SCHURTER has expanded its CSO heavy duty fuse clip family with a cost-effective tin-plated version. The CSO clip, designed for 10.3-mm diameter fuses, is suitable for applications with voltages up to 1,500 Vac/Vdc and currents to 32 A. These unique characteristics are SCHURTER’s response to the increasing photovoltaic system voltage requirements.

The CSO clip is available in solder and screw/rivet versions. The solder version allows direct mounting on a printed circuit board by means of through-hole technology. The screw/rivet version provides additional flexibility for basic designs. Due to the special copper alloy all versions are characterized by a strong clamping force resulting in minimal power loss.

The CSO fuse clip is ideal for a wide range of PV and other DC applications including inverters, battery charge controllers, and string fuse holders. Furthermore, the CSO is well suited for applications in the industrial and mobile electronics sectors. The fuse clip conforms to RoHS specifications and is currently the only photovoltaic clip on the market with cURus approval.

SCHURTER also offers the ASO 10.3×38 PV fuse to fit the new CSO fuse clip. In addition, the fuse clip supports other fuses with a 10.3 mm diameter of any length. This includes, for instance, 10.3×85 mm fuses for higher voltages.

Solar Power World

Article by Erik Curren, CEO, Curren Media Group

Congrats—your solar company has accounts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. But do you have a social media plan to make the most of those platforms and grow your solar business?

Social media can be a good way to reach potential customers and other important audiences, especially for residential solar companies. Every day, more top residential solar installers are engaging with consumers on social media. For example:

• Sunnova, RGS Energy and Verengo Solar are on the big three social media sites—Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn—plus YouTube.
• SolarCity and Vivint Solar are on the usual services but also Google+.
• Baker Electric Solar might win the social media prize. Along with a presence on all five platforms mentioned above, they also engage on Pinterest, Yelp and a company blog (which counts as social media, depending on how you define it).

Even some commercial solar developers, such as HB White Canada and Borrego Solar, display links to social media accounts on their websites. All of which shows that solar companies are responding to the new climate for solar marketing, which is characterized by two recent developments:

1. Affordability and Competition: The falling cost of equipment plus more financing options including PACE, equipment leases and PPAs have made solar power, whether onsite or off, more affordable for homeowners, businesses and government alike. This has created more demand for solar, which has in turn attracted new players to the market. To try to beat rising competition, solar companies have gotten more creative (and sometimes more aggressive) in their marketing.
2. The Social Web: The advent of social media, such a big deal that pundits call it Web 2.0, has made possible true two-way communication between web publishers and their audiences. That means members of the public now expect home solar installers and other solar companies to listen to them and even answer their questions online.

Both of these developments have created a Wild West environment for solar marketing, especially on the residential side. In top solar markets such as California, New Jersey and Massachusetts, homeowners are increasingly busy fending off telemarketers, home visits and other forms of aggressive marketing from solar installers that apparently believe that old-school aluminum-siding-style marketing is the best way to sell advanced energy. For example, check out the sketchy sales tactics used by solar marketers in Orange County, California. Or Arizona. Or Vermont.

Though most solar companies aren’t doing anything wrong, consumer complaints to state regulators and action by attorneys general have drawn attention to the bad apples in solar marketing, creating distrust for residential installers as a whole.

Social media can be a powerful channel for installers to build trust in the market. Two-way social media communication between homeowners and a solar company can help build the trust needed for homeowners to make the big investment that is going solar.

Unlike buying ads or hiring a telemarketing vendor, social media is free to use. But it doesn’t run itself, and managing one or more social media accounts well takes up employee time. Overall, to get maximum benefit out of that investment in time, residential solar companies should have a solid social media plan. Here are six steps to get started:

1. Determine goals, audience, competitors and challenges

Social media software company HootSuite suggests that any organization using social media develop SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound. For example, on Pinterest you can share photos that show delighted solar customers. You can do this by posting three photos a week that will achieve five likes and a couple of comments each to start with. Once you have more followers, you can shoot for more ambitious goals.

And if you haven’t yet developed buyer persona profiles for your three to five ideal customers, now might be a good time to start. After all, you need to understand the audiences you want to reach in order to communicate with them effectively on social media.

2. Discover the best practices from the pros

While experts disagree about the exact ratio of your own content to others content that you should share in your social media posts, the average solar company will be safe following the 80/20 rule. That is, limit your own content—company news, new products, promotions—to 20% of your total of social media posts. Fill the remaining 80% of posts with content from other companies, people and groups.

Sharing mostly stuff from others that’s helpful, informative or entertaining to an audience interested in solar helps build trust. It also establishes your company as what Copyblogger calls a “likable authority.” If they learn to feel comfortable with your company by seeing your posts over a period of weeks or months, social media followers are more likely to think of you when they’re ready to buy solar.

3. Simplify monitoring

What solar marketer has time to check in on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other services multiple times each day? All too many solar marketing pros find themselves falling behind in keeping up with social media posts from fans, followers, peers and competitors and to reply to customer comments and questions when appropriate.

Hootsuite, Buffer and other social media management programs make it much easier to stay on top of all your social media accounts. Buffer is a clean, straightforward tool for publishing and scheduling posts on different services. Hootsuite is a more involved program that helps you publish your own posts, monitoring what people say about you or on topics you care about, and even respond when you decide to do so.

4. Grow your following

Connecting with your social media audience is really about offering valuable content that people want to consume, like and share. And that means going beyond sharing company news—“hey, check out this great new racking system!”—or yet another list of tips on how homeowners can be more “green.” Much better would be a short video of an unusual solar installation, an e-book busting the top myths about home solar or a checklist of things any homeowner should look for in a trustworthy solar installer.

5. Create engaging posts

People behave differently on Facebook than they do on Twitter or LinkedIn. To succeed on each service, you need to adapt both your text and pictures to what users expect.

By the way, you are making custom graphics for some of your social posts, aren’t you? Custom graphics are more likely to get shared. And if graphics have your company’s website address on them, they can build your brand and send traffic to your website, too. Fortunately, DIY design services such as Canva have made social graphics easier to create. But you can even do fine social media graphics in PowerPoint.

6. Schedule your social media posts and promote your content

Creating a spreadsheet of planned social media posts for the next few weeks makes it easier for marketers to coordinate their campaigns, grow their social reach and put out more content. For example, HootSuite lets you upload an Excel spreadsheet directly to their service to conveniently schedule your future posts on several social media services.

Ready to get started? HubSpot offers a free social media strategy kit that can help you create and execute your social media plan.

About Erik Curren
I’m CEO of the Curren Media Group, a digital marketing agency based in Virginia that helps solar energy companies go beyond cold calls to generate qualified leads online with marketing that actually makes buyers happy. Speaking of happy, I brew my own beer at home too.

Solar Power World

Blog by Colin Murchie, senior director of project finance, Sol Systems

You’ve all heard about the rush for allocations in the Massachusetts SREC-II market.  The outstanding question is just how real the project queue is. We feel there are two categories of projects likely to churn out of the program, creating an initial source of massive churn in the next few weeks and an ongoing source of more limited churn for what could be as much as a year.  Projects that are, in fact, holding on to a quality interconnection agreement and ready for near-term construction start have more than a glimmer of hope for successful SREC-II qualification.

Churn #1 – The Unbaked

As we discussed in our previous blog entry on this subject, there’s been a massive rush of applications over the last 4 weeks:

1.    On Tuesday, January 5^th, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) announced that 120MW would be set aside in the SREC-II program for projects under 25kW. This left a little over 250MW for those greater than 25kW.

2.    On Monday, January 25^th, that 250 became 100.

3.    On Monday, February 1^st, that 100 became 22.

4.     On Monday, February 8^th, that 22 will become 0. And so begins the wait list.

So: 250MW of applications in a month. These all could be legitimate and headed for ultimate approval!  They totally could. But…. that would be unusual.

Take a look at the middle of this graph below, which represents “pending” applications. (Unlike the slug of January applications currently piled up at DOER, pending applications have passed at least initial review, have an interconnection agreement, and have received an Assurance of Qualification.)

A real crunch: The y-axis represents kilowatts, the x-axis represents days since qualification.

Solar Power World

Heliatek R&D teams reached a record conversion efficiency of 13.2% for an OPV multi-junction cell, setting a new world record for the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity using organic photovoltaic cells. The measurement was independently confirmed by Fraunhofