Applied Energy Technologies (AET), a supplier of commercial and utility-scale racking systems, has crossed 275 MW in installed solar racking systems across the U.S. and South America, and is on pace to surpass 300 MW in the field by year end. Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors and developers have come to rely on AET’s high quality racking systems and customer service and are now turning to AET for installation. To address this market demand, AET is expanding its services to include solar installations through its subsidiary, Blue Frog, allowing EPCs and developers to have both their solutions from AET and installation services backed by AET.

Blue Frog also recently completed the installation for a 2.2 MW rooftop project in Indianapolis. AET’s Rayport-B ECO roof ballast was selected for the project.

“Customers have come to trust and rely on AET, and it’s evident by our more than 275 MW in the field,” said Aaron Faust, VP of Business Development. “In response to customer requests, we chose to expand our offering to include installation as a service,” said Aaron Faust, VP of Business Development. “AET has a reputation of evolving its business to meet customer needs, and Blue Frog is the latest example of that. We recognize that our products are trusted in the industry and that AET’s customer service is a key offering to many industry-leading EPCs and developers. Extending our services to include installation is a key benefit for those EPCs and developers looking for a one-stop-shop when it comes to their projects.”

With an impeccable track record of 100% on time delivery, 100% on budget, and zero warranty claims, AET meets the highest standards in product manufacturing, design and engineering, and installation required by the solar industry’s foremost leaders.

AET designs its solar mounting solutions to be functional, lightweight, durable, strong, easy-to-install and cost-effective. AET’s Rayport ECO product portfolio includes both rooftop and ground mount solutions. The Rayport-G ECO ground mount systems and the Rayport-B roof ballast systems are both UL 2703 listed, wind tunnel tested, constructed from fully galvanized steel and come with a 25-year limited warranty. AET’s team of engineers is in constant pursuit of delivering innovative, high quality solutions to meet the needs of solar racking customers.

Solar Power World

Solar Power World

Energy sector transformation is one of the hottest topics for solar and utility industry leaders heading to Anaheim next week for Solar Power International (SPI).

And it is on this broad national stage that the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) will roll out Phase II of its 51st State Initiative, a unique effort to develop new visions and practical road maps for the changes all energy sector stakeholders know are ahead, if not already under way.

“We launched Phase I of the 51st State Initiative a year ago, as a way to transcend the divisiveness in conversations about how to move ahead with integration of solar and other distributed energy resources on the grid,” said Julia Hamm, President and CEO of SEPA. “Our goal for Phase II is to keep these productive conversations going — with a focus on common goals, stakeholder collaboration and workable solutions.”

Phase II guidelines are now available for journalists — embargoed until Tuesday, Sept. 15 — and SEPA officials will be available throughout the event for interviews. Guidelines are attached.

Journalists are also invited to a breakfast event at the SEPA booth at SPI at 10 a.m, on Sept. 15, when several authors of Phase I papers will be present.

Announced at last year’s SPI, Phase I of the initiative challenged participants to envision an energy market that would optimize integration of solar and other distributed energy resources (DERs) as if for a hypothetical new state with no existing regulatory or market structures. More than a dozen papers were submitted.

Phase II extends the challenge, this time asking for detailed road maps for the transition from today’s utility and regulatory models to those that will both optimize solar and DERs, and ensure that customers have safe, affordable, reliable and cleaner energy. Specifically, each road map will have to address six key energy sector elements or “lanes”: retail market design, wholesale market design, utility business models, asset deployment, information technology, and rates and regulation.

“Distributed energy resources like energy efficiency and distributed solar are becoming increasingly important parts of our nation’s energy mix, and we need to be thoughtful about how we evolve as an industry to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for customers, market players and providers of last resort,” said Ralph Izzo, Chairman, President and CEO of PSEG. Izzo is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) that will steer Phase II.

“The 51st State Initiative is important, both because of its national focus and because SEPA is able to bring together all those who envision a more distributed, clean energy future in a truly constructive dialogue,” said Steve Corneli, NRG Energy’s Senior Vice President for Policy and Strategy, and another ELC member. “It is a great complement to the various state-level ‘utility of the future’ efforts currently underway.”

Phase II road map submissions will be due Wednesday, March 9, 2016. A 51st State Summit focusing on the road maps is planned for April 14, 2016 in Denver.

Listen to a podcast on the initiative with SEPA’s CEO Julia Hamm. 

Solar Power World

Exosun, a provider of solar tracking technologies for utility-scale ground-mounted solar plants, has been selected by EDF energies Nouvelles, a global market leader in green electricity production, to equip two thirds of a 146 MWp PV plant in the Chilean Atacama desert with its trackers, and to provide a complete set of services including engineering, logistics and construction support. This PV project, one of the largest in Chile, represents the most significant agreement signed by Exosun since its founding.

Exosun’s Exotrack HZ horizontal single-axis solar trackers will be installed on rocky, hilly, desert land. They will support 277,360 PV modules, orienting them toward the sun throughout the day to significantly increase energy yield.

In addition to supplying its trackers, Exosun will provide technical assistance to EDF Energies Nouvelles throughout the construction and commissioning phases of the plant in order to ensure the optimal performance of the Exotrack HZ and accelerate its client’s ROI. With a tracker installation rate of 1 MWp /day, Exosun is committed to a ‘just-in-time’ delivery of its tracker parts.

“After a long and rigorous selection process, we are thrilled to earn the opportunity to work with EDF Energies Nouvelles, a major global energy producer, and contribute to increasing their project’s profits with our high performance tracking systems,” commented Exosun President Frédéric Conchy. “We‘re looking forward to proving on the field the technical superiority of our product and the added value of our engineering support capabilities. The contract, the biggest one signed by Exosun since its founding, enables us to enter the booming Chilean market.”

Jean-Philippe Salomé, Vice President Industry at EDF Energies Nouvelles, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with Exosun, an innovative startup we supported at an early stage of development. The high level of experience gained by Exosun over the past years enabled them to build a competitive offer, in terms of reliability, cost and maximization of energy output. The location of the solar plant, in the highly irradiated Atacama Desert of Chile, makes the trackers even more efficient and affordable.”

The solar plant will produce approximately 362,000 MWh annually, enough electricity to power 120,000 homes, and prevent 288,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions yearly. Tracker commissioning, executed by Exosun, is scheduled for the last quarter of 2016.

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

AllEarth Renewables, the award-winning dual-axis solar tracker manufacturer, has announced the introduction of a new L20 solar tracker to its solar tracker product line-up.

The new product features 20 landscape-oriented modules on its proven pole-mounted tracking system designed for residential and commercial use.   The L20 will boost production by enabling higher power 72 cell modules, increasing the tracker advantage, while reducing material use and lowering hardware costs.  The new product also improves wind loading and increases the height of the bottom row of panels from the ground.

AllEarth Renewables will begin offering the L20 as a complete system package to installers and developers in January 2016.

The new product addition by AllEarth positions the company to continue its national expansion with a growing group of solar developer and installer-partners nationwide.  AllEarth Renewables has more than 80 dealer installers across the country.

The company is exhibiting its product offerings, including the new L20, at Solar Power International (Booth 3534) in Anaheim, CA September 14-17 where it will show visitors how to “Grow Solar” with their dual-axis trackers.

Additionally at the Solar Power International show, the company’s CEO and President David Blittersdorf will be moderating a panel on solar operations and maintenance.  The company is also sponsoring the Solar Energy Industry Association’s (SEIA) Distributed Generation Division meeting Tuesday morning vice-chaired by AllEarth’s Chief Strategy Officer and SEIA Board Member Andrew Savage.

“As a company, we’re constantly looking to improve our product offerings to meet the needs of our customers.  The new L20 helps us boost tracker energy production, while lowering the costs of our existing, well-proven tracking system,” said AllEath’s President and CEO David Blittersdorf.

“By offering the L20 as a full system package, we can provide our national partners the convenience of having one partner, making one order, receiving one delivery, all on one invoice.  This saves time and money in an increasingly competitive solar market,” added Blittersdorf.

AllEarth Renewables manufactures the AllEarth Solar Tracker, a dual-axis solar tracker that uses innovative GPS and wireless technology to follow the sun throughout the day, producing up to 45 percent more energy than rooftop solar.  The fully pre-engineered dual-axis tracker can be shipped free the day it is ordered on AllEarth’s unique pallet to the installer or directly to the job site.  The company has manufactured and installed over 3,300 solar tracker systems used for residential and commercial installations.

Solar Power World

Hanwha Q CELLS will give insight into the next level of its high efficiency Q.ANTUM technology at this year’s Solar Power International (SPI) trade fair in Anaheim, California, from September 15–17. Next to the current Q.ANTUM module line Q.PLUS — which has just been awarded the Solar Industry Award 2015 in the category “Module Manufacturing Innovation” — the next generation prototypes of Q.PEAK will take module efficiencies to up to 18.9% and power classes to up to 310 Wp in a 60 cell module. Moreover, the visitors of booth 2505 in Hall B will find the entire range of Q CELLS´ high power and quality products – from solar cells to modules to photovoltaic systems and solutions – and experience “German Engineering” first-hand in one of the regular presentations from our German R&D experts.

After announcing the largest deal in solar history in April 2015, a 1.5 GW module supply agreement with NextEra Energy Resources, Hanwha Q CELLS has been achieving continuous growth during the first half of 2015. With its presence at SPI, the company now underlines its ambition and confidence to gain further market share in the United States – one of the fastest growing solar markets in the world.

“We are very happy to present our strong company and the leading technology products of our Q CELLS brand in the currently largest solar market for our company”, said Mr. Seong Woo Nam, Chairman and CEO of Hanwha Q CELLS. “In the United States we are building on our ability to ship large scales of tariff-free, high performance and quality modules as well as on our stability and reliability as one of the world´s largest solar companies and part of the Fortune Global 500 business enterprise Hanwha Group. SPI is a great opportunity for us to spark new business opportunities and further expand our strong position in the U.S.”

Solar Power World

Tigo announced Selective Deployment, an unprecedented capability to selectively deploy different MLPE functionalities on different PV modules in one string. Selective deployment is a standard feature in the Company’s new dynamic TS4 platform.

The TS4 platform utilizes two key components that are compatible with any PV module: a base that is integrated into the module, and five separate detachable covers housing varied levels of MLPE functionalities. With Tigo’s radical evolution of the JBox, customers can mix and match TS4 covers according to their ideal budget and system requirements. The TS4 platform offers the never-before-seen option to selectively deploy the exact functionality needed to maximize system performance, all while guaranteeing the lowest cost with the greatest ROI.

Horacio Duhart, CEO of Exel Solar, the largest PV wholesaler in Mexico, commented on Tigo’s selective deployment feature: “We are aware of competing products, but once we saw the revolutionary selective deployment feature of Tigo’s TS4 platform we knew that Tigo is the next big thing. The Tigo TS4 platform makes possible the use of different MLPE functionalities at different price points in one PV system. We utilized this feature in a recent project that is exceeding our expectations and making us proud to offer our customers a product we know first-hand will deliver the reliability and bankability it promises.”

In a custom designed PV installation, Exel Solar has selectively deployed three different TS4 covers, including TS4-M (Monitoring), TS4-O (Optimization), and TS4-L (Long Strings). The five TS4 covers offered by Tigo today include; Diodes, Safety, Monitoring, Optimization, and Long Strings as described in more detail below:

-TS4-D (Diode): Most reliable standard JBox dissipating heat away from the module, minimizing the hot spots

-TS4-M (Monitoring): Remotely collects in 2 second increments: voltage, current, temperature, manufacturer name, module type, date manufactured, barcode, and much more available wirelessly via module-level communication – lowers operations and maintenance (O&M) costs considerably

-TS4-S (Safety): Rapid shutdown compliant via module-level deactivation, supports anti–theft and revenue protection functionality (includes Monitoring capabilities)

-TS4-O (Optimization): Addresses shade, module mismatch, system level mismatch mitigation, increases energy density, and age tolerance for the absolute maximum energy harvesting (includes Monitoring and Safety capabilities)

-TS4-L (Long Strings): Increases string length by up to 30% via voltage control mechanism of each module (includes Monitoring, Safety, and Optimization capabilities)

If a PV system requires only two of 14 modules to be optimized due to shading, customers can choose today to place optimization capabilities on those two modules, without the costly obligation to optimize the other twelve on the string. Tigo’s revolutionary selective deployment feature, eliminates the customer’s requirement to deploy identical optimizers on all modules on a string. PV system designers can now choose any mix of covers for the easiest design and optimal cost for maximum energy harvest of their system.

“Every customer’s and every project’s needs are unique. With selective deployment, we are proud to offer each customer the design flexibility and freedom to choose functionality as the PV system requires,” said Zvi Alon, Chairman and CEO of Tigo.

Solar Power World

Leila Madrone is the CEO and co-founder of Sunfolding, a new type of solar tracking technology.

Four years ago, former MIT lab mates Leila Madrone and Saul Griffith started working together to help bring solar to the next level. “Across the solar industry, it was clear the tracker was the unsolved problem,” Madrone says in this Solar Speaks podcast. “Everyone wants tracker performance, but no one wants tracker complexity.”

Sunfolding, a new type of solar tracker that has just emerged from stealth, is the outcome of their research and development. The tracker eliminates motors, gearboxes, torque tubes, bearings and wires. “We created a system that has the ease of installation and versatility of fixed tilt systems,” Madrone says.

The tracker uses distributed actuation with a pneumatic drive system that lets solar developers install trackers in small, uniform sections, like fixed-tilt mounting. The drive is made of durable polymers developed by DuPont and already used in harsh automotive applications.

Learn more about Sunfolding in this Solar Speaks podcast. Sunfolding is also exhibiting at Solar Power International 2015 at booth No. 7624.

Solar Power World

As you enter the Anaheim Convention Center this SPI, make sure you look up. That tree above your head may not be growing leaves, but instead generating solar power. That’s because it’s a solar tree, one of Spotlight Solar’s newest installations.

When CEO Craig Merrigan started looking to enter the solar industry in 2008, he was struck by how little marketing was associated with solar and other clean energy installations. He saw many miss an opportunity to build clean energy awareness and understanding, and to grow the market profitably.

“I’ve always been attracted to dynamic industries and products that benefit people. Solar addresses both of those things,” he said.

He and his co-founders were inspired by other solar sculpture projects and how they brought visibility to clean energy. “Our idea was to make similarly compelling aesthetic structures, not as one-off art projects, but as products engineered for reliability and efficiency, as well as beauty. Between us, we have a lot of experience in design, marketing and manufacturing. Architectural solar structures (solar trees, as many people call them) make solar visible and compelling; this taps into the positive image people have of solar and amplifies it. This is solar marketing in a physical product.”

Merrigan pointed out that these structures aren’t meant to replace rooftop solar and other clean energy measures, but complement them. Many solar rooftop systems, efficient building practices, geothermal and lighting upgrades go unseen and so may go unappreciated. They often have little power to inspire other people. So adding a solar tree can help give environmental efforts a physical presence and inspire people to consider their own energy choices. He noted the customers advocacy, employees affinity, photographer visits and blog posts that a visible structure can spark.

Beside the convention center, Spotlight Solar trees can be found on stadiums, office buildings, airports and universities. Once recent installation was a pink tree to match the flamingos at the Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City.

Tracy Aviary

“Our products are signals of stewardship, adding reputation value to the ROI from other energy measures, which tend to be hidden from view,” said Merrigan. “So the best scenarios for our structures are high-visibility locations (with sunlight) where the owner has made other investments in clean energy or efficiency.”

These structures can typically generate 1.5 kW to 3 kW and range  $30,000 to $60,000. Tax incentives can help offset the cost, just like any other solar installation. Customers can also customize their solar tree by color, position, angle and even add lighting. The structures are also easily integrated with electric vehicle charging stations.

Spotlight Solar will have more than 50 installations by the end of 2015. These projects are all in the U.S., but Merrigan plans to expand internationally.

Solar Power World

Other than batteries, what other components make up solar storage systems? What should you consider when selecting these components? We spoke with John Vernacchia, global segment manager for renewable energy at Eaton, to learn more.

You can also learn more by stopping by Eaton’s booth 2922 at Solar Power International 2015 in Anaheim, California.

Solar Power World

Unirac, Inc., a Hilti Group Company and leading provider of high quality, competitive PV mounting solutions in North America, and Folsom Labs, the new standard in PV design software, are proud to announce a milestone in the continued evolution of solar software integration.

Projects designed in the HelioScope solar design platform can now be seamlessly imported into Unirac’s U-Builder PV racking design tool for commercial flat ROOFMOUNT projects. The integration of Folsom Labs’ HelioScope with Unirac racking products helps customers streamline their design and engineering process, from initial site assessment to detailed bill of materials and code compliance.

“Folsom Labs continues to evolve, bringing their ground breaking design platform to the solar industry,” says Peter Lorenz, Unirac CEO. “HelioScope has become an essential part of our design process and plays a critical part in Unirac’s effort to simplify the layout, design and project workflow for consumers of our Roof Mount solution.”

“This integration with Unirac represents the future of solar software,” said Paul Gibbs, CEO of Folsom Labs. “By linking Unirac’s U-Builder to the HelioScope platform, our customers are now able to leverage the best of both programs. HelioScope’s rigor makes it the ideal platform for unifying all solar design and sales processes, and Unirac is the ideal partner to showcase the power of that platform.”

For more information about the Helioscope and U-Builder integration, along with Unirac’s full line of innovative PV mounting solutions, please visit us at Solar Power International, Booth 2900 (for Unirac) or Booth 7133 (for Folsom Labs), September 14-17, 2015 in Anaheim, CA.

Solar Power World

It’s time for Solar Power International (SPI), and CertainTeed is ready to energize attendees with a new exhibit featuring its next generation solar roofing systems. Visitors to SPI, which takes place Sept. 15-17 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, will find CertainTeed at booth #5329 displaying products that include the newly-enhanced Solstice, CertainTeed’s rack-mounted PV system, and the popular Apollo II and Apollo Tile II integrated PV systems.

“In a market where many companies are just getting started, CertainTeed has been a driving force behind roofing innovation for more than 100 years,” says Mark Stancroff, director of CertainTeed Solar. “For SPI 2015 we are going all out with a product showcase that offers visitors a hands-on look at our complete line of solar products.”

Stancroff added that CertainTeed offers one of most robust warranties in the industry, covering both the system and its installation when the setup is performed by a CertainTeed Credentialed Solar Installer. If the homeowner also has a CertainTeed roof, everything on the roof is warrantied by one company, providing confidence to homeowners that their most valuable asset – their home – is protected. In addition to being the only manufacturer to provide a comprehensive roof and solar warranty, CertainTeed provides leads and marketing support to help its credentialed installers grow their businesses.

Solstice, CertainTeed’s rack-mounted solar solution, is outfitted with high-performance panels, inverters, racking and flashing. Solstice utilizes CertainTeed’s 60-cell monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels with power ratings from 260W to 285W. These modules are available in a variety of black and white frame and backsheet combinations and can be paired with string or microinverters, offering flexibility to fit the needs of any installation.

CertainTeed’s Apollo II solar roofing system features 60-watt monocrystalline integrated PV panels, combining greater efficiency and unmatched aesthetics with easy wiring and installation. Its black frame, cells and backsheet and low profile design fully integrate with asphalt roofing shingles for a clean, seamless appearance. Weighing only 12 pounds, Apollo II does not require structural reinforcement or evaluation and is attached directly to the roof sheathing. It has a Class A fire rating and 110 mph wind rating.

CertainTeed offers Apollo Tile II for integration with flat, concrete tile roofs. It weighs in at only 13-pounds per module and features a natural brown frame, black cells and black backsheet for extraordinary curb appeal. Apollo Tile II also carries Class A fire and 110 mph wind rating.

Solar Power World

SolarWorld, the largest U.S. crystalline-silicon solar manufacturer for 40 years, and Enphase Energy Inc., a global energy technology company, have agreed to jointly develop a new generation of AC solar modules (ACM) for the worldwide market.  The companies will collaborate on development, commercialization and marketing of an AC module that will integrate SolarWorld’s high-performance Sunmodule solar panels with Enphase’s leading microinverter technology.

The joint SolarWorld-Enphase initiative builds on a global strategic partnership between the two solar industry leaders.  Enphase is SolarWorld’s exclusive supplier of microinverter systems for the vertically integrated solar panel manufacturer’s custom-engineered solar systems.  The AC module initiative will eliminate the need to install a centralized string inverter.  It is another example of the companies’ close collaboration in solar and clean-energy technology development.

“Past attempts at AC modules, essentially power-electronic units bolted onto modules, have not delivered the full value that such an innovation should provide,” said Ardes Johnson, U.S. vice president of sales and marketing for SolarWorld.  “With Enphase, we are developing a highly integrated module built in automated, high-reliability factory conditions that only SolarWorld can deliver.  This AC module will not only save time and cost in labor and logistics in installation, but it also will be designed in a way that will still allow for streamlined operations and maintenance in the field.”

“There has been significant growth in demand from large solar distributors, installers and fleet owners for a reliable, cost-effective and high-performance AC module product,” said Stefan Zschiegner, vice president of products for Enphase Energy.  “The ACM pairing of Enphase’s next-generation S-series microinverters with SolarWorld’s Sunmodules will address this demand by reducing capital and labor costs as well as simplifying the supply chain and logistics. In the future, ACM architecture shall enable a seamless integration with Enphase’s Energy Management System.”

SolarWorld has a long history of innovation in the PV industry.  Most recently, the company is ramping production of five-bus-bar, high-efficiency, passivated-emitter rear contact (PERC) solar cells in its Hillsboro factory.  SolarWorld has also aligned itself with the adoption of rail-free racking systems, which offer lower material costs, reduce installation time, occupy a much smaller warehouse footprint and cost significantly less to ship than the long rails traditionally used in solar system mounting.

Enphase has established itself as the leading U.S. residential inverter and module-level power-electronics company.  The advanced, smart-grid-ready Enphase S-Series Microinverter is designed to meet current and future requirements for distributed solar on utility networks.  The S-series Microinverter is part of the Enphase Energy Management System, which integrates solar energy generation, storage and load-management capabilities for the connected home as well as supports local utilities with advanced grid functions.

Initial U.S. shipments of the SolarWorld AC modules are expected to begin in late 2016.

Solar Power World

Join us and 3megawatt as we explore maximizing the longevity of an installed solar project. 
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at 2pm EDT/11am PDT

As solar becomes more popular across all markets, there is a growing expectation that these systems will perform past their 25-year warranties. Therefore, operations and maintenance (O&M) has become less of a fad and more of a requirement on projects large and small—residential to utility-scale—to ensure maximized efficiency of installed systems. Join us in a special 1-hour presentation that gives tips for post-installation success: how to correctly install systems, identify issues and fix them before they become major problems.

Featured Presenter:

Edmée Kelsey
CEO
3megawatt

Sponsored by:

Solar Power World

Princeton Power Systems, a leading global designer and manufacturer of technology products for energy management, microgrid operations, and electric vehicle charging, will be exhibiting at the Solar Power International 2015 trade show in Anaheim, Calif. This year, Princeton Power Systems will display the newest generation 100 kW grid tied inverter as well as the new 30 kW wall mount unit.

Princeton Power Systems’ GTIB-100 G1.2 is a 3-phase 100 kW four-quadrant converter with the same advanced microgrid functions as its predecessor. It also features an expanded DC voltage, transformer-less operation, ten percent higher power, and reduced audible noise. It is designed for advanced batteries, solar, on-grid, and off-grid applications. The company has already deployed 60 MW worth of GTIB systems to its customers.

The current model of the GTIB Grid-tied Inverter has been utilized in microgrid applications since 2009, when it was the world’s first commercial-scale microgrid converter certified to UL-1741 safety standards. Multiple GTIB-100’s have been operating the Solar Microgrid at Alcatraz Island since 2010, one of the highest profile microgrids in North America, logging over 200,000 operating hours at this site alone.

The company’s GTIB-30W is a wall mounted, optimized version of the GTIB-30 floor-standing converter. The product is fully microgrid and “off-grid” / back-up power capable for industrial and commercial facilities. The bi-directional converter can condition power from advanced batteries and solar. The product ship in early 2016 with UL 1741 listing for both on-grid and Microgrid operations.

Solar Power World

Enphase Energy a global energy technology company, has launched the industry’s first operations and maintenance (O&M) offering that guarantees 100% System Availability for both microinverters and modules. This comprehensive O&M solution covers commercial systems above 50kW in the United States and includes the following: system commissioning, asset management and reporting, proactive remote maintenance, annual scheduled maintenance, module warranty claim support and dedicated technical support.

With higher energy output, lower O&M costs and more stable cash flows than string inverter systems, the Enphase Solution with 100% System Availability yields a solar asset with superior financial performance.

The Enphase Energy Services’ 100% System Availability program leverages the distributed architecture and module-level performance feedback enabled by Enphase’s microinverter technology. A team of back-office experts and in-house field technicians working with the Enphase system ensure that the commercial system will perform at or above its projected production. Enabled by active monitoring and remote system diagnostics, this service eliminates almost all unscheduled truck rolls thereby resulting in lower overall O&M costs than string inverter systems.

The program also reduces overall system risk by providing a 100% System Availability backstop with O&M, resulting in higher and more stable cash flows.

“Enphase’s 100% System Availability program turns solar into a more predictable and stable investment by providing installers, system owners, financiers and EPCs with the confidence that their systems will be continuously producing,” said Martin Rogers, vice president of global service and support at Enphase Energy. “This unique service is made possible by the nearly two terabytes of module-level data that our global microinverter fleet gathers daily, which enables us to remotely monitor performance, diagnose and triage any issues, and remotely upgrade our inverter software to adapt to dynamically changing grid conditions.”

With the benefits of real-time proactive system management, a system’s downtime is limited. For downtime that does occur, Enphase Energy Services offers system owners peace of mind by providing reimbursement for lost energy production.

To learn more about Enphase Energy Services, visit Enphase Energy at Solar Power International 2015 (Booth #3 – Grand Plaza) from September 15-17 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA.

Solar Power World

Schneider Electric Solar Business, a global leader in solutions for the solar industry, is pleased to announce that their Conext Core XC-NA ES (Energy Storage) Inverter is now CSA certified to UL1741 and CSA C22.2 no. 107.1, making it one of the first high power bidirectional inverters suitable for use in the North American market.

Schneider Electric unveiled the Conext Core XC ES earlier this year at Intersolar EU in Munich, Germany. The new Conext Core XC-NA ES central inverter for energy storage applications is built for grid-tie operations to address the needs of the North American storage market, and is based on the proven Conext Core XC-NA PV inverter.

Its high efficiency (peak 98.6%) and fast response time makes it suitable for a variety of utility scale energy storage applications including ancillary services, renewable smoothing and firming, energy shifting, peak shaving, and electricity rate optimization. The Conext Core XC-NA ES is also available as an integrated solution and compatible with Schneider Electric’s monitoring and control system, Conext Control.

“We are thrilled about our CSA Certification for the Conext Core XC-NA ES inverter,” said Arnaud Cantin, VP of the Power Plants Line of Business for the Solar Business of Schneider Electric. “The flexible features of our energy storage inverter make it suitable to address grid-interactive requirements in Puerto Rico and the USA, including Hawaii. In addition, it is compatible with a variety of advanced battery storage chemistries, including li-ion, flow, molten salt, aqueous sodium, and aqueous lead acid, making it a flexible option for different energy storage projects.”

Solar Power World

Graham Smith is the founder of Open Energy, an online lender dedicated to providing loan capital to solar commercial developers.

For the most part, the residential and utility segments of the solar market have figured out project financing. The small size of residential projects and the predictability of financing methods have led to more solar on rooftops. The massive scale of projects in the utility market, on the other hand, mean only a handful of financing houses can take part. For that reason, the path to utility-scale financing is complex yet familiar.

The commercial and industrial (C&I) segment of the industry, though, is a mashup of project size and property type, including schools, warehouses, stores, factories and landfills. The variety of project types and banks’ adversity to risk means every loan has been unique, subject to the peculiarities of each project and lending institution.

According to the founder of Open Energy, an online lender dedicated to providing loan capital to solar commercial developers, the complexity of each C&I loan is a problem that has been dampening the growth of such projects.

“The challenge for the commercial market is there is no simple process, the documentation is different, and the financing is less available,” said Graham Smith, cofounder and CEO of Open Energy.

Today at Solar Power International (SPI), Open Energy will launch a web portal that lets solar developers apply for loans online, in one place. The platform will streamline the application process in an intuitive and clean online interface. The company, which is based in the Financial District of New York City, aims to reduce transaction costs and increase access to solar loans for developers.

“It’s a bit like a credit card,” Smith said in a video interview available here. “When you apply for a credit card, you know what you’re getting. You don’t say to Capital One, I’m going to cross out these bits. It’s, ‘Here’s the deal.” And then there is a familiar process. You enter certain information. They review it, you sign the contract and then you’re done.”

“We’re trying to create an analog to that,” Smith said.

While the online platform will officially launch at SPI, Open Energy has been involved with C&I solar financing for two years, and the team have more than 20 years combined experience in Wall Street and solar financing. The company recently closed a loan with Vis Solis for $120,000, the latest in a string of loans for the Tennessee-based installer. In June, it loaned $380,000 to an operating portfolio of five projects, owned and managed by JJR Power, a solar energy development firm based in Minnesota.

“We’ve seen the constraints developers face firsthand, which is why we focused on developing this online loan application and online due diligence process,” Smith said. “Our borrower web platform streamlines the loan application process, decreasing the time and money spent on due diligence that may have previously prevented developers from accessing the solar loans to grow their businesses.”

To learn more about Open Energy, visit www.openenergygroup.com or e-mail info@openenergygroup.com. The company will also be hosting its signature Beers with Solar Financiers event, to be held on September 15 at 4:30 p.m. PT at the Courtyard Anaheim.

Solar Power World

Solectria – A Yaskawa Company, a leading U.S. PV inverter manufacturer, unveiled its Decentralized Megawatt Solution today at Solar Power International. This solution combines Solectria’s three-phase transformerless inverters, an AC panel board, a transformer and monitoring, making Solectria a one stop-solution provider for customers.

By continuously seeking to improve the value of its products, Solectria has expanded its versatile solution-based product line. This includes the medium voltage central solution, Solectria’s Megawatt Solar Station, and the latest three-phase transformerless string inverter solution, Solectria’s Decentralized Megawatt Solution. By combining multiple system components, this solution will simplify the customer experience by eliminating the additional work to find panel boards, transformers and monitoring that pair perfectly with Solectria inverters.

“Solectria seeks to provide easier methods for its customers to engineer and design their arrays. By offering a complete solution, it takes the guess work out of deciding which AC panel board or transformer should be used when designing megawatt or multi-megawatt arrays,” said Mark Goodreau, Director of Sales for Solectria – A Yaskawa Company.

Solectria is the one of the largest commercial inverter manufacturers in the U.S. today, due to its extensive line of three-phase string and central inverters, as well as an expanding line of complementary products. Solectria supplies three-phase string inverters to the largest installers in the country.

To see and learn more about this solution and all of Solectria’s offerings, please visit them in booth 2320 at Solar Power International this week in Anaheim, California. They will also host two trainings, NEC 2014, AFDI, & Rapid Shutdown and Preparing for Rule 21 on Tuesday & Wednesday, September 15th and 16th, respectively, from 4:30-5:30pm on the show floor in PV Technical Training booth #5142. To learn more or sign up for these trainings, please go to http://www2.solectria.com/e/53852/international-2015-booth-2320-/5bz5tg/180518097. In addition, a senior applications engineer will also participate on the Cutting Edge California Panel on Tuesday, September 15th discussing Rule 21 and Solectria’s preparedness.

Solar Power World

SolarWorld, the largest U.S. crystalline silicon solar manufacturer for 40 years, will showcase the global debut of its high-power, 72-cell bifacial solar panel this week at the solar-industry trade show Solar Power International.

Photoelectric surfaces on both sides of the new Sunmodule XL bifacial solar panel’s solar cells – protected by a layer of glass on one side and a sturdy but lightweight clear back sheet on the other – will provide as much as 25 percent more power than conventional 72-cell modules, depending on installation conditions.  As an example, a SolarWorld 330-watt panel will produce energy equivalent to that of a conventional panel of up to about 410 watts.  The new solar panel will feature high-wattage, mono-PERC (passivated emitter rear contact) solar cell technology, an advanced cell technology in which SolarWorld is the global volume leader.

“The size and power generation of this new 72-cell product are particularly well-suited for the solar industry’s commercial and industrial segments,” said Ardes Johnson, U.S. vice president for sales and marketing for SolarWorld.  “Quite simply, this product will increase the harvest of electricity and thereby lower the cost of energy.”

The new solar panel will be among products and services that SolarWorld will debut at its Expo Hall Booth 2526 at Solar Power International, the nation’s biggest trade show, in Anaheim, Calif., from today through Sept. 17.

The company previously debuted a 60-cell version, combining the advantages of the company’s Sunmodule Protect glass-glass module with innovative bifacial technology.  The 60-cell module comes with a 30-year performance guarantee featuring annual degradation of no more than 0.35 percent.

The new products both produce more electricity by tapping direct sunlight striking the face of the solar panel as well as indirect light refracting on the back from surfaces below. Under ideal conditions, the technology achieves up to 25 percent greater energy yields, considerably reducing the pay-off period of a solar system.

The first 72-cell bifacial modules will be available in the first half of 2016; the first 60-cell bifacial modules will be available in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Solar Power World