’s new energy subsidiary Ahana Renewables. Realizing the financial and operational synergies of entering the distributed generation energy market, ATN and Ahana Renewables are committed to being the premier financial partner for distributed generation solar developers in the U.S. and abroad.

As the solar industry in the U.S. matures there will be more companies like ours who will be making the decision to consolidate holdings onto a single monitoring platform. Here are our Top 3 Tips for successful portfolio migration projects:

1. Be Flexible: Budget and Timing Will Change

Any time a colleague asks me for migration project advice, this is the first thing out of my mouth. Rigid budgets and schedules are simply not practical for large migration projects.

Migration projects tend to generate a large number of details requiring decisions or action from a range of agents. This will include individuals from your company and your monitoring provider, along with other stakeholders, contractors and third parties. The sheer number of details in your job may make it difficult to plan and execute on a strict schedule.

What’s more, these projects are dynamic by nature. Project scope can change quickly as sites are visited and historical hardware is assessed. Our migration project covered a number of sites that required troubleshooting, either for existing site issues or new communications technology.

Your new monitoring provider should be able to provide good ballpark budget numbers for your project. But fully refined numbers may only be available after a lengthy process to scope integrations with hardware you want to keep, as well as determining software features and functionality desired on the new platform. Other administrative details that may affect project scope include transfer of historical data across platforms, along with transitioning alert functionality, agency reporting, scheduled stakeholder reports, and other custom configurations on the new software.

For large portfolio migrations, you may find that you have to select your new monitoring provider based on a project estimate rather than a project quote. The Ahana migration project was broken into three batches that were scheduled and budgeted separately. So we green-lighted our migration project before we had a firm total quote for budget and schedule. If you are doing your own migration cost analysis, I can only caution you that your budget and timing will almost certainly change over time.

That being said, I can offer the following advice to those planning a migration budget. This advice may help you avoid budget and schedule pitfalls as you plan your own migration project.

First of all, be prepared for the research challenge as you gather needed information about each site. Missing or inaccurate commissioning records can be a common obstacle, particularly for older systems.

Even if you try to eliminate the biggest hardware variable by planning to replace all DAS units, your new monitoring provider will likely need detailed information about other hardware on site, including environmental sensors and inverters. This information not only determines what hardware may need to be replaced, it also determines what new hardware may be needed in order to accommodate the requested feature set in your new monitoring platform.

In the best case scenario, the information is already recorded in your asset management documentation. In a good scenario, you can track down sufficient site information quickly from your EPC or O&M provider. In a worst case scenario, you may have to consider site visits just to gather needed information about existing monitoring system hardware.

My second piece of advice is a cautionary tale. As large projects move through a workflow, there can be pressure at every point to rush the project through to the next stage. Contractors are always eager to collect a check and move on. Your team and the monitoring company both want to make their deadlines, and nobody wants to be perceived as holding up progress. (At NASA, where huge projects are the norm, they use the phrase “go fever” to describe the group behavior tendency to rush to launch.)

Don’t succumb to this pressure to finalize system transfers to the new monitoring platform before full site information has been gathered and reviewed. You should also have a definite plan for what you want on the new monitoring platform before you begin deployments.

The single greatest variable in your migration project cost is trips to the site. Every time you roll trucks to the site you will be adding hundreds or thousands of dollars to the project bottom line. One of your primary objectives as a project organizer is to consolidate trips to the site and avoid cost overruns. Since most site migrations require at least one site visit, do your best to make sure no task is overlooked.

Here are a few especially sneaky problems you should consider to avoid return visits to site:

Does existing weather station hardware provide correct data to support proposed functionality on new monitoring platform? Most monitoring platforms perform calculations using available irradiance and other environmental data to create benchmark values for system production. Of course, results can vary significantly with the accuracy and types of environmental data available. If you expect the new monitoring platform to enhance your performance analytics, it may be that you will also need to re-calibrate or upgrade your environmental sensors.

Do cellular modems on site need to be redirected or replaced? If you are switching the DAS at a site, there is no guarantee that your existing cellular data solution will work with the incoming DAS technology. If a new cellular data plan is part of your migration agenda, do your best to ensure in advance that the carrier has sufficient signal strength at the installation site to accommodate your data transmission needs.

Plan for thorough site commissioning when you switch to the new platform. This is good advice for any monitoring system deployment. The process to fully verify incoming data on the new platform can take hours, and troubleshooting is not uncommon. If your migration schedule optimistically projects quick site commissioning, you are likely to be disappointed.

Finally, for those who may be trying to scope their own migration projects, here is our comprehensive list of items that can affect schedule and budget (prepared with help from Holden Caine, CTO of AlsoEnergy):

Hardware

• What existing monitoring hardware can be used with the new platform? DAS? Meters? Weather station/environmental sensors?
• Does the new platform communicate well with all inverter technology across the portfolio?
• Does the new platform communicate well with zone and/or string metering technology in the portfolio?
• Is any new hardware required in order to accommodate desired functionality on new platform?

Software

• What software functionality is desired on new platform?
• What data needs to be included in your regularly issued reports? What data needs to be included in various custom screen displays for your own team, and for any other stakeholders with software access?

Historical Data Transfer

• How much historical data do you want to transfer to the new platform?
• Can the new platform accommodate all types of historical data you want to transfer?
• Is there additional site information that must be transferred to the new platform, such as rate schedules, maintenance records, wiring diagrams, and other site documentation?

Integrations

• Will new platform need to share data with any client or third party databases, or with any third party software programs?
• Any special requirements for data security?

Possible Administrative Concerns

• Performance guarantees
• Agency reporting
• Scheduled internal reports for stakeholders
• Invoicing and billing activities
• Lobby kiosk displays
• Transfer of baseline production values, user permissions, and other customer-defined variables in your historical monitoring platform
• What alert/alarm functionality needs to be transferred to the new platform for each system?
• Are any changes needed for cellular modems and data plans?

