Commercial energy storage activity is currently consolidated in just a handful of leading regions, but falling system costs will be a major factor enabling broader global market growth. For the first time, South Korea, Japan and the United States will each exceed a record 100 MW of annual energy storage installations in 2015. These three countries will account for 59 percent of global installations by 2016, but deployment will also increase in other regions in the next five years, according to IHS Inc., the leading global source of critical information and insight.

“South Korea, Japan and the United States are forecast to account for the majority of combined global installations next year, which shows just how few countries are currently experiencing significant commercial deployment of energy storage,” said Sam Wilkinson, solar supply-chain and energy storage analyst for IHS Technology. “Most other global markets currently remain firmly in the test, pilot and demonstration phases.”

Led by price declines in lithium ion (li-ion) batteries, system prices have fallen significantly over the last few years, according to the Grid-Connected Energy Storage Report from the IHS Energy Storage Intelligence Service. Average li-ion battery prices fell 53 percent, between 2012 and 2015, and by 2019 they are forecast to again decline by half again.

Storage inverters, power conversion systems (PCS) and other components will also experience significant competition in the coming years, and prices are expected to fall quickly. In fact, for a typical 30-minute duration utility-scale li-ion system, more than 60 percent of the total reduction in system costs between 2013 and 2019 will come from the balance-of-plant equipment, rather than from batteries alone. “The breakdown of system costs, and the future evolution of prices, varies significantly depending on whether the system is configured to provide a high-power or high-energy application,” Wilkinson said, “but battery costs will continue to decline over the next five years.”

Solar Power World

On Oct. 23, just miles from the center of Hurricane Patricia, the most powerful tropical cyclone ever measured in the Western Hemisphere, with maximum sustained winds reaching an unprecedented 200 mph, an Everest fully ballasted S Dome system installed in Manzanillo, Mexico, secured the Solar PV array in place without problem. The system (5.5 kW made up of 22 250-W solar panels) didn’t suffer any damages and continued working as designed without having to be adjusted after the storm.

The impressed project developer Francisco Javier Barba Robert from Mayoreo Iluminacion says that our system was the only fully ballasted system, that didn’t have any attachments to the roof nor had to be taken down before in order to save it from damages.

“Thankfully we don’t experience Category 5 hurricanes often, but is a great feeling to know that the effort our team has put into engineering and thoroughly testing our mounting systems provide real benefits to our partners, integrators and their customers”, commented Andy Neshat, CEO of Everest Solar Systems.

Yusef Kanchi, DMSolar, explained: “With products like this and a high quality organization backing it, it is no surprise that the DMSolar – Everest partnership has resulted in the highest selling and most trusted mounting solution on residential systems in our country.”

The S Dome is a leading solar racking product for flat roofs. The fully ballasted solution is part of the Everest Solar Systems catalog of products for flat and pitched roofs, all of which are tested to industry standards.

Please visit the link to a video of the install of the Everest S Dome with all its components, which were provided by our distributor DMSolar in Guadalajara (Sales and video producer: Luis Jose de los Santos).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCkMoIXSO-A&feature=youtu.be

Solar Power World

Standard Solar, a leading solar energy company specializing in the development and financing of solar electric systems nationwide, completed installation of a 265-kW garage-top solar canopy for developer Federal Realty Investment Trust. The seven-level, 566 parking space garage is part of Pike & Rose, the developer’s new mixed-use residential, retail and office project in Rockville, Maryland.

The 855-panel array, expected to produce 226,500 kWh a year, will offset approximately 30 percent of the energy required to power the garage and the multiple electric vehicle charging stations.

“As the tallest and most visible renewable energy project on Rockville Pike, this project was an especially exciting one for us,” said Scott Wiater, president of Standard Solar. “And, even better, the garage-top solar canopy will be an ever-present reminder of the power and value of solar energy to the thousands of people who park in the garage or see it as they drive by the structure.”

The project, including the solar canopy and the electric vehicle charging stations, was funded in part through a “Parking Lot Solar Photovoltaic Canopy with Electric Vehicle Charger Program” grant from the Maryland Energy Administration.

Completed in October, the project was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 18.

Solar Power World

HiQ Solar, a U.S.-based innovator in PV inverters,announced the appointment of Russell Pacific as a Value Added Reseller of TrueString products. Russell Pacific manufacturers custom DC and AC wiring harnesses with integrated wire management features specifically for HiQ 208V and 480V inverters making the HiQ line inverters the fastest and easiest commercial inverters to install available.

“We search for ‘no apology technology’ products, unique offerings in the marketplace. The TrueString breaks the mold for inverters, and we’re pleased to offer custom services around it to help customers lower their BOS costs,” said Eben Russell, founder of Russell Pacific.

“We were impressed with Eben’s team, and their knowledge and commitment to our products”, said Dr. Lutz Henckels, CEO of HiQ Solar, “I believe they will be great partners for us.”

Solar Power World

Trina Solar Limited announced that its accumulative shipments since 2005 have exceeded 15 GW as of the end of Q3, 2015, marking a significant milestone for the company.

Trina Solar’s efforts in expanding its presence in key markets across the globe, leveraging on its innovative high-quality solar products, strong sales network and brand recognition, have enabled the company to capture numerous opportunities as solar is becoming one of the world’s major sources of electricity. With the support of its worldwide customers, the company has increased its market share from approximately 1% in 2005 to more than 10% anticipated in 2015.

Solar Power World

Array Technologies(ATI) has announced the commissioning and completion of the tracking system for the 71 MW-ac Red Horse 2 combined wind and solar project, which is expected to provide power for 13,500 Arizona homes.

The plant generates energy from Vestas V110 wind turbines and 75 MW-dc of Jinko solar modules, whose power output is optimized by Array Technologies’ DuraTrack^® HZ single-axis trackers. The Red Horse 2 project is one of the first combined wind and solar sites in the country.

Built by veteran engineering, procurement and construction company (EPC) Swinerton Renewable Energy, the project’s construction was completed ahead of schedule with the solar plant, including trackers, built and commissioned in only 35 weeks. With commissioning activities completed, the site is now fully operational and has reached its commercial operation date (COD).

Tucson Electric Power (TEP) will buy the energy generated by the site under a 20-year power purchase agreement, with Swinerton responsible for site operations and maintenance. An affiliate of D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments, L.L.C. (DESRI) acquired and financed the project in August 2014.

“We are pleased to partner with Swinerton Renewable Energy to deliver the solar industry’s lowest levelized cost of electricity. Our partnership is focused on providing the highest power plant value to DESRI and other like-minded companies who drive the growth of solar across the country,” said Thomas Conroy, president of ATI. “The wind and tracked solar Red Horse 2 project combines wind’s ultra-low generation cost with tracked solar’s lowest cost peaking generation option. Since the wind and tracked solar seasonal and hourly output profiles are largely complementary, the variability of each resource is mitigated while providing low cost new generation capacity to Tucson Electric Power.”

Solar Power World

Photo: Circular Energy

The Settlement Home for Children in Austin, Texas is now powered by solar thanks to Circular Energy and a generous donation from the Moody Foundation.

Completed in early November 2015, Circular Energy designed and installed a 72.32 kW solar energy system for The Settlement Home, a non-profit organization that provides care, support and resources for individuals with histories of severe trauma, abuse and neglect. The addition of this solar energy system serves the non-profit’s environmental initiatives while also helping them reduce energy costs.

The Settlement Home’s new solar panel installation will produce more than 101,000 kilowatt-hours in its first year of operation, and will save the organization nearly $467,000 dollars over the next 25 years. It is designed to offset approximately 55% of annual energy costs, with Austin Energy’s Performance-Based Incentive increasing this figure to 90-95%.

“We are excited to get involved with such a worthwhile cause,” said Richard Estrada, Vice President of Circular Energy. “In addition to financial savings, the solar energy system will help The Settlement Home for Children reduce their carbon emissions by 1,628 metric tons, or the equivalent to over 1.7 million pounds of coal burned,” added Estrada.

The solar installation was made possible by a generous donation from the Moody Foundation. “For more than 70 years, the Moody Foundation has funded projects and programs that better communities in our great state of Texas. We at The Settlement Home are so very fortunate and thankful to receive the support of the Moody Foundation on our new solar energy system,” said Jacob Huereca, Operations Director at The Settlement Home for Children.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony has been planned for December 3rd to commemorate the kindness on behalf of the Moody Foundation which made this project possible. The event will take place at The Settlement Home for Children, 1600 Payton Gin Rd, Austin, TX 78758 at 2 PM.

For more information about Circular Energy’s solar installation for The Settlement Home for Children in Austin, please visit http://www.circularenergy.com/project/the-settlement-home-for-children/.

Solar Power World

UGE International Ltd. is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding equity shares of Endura Energy Project Corp., a leading Toronto-based renewable energy company.

“UGE is growing quickly in the commercial solar sector, both in North America and in key international markets,” said Nick Blitterswyk, CEO of UGE.  “By combining our traditional strengths in sales, marketing, and project finance, with Endura’s strengths in engineering and project implementation, we are taking another significant step towards market leadership in this sector.  On a combined basis we look forward to a profitable 2016 as we continue to experience high growth rates in this fast growing sector.”

UGE stated that it plans to leverage Endura’s project implementation platform to expand its capabilities and accelerate renewable energy project deployment in each of its key markets, which have traditionally included the US, Panama, Philippines, and China.  With the acquisition, UGE will have a significant market share in Canada as well, as the country looks set to adopt more progressive clean energy goals.  The combined company will be led by Mr. Blitterswyk and retain its corporate HQ in New York City.  Cameron Steinman, President of Endura, will become Chief Strategy Officer of the combined entity.

“UGE offers an unparalleled platform for working with businesses to lower their energy costs through distributed generation. Working together, we will to continue to grow in Canada and Panama, while expanding UGE’s project delivery capabilities in the US, Philippines, and China.  In this fast growing industry, we’re proud to be part of the UGE family, and excited about the growth ahead,” stated Mr. Steinman.

Pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, UGE will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Endura from a numbered company controlled by Cameron and Alison Steinman, the founders of Endura. In consideration for the Endura Shares, UGE shall pay CAD$1 million in cash on closing of the acquisition, and shall issue 8,888,888 common shares of UGE to the Seller. A portion of the cash consideration of the transaction will be paid to Endura employees after closing. The Payment Shares will be subject to an escrow agreement providing for release of 25% of the Payment Shares on the closing date of the acquisition, and 25% on the next three one year anniversaries of the Closing Date. The Escrow Releases may be adjusted downwards, with some Payment Shares cancelled, if certain revenue targets are not reached and if a key employee resigns from employment following the Closing Date. Pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, the Sellers shall be entitled to appoint one nominee director to the board of directors of UGE so long as the Seller holds at least 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of UGE.

The Closing Date is expected to occur in January, 2016.  The cash portion of the acquisition is expected to be paid through senior bank debt.

The acquisition of Endura will be an Arm’s Length Transaction (as such term is defined in Policy 1.1 of the TSX Venture Exchange’s Corporate Finance Manual).  Upon closing, the Founders will become Insiders of UGE and will hold indirectly through the Seller approximately 32% of the issued and outstanding common shares of UGE.

Solar Power World

JuiceBox Energy, a privately-held Silicon Valley company committed to providing safe, reliable, intelligent, and connected energy storage, announces the first Hawaii installation of its 8.6 kWh Energy Storage System with Rising Sun Solar on the island of Maui.

JuiceBox Energy partnered with Rising Sun Solar, one of Hawaii’s top home solar installers, to install the energy storage systems at the home of Brad Albert, Rising Sun Solar’s co-owner.

“By installing the JuiceBox Energy system at my own home, I’m showing my customers that I believe this is an invaluable product for Hawaii homeowners who want to guarantee utility approval, keep the lights on when the grid goes down and improve the return on their investment in solar.” said Brad Albert, co-owner of Rising Sun Solar. “Feedback from customers who have seen this system has been extremely positive, and we have now started selling JuiceBox Energy systems to our customers.”

With this residential JuiceBox installation, the owner will benefit from:

• Customer Self Supply – meet the requirements of the Hawaii Electric Companies for non-export PV plus storage
• Peak Shifting – shift excess solar production from daylight hours to night time and minimize or eliminate grid reliance
• Out-of-the-box integration to the XW+ inverter to eliminate in field programming
• Real-time monitoring and control through a cell modem and web interface
• Back-up power in event of grid outage

The JuiceBox Energy Storage System is an automotive-grade 8.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with proprietary charge control and energy management system coupled to the Schneider Conext XW+ inverter, which is now listed and approved for use in Hawaii. The battery management and system controller is designed for safe, reliable, long lasting control of the lithium-ion cells. It delivers over 4000 cycles and comes with a 10-year warranty. It also has redundant protection mechanisms to prevent over voltage, over current, under voltage and over temperature conditions. The system is designed to support grid-tied, grid isolated in the event of grid failure, and off-grid configurations. Each configuration delivers years of dedicated peak shifting, back-up power, energy efficiency and enables participation in emerging transactive energy exchanges.

A cellular gateway to a secure cloud-based repository enables remote monitoring, updates and control. The JuiceBox is housed in an indoor/outdoor UL-rated enclosure and is available in both AC-coupling and DC-coupling configurations to support both new and existing solar installations.

Solar Power World

REC, a leading global provider of solar energy solutions, inked a landmark partnership with Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Singapore that will see the home-grown Tiger Beer brewery make the leap towards solar energy.

In a pioneering Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), REC will provide clean energy for APB Singapore’s facilities. This agreement will see REC’s award-winning, high performance TwinPeak panels mounted across three rooftops at APB Singapore, making it the largest rooftop solar installation for HEINEKEN globally. APB Singapore is a HEINEKEN operating company.

At 2.196 megawatt peak (MWp), this solar installation is approximately four times the size of typical commercial solar installation projects. This collaboration represents HEINEKEN’s first solar installation project in the Asia Pacific region and is also one of REC’s biggest carbon-saving initiatives to date.

Scheduled to run for the next 25 years, this PPA will see APB Singapore generate 2.3 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy annually, enough to meet the annual power consumption of 600 four-room HDB households in Singapore. Generated through 8,038 REC solar panels that are made in Singapore and spanning an area equivalent of three FIFA football fields in size, the resulting renewable energy helps APB Singapore mitigate 1,500 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, reducing its carbon footprint by 20%.

“At APB Singapore, sustainability is very much a business imperative. This launch is a milestone in our journey towards Brewing a Better World, and through our PPA with REC, places us at the forefront of sustainability within the manufacturing industry here. We hope this partnership will pave the way for the future adoption of clean energy initiatives within the various commercial industries,” said Kenneth Choo, Managing Director, HEINEKEN Asia Pacific.

The renewable energy generated through this initiative dovetails APB Singapore’s sustainability efforts with the nation’s newly outlined environmental targets announced in July, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21, set for end November.

“The PPA model will change the way businesses view renewable energy. Through this model, REC absorbs the investment and maintenance costs of installing solar systems on rooftops. Building owners need only pay for the consumed solar energy generated from their roofs at an agreed rate which is fixed for the next 25 years,” said Steve O’Neil, Chief Executive Officer, REC.

Building upon its decades of experience, innovation and success to deliver high-quality products that are priced competitively to encourage the adoption of solar-generated power throughout Asia, O’Neil added: “We are delighted that APB Singapore has embarked on this journey with us. The adoption of solar technology allows our partner companies to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner for both people and the environment, and we believe this to be the first of many such upcoming partnerships as we help shape the future of sustainable energy adoption here and in other regions.”

APB Singapore is a leading brewing company in Singapore. The company’s portfolio of beers includes Tiger Beer, Heineken, Anchor Beer, Kirin, Erdinger, Kilkenny, Guinness Draught and Strongbow among others. APBS is now a HEINEKEN operating company.

Solar Power World

Solar Power World

As world leaders prepare to gather in Paris to discuss global sustainability goals, NRG Home Solar, one of the country’s leading residential solar companies, and Airbnb, the world’s leading community-driven hospitality company, announced a new partnership to increase the adoption of rooftop solar.

Through the collaboration, the companies will provide incentives to existing and new members of the Airbnb community to further increase the savings from going solar, and travel credits to encourage individuals to experience this more environmentally sustainable method of travel.

Studies have shown that home sharing, in comparison to staying in traditional accommodations, significantly reduces energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation.

“This is the perfect example of two like-minded companies teaming up to make solar more accessible to a sustainability-minded community, creating a social solution to the societal problem of climate change,” said Steve McBee, CEO & President, NRG Home. “It’s a first for our industry and will allow us to help more Americans generate clean, renewable power and in turn, cut their electricity costs.”

“There is a natural connection between home sharing and using your home to generate energy for your community,” said Joe Gebbia, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Airbnb. “This partnership is a win, win, win: it will allow hosts to generate supplemental income, reduce the carbon footprint for homeowners and provide travelers with a lodging option that is even more sustainable.”

This partnership is part of NRG Home Solar’s and Airbnb’s efforts to develop wide-ranging programs that increase the availability of rooftop solar, enabling more people to join the fight against climate change while reducing their utility bills.

Starting December 1, 2015 this program will be available in California and New York, with an intention to expand the offering to other states in the coming months.

Current Airbnb hosts who go solar with NRG Home Solar through this promotion will receive a rebate on their solar lease. The amount of the lease rebate will vary by location. Homeowners who both go solar and become new Airbnb hosts will receive the lease rebate as well as a travel credit from Airbnb to experience the company’s unique home sharing service.

If a current NRG Home Solar customer becomes an Airbnb host, they will also receive a travel credit from Airbnb to use on its platform. To receive an invitation to participate in the promotion, homeowners can visit go.nrghomesolar.com/airbnb

Solar Power World

Year-over-year global photovoltaic (PV) inverter shipments increased 35 percent in the first nine months of this year; however, prices fell 26 percent to $0.12 per watt. Although global prices are declining, 20 GW of inverters will ship in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2015, leading to 4 percent year-over-year revenue growth reaching $6.9 billion. Increased competition in China, the United States and other key growth markets — combined with stagnating markets in Japan and Germany — have exacerbated falling prices, according to IHS Inc., the leading global source of critical information and insight.

“The shift to utility-scale installations is changing the product mix and causing prices to fall,” said Cormac Gilligan, solar supply chain senior analyst for IHS Technology. “For example in the United States lower-priced large central inverters will account for an increasing share of inverter shipments over the next 15 months.”

The latest IHS PV Inverter Customer Insight Survey reveals a growing acceptance of Chinese inverters in recent years. In fact more than half (58 percent) of all PV inverter buyers noted that Chinese inverters offered acceptable levels of quality, compared to just 30 percent in 2013. The growing acceptance of lower-cost Chinese suppliers is contributing to the price pressure on the industry.

“Leading Western suppliers offer inverters that meet the latest grid codes and offer a high quality after-sales service,” Gilligan said. “Although Chinese inverters are gaining acceptance, in terms of quality, Chinese companies must still offer competitive pricing to be considered by customers in new markets.”

“Inverter buyers are concerned that Chinese inverters suppliers offer inadequate technical support and after-sales service,” Gilligan said. “As more customers realize Chinese inverters offer acceptable levels of quality, it is only a matter of time before they are selected as preferred suppliers by some of the leading solar lease suppliers and companies offering EPC services in the United States; however, while Chinese inverters are gaining acceptance, SMA Solar Technology was still the top brand globally for the fourth consecutive year.”

Solar Power World

NEXTracker, a Flex company, has announced the introduction of its quarterly tracker installation program, PowerworX Academy, commencing in Q1 2016.  PowerworX, a NEXTracker training program for solar project installers, delivers in-depth, hands-on installation training and techniques that engineering procurement contractors (EPCs) and installers can use in the field to install the solar industry’s most advanced tracker, NEXTracker Self Powered Tracker (SPT).  This new NEXTracker program is registered with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) for continuing education credits.

PowerworX Academy sessions will be held at NEXTracker headquarters in Fremont, CA on Feb. 19, May 20,  Aug. 19,  and Nov. 4, 2016.

“PowerworX is an extension of our core philosophy of providing our customers and partners superior support, products and installation expertise,” said Dan Shugar, CEO, NEXTracker.  “It is a point of pride that we’re able to share our design, engineering and operational experience with our customers and partners so they can leverage NEXTracker’s many benefits to maximize profits and power generation.  NEXTracker’s intelligent streamlined design, fewer foundations and unlinked rows ensure accelerated deployment – and deliver significant cost reductions throughout the entire installation process.”

“We’re pleased to be able to recognize the PowerworX training program for NABCEP Continuing Education Credits,” said NABCEP executive director Richard Lawrence.  “With this program, NEXTracker is meeting a need in the industry for technical training for PV professionals on the design and installation of tracking systems.”

VIDEO: Watch the PowerworX Academy video.

PHOTOS: Photos from that training can be viewed here.

NEXTracker’s PowerworX training is led by a cross functional team that instructs customers in the fundamentals and finer points of SPT design and installation.  Each training session attendee receives a certificate for eight NABCEP solar professional development credits.

The first NEXTracker PowerworX Academy was held in November 2015 in Fremont, CA. Participants included 28 solar professionals from industry-leading solar companies, including AMEC Foster Wheeler, Blue Oak Energy, Sol-Tek Solar, Moss and Associates.  Many of the participants in this initial hands-on academy had no previous experience installing trackers and learned firsthand how simple NEXTracker is to install.  And trainees familiar with tracker installation appreciated NEXTracker’s ongoing innovations and gained a better understanding of the company’s product, services and support features.

“Coming to NEXTracker and participating in a hands-on demonstration at their facility is terrific; they have a great venue where attendees can master field installation of their advanced trackers,” said Brad Wilson, Project Manager, Moss Solar.  “That’s what really sets PowerworX Academy apart.”

Solar Power World

The 2.7 MW solar array at FedEx’s facility in Hagerstown, MD consists of nearly 9,000 individual modules and offsets 37% of their electricity demand. Photo credit: FedEx

Growth in the use of solar energy has surged 183 percent among America’s top companies in the four years since the first Solar Means Business report was published. The study released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) also shows a 59 percent growth in solar installations since just last year.

For the fourth year in a row, Walmart ranked No.1 in the Solar Means Business report, which identifies major commercial solar projects and ranks top corporate solar users. The big box retailer, based in Bentonville, Ark., boasts a robust 142 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity at 348 locations.

Other top companies recognized for both their amount of solar capacity and number of solar installations include Kohl’s, Apple, Macy’s, Walgreens, Target, IKEA, Prologis, FedEx, Intel, General Motors, Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, Bed Bath & Beyond, Safeway, Hartz Mountain, Staples, L’Oreal, Kaiser Permanente and Toyota.

“These blue-chip companies have realized investing in solar is a common-sense, cost-effective decision that pays dividends for both the environment and their bottom lines,” said SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch. “Not only are they helping to create thousands of American jobs in solar, the nearly 1,700 systems currently in operation are generating enough clean, reliable electricity to offset nearly 890,000 metric tons of harmful carbon emissions a year.”

“Solar is an important part of our renewable energy program,” said Mark Vanderhelm, vice president of energy for Walmart. “We believe in advancing solar deployment by pursuing projects that make business sense.  In fact, in 2014 we committed to doubling the number of on-site solar energy projects at our U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs and distribution centers by 2020.  We’re excited about our continued work towards meeting that goal and appreciate being acknowledged by SEIA for these efforts.”

The report notes that growth in corporate solar adoption is no longer limited to traditional solar markets, but that “solar is a smart business decision wherever your business may be.”

Combined, America’s top corporate solar users installed 1,686 systems totaling 907 MW of solar. Representing a “Who’s Who” of the corporate world, these companies are playing an increasingly important role in the development, expansion and promotion of solar nationwide, while also reducing their operating expenses, benefiting customers and shareholders alike.

“Prioritizing renewable energy options like solar power at our facilities not only helps us reduce our spending on traditional energy but also reduces business risk and our impact on climate change,” said Rob Threlkeld, GM global manager of renewable energy. “As a result, we regained our ranking as the top automotive user of solar in the U.S.”

“Over the last decade, L’Oreal USA has been persistent in improving our environmental performance through innovative sustainability solutions,” said Jonathan Maher, Vice President of CSR & Sustainability at L’Oreal USA. “SEIA’s efforts to promote solar energy usage align with our approach to examine every opportunity to increase our solar output, as shown in the latest Solar Means Business ranking. Our significant solar capabilities and energy efficiency achievements are thanks to our dedicated employees and facilities, who continue to infuse social and environmental sustainability into every aspect of L’Oréal’s business.”

“FedEx is committed to connecting the world responsibly and resourcefully,” said Mitch Jackson, vice president of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, FedEx Corporation. “This includes minimizing impacts on the environment with our 15 solar installations, helping us avoid more than 4,600 metric tons of CO2 emissions in FY15, reducing our environmental footprint.”

“Solar energy is an integral part of Intel’s renewable energy portfolio, and we are committed to embracing, evaluating and implementing new projects and innovative learnings around the world,” said Marty Sedler, director of Global Utilities and Infrastructure at Intel Corporation. “Solar will continue to be a core part of our alternative energy solution because it provides leadership, helps spur the market, makes renewables more accessible, and reduces the overall carbon emissions from electricity generation directly used for our facilities.”

To read the report in full go to our multi-media landing page www.seia.org/solarmeansbiz. To see the complete rankings and learn more about the variations of commercial systems by both facility and array type go to: http://www.seia.org/sites/default/files/resources/KX84I2D13eSMB2015.pdf

Solar Power World

Renusol America, a provider of solar PV mounting solutions with systems installed across the U.S., announced that it has provided its “one size fits all” Renusol VS mounting system with pre-assembled components for the 200-kW solar power installation on the rooftop of Niner Estate Winery’s tasting room and restaurant in Paso Robles, CA.

The new installation is interconnected with an existing solar array and, together, they provide enough clean energy to power 100 percent of Niner’s 46-acre Heart Hill Vineyard, including the tasting room, restaurant and winery operations. Niner will save approximately $2 million over a 20-year period.

The Renusol VS system is part of a turnkey solar power solution put together and installed by REC Solar of San Luis Obispo, CA and RBI Solar in Cincinnati, OH.

Solar Power World

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have led to revolutions in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and grid storage, but still face limitations in cost and performance. While incremental improvements will extend their dominance into the next decade, a new generation of battery technologies are rising and will be worth $10 billion by 2030, according to Lux Research.

“Next-generation battery developers are pursuing technology improvements and mass-production scale-up, though incumbent Li-ion is still improving quickly, thanks to massive investments,” said Cosmin Laslau, Lux Research Senior Analyst and lead author of the report titled, “The Next-Generation Battery Roadmap: Quantifying How Solid-State, Lithium-Sulfur, and Other Batteries Will Emerge After 2020.”

“Companies with an important stake in the battery market should invest in next-generation batteries as well as advances in Li-ion, to make sure they maintain a strong position as the technology mix shifts,” he added.

Lux Research analysts created an adoption roadmap for next-generation batteries, quantifying the market for each technology, and ranking emerging battery developers on the proprietary Lux Innovation Grid. Among their findings:

Transportation market is hotbed for new battery tech. Next-generation batteries will see explosive growth after 2030: Lithium-sulfur will jump from $6 billion in 2030 to $29 billion in 2035, while solid-state batteries will climb from $3 billion to $42 billion over the same period.

Solid-state will win in electronics. Solid-state batteries will earn $12 billion from electronics in 2035, enjoying a 39% market share. Lithium-sulfur, meanwhile, will see no significant adoption in electronics, due to energy density issues, ceding ground to advanced Li-ion.

Lux Innovation Grid calls out leaders. Imprint Energy, which makes thin-film batteries for electronics, and rapid materials developer Ilika are the Dominant solid-state companies on the Lux Innovation Grid. The lithium-sulfur landscape is sparser, with Oxis Energy and Boulder Ionics earning positive takes from Lux.

The report, titled “The Next-Generation Battery Roadmap: Quantifying How Solid-State, Lithium-Sulfur, and Other Batteries Will Emerge After 2020,” is part of the Lux Research Energy Storage Intelligence service.

Solar Power World

Soltec Renewable Energies, a manufacturer and supplier of solar single-axis trackers, has opened an Innovation Center in Fremont, California. Soltec already had a sales and technical support presence in the U.S., but now has centralized its R&D department in North America, too.

The primary goal of the facility will focus on continuous improvement of electricity output, which is Soltec’s key advantage over the competition, and will also serve as a regional base for sales, engineering and logistics for Soltec America.

“Our task is to continuously improve our tracking technology to make it the simplest and most cost effective in the market. Our in-house electronics developments empower us to optimize our solutions while also making them more reliable. Increasing both reliability and performance is our constant goal,” said José Alfonso Teruel, Head of R&D at Soltec.

Soltec’s Innovation Center will be staffed with skilled engineers and technicians, and it will be a platform where customers can participate in building next generation Solar Tracking solutions.

“At Soltec, we are aware of the importance of R&D and innovation to offer superior technology products to serve our customers,” said Raul Morales, CEO of Soltec.

“Our customers realize how the use of our single-axis trackers has a dramatic impact on the ROI of their projects,” said Juan García, Soltec’s Sales Director North America. “The fact that our trackers can increase the power generation between 2% and 4% is a significant advantage for our clients. Aside from that, our PV-powered option, with fewer piles per MW and our superior adaptability to terrains with high slopes, reduces BOS costs significantly.”

Solar Power World

In a recent webinar Mara White, product manager for Outback Power discussed the huge opportunity for storage and the growth of the solar market. Here’s a lightly edited recap from the webinar transcript.  You can watch the full webinar here.

Storage is a critical part in the PV industry. Let’s examine how the energy storage market fits into solar, and some of the market drivers as we look forward through the next three years. 

Solar’s on a roll
U.S. PV is a $14 billion business, with more than 13,000 MW installed. There’s been more solar installed in the past 18 months than in the last 30 years. Ten years ago, a solar system was installed every 1.5 hours. Today there’s a system going in every four minutes. The adoption in recent years has mostly been driven by government incentives and aimed at promoting the adoption of renewable energy. 

On a global level, there are 55 GW of installed solar. Historically the market’s been dominated by Europe, or countries that have offered incentive schemes. A lot of the expected growth between now and 2018 is going to be in Asia and the Americas. In the market projects chart, there’s a little dip in America in 2017 due to the expiration of the ITC. This type of global view includes both grid connected and off-grid PV. Storage has historically been seen in the off-grid market, but that is expected to change as storage becomes more commonly used to back up grid-connected projects.

Storage as a market driver post-ITC
The development of storage for PV is essential to increase the ability of PV systems to replace existing energy sources. Annual PV storage installations are expected to grow from 50,000 MW to more than 70,000 MW by 2018, resulting in a $8.2 billion market.  Storage is anticipated to be a new market driver to help the PV industry stay consistent, and even pick up speed, post 2017.

Opportunities in solar plus storage
Currently, grid-connect systems with battery back-up only account for about 9% of the revenue from PV plus energy storage. But by 2018, these systems are projected to increase and drive 28% of solar storage revenue.

Energy storage can be deployed in most PV markets today, including residential, commercial and utility segments. Energy storage can reduce grid power usage at certain peak electricity demand times, helping drive down electricity bills for many customers. It can also be used to smooth system output to overcome grid integration challenges. This includes both new solar installations and those to be retrofitted with storage.

The biggest hurdle to solar plus energy storage
The cost of storage technology remains one of the biggest hurdles to incorporating it into solar.  However, energy storage is said to be where PV was six or seven years ago, and the factors that lead PV to mass affordability will have a similar effect on storage. Battery costs are declining due to dozens of start-up companies, new technologies and far safer and more efficient types of inverter and storage options.

Solar plus storage as a global transformation technology
Looking at the PV industry on a broader level, a list of disruptive technologies includes energy storage specific to renewable energy: IHS ranks the top 10 global technologies transforming the world as 10. artificial intelligence, 9. biometrics, 8. flexible displays, 7. sensors, 6. advanced user interfaces, 5. graphene, 4. energy storage and advanced battery technologies, 3. 3-D printing, 2. cloud computing and big data, 1. the internet of everything. Energy storage and advanced technologies will be critical to maintain the reliable electricity grid.

Solar Power World

In early 2015, extreme snowfall in the Northeast United States and Southeast Canada led to unexpected challenges for operators of solar plants. The solar irradiance map for the region doesn’t suggest exceptional conditions. In fact, Q1 2015 was a fairly sunny period, and a few cloudy, snowy days are to be expected.

What the map doesn’t account for is the record-breaking low temperatures and the heavy February snowfall that refused to melt.

The U.S. Q1 2015 solar irradiance map doesn’t show abnormal conditions, but it doesn’t show the heavy snowfall and cold temperatures that blanketed the Northeast region.

PV panels can cope quite easily with light snowfall; snow will naturally melt throughout the day as panels warm; however, when snow cover is significantly thicker, panels do not warm up sufficiently to shed snow, and it sticks around much longer.

In this situation, operators usually send a maintenance team to resolve the problem manually. While this solution works well, operators are often too quick to implement it. There are several factors one should consider before assigning maintenance funds to solutions that may fail to address the issue. For example, underperformance that may seem snow-related could be related to faulty equipment.

To determine whether a problem is definitely snow-related and not a result of equipment failure, operators can can go outside and look at the snowfall level or use an on-site weather station pyranometer to check irradiance measurements. In extreme weather conditions, these devices are likely to show erroneous results but will at least indicate weather and power production problems and alert operators to the possibility of heavy snowfall.

For sites without weather stations, or if an operator is looking for a backup for the station, an ongoing weather data feed can be installed. Providers of modeled datasets, like Vaisala, supply these. The weather data feed is paired with existing monitoring solutions and provides critical information in underperformance assessments.

To determine the type and thickness of snowfall on panels, the most obvious solution is to send someone out with a ruler. If there is no maintenance team on-site, it’s recommended to use  a road sensor: a piece of equipment commonly deployed in other sectors but designed specifically to measure snow and ice.

Road sensors can be used on solar projects to measure snow and ice levels on panels, so operations can make informed maintenance decisions.

Vaisala operates networks of sensors for road authorities in several areas known for extreme weather conditions, such as the Northeast. Knowing details of snow and ice conditions allows for mitigation efforts like salting or sanding roads. While it requires some creative thinking, these same sensors can be used to measure snow and ice levels on PV panels, which allows operators to make informed maintenance decisions.

Even if an issue is proven to be snow-related, immediately calling a maintenance team is not always the most cost-effective solution. If the weather looks to change dramatically over the next few days, an operator may choose to leave the snow on the panels, rather than pay the cost of sending out a maintenance team.

Costs depend on the system and its location. As an example, a 2.5-MW system in Massachusetts would make roughly $3,100 on a sunny day in Februrary. The cost for a team to remove the snow from the panels with a hot air blower would be $2,500. Project operators could argue that if the panels are covered in heavy snow again from a new storm the day after being cleared, the cost of sending in a maintenance team was not money well spent. On the other hand, there might be heavy rain on its way, which could clear the snow without the need for costly manual labor.

Specialized forecasters such as Vaisala can help operators make the most cost-effective decisions in these situations. Forecasts for a certain day and the next seven can be tailored to any given site. Meteograms for temperature and precipitation would give an operator warning of incoming rain storms or future snow cover.

A solar measurement station.

What’s more, these forecasters usually have historic datasets covering irradiance and weather variables from the last 10 to 20 years. This gives operators realistic expectations for future years on their solar park. Vaisala has snow data from 1997 onwards in the United States and can monitor trends to predict snowfall in any given part North America.

It is important that operators are fully aware of when underperformance comes as a result of snow cover and when it doesn’t. If all underperformance is written off as snow-related, other equipment problems can go unnoticed.

That’s why weather-adjusted performance analysis should be conducted regularly to ensure all problems can be properly categorized. Forecasting companies can provide weather resource data for operators to carry out this analysis themselves or can reforecast future performance, identifying areas for project improvement.

Extreme weather conditions do not need to undermine the performance of a functional park. As in the case of the road sensor, the onus is on solar plant operators to identify their biggest headaches and work with service providers to come up with innovative solutions. The first step always involves isolating the specific issue, since only when you know exactly what you’re dealing with can you find the solution that is going to work best for your team and your balance sheet.

This article is by Gwendalyn Bender, Product Manager for Energy Assessment at Vaisala.

Solar Power World