Bombard Renewable Energy has announced the completion of a 559 kW project for Republic Services’ new recycling center complex. The new recycling complex in North Las Vegas will utilize solar photovoltaic panels to help generate electricity. It has been installed on an 110,000-square-foot building adjacent to its existing 88,000-square-foot facility. Bombard Renewable Energy has provided the roof-mounted 559 kW DC system using 1,776 solar modules. Bombard Renewable Energy (Bombard), a division of Bombard Electric, LLC, an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of MDU Resources Group, Inc., handled the engineering, procurement and construction for the project that is expected to produce more than 900 MW hours per year, enough to power the equivalent of approximately 60 homes in Southern Nevada. The facility recently held its grand opening, and is expected to eventually employ 180 full-time people.

The Southern Nevada Recycling Complex will serve more than 535,000 households throughout the area, including the cities of North Las Vegas, Las Vegas and Henderson, as well as Clark County. It is expected to accommodate future growth in the Valley, and increased commercial, industrial, and construction and demolition recycling demands throughout southern Nevada. A learning center will also be on site, providing education on the importance of recycling and sustainability. The learning center will be a first-of-its-kind, interactive resource for the community, as well as for visitors and sustainability-minded tourists from around the world.

Bo Balzar, Bombard Renewable Energy operations manager, said the facility will have a significant positive impact on the environment.

“Along with the facility’s state-of-the-art environmental services, the solar power system will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide by the equivalent of 72,700 trees over the next thirty years” Balzar said.  Additionally, more than 21 million gallons of water will be saved over that period. This is based on replacing the production of water-cooled coal plants, nuclear power plants, and gas-fired powered plants that use water as part of the generation process.

Bombard Renewable Energy serves commercial, utility, residential and non-profit customers in both the public and private sectors in and around Las Vegas. Bombard Renewable Energy of Las Vegas was recently named No. 47 on Solar Power World’s 2015 Top 500 Solar Contractors list. Bombard Electric has been doing business in Nevada since 1982 and is a member of MDU Construction Services Group, an industry-leading construction services company with locations across the country. MDU Construction Services Group is part of MDU Resources Group, Inc.

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GeoCF LLC, the pioneer of geospatial software solutions for utility-scale solar, has been awarded a $750,000 cooperative award from the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative to expand development and commercialization of Smart Power Maps, a software solution that drastically reduces time and costs to develop and finance large-scale solar projects.

Smart Power Maps helps global solar developers, financiers and utilities build solar projects faster and more efficiently through rapid analysis of the multiple data sets involved in siting and evaluating solar projects 1MW and larger. As a part of SunShot’s Incubator program, GeoCF will use the funding to expand the data sets used in Smart Power Maps and automate the transmission capacity analysis in order to help clients accelerate the interconnection process.

“Smart Power Maps enables users to comprehensively evaluate tens of thousands of potential projects simultaneously and supports project management for the best sites through all stages of development,” said Clay Butler, president and CEO of GeoCF LLC. “With the SunShot award, we will accelerate software development and support the SunShot program goals to increase community solar and utility-scale solar projects. We are proud to be part of this initiative.”

The Sunshot award will also help GeoCF build a mapping and report portal for project investors and financiers, allowing them to instantaneously run cash flow models and full constraint feasibility analysis on potential projects. The portal will include information on property tax liabilities, geotech, hydrology, and transmission constraints, wholesale clearing price backcasts and forecasts, endangered species, topographic restraints, and more.

This ability to automate and optimize the full lifecycle of a utility-scale project from siting, development, design, and finance to interconnection is critical to developers and financiers and supports the Energy Department’s goal to accelerate the adoption of solar through cost reduction throughout the solar value chain, including balance of system (BOS) costs.

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(Lockheed Martin’s parking solar array, completed in September 2015)

Sungrow, one of the leading PV-inverter manufacturers in the world, announces to supply its 60kw string inverter to a 2.25MW Lockhhed Martin owned solar carport. Lockheed Martin joined Florida Governor Rick Scott, Duke Energy President of Florida Utility Operations Alex Glenn and other local officials to celebrate the powering up of its 151,400 square foot solar array covering the parking lot at its facility near Clearwater, Florida. The project represents Florida’s largest, private solar array.

Lockheed Martin and lead contractor Advanced Green Technologies broke ground on the project in March 2015. Since then, 7,260 solar modules manufactured by Hanwha SolarOne Company and SG60KU-M PV inverters by Sungrow were networked to create the 2.25 megawatt solar carport. AGT designed and led construction for the project, which was completed and tested by September 2015.

“This plant is indicative of Lockheed Martin’s drive to be energy efficient and a responsible corporate citizen,” said Leo Mackay, Lockheed Martin vice president of Sustainability. “It is a building block in our larger effort to align our company with the demands of this century: global security; advanced infrastructure; and renewable energy.”

“We are very glad to join force with Lockheed Martin and contribute to creating a more sustainable future for local communities in Florida,” said Renxian Cao, CEO of Sungrow Power Supply Co,Ltd.

The solar project will generate 3.33 million kilowatt hours per year resulting in $6.5 million in savings over 25 years. The covered parking will not only provide shade for more than 500 cars, but it will also contribute to the company’s goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent by 2020

The Lockheed Martin location near Clearwater, Florida employs approximately 500 employees and 100 contractors providing engineering, software development and other services for company programs. Lockheed Martin is the largest industrial employer in Florida with approximately 12,000 employees in the state. Across locations, the company focuses on optimizing the use of natural resources to reduce carbon emissions through improved energy management. Lockheed Martin is currently considering other Florida sites to construct an additional solar carport.

Solar Power World

IDEC Corporation announces the addition of the 14mm-wide RV8H compact relay family to its existing interface relay line. These electromechanical relays are ideal for panels with limited room as they provide up to a 40% reduction in required DIN rail track space as compared to standard ice-cube relays, and feature the industry’s lowest height requirement as they are only 70mm high.

RV8H relays work particularly well in higher load switching applications, industrial automation panels with high I/O content, and commercial HVAC panels. In these and other applications, an RV8H relay is typically installed between an output from a PLC or other controller and the load to increase switching capacity and protect the output from damage. These relays are rapidly replacing traditional 5 to 10A general purpose plug-in relays due to their smaller size and lower cost

The 14mm-wide RV8H compact relay family includes SPDT and DPDT models, and the DPDT models are supplied with gold-plated contacts. SPDT models are rated up to 16A and DPDT models are rated up to 8A. All versions are available with AC or DC input, with input voltages from 5 VDC to 240 VAC.

The relays are available pre-assembled in a DIN–mount socket, and this universal AC/DC socket includes built-in surge suppression and a green LED Indicator. The entire socket and relay assembly is UL listed, and a release lever is included for easy locking and removal of the relay.

The 14mm-wide RV8H compact relay family features high dielectric strength and impulse withstand voltage, and all DC input relays are protected from reverse polarity. Either screw type or spring clamp terminations can be specified. The operating temperature range is -40ºC to 70°C, and all versions are RoHS compliant.

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Are your clients using green energy?

Maybe not, according to the FTC

 
Let’s talk about your solar clients, and how they aren’t really your solar clients.

Well, that’s half true. They may be your clients because they paid you, I hope. But are they your solar clients? Turns out, the FTC says your customers can only speak or print words like, “I’m using solar energy,” if they own the RECs, or Renewable Energy Certificates, that go along with their system.

RECs were a major topic at Renewable Energy Markets 2015, a conference in Washington, D.C., that I attended last month. According to the EPA, RECs assign property rights to the environmental, social and other non-power qualities of renewable electricity generation. RECs were created more than a decade ago to help stimulate the solar market.

Importantly, the EPA goes on, a REC can be sold separately from the underlying physical electricity associated with a generation source. In other words, the idea of a solar system and the electricity it creates are separate commodities, and each can be sold independently. Large corporations, such as Google, Apple and Starbucks, purchase RECs to offset their carbon footprints and show they are “green.” A big problem (at least among the companies that deal in RECs and the FTC) called “double counting” occurs when the owner of a system’s RECs and the owner of the actual, physical system each claim the non-power benefits of the same array.

Confused? Let me offer an example: Joe Sunny installs a 250-kW system on the roof of his business. He proudly advertises this fact on his website. Joe Sunny doesn’t know about RECs, and why would he? There is a good chance the standard contract Joe signed with his contractor gave away his right to them. Nevertheless, he tells all his friends, family and customers that he is creating his own solar energy. It sure seems like it, too: He’s getting credits on his electricity bill. He feels good about his contribution to the health of the planet. And the array has been a good marketing tool, landing him a business deal.

The problem is, if Joe Sunny doesn’t own the RECs for his system, he just landed that deal in direct violation of Federal Trade Commission rules. And if someone, perhaps his competitor or a website reader, complains to authorities, he could receive a warning letter in the mail. If he fails to change his “messaging,” legal consequences can follow from the FTC or the party that actually owns the RECs. From now on, according to the FTC, Joe Sunny will have to tell his potential customers, friends and family that he “provides the physical space for the production of clean to furrow brows.

Is this right, wrong, somewhere in between? Let us know what you think on Twitter (@SolarPowerWorld). To learn more about RECs and making legitimate claims about the use of solar energy, find the FTC’s Green Guides on Google.

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Article by Chris Mader, codes and approvals support engineer, OMG Roofing Products

At last count, an estimated 4.5 GW of solar PV was in operation at commercial locations across the country, and much of it was roof mounted. While commercial roofs are appealing for many reasons, rooftop installations frequently create unforeseen challenges for the roofing system and potential problems for the building owner. It is therefore critically important for all parties involved, including engineers and installers, to fully understand commercial roofing systems, including their composition, in order to limit exposure and liability.

The first step is to understand how commercial roofs are built. While it may seem obvious, it’s important to recognize that the primary purpose of the roofing system is to protect the building asset by keeping water out.  Roof system warranties are issued by the OEM and are explicit in terms of liability—anything outside of a roof’s primary purpose is not covered. Therefore, some key issues to consider include:

Figure 1: The anatomy of a mechanically fastened single-ply roof on a commercial building. (Photo: OMG Roofing Products)

How will the PV system affect the roofing system over the life of the array?

How will increased traffic from installation and maintenance traffic affect the roofing system?

How will the PV system affect the roofing system manufacturer’s warranty?

Just because the structure itself can handle a ballasted array for 20 years doesn’t necessarily mean the roof system can. It is generally understood that the roof system needs to last for the entire life cycle of the solar array, but it is easy to overlook seemingly small details that can have huge impacts over the 20-plus year service life of the array.

The Anatomy of a Commercial Roof
The majority of commercial roofing systems in North America are mechanically attached. Mechanically attached roofs are secured to the substrate—a term used in roofing to describe the structural roof deck—using screws and “plates,” or oversized washers designed for the application. It’s important for installers to know what makes up the roof deck. While the majority of new roof decks in North America are steel, there are a myriad of other deck options, including gypsum, concrete and wood. Different deck types may require a different approach for designing, installing or securing solar rack systems.

Typically, a layer of rigid insulation is installed directly on the substrate (see Figure 1). The most popular type of flat roof insulation in North America is polyisocyanurate (iso), but other insulation options include extruded and expanded polystyrene (XPS and EPS, respectively). High density cover boards made from gypsum or high density iso are also used in some cases. While each has its own advantages and disadvantages, especially as it pertains to managing the installation and life cycle of a solar array, high density cover boards are generally better able to handle the additional traffic and compressive loading of a PV system. Furthermore, they may be important to use on installations where additional ballast is necessary or high foot traffic from maintenance or other operations is expected.

The top layer is the waterproofing cover. The market today is predominately single-ply materials including white thermoplastics (PVC or TPO) and black rubber (EPDM). Other roofing materials still prevalent in the commercial market include asphaltic materials called built-up roofing (BUR) or modified bitumen (Mod Bit). Understanding which specific roof type is installed can help determine the best method of attachment for maintaining the integrity of the roofing system.

Figure 2: Thermoplastic membrane seams are fused using a robotic hot-air welder to create a bond that can be stronger than the membrane itself. (Photo: Leister Technologies)

White thermoplastic materials represent the highest percentage of commercial roofs installed. The material is typically provided in rolls 10-ft wide by 100-ft long. The membrane is rolled out onto the insulation, mechanically fastened along the edge or seam. The next roll overlaps the fasteners and the seam is fused using hot air (at least 900°F) to create a bond that can be stronger than the membrane itself (see Figure 2).

Today’s roof-mounted solar rack systems are largely designed around ballast as the primary method for holding the solar array in place. This is because many building owners and installers assume that not penetrating the roof system is beneficial. While it is true that a purely ballasted array will not penetrate the roof, it should be understood that over the past 20 years, the commercial roofing industry has moved away from the once prevalent method of ballasting roofs due to excessive dead load weight on the structure, as well as the impact that wind can have on such systems. Furthermore, many of today’s commercial buildings cannot structurally handle solar arrays secured entirely with ballast, as the amount of ballast required exceeds the structural capacity of the building. A value engineered building that meets code minimums will likely fall short when evaluated for a purely ballasted array. In these situations, using mechanical attachments may allow the contractor to reduce or eliminate ballast from the project.

The option to structurally secure solar arrays is a point of discussion throughout the industry. Building owners want to avoid having holes cut into their roof system because of leak concerns. However, some roof-mount products are designed specifically to avoid having to core the roof down to the structural deck. These new style mounts are secured to the structural roof deck in a manner that is consistent with how the roofing system was originally installed (see Figure 3). Securing these roof-mounts to the structural deck and heat welding them in place not only helps eliminate rack movement on the roof (even fully ballasted rack systems move around on the roof, likely impacting the life expectancy of the roofing material), but also remains watertight if catastrophic failure occurs, depending on the specific roof-mount used (Figure 4).

The alternative of simply welding a roof-mount to the waterproofing cover may not be the best long-term solution. Remember, the primary role of the waterproofing layer is to keep the building dry, and the roof system was not intended to resist the point loads introduced by these mounts.

Last, but not least, contractors must understand whether the roof in question is under warranty. Typically, building owners purchase a long-term warranty for their new roof. Such warranties usually include an “overburden” clause whereby installing things like solar rack systems without first notifying the roof system manufacturer will void the roofing warranty. It’s always a good idea to understand whether the roof is under warranty. If it is, you should determine the process for having the solar system included. Most roofing system manufacturers will work with you to ensure the roof remains under warranty.

Contractors installing solar PV on commercial buildings have a responsibility to understand not only how best to approach the project, but also how to avoid down-stream issues. Having a sound understanding of commercial roofing systems and practices will go a long way in helping to provide your customer with a system that will work for the long term.

Figure 3: Some new style mounts are secured to the structural roof deck in a manner that is consistent with how the roofing system was originally installed, and can help to reduce or eliminate ballast.

Figure 4: Some mounts are designed to remain watertight even if a catastrophic failure occurs.

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As the solar industry continues to mature, the expectations of PV systems grow.

“It is no longer enough for a PV system to produce energy,” explained Peter Mathews, SolarEdge’s North America general manager. “It needs to be a smart system that can measure, display and monitor different indicators of a system’s performance.”

Inverters do measure the AC production from a PV system and usually display this information on screens, but Mathews said these measurements are typically only +/-5% accurate. This is where revenue-grade sub-metering systems can help.

“Installing a meter can provide higher accuracy and enable measurements to be read on a monitoring platform, which can be connected to the meter directly or through the inverter,” Mathews said.

Many states even require these more rigorous specifications on production measurements, often referred to as “revenue grade.” There are two main types of specifications: ANSI C12.1-2008 (+/- 2%) and ANSI 12.20-2010 (+/- 0.5%). Revenue-grade measurements are deemed accurate enough for billing, which is important when a system owner wants to take advantage of performance-based incentives such as SRECS, or if the AHJ or electric utility requires a revenue-grade meter. Other terms for revenue grade include revenue-grade metering (RGM) and performance based incentive (PBI).

Revenue-grade meters connect to the AC output side of the solar inverter, which converts direct current from the PV system to alternating current synchronized with the utility grid. The meter provides energy and power data by measuring both the current and the voltage at the inverter output. Revenue-grade meters are also used to measure and monitor the energy and power that is flowing into and out of the grid, which is important because some utilities limit the AC power that may be fed into the grid.

“Installers and customers alike are requiring more features from their solar installations and sub-metering systems, such as remote access to real-time data,” said Cynthia A. Boyd, director of sales and marketing at Continental Control Systems, which manufactures the WattNode revenue-grade meter. Revenue-grade meters can work with smart-inverters to provide grid support functions through measuring bidirectional power, demand, peak demand, reactive power, voltage, current, power factor and line frequency. “For example, the WattNode can provide updates quick enough to enable a smart-inverter to instantly adjust the power going to the grid to avoid exceeding the utility’s maximum power limit. Timely power reporting to the inverter has become an important element in smart-grid management.”

Meters can be installed externally or embedded into an inverter. Mathews said there are advantages to each approach. “In the current business model, contractors commonly install the inverter and then a separate external meter for revenue-grade measurements. This allows more freedom in selecting the meter type,” he said.
However, Mathews added that the benefits of using an embedded meter outweigh the flexibility installing externally offers. “Inverters with meters embedded during manufacturing offer simpler installation and seamless operation between the meter and inverter,” he explained. “This also eliminates the need for additional components and labor on site.”

SolarEdge, partnering with Continental Control Systems, is one of the first inverter manufacturers to include a built-in revenue-grade meter. The embedded WattNode meter offers high-accuracy production monitoring through the inverter display and the cloud. Once in the cloud, the data can be accessed via the SolarEdge module-level monitoring portal or third-party tools through an API. The production information can also be accessed from the inverter itself with a wired connection using an industry specification called SunSpec.

“Easy access to the revenue-grade data is also becoming increasingly important,” Mathews explained. “It is particularly useful if the information from the meter can also be easily transmitted from the inverter to the cloud.”
As inverters are managing more aspects of PV systems, such as metering, safety and grid interaction, Mathews and Boyd expect to continue to see enhanced functionality embedded into the inverter. SPW

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IHS reports the United States continues to be the biggest market for microinverters and power optimizers, due to its booming residential and commercial markets. IHS forecasts U.S. market will increase by 76%, reaching just under 1.8 GW in 2015.

Solar modules in an array are connected in a series, like batteries. The array is producing optimally when all modules are performing the same. But what happens when temperature changes, or fall leaves, winter snow or shade covers part of a module, causing it to underperform? The module not only outputs less energy, it can also heat up and drag down the performance of the other modules by constricting the flow of energy through the array. This can cause the array to lose power. However, this is where power optimizers can help.

Power optimizers are DC/DC converters attached at the module level. Installers can connect optimizers on-site, or manufacturers can connect them to the module in the factory, replacing the traditional junction box. Power optimizers can correct for module “mismatch” by allowing each module to function at its maximum power point (MPP) and then converting the energy to the optimal voltage and current for the array. This enables the entire array to harvest more energy.

“Optimizers increase the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of inverters,” Mark Kanjorski of Ampt told Solar Power World in a podcast. Optimizers constantly monitor the array voltage and current and work to mitigate mismatch effects so that each module can operate at its maximum power level. This results in optimal energy harvest. “Higher MPPT resolution or granularity helps the system recover more energy that would otherwise be lost from electrical imbalances due to environmental mismatches. This results in greater energy production.”

Traditional inverters monitor the AC output side of the array and in some cases may provide string level data. However, they do not provide enough data to detect problems at the module level and maintain production levels. This can lead to energy losses that are invisible to system owners and difficulties in diagnostics for maintenance personnel. Power optimizers, in combination with a monitoring system, can provide greater transparency into system performance, pinpointing any issues from a remote location. This enables more efficient maintenance and higher system uptime.

“Power optimizers perform monitoring at the module level so you can see the performance of each individual module,” said Peter Mathews, North America General Manager at SolarEdge.

Power optimizers in combination with a fixed string voltage inverter also enable more flexible system design with fewer components.

“Power optimizers only deploy minimal electronics on the rooftop to handle the MPPT and DC to DC conversion, leveraging a centrally located inverter at the end of the string,” said Mathews. “This allows installers to reduce hardware, improve reliability, and slash costs. By eliminating any string-design constraints that would decrease the size of a PV system, power optimizers also allow designers to install more modules on the rooftop. For installers, this means increased revenues. For end-users, the added system output equates to lower electricity bills.”

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NEXTracker, a Flex company, has announced that it expanded its manufacturing presence in Brazil to meet regional demand for the company’s smart, connected, and proven solar trackers.  Leveraging Flex’s manufacturing base in Sorocaba, São Paulo State, and supported by over 9,000 Brazilian Flex employees, NEXTracker is now in a position to provide a Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) compliant version of its product to solar farm developers and EPCs interested in accessing the local development bank credit lines, as well as to service the region with local spare parts inventory and technical support.

“NEXTracker is thrilled to be supporting our customers with projects in Brazil by producing and installing hundreds of MW’s of solar trackers locally,” said NEXTracker CEO Dan Shugar.  “Brazil represents the next frontier in Latin American solar deployment, and opening a NEXTracker Brazil office with Flex positions us to serve this very important market.”

Brazil’s federal energy planning authority (EPE) recently doubled its forecast for installed capacity to 7GW by 2024, owing to the result of the country’s initial solar auctions.

“NEXTracker’s experience and innovative products, coupled with Flex’s manufacturing expertise, operational discipline and financial strength is exactly what is needed to help Brazil achieve its solar energy goals,” said Nelson Falcão, NEXTracker Country Manager.  “The product features and executive experience will enable our customers to have successful projects, while contributing to the Brazilian economy by adding solar jobs.”

A solution for commercial, industrial and utility-scale solar power systems, NEXTracker is now being used in a significant percentage of grounded-mounted PV projects, with over 100 MW per week of current shipments. NEXTracker’s fewer foundations and assembly points help mitigate geotechnical risk and accelerate project construction schedules. With independent rows and high slope tolerance, NEXTracker minimizes site preparation costs while providing the flexibility to install up more solar power per site. NEXTracker ensures key mechanical and electrical tracker components (such as the motor, drive and controller) are safely above the ground with a minimum of 36” clearance – enabling proper vegetation management and allowance for flood and snow conditions.  NEXTracker’s enhanced construction tolerances, self-grounding and self-powered design provide valuable savings in labor and materials. The tracker’s wide rotational range and advanced tracking algorithms provides a significant energy yield gains, of 15 to 30% more energy, compared to non-tracking solar arrays in sunny areas.

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On Saturday, November 21, when Austin Habitat for Humanity celebrates the grand opening of their new ReStore and Community Home Center, it will be quietly powered by solar energy. Austin Habitat for Humanity (AHFH) partnered with local solar developer, Meridian Solar, to install a 254 kW system on the roof of the newly renovated facilities.

Meridian Solar, one of the oldest solar developers in the state of Texas, was responsible for designing, engineering, installing, and commissioning the turn-key, roof-mounted system. The 1,081 solar modules will reduce energy costs and are expected to generate enough energy to offset the carbon emissions associated with 270 tons of carbon dioxide each year.

Solar energy is complementary to the efforts that will take place within the new ReStore. As a recycling initiative, the ReStore has diverted 17 million pounds of reusable materials from landfills by selling donated building materials, furniture, appliances, and fixtures to the community at a discount.  All revenue from the ReStore is then cycled back into funding the building of homes, communities, and hope for low-income Austin families.

“Austin Habitat for Humanity is an excellent case study for demonstrating direct and indirect benefits of distributed generation. Its investment in solar directly reduces its utility cost obligations, which in turn liberate financial resources that can be applied towards their mission of strengthening our community,” explains President and Founder of Meridian Solar, Andrew McCalla.

“Our commitment to sustainability is comprehensive,” CEO of Austin Habitat for Humanity, Phyllis Snodgrass, says. “Homeownership opportunities create enduring futures; the ReStore recycling initiative preserves the environment; the Home Repair Program facilitates stable living conditions. Now, with the support of Meridan Solar, we are able to deepen this commitment by focusing on sustainable energy.”

The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening of the new ReStore and Community Home Center on Saturday, November 21, at 500 W Ben White Boulevard.

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Sollega supplied its FastRack ballasted mounting system for the installation of a 616.5 kW commercial rooftop solar array at Fremont Delta Products American Headquarters. Delta opened its doors to a gleaming new 180,000-squarefoot office building that executives say is among the greenest in the region.

“Our old building was just too small,” said M.S. Huang, president of Delta Products Corp. The new facility – which is mostly office space – can handle up to 500 workers, though about 200 currently work there.

Not only will this achievement rank Delta’s Facility as a Building precursor in renewable energy, but will also function to stabilize and increase the independence of their company’s energy needs.

The FastRack510 (FR510) was selected to mount a total of 2,464 DelSolar 250W modules. The one-piece FR510 requires no assembly, and it’s universal design allowed Rodda Electric to install the PV modules, with the same simple and intuitive installation procedure. The high array density of the FR510 enabled Delta Coporation to reach their production goals. The non-corrosive injection molded Ultramid material used to make the FastRacks was a perfect fit for this projects proximity to San Francisco Bay.

Rodda Electric, one of the North Californian leading commercial electrical contractors, was able to install the system at an average rate of 2 kW per person per hour. Rodda Electric offers a wide variety of electrical services, from design and installation to maintenance and technical services.

Sollega’s flexible wire-management system and 8” roof clearance made stringing modules easy. Delta’s HQ achieved a LEED Platinum rating. The building incorporates the most efficient energy systems, HVAC, lighting and air quality standards in the industry.

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Irvine-based Solar Solutions provider ecoSolargy has installed a solar system on the roof of the headquarters of Command Access Technologies, a Yorba Linda company that manufactures electric locks and related equipment; it is the first commercial solar system in the City of Yorba Linda. The 368 ecoSolargy Titan solar panels will produce 165,670 kilowatt hours of electricity annually and will save Command Access Technologies $1.1 million in electricity costs over the next 25 years.

“With generous government incentives available, companies such as Command Access Technologies are finding that solar systems can be installed inexpensively and will dramatically reduce their monthly electricity bills,” said Alan H. Lee, CEO of ecoSolargy. Lee estimated that Command Access Technologies would save $25,000 in its first year, and increasing amounts in following years as electricity costs increased.

Incentives include the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which gives a 30% tax credit to companies which purchase solar systems. The ITC will expire on December 31, 2016, and for solar systems to qualify, they must be completed by December 31, 2016.

Other tax incentives that can be combined with the 30% ITC include the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS), which allows a company to depreciate the system over 5 years, as opposed to the traditional 20 years. The ITC and MACRS together can pay for over 60% of the cost of installing a solar system. That is over 60% of the system cost recovered without even factoring savings on the utility bill.

Lee continued, “These companies are also pleased to be making a positive contribution to the environment, as solar energy is clean energy and does not pollute.”

Martin Brix, Director of Commercial PV at ecoSolargy, noted that the Command Access Technologies solar system was designed to address its specific energy needs. The project began with an extensive energy study which outlined how and when the energy was being consumed.

He said, “It’s not always about offsetting the entire electricity usage of a client, but about finding the proper balance between use and expense. Our goal is to create a solution that optimizes energy production benefits and minimizes cost.”

Brix noted that ecoSolargy was working on other commercial projects throughout Southern California.

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Ingeteam has supplied its PV inverters to the recently-inaugurated PV solar plant in Moquegua, located in southern Peru. This plant, which was recently inaugurated by the country’s President, Ollanta Humala, occupies a surface area of 134 hectares and represents an investment of more than 35 million euros.

With an estimated annual energy production of 45,000 MWh, the plant is expected to meet the annual energy demand of some 20,000 homes.

This order has enabled Ingeteam to gain a foothold in the Peruvian PV market, a market which has strong solar energy potential.

Some four hundred workers were employed in the construction of this plant, which they managed to complete in just seven months. SolarPack was responsible for the development and construction of the plant. The Ingeteam supply comprised ten 1.8 MW power stations, designed to comply with all the requirements of the country’s grid code. Thus, aiming at satisfying all the requisites of the Committee for the Economic Operation of the System (COES), Ingeteam also supplied its EMS (Energy Management System) in order to implement the power plant control.

To date, Ingeteam has supplied more than 34 GW to its customers within the renewable energy sector, confirming its position as one of the world’s leading power converter manufacturers.

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The KACO new energy Group expects 200 million Euro in annual sales in 2015, almost double its 2014 numbers.

In a difficult environment business for European manufacturers, the KACO new energy Group–comprising of a headquarters in Neckarsulm, Germany, and subsidiaries in South Korea and the United States–has increased its annual sales to almost double the previous year. KACO new energy USA nearly tripled its annual sales. That means that the German inverter manufacturer has done what many competitors have failed to achieve, allowing KACO new energy to emerge strengthened from the crisis of the European PV market. KACO new energy is therefore looking optimistically to 2016, in which it is striving to achieve further growth and annual sales of 250 million Euro.

The most important reasons for the positive 2015 financial statement comes from two factors: good growth in the North American and Asian Pacific markets, and continued growth in the more complex European market. The three parts of the group benefit from a comprehensive product range, which is tailored exactly to meet the real needs of today’s PV customers.

This positive business dynamism shows that the KACO new energy re-structuring and further development measures implemented in the course of the 2020 Vision are taking hold. Amongst other things, these include cooperation with competent manufacturing and sales partners, such as in Saudi Arabia or Thailand; a sophisticated, cost-efficient service strategy, and focused reinforcement of the team in growth markets. These measures are also accompanied by general cost-savings in all company divisions.

Good, solid house-keeping at all times, as well as the timely decisions to set up production and sales in the three major global PV regions have definitely proven themselves to be right: alongside the German Headquarters in Neckarsulm, conducting business principally in EMEA, facilities in San Antonio, Texas, and Seongnam, South Korea, constitute the pillars of the company’s success these days. Evidence of this can be seen from the fact that KACO new energy Asia succeeded in exporting 15 Powador XP 500-HV TL to the Japanese market, which is difficult to access, in addition to the 25 that it exported to Thailand. These 20 MW systems, complete with fittings, account for
3 million US dollars in the Asian Pacific region alone.

So what does 2016 have in store? Above all, new highly-competitive products for the residential, commercial and utility sectors, including the award-winning blueplanet ultraverter, based on advanced technological development. In addition, there will be integrated solutions, and compact inverters for PV power plants.

There is now great demand worldwide for providing residential estates with PV-generated electricity and heating, such as in the demonstration project which was successfully completed in the Baden-Württemberg town of Weinsberg. They require inverters larger than typical residential units, but smaller that grid-scale inveters.

KACO CEO Ralf Hofmann promises: “In a time of faceless mass-produced goods, our customers worldwide can continue to rely on top ‘Made in Germany’ quality.”

Solar Power World

Solar Power World

University of California (UC), Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi and SunPower representatives today are dedicating the university’s newly constructed 16.3-megawatt (AC) solar power plant. The new plant, which is estimated by UC Davis to generate 14 percent of the campus’ total electricity needs, is the largest solar installation in the UC system and the largest “behind the meter” solar plant on a U.S. college campus off-setting electricity demand. The university expects to reduce the campus’ carbon footprint by nine percent, or 14,000 metric tons, as a result of the system.

“This is a compelling example of how, with partners such as SunPower, we at UC Davis are reducing our carbon footprint,” said Katehi. “By taking steps to aggressively reduce our carbon emissions, we can set an example to the nation and the world of what can be achieved when we combine political will with science and innovation.”

Located on a 62-acre site south of Interstate 80, the plant was designed and built by SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR), which also owns and operates the project and sells the power generated to UC Davis.

“UC Davis has a singular vision for integrating sustainable energy solutions,” said Howard Wenger, SunPower president, business units. “SunPower has been pleased to partner with the university, first on the landmark zero net energy UC Davis West Village community in 2011, and this year on the completion of the 16-megawatt plant we are celebrating today, the UC system’s largest operating solar power plant. SunPower is working with universities and colleges across the country that are increasing their reliance on solar power to support their sustainability goals and achieve the extraordinary long-term value SunPower systems deliver.”

At the site, SunPower installed a SunPower Oasis Power Plant system, a fully-integrated, modular solar power block engineered to rapidly and cost-effectively deploy utility-scale solar projects while optimizing land use. The technology includes robotic solar panel cleaning capability designed by a SunPower innovation team based near UC Davis and uses 75 percent less water than traditional cleaning methods and may improve system performance by up to 15 percent.

Solar power and renewable energy at UC Davis
Combined with other purchases of solar and hydroelectric energy, the plant is part of UC Davis’ plan to obtain 60 percent of its electricity needs from renewable and carbon-free sources by 2017, ahead of a state goal of 50 percent by 2020.

In addition to the new plant, UC Davis also has about another megawatt of solar power capacity from solar panels in campus parking lots and on buildings. The UC Davis West Village neighborhood has a separate power grid, including four megawatts of SunPower solar panels.

The University of California Office of the President announced last year that it will purchase more than 200,000 megawatt hours per year of solar energy to supply several campuses, including UC Davis. In 2013, UC President Janet Napolitano committed the University of California system to a goal of zero carbon emissions by 2025.

Solar Power World

Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ), one of the world’s largest solar power companies, today announced that it has won three solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totaling 110 megawatts (MWp) in Pirapora, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.  Canadian Solar will develop and build the solar power plants. Once connected to the grid, the electricity generated will be sold to CCEE (Camara de Comercializacao de Energia Eletrica), under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement at R$300/MWh (approximately US$78.8/MWh). The three projects are targeted to reach commercial operation by late 2018.

“We are very excited to announce another win in Brazil, that increases our pipeline to 384MWp in this important emerging market,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar. “It is another testament of our strong capabilities in developing global solar power projects and further strengthens our position as a tier 1 global player in the solar energy business.”

Founded in 2001 in Canada, Canadian Solar is one of the world’s largest and foremost solar power companies. As a leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules and a provider of solar energy solutions, Canadian Solar has a geographically diversified pipeline of utility-scale power projects. In the past 14 years, Canadian Solar has successfully deployed over 12 GW of premium quality modules in over 70 countries around the world.

Solar Power World

Webinar photo courtesy of Borrego Solar

Thursday, December 10, 2015
2:00pm EDT / 11:00am PDT

Three prominent solar mounting companies will discuss a few of the most difficult solar projects they’ve encountered so far, in terms of engineering and installation, and then tell how they made it work.

Join engineers from SunLink, Mounting Systems and Applied Energy Technologies (AET) as they recall challenging project situations and the innovative thinking that brought more solar energy to the grid.

Sponsored by:
SunModo

Solar Power World