2. Commit to Project Management

Simply put, the Ahana Renewables migration effort would not have been possible without dedicated project management. That required a commitment to personnel resources, both from Green Lake Capital and from our new monitoring provider. That also involved creating project infrastructure, such as regular meetings and reports, as well as master spreadsheets to share information and track progress. Getting your new monitoring provider to agree to this sort of project structure in advance will help ensure good communication and good results.

In order for projects this big to stay on track, it is critical to have clearly defined project “ownership” roles. Green Lake Capital named one individual to head up migration efforts for our team, and our new monitoring provider also designated a project leader. These Project Leaders managed internal workflow for each team, and each served as the primary point of contact for communication between the teams.

Beyond this, both companies agreed to three key elements of project infrastructure: weekly meetings, weekly reports and a protocol for shared documentation.

Weekly Meetings: We agreed to schedule weekly meetings with our new monitoring provider over the duration of the migration project. Project Leaders managed the meeting for each team, with other staff members participating when needed. The list of items demanding communication between the teams justified this weekly meeting schedule, and we generally found enough content to fill an hour. I believe this weekly ritual was a key factor in our project success.

Weekly Reports: Weekly reports were an internal protocol at Green Lake Capital to ensure that managers and executives received weekly updates on the migration project. As the Director of Asset Management, I received weekly reports from the Project Leader on our team. With a full plate, I found the Project Leader’s weekly reports incredibly valuable; they allowed me to quickly see the status of the project and highlighted key issues that needed my attention.

Shared Documents: But perhaps the most important single item of project management infrastructure was the Master Project Spreadsheets that we shared between the two teams. (We had multiple spreadsheets only because our migration project was broken out into batches.) This protocol for shared documentation created a single source for all stakeholders to access the most current and authoritative project information on a site-by-site basis. With both teams using the Master Project Spreadsheets as primary project documentation, our two companies literally stayed on the same page.

Organization was key for these spreadsheets, and each team put a lot of thought into the structure of the document. There were separate worksheets devoted to notes and records for existing hardware vs. newly installed devices. Our new monitoring provider used the spreadsheets to document progress deploying software features. It was particularly helpful to have administrative matters documented here as well, including agency reporting requirements and due dates, along with relevant contract terms from historical monitoring providers.

3. Embrace the Opportunity to Improve Future Operations

Migrating systems onto a consolidated monitoring platform presents a range of opportunities to improve future operations. Of course you will see greater efficiency in your operations simply by consolidating your fleet onto a single platform. There will also be planned opportunities to implement preferred workflow as you design features and functionality with your new monitoring provider.

But there will also be dynamic opportunities for improvement that will arise over the course of the project; even unexpected problems can present opportunities to refine an operational model. Resist the urge to quickly push through project decisions for the sake of expediency.

Opportunities to improve operations begin with your selection of a new monitoring platform. As you evaluate prospective monitoring providers, you should have a clear vision of the workflow you would like to implement for future operations. Define your ideal operational model, and communicate that vision to your monitoring candidates. You should also communicate any pain points with your current operations. Even if you don’t have a conceptual solution, monitoring providers may have addressed similar concerns for other clients.

After you have selected a monitoring provider, there will likely be a new round of audits for each system in your fleet in order to fully scope the project and begin implementation. You will be looking in detail not only at performance data, but also at administrative records and contracts, as well as commissioning logs. You will seldom spend this much time with your portfolio data and documentation; additionally, you will have the benefit of the fresh perspective of your monitoring provider. Take this opportunity to thoroughly audit each system. You may find unexpected surprises.

This is also a good opportunity to cross-reference results across your portfolio. You may find occasion to standardize on procedures or performance models that are producing the best results in your fleet… or you may identify performance patterns following unexpected variables for system locations, hardware configurations, by contractor, etc. In our case, the opportunity to review results in the new monitoring platform was an occasion for ownership to take a fresh look at the possibilities for generating real-time generation baselines using on-site irradiance data. This impression directly led to a decision to install weather station equipment at all sites, which has given our O&M team greater power to analyze performance and deliver ROI.

As your new monitoring is deployed, you will face more software customization decisions on many scales; from particulars (alert thresholds, user permission levels) to broad strokes (automated report content and scheduling, portfolio analytic displays). You will be creating new workflow conventions for yourself and for your team, and potentially for contractors and other project stakeholders as well. Each one of these decisions is an opportunity to establish more efficient business practices.

For Anaha Renewables, this was an opportunity to connect our generation data with our accounting. Our new monitoring provider offered all-important PPA invoicing tools, allowing us to bring billing and accounting activities onto the monitoring platform. With this upgrade, we no longer have to export production data from multiple platforms then upload into third party accounting software.

Before we standardized on a single platform, common administrative tasks like accounting, agency reporting, performance guarantees, and internal reports were scattered among a host of monitoring platforms and software programs. The new monitoring platform has provided a complete asset management infrastructure, leading to tremendous time savings. The whole system has been a huge step forward for our team.

In closing, I hope this article has provided helpful advice for those who are planning their own portfolio migration projects.

If you are considering the prospects for consolidating your systems onto a single monitoring platform, I can tell you that Ahana Renewables has been very pleased with our results. As asset owners, Green Lake Capital found a worthwhile return on our migration project investment. The new monitoring platform helped us validate the strength of our portfolio and facilitate our monetization strategy.

As an asset manager who still supervises these systems on the new monitoring platform, I also see a huge return on that investment in the time and money I now save with streamlined efforts for O&M, invoices and billing, reports, and other administrative duties.

This is a good time to consider a moving to a standardized monitoring strategy with a single provider. Market forces are stabilizing, and dominant market players are emerging. Asset owners and managers can now make confident predictions regarding long-term portfolio revenues and costs of operation. It is more possible than ever before to make definite plans for the future.

At Ahana Renewables, years of experience that began with Green Lake Capital had forged a well-considered system for O&M and PV performance evaluation. For us, it was the right time to take our winning formula and standardize it across the fleet. We are saving time and money using a single asset management platform, and it allows us to be confident in the long-term health and value of our assets.

Solar Power World

An example of 3-D shading analysis from Bright Harvest.

If your sales pipeline is thick with opportunity, but your design team is running thin, a residential-solar design service may be the solution. One such company, Bright Harvest, uses remote shading analysis to design layouts for residential PV installers.

NREL recently analyzed the company’s remote shading analysis technology. In a report, researchers said their investigation found “a high level of scientific equivalency between the remotely-calculated values completed by Bright Harvest and on-site measurements taken by NREL for multiple residential sites.”

The report said soft costs have become a major driver of PV system prices, and aggressive soft-cost-reduction strategies must be developed to achieve Department of Energy goals for PV prices. The SunShot Initiative aims to reduce the total installed cost of solar energy systems to $.06 per kWh by 2020.

NREL estimates software solutions, including remote site assessment and improved bid preparation software, could save installers an estimated $.17/W for residential systems when used at scale. Although NREL did not certify the soft cost savings of Bright Harvest products, the estimated savings of this type of tool, deployed at market scale, would probably impact soft costs to a similar degree.

In designing solar layouts for residential installers, Bright Harvest uses high-resolution aerial imagery to build 3-D models of a site, including on and off-roof shading.

The company uses its software to run a detailed shading analysis with per-module resolution for every part of the roof where a module will fit. Using this information, Bright Harvest designs two PV module layouts based on customer preferences: a layout with a target system size and a layout showing all possible module locations on the roof.

According to CEO Joel Lusk, Bright Harvest lets installers:

• not get up on the roof until day one of the install
• know what the system will produce per-module
• supply the funder with those figures (if financed)
• give the sales person the optimized design to finalize the contract
• add our scaled site plan to the permit set
• know the system can be built as designed

For more information: www.brightharvestsolar.com

Solar Power World

SolyMoly, a one-stop shop for the solar curious, announced its nationwide deployment.

SolyMoly is designed to guide homeowners through the often-confusing process of making the switch to solar energy. Unlike competing services, which automatically map the entire surface area of a roof, SolyMoly is fully customizable, allowing homeowners to specify which area of the rooftop they would like to consider for solar panel installation. This level of sophistication provides homeowners with more accurate reports on potential energy bill savings and environmental impact.

“What we learned throughout product development is that homeowners prefer to explore the potential of rooftop solar energy without feeling overwhelmed with options or pressured to act fast,” said Kathir Kuppan, Founder and CEO of SolyMoly. “We are simply equipping consumers with the tools they need to make a well-informed decision, on their own timelines and from the comfort of home.”

If homeowners decide to ‘go solar,’ SolyMoly connects them with qualified, reliable system installers in the area. Installers receive a copy of the customer’s detailed report to facilitate a smooth, hassle-free sales and construction process. This access to pre-qualified leads also helps installers significantly reduce overhead costs.

Solar Power World

SolarBOS, a developer and manufacturer of Balance of System products for the Solar Energy Industry, is proud to introduce new wire solutions at the 2015 Solar Power International in Anaheim, CA, on September 14 – 17.

Only just launched in April of this year, SolarBOS has already shipped over 5 million feet of solar wire harnesses to their customers in North America, and plans to expand production capability to approximately 30 million feet in 2016. All wire assemblies are custom manufactured to client specifications, making any installation efficient and cost effective.

In addition to wire solutions, the SolarBOS booth will also feature 1500 Volt Combiners, Disconnect Enclosures, and Rapid Shutdown / Arc Fault Solutions for all of your upcoming projects.

Visit booth #4930 for a chance to win an Apple iPad Air 2.

Solar Power World

We spoke with Brad Mattson, CEO of Siva Power, about solar panel companies breaking efficiency records in R&D labs, and how those panels compare to the ones installed in the field. Mattson provided us with great insight, as Siva Power has finished its R&D process and is ready to begin manufacturing its CIGS-based panels within the next few years. Look for a profile on Siva Power in Solar Power World later this year.

This podcast is sponsored by Trina Solar.

Solar Power World

Solar is rapidly growing as more consumers seek the benefits of renewable power. The U.S. solar industry achieved another record year in 2014—growing by 34% compared with 2013—to install nearly 7,000 MW of solar electric capacity, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Given the track record of growth, solar conversion and popularity are predicted to increase in 2015.

The popularity of solar has spurred financial innovation, as well as attracted investors and traditional bank funders. Many solar companies are growing faster than their processes can keep up with. With this growth, scrutiny of the contracting and lending process is high and dynamic. With more bankers and investors jumping into the space, the state of the industry is changing, increasing risk but also driving revenue potential.

This makes it essential for solar companies to have thorough processes in place for origination and management of loans. With that in mind, many solar contracting businesses are “going digital,” using digital transaction management (DTM) to better manage financing deals and contracts for both homes and business entities.

Understanding digital transaction management
DTM has recently emerged as a new discipline that encompasses the fully digital creation, management, governance, and transfer of electronic assets. It takes the uncertainty out of traditional pen-and-paper asset management and ensures assets are ironclad and unfailing. Furthermore, it facilitates the creation and management of an Authoritative Copy document: a legally binding original copy that satisfies all parties, including banks, lawyers and other organizations.

DTM has gained traction in the solar industry as the digitization of contracts has exploded in popularity. Five years ago, early adopters aimed to remove paper from their business processes, focusing mostly on the eSignature aspect of the process. Today, DTM has evolved to provide end-to-end digital management of document-based transactions. According to a study conducted by Aragon Research, the market is expected to be valued at nearly $30 billion by 2020.

What this means for the solar industry
For solar contractors, DTM pertains to the financial aspect of leasing and contracting of hardware: the solar panels.

Digitization enables solar contractors to develop a streamlined process, from presenting to a potential customer all the way to signing the contract. For instance, presenters can walk potential customers through the process on a tablet at their homes, thus eliminating the delay it takes to return back to the office, transcribe the information, and then proceed with contracting. In short, DTM accelerates and simplifies the entire lending and loan management process, reducing the sales cycle without sacrificing security or the legality of the contract.

The benefits continue. When properly done, DTM provides an end-to-end digital asset management solution that also includes electronic vaulting. Vaulting adds key functionality because it provides encryption, securitization and ability to maintain and control the digital asset for its entire lifecycle, including post-signature execution. In short, vaulting makes digital contracts just as legal and enforceable—if not more so—as traditional paper contracts signed with ink.

The future is bright (apologies for the overused solar pun) for the solar industry and using DTM will help protect investments and provide legally binding contracts without the muss and fuss of pen-and-paper processes.

For solar contractors, DTM helps to:
-Simplify the loan origination process and pool contracts more quickly and efficiently
-Significantly reduce sales cycles and provide a first-class customer experience with a quick, easy, convenient, and secure loan process
-Sign and manage loans and leases from the start of financing through to securitizations

By Don Tarkenton, major account manager, eOriginal

Solar Power World

Aerocompact has announced the launch of version 2.0 of its flat-roof mounting system, which is available for immediate shipping in the U.S. The update comes after the installation of 100 MWp of version 1.0.

“An updated, innovative and more installer friendly design, new inter-row spacing, more distance to the roof, new certified clamps with integrated grounding and a newly designed ballast-tray, which is suitable for all mounting tilts, are just some of the updates and improvements which comes with the new version,” said Leo Frei, sales and marketing director of Aerocompact.

Aerocompact 2.0 is now certified for aerodynamic flat roof solutions. The system fulfills windtunnel testing up to 150 mpH, fire tested to UL 1703 and ETL certified according to UL 2703 standards.

Also new to the 2.0 system are two additional static tests. One was made with TUV according to IEC 61215:2005 with different module types, including flash tests to ensure the lifetime of the solar cells in combination with the Aerocompact system. The second was a static strengths capacity test of an array with 60 modules, which tested the uplift and slide strength capacity of the Aerocompact system.

The Aerocompact team will be present at Solar Power Internation, booth No. 5347, to show the newly designed and updated 2.0 version of their product line.

Solar Power World

Array Technologies (ATI) will showcase its recently launched tracking system, DuraTrack HZ v3, at Solar Power International in Anaheim, California this September.

The 1,500 square feet at booth 4905 will house the newest evolution in solar tracking design. Guests will learn about ground-breaking features that allow the DuraTrack HZ v3 to provide the lowest levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) in the industry, according to ATI. From the highest module density in the business to zero scheduled maintenance, v3’s superior design is revolutionizing the way the world looks at solar tracking technology.

Booth 4905 will also showcase industry-leading tracking solutions for three market segments, utility, commercial and residential, as well as ATI’s track record of more than 3 gigawatts of product shipped and installed around the world.

The famed Solar Power International trade show provides visitors the opportunity to learn from organizations like the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) while gaining access to the most advanced solar technology available.

If you would like to schedule a meeting, please contact ATI and stop by booth 4905 at Solar Power International to find out how to turn your solar site into a (r)evolutionary power plant.

Solar Power World

Solar industry leaders commended today’s decision by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to leave the state’s net metering policy unchanged, calling it a “fair outcome” for the state’s consumers, utilities and solar industry.

In oral deliberations, PUC Chairman Joshua Epel and Commissioner Pam Patton agreed there is no need to change the key policy that provides those who choose to install solar on their rooftops retail credit for the energy they produce.

While a written order will provide greater clarification, this is a positive outcome for Colorado customers with or without solar. The solar industry actively participated throughout the 18-month docket, providing the Commission with the best available information about the net benefits of solar to all customers, including how solar strengthens the grid.

“We believe net metering provides an important right for consumers to generate their own clean energy and receive fair credit for power they are sharing with neighbors,” said Rebecca Cantwell, executive director of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association. “This decision will hopefully provide confidence to people who are considering going solar that this key policy will remain in effect.”

During the deliberations, Chairman Epel also reiterated that all parties agree that, if solar customers meet technical requirements, utilities must allow interconnection.

“We want to thank the Commission for holding this collaborative discussion on net metering, which allowed stakeholders the opportunity to present data on the costs and benefits of solar energy,” said Sean Gallagher, Vice President of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “We look forward to continued engagement in these discussions so the state of Colorado can reap the long-term benefits that come from these smart energy policies.”

“The Commission proceeding over the past year allowed parties to recognize areas of agreement, including that Colorado’s solar customer investments should be protected”, said Nate Watters with The Alliance for Solar Choice. “This allows customers to safely contemplate investment in solar while providing stability to the industry for the time being, a positive result for the people of Colorado and those employed within it.”

“We appreciate the Commission’s commitment to an open process that allowed community stakeholders to have their voices heard on this important issue. That commitment to the public interest was made even clearer in today’s decision, which puts Colorado energy consumers first. Maintaining the state’s successful net metering program will keep the way clear for families, schools and businesses to save with solar and to be part of a healthier, more resilient energy system for Colorado,” said Jessica Scott, Regional Director of the Interior West for Vote Solar.

Solar Power World

Enphase Energy has been selected as the preferred inverter supplier and module-level power electronics (MLPE) partner for Vision Solar via its distribution arrangement with electrical distributor, Gexpro. Fueled by 400% year-on-year growth, Vision Solar is one of the nation’s fastest growing, full-service residential solar installers, with operations in California, Nevada, Utah, Texas, New Jersey, and South Carolina.

Vision Solar cited Enphase’s simplicity of design and installation, quality and reliability of its equipment, 25-year warranty, and comprehensive services as some of the compelling reasons behind the installer’s decision to replace its existing MLPE supplier.

“The Enphase solution surpasses any other competing inverter offering on the market,” said Matt Rasmussen, CEO of Vision Solar. “Our sales and installations have quadrupled over the past 12 months, and we are excited about Enphase’s technology roadmap and its vision for the future of energy. We look forward to offering our customers Enphase’s energy management solutions, including the AC Battery.”

The strong channel relationship between Enphase, Vision Solar, and Gexpro helped Vision Solar in its decision to switch to Enphase.

“Enphase products are an integral part of our solar solutions offering,” said Robert Logan, Pacific Division vice president at Gexpro. “Enphase is not only a distribution-friendly manufacturer, but is also a strong partner that seeks our input regarding its product development efforts.”

“As one of our fastest-growing customers, Vision Solar counts on Gexpro to perform. We work hard to provide a consistent and repeatable service model wherever they operate. Our goal is to provide top-tier service to Vision Solar and work as a partner to support their expansion,” added Logan.

“Since its entry into the residential space in 2013, Vision Solar has exceeded the megawatt-per-month mark and has become a sales and installation leader in the geographies it serves,” said Carol Giles Neslund, vice president, Americas, at Enphase Energy. “Vision Solar chose Enphase because we offer the smartest, most scalable and cost-effective solar solution, both for Vision’s design and installation teams, as well as for its customers leasing or buying the systems.”

Enphase Energy will be showcasing its suite of solar and energy management technologies at Solar Power International 2015, from September 15-17 at the Anaheim (CA) Convention Center.

Solar Power World

Sharp Electronics Corporation’s Energy Systems and Services Group (Sharp) announces today the integration of Energy Toolbase as its software platform of choice for accurately calculating peak demand savings for SmartStorage energy storage system installations. Sharp is the first to integrate its proprietary SmartStorage operating algorithms with Energy Toolbase’s powerful optimization tools to quickly generate SmartStorage specific proposals. Users can accurately determine the dollar savings of SmartStorage projects that are integrated with a solar system, or as a standalone system.

Peak demand charges are the fastest growing part of utility bills for commercial and industrial customers and can represent up to 50 percent of a company’s monthly utility bill. Peak demand charges are also difficult to predict, making it frustrating for most commercial and industrial customers to understand what drives their peak demand usage or how to evaluate the financial benefits of reducing demand. Sharp’s project development and installation allies can now quickly and accurately gain insight into electricity demand savings that a proposed customer installation can realize. Energy Toolbase can be used to instantaneously quote projects and quantify returns on investment (ROI) of Sharp’s SmartStorage system.

“Proposals for energy storage can be time consuming to create,” said Kirk Stokes, Director of Sales in Sharp’s newly formed Energy Systems and Services Group. “The complexity and variety of utility rate structures, which change frequently, can make it challenging to verify accuracy of any customer proposal delivered. Energy Toolbase allows Sharp’s project allies to quickly generate proposals that accurately and professionally depict the savings benefits the SmartStorage system will deliver to their customer’s facility. Energy Toolbase’s automation allows for immediate customer specific proposal generation without significant overhead, complexity or commitment of valuable man hours.”

Sharp’s customer-specific proposals with Energy Toolbase analyze a customer’s raw interval data and utility rate schedule to produce an accurate model of kW demand reduction from a SmartStorage installation. Energy Toolbase’s extensive database tracks rates and incentives in more than 30 states and 130 utility territories to enable highly accurate and data-rich proposals for SmartStorage installations, and it is modernizing a lengthy and complex process, currently being done manually.

“Sharp is one of the most esteemed names in the energy storage market, so we’re honored to be integrating directly with them,” said John Gurski, founder and CEO of Energy Toolbase. “Developers have repeatedly told us that they want tools to analyze energy storage projects for themselves. This integration delivers that. It enables a developer to instantly and transparently analyze the projects’ economics, using Sharp SmartStorage hardware and software control strategies together. We think this integration could serve as a template for energy storage project development on the customer-side-of-the-meter, as the market scales up.”

Sharp’s SmartStorage® energy storage system is a unique behind-the-meter demand management system designed to reduce commercial and industrial buildings’ peak electricity use. Sharp offers a 10-Year Asset Management Service Agreement coupled with a 10-Year Performance Guarantee. All routine and unscheduled maintenance is included for customers that take advantage of Sharp’s 10-Year Asset Management Service Agreement. Downtime is covered by the performance guarantee. If guaranteed demand reductions are not met, Sharp will compensate for the deficit in promised peak demand reductions.

Solar Power World

The residential solar market in California is very competitive with big names (like SolarCity, Vivint) consistently making headlines and grabbing customers. Smaller companies like Titan Solar Construction out of Van Nuys focuses on customization to make some headway against companies with larger marketing budgets.

“With the larger companies, if a roof needs to be redone, they can’t do it because it’s not part of their business model which is volume and replication,” said Omar Melo, Titan Solar’s director of corporate strategy and development. “If it doesn’t fit into their little box, then they just move on to the next sell. For us, we’re going to customize the project for that particular customer. We [might] install LEDs so the amount [of money] can pencil out to go solar. That holistic, customized approach is what’s working for us.”

Titan Solar’s approach is indeed working. The company formed in 2011 and currently has four offices—three in Southern California and a fourth just opened near San Francisco. It touts itself as a one-stop-shop for energy needs. In addition to PV and thermal solar system installation, the company does HVAC, fuel cells, LED lighting and more.

Working primarily on residential and small commercial projects, Titan Solar’s customers have already taken notice of the potential residential ITC elimination at the end of 2016.

“There is a mad rush to get in before the 11th hour, before the elimination of the tax credit,” Melo said. “It helps people get off the fence knowing that they don’t have forever and it takes time to sell a system.”

As a company, Titan Solar has plans on how to thrive in an industry without tax credits.

“Now it’s a matter of adjusting and preparing for that by managing our costs appropriately, trying different ways to approach the market so we can offer the same value even after the tax credit goes away,” Melo said. “Often times when we install LEDs or upgrade an HVAC system [it is] so the customer is not buying a much bigger [solar] system they may not need if they were already energy efficient. We’re becoming more efficient and looking for ways to make up that difference before that actually comes along.”

Melo said Titan Solar is looking forward to the next few years, because issues with utilities, net metering and tax credits will be sorted out.
“We see in five years that some of these issues are going to be settled,” he said. “Solar will become a lot more mainstream; we won’t be selling just to the early adopters. The writing’s on the wall. We think power feed will start to move more in the favor of solar, as well as market adoptability. It will become more mainstream as people start to see their neighbors [installing solar] and won’t want to be left behind.

“There’s so much to enjoy about the industry,” Melo continued. “It’s thrilling, it’s exciting to be part of the energy revolution. We think we’re well positioned, and we’re excited about the prospects. We love the fact that it’s a product that is genuinely good for the environment, good for our future, good for our future generations.”

Solar Power World

Clenergy is proud to announce its sponsorship of Japan Kogakuin University’s solar racing team in the 2015 World Solar Challenge, a biennial world solar vehicle race.

Kogakuin University is one of Japan’s premier solar racing teams. First established in 2009, the team won in 2012 and 2014 the World Green Challenge, a solar vehicle racing contest in Japan. The KGU Team is a collaboration of keen young minds that are passionate about developing solar technology.

KGU is competing in the World Solar Challenge for the second time, moving into the Cruiser Class for this year’s edition. Solar cars in the Cruiser Class have four wheels and at least two seats. This class encourages the development of practical solar cars for the real-world market. With a focus on safety and practicality, the KGU team is showcasing next-generation technology.

Clenergy Japan’s sponsorship of the KGU team demonstrates Clenergy’s strong support for innovative technology and its commitment to reduce greenhouse gasses and make the world a cleaner and safer place for future generations.

“I’m a firm supporter of the competition because I believe that innovation and heightened awareness of the importance of solar energy will fundamentally change the world,” said Charles Ando, Clenergy’s Regional Manager Asia Pacific.

KGU team is fully prepared for the World Solar Challenge 2015. In an interview with NHK during which bad weather prevented racing, the KGU team took the opportunity to practice refueling, making repairs and dealing with the kind of unexpected accidents that inevitably occur during the competition. The solar car will soon be shipped to Australia.

Solar Power World

By: Alissa Jean Schafer

Things haven’t exactly been easy for solar contractors in the Sunshine State. Despite abundant sunshine and a largely untapped market, energy policies are under the complete control of utility monopolies and have remained ironically un-friendly to solar. Current Florida law only allows utility companies to sell electric power to a customer, meaning that any sort of third party power purchasing agreements (PPAs) are illegal. This law has created a barrier to solar growth in Florida by effectively prohibiting solar contractors from even entering into the energy marketplace.

Floridians for Solar Choice, a diverse, bi-partisan group of more than 50 organizations and businesses, is working to open that market for solar companies across the Sunshine State through a ballot initiative that would remove the barrier to third party power purchasing agreements.

In Florida, getting an initiative on the ballot has two main requirements: 683,149 signed petitions from registered Florida voters, and ballot language approval from the Florida Supreme Court. Floridians for Solar Choice is well on its way to collecting the needed signatures, with over 200,000 collected to date and an infrastructure of signature gathers, supporters and volunteers across the state. Polling has revealed tremendous support of the initiative as well, with 82% of voters in support of changing Florida law to allow solar companies to install solar panels on a home or business at no up-front cost and give them the right to sell the solar power they generate to the home or business owner. The next test is right around the corner, with the Florida Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Tuesday, September 1 in Tallahassee, Florida.

Floridians have become a bit famous (and infamous) on the political scene over the past several election cycles, and 2016 promises to be just as dramatic as always. By most measures, Florida will be the biggest political battleground state in the 2016 presidential election. Coupled with the recent Clean Power Plan rollout and the ongoing federal ITC extension fight, the Sunshine State plays an absolutely critical part in the national solar war. The solar industry is already playing defense in many states across the country, dealing with attacks from all fronts; 2016 is the time to go on the offense. Florida has a unique opportunity to make a national statement on behalf of the solar industry: “We will fight, and we will win.” A big win for solar in this key swing state during the presidential election cycle is exactly what the solar industry needs.

Third party financing options have proven to be an important part of the solar equation. Recent research done by Greentech Media, reported that 72% of all residential solar installed in 2014 was the result of what the solar industry calls the third party ownership. Third party ownership includes lease models as well as power purchasing agreements (PPAs).  The solar industry has seen incredible growth in 15 out of the last 16 quarters, and this growth is largely attributed to this third party ownership option. The Floridians for Solar Choice initiative is working to bring that option to Florida residents and solar contractors.

While Floridians for Solar Choice is working to open the solar market in the Sunshine State, a deceptive counter-campaign has sprung up in the last month in an effort to maintain the status quo where Florida’s monopoly utilities control and squelch the development of the state’s solar industry. NextEra and its subsidiary, Florida Power and Light (FPL), are leading this deception, having admitted to participating in writing the amendment, and are making significant financial contributions to the efforts to stop Floridians for Solar Choice. Duke Energy, Tampa Electric Company, and Gulf Power Company are also making large financial contributions to this opposition campaign, in a desperate attempt to stop Solar Choice.

More Solar Choice in Florida will also mean more jobs and economic growth. The solar industry is adding jobs at a rate 10 times faster than other industries, but hardly any of those jobs are here in Florida. I have personally spoken with many solar companies in Florida that recognize Floridians for Solar Choice as an economic initiative. Right now, limits on financing and barriers to selling solar power mean that Floridians can only install solar if they can afford the upfront cost, leaving many families and businesses behind. Local installers currently have lists of potential customers who are eager to go solar as soon as financing options are available to them. Floridians for Solar Choice is working to provide this access. This model is proven across the nation; it’s time for Florida to catch up.

By: Alissa Jean Schafer – Solar Communication and Policy Manager at Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Solar Power World

photovoltaic cells and high voltage post.

VARTA Micro Group, a global leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of an extensive variety of high-technology rechargeable and primary batteries, today announced that its subsidiary VARTA Storage GmbH has released the VARTA Flex System. The Flex System is comprised of a 24 kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cabinet, power electronics and control unit. Optimized for employment in commercial environments, the VARTA Flex System features a long cycle life in excess of 12,000 cycles at 100% DOD (Depth of Discharge). Depending on customer needs and applications, the system can be adjusted to different size and capacity settings up to 1 MWh. VARTA Storage will introduce the system at Solar Power International, held September 14-17, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA. Additionally on exhibit will be the Engion Sentry energy storage system for residential and commercial back-up applications. VARTA Storage products may be remotely controlled and monitored from a smartphone or the Internet.

“The new VARTA Flex System is specially engineered for commercial applications including demand response participation programs, and is a significant addition to VARTA’s growing portfolio of solar energy storage solutions for the commercial and residential markets,” stated William Flanagan, President and CEO of VARTA Microbattery. “We have long recognized the precise requirements of commercial meter customers seeking a robust and reliable system that allows cost-effective participation in electric utility demand response programs, as well as ensuring power is available 24/7. We are very excited to deliver this total lithium-ion battery and battery management system solution which will operate continuously for many, many years.”

Offered for use in an array of solar power systems, the VARTA Flex System is fully compatible with standard 480-volt, 3-phase AC inverters. It is suited for demand response programs enabling commercial end-use electric customers to reduce their electricity usage in a given time period, or shift that usage to another time period in response to a price signal, a financial incentive, an environmental condition or a reliability signal. The VARTA Flex System provides reliable emergency standby non-critical power while ensuring customers are able to minimize and manage their electricity costs through the peek shaving process, and participate in electricity arbitrage systems.

The VARTA Flex System is supplied in a ventilated enclosure, and may be ordered with battery racks providing from 24 kWh to 1000 kWh. This facilitates their use in stationary storage applications requiring output power from 30 kW to 1000 kW.

The system is delivered with a 5-year standard warranty; optional longer warranties are available.

Solar Power World

The Spanish firm Grupo Clavijo, a manufacturer of photovoltaic solar structures and trackers, will be present at Solar Power International 2015 to introduce its new single-axis tracker (SP160), the work of its R&D&I team.

The SP160 tracker represents the optimization of Grupo Clavijo’s single-row tracking technology. While maintaining an excellent quality of the materials, the innovative new design has improved a number of key components, including the panel supports. Greater motor efficiency has also been achieved, resulting in a significant decrease in energy consumption, thus freeing motor power for cases in which repositioning is vital due to wind speeds.

The Grupo Clavijo research and development team has made great advances in the manufacturing of trackers for various thin-film panels, customised for each client. The combination of this panel type with Clavijo’s made-to-measure tracking technology is being very well received, especially in the American market. In short, this tracker is highly versatile, efficient and cost-effective. The Spanish company is once again demonstrating its commitment to the ongoing investment in tools for generating power, fast reaction calculations, and combinations of the two, through the improvement of in-house software developed by a highly-trained technical team and with the support of an executive committee that is oriented towards continual improvement.

With 975 MW installed all over the world and plans to surpass 1 GW in 2016, Grupo Clavijo is currently one of the world’s leading companies in the solar structure and tracker sector, with a presence around the world and offices in Chile, the USA and Abu Dhabi.

Solar Power World

Mounting Systems, a producer of solar PV racking solutions, will exhibit at Solar Power International in Anaheim from September 14 to 17 at Booth 2326.

For more than 21 years, Mounting Systems has supplied more than 8GW of innovative, secure and long lasting solar PV racking solutions to customers worldwide. Mounting Systems will showcase the new Sigma Steel ground mount system, an expanded Alpha+ pitched roof system, and new clamping technologies.

The Sigma Steel ground mount system combines the design of aluminum with the strength of steel. The single-post system is designed for wide variety of terrain, slopes up to ±10° East-West, and provides tilt angles between 5°-45°. Patented click, set, and done Clickstone technology secures modules and provides bonding. Unlike other steel systems, Sigma Steel does not require project specific holes, cutting, or welding. Nevertheless, it offers a high degree of in-field adjustability. Sigma Steel boasts of uncompromising corrosion protection due to its self-healing Magnelis coating. Minimal part counts, shared hardware, and engineered flexibility make the Sigma Steel the right choice for cost effective commercial to utility scale ground mount installations.

The Alpha+ system adds the new Alpha+ Skirt and A+ Flashmounts. The Alpha+ Wind skirt can be combined with shared rail configurations to provide a clean and unobtrusive aesthetic. The A+ Flashmount composite shingle flashings provides roof connections for standard array layouts as well as for the Alpha+ shared rail configurations. Alpha+ shared rail configurations decrease rail quantity at least 25% for residential installations. Alpha+ is ETL Listed to UL2703 and UL1703 on Class A roofs with Type 1 and Type 2 panels.

New PV panels demand new solutions.  Mounting Systems offers new module clamps for frameless crystalline panels. The frameless clamps secure modules from 5.5-6.5mm and 6.5-7.5mm thick. The frameless module clamps are compatible with Mounting Systems’ most innovative ground mount, on roof and flat roof systems.

Solar Power World

Exosun, provider of solar tracking technologies for utility-scale ground-mounted solar plants, has inked a contract with a major clean energy producer to supply and install its trackers on a 6.8 MWp PV plant located in the North American state of Oregon.

The solar plant, installed over 40 acres of high desert land, will be equipped with 44 Exotrack HZ horizontal single-axis solar trackers. They will support 21,964 PV modules, orienting them toward the sun throughout the day to significantly increase energy yield.

In order to lower transportation costs and time, and contribute to local employment, the majority of tracker components will be manufactured by American and Mexican high quality suppliers, rigorously selected by Exosun.

Tracker installation, executed by Exosun, will begin in September 2015, with commissioning planned for November 2015.

“We are very pleased with this challenging project in Oregon and by the rapid response and schedule our team was able to formulate,” said Jeb Seder, Managing Director of Exosun Inc. “Our Exotrack HZ single-axis trackers have been designed for maximized plant design flexibility, quick and cost-effective construction and minimal OPEX. This, coupled with our extensive tracker installation experience, is what convinced our client to work with us.”

On September 15, 16, and 17, Exosun will be exhibiting at the Solar Power International trade show, Anaheim convention center, California, booth #5510.

Solar Power World

A solar array is all about connections—panels need to be connected to each other, and to inverters. Connectors attach solar components together to produce a successful flow of electricity.

On DC-based projects, panels must be connected into strings. Usually the connectors are installed on the panels at the factory, but they can be field-installed. End-panels have to then be connected to an inverter or combiner box, and those connections are often done in the field.

On AC/microinverter projects, connections are made between the panel and the microinverter. These connections are usually pre-installed with cabling, especially on plug-and-play integrated solar modules.

“Beyond their role in aiding electrical connections in PV solar arrays, connectors must meet the voltage and current requirements for their service while providing a low resistance point of contact,” said Daniel Sylawa, business development manager of renewable energy at Phoenix Contact USA. “They also must endure temperature extreme and thermal cycling, resist mechanical events and prevent disconnection for lifetime of the array.”

Connectors look especially simple, but they are very important. They require adequate engineering consideration to meet the requirements of a project. In addition to surviving extreme swings in outside temperatures, direct sun, snow and rain, connectors have to support increasing voltages. One of the biggest issues that prevents connectors from moving electricity from Point A to Point B is that not all of them mate together nicely.

“For both DC and AC project connector and cabling systems, no industry standards exist,” Sylawa said. “For DC systems, commonly a ‘MC4 connector’ is used. The MC4 design is a specific manufacturer which does not recommend mating with connectors of different manufacturers. The lack of an industry standard means that compatibly of the connection cannot be assured, especially over the 20- to 30-year lifetime of the array.”

Sylawa said a better practice is to use connectors from a single manufacturer to avoid complications. Most connectors, Phoenix Contact’s included, are designed to only mate with themselves.

Proper training is also a must when it comes to handling connectors, even though the act of connecting solar components together seems easy.

“DC PV connectors can have crimp style or tool-less spring style connectors for the wire connections,” Sylawa said. “Crimp style connectors are usually installed in a factory environment where proper tooling and trained installers are available. In the field, they can be problematic as often they are installed without proper tooling or training.” Tool-less spring connectors, therefore, offer an advantage as they have a self-intuitive installation procedure.

Connectors are one of the final pieces to a solar puzzle, and they’re just as important as the panels themselves. These small components shouldn’t be ignored; they’re essential to a successful project.

Solar Power World

What you need to know to create a solar array on the water.

A new trend in photovoltaic arrays sweeping the world and slowly finding a home in select regions of the United States is “floatovoltaics”—a solar array that floats on water.

Heavy power users near bodies of water, like water treatment facilities, could save hundreds of thousands of dollars per year by using electricity generated by an adjacent floating solar installation. Since lease payments for underutilized bodies of water are likely to be lower than land lease payments, a floating installation could be even more competitive compared to other energy sources. Additionally, owners of bodies of water could benefit from modest revenue streams by leasing their water surface to solar developers or to utilities.

A floating PV array. Photo courtesy of Ciel et Terre.

Currently, floatovoltaic projects are popular in countries like Singapore and Japan, which have ample water resources on which to float arrays, but the market is growing worldwide.

There are a handful of installations in the United States now, but the clear leader in the market is Japan. As an island (and a smallish one at that), there’s not a lot of room to build land-based arrays. Instead, following the United States’ lead, the Japanese started floating solar arrays near cities.

The beauty of water-based solar arrays is they can exist in almost any water body—ponds, lakes, canals and reservoirs. As the world population becomes ever larger and land becomes scarcer, floatovoltaics are turning into a viable option.That’s w

hy it takes the right equipment—from panels to wiring to platform to aftercare—to ensure the array produces as intended. Here are three things you must consider before installing a floatovoltaic system.

Keep components above water
It might be counterintuitive to think of an electricity-generating plant floating in the middle of a river or lake. After all, if you stand in a puddle and touch an open circuit, you won’t live long.

That’s why special racking is required for floating arrays. It must have the strength to hold panels in place but be flexible enough to deal with waves that can reach up to 3.28 ft, all the while keeping the array safe from harm. The current leader in floatovoltaic racking is a French company called Ciel et Terre (“Heaven and Earth” in English), and it has provided the racking for most current floating arrays worldwide.

Floating solar panels must stay at least 3 ft above water and should not be installed on water with high salinity. Even in water with a low salt content (no more than 15 practical salinity units (PSU)), water can degrade components, leading to lower production.

Keeping wiring and cables from being splashed and corroded is essential. Make sure they are isolated, insulated and at least 1.6 ft above the water.

Pick the perfect panels
When it comes to water-bound arrays, not all panels are created equal. If they are not designed specifically to be waterproof, you could find yourself in trouble.

All modules installed in floating arrays should have the proper ingress protection (IP) rating for the connectors and junction box. The IP rating helps classify products resistant to water intrusion beyond the vague statement of being “waterproof.” Most solar modules have an IP rating that can protect them from “splashing water” (IP64) all the way to submersion in 3.28 ft of water for 30 minutes (IP67). REC solar modules are IP67 rated. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association defines NEMA enclosure types in NEMA standard number 250.

The key component of panels in these environments is the encapsulant. Many panel manufacturers don’t pay close attention to their encapsulants because they are not planning to do water-based installations. But project managers for marine-based arrays must investigate which encapsulant the panels have and what its IP rating is. Nothing can destroy reputations faster than arrays that degrade before investors recoup their investments.

Keep the birds at bay
Birds only need two things to survive: water and food sources. While floating arrays don’t have the latter, they are by definition surrounded by the former—which means you will often find flocks of waterfowl nesting nearby. And if there is enough guano on the array, it can prevent electricity production.

The easiest way to prevent soiling is to keep birds off the array in the first place, which can take the form of bird spikes, netting and strips that provide a little electric shock (not enough to harm them, just enough to make it uncomfortable). On floating arrays, most owners use bird spikes or netting, although netting is better because the spikes have the potential to throw shadows on the array and degrade power output.

Of course, if the birds do soil the array, the problem becomes an operations and maintenance issue. How do you get people or machines out to the array to keep the panels clean? There is no best practice at the moment, but REC is in the process of putting together a manual to standardize the process.

In the end, if you pay attention to these three guidelines, you can install a successful “floatovoltaic” project. It’s a brave new frontier for the solar industry in the United States, but it is growing. It’s something the best installers will know how to do if they want to grow.

This article was written by George McClellan, technical sales manager for REC Group.

Solar Power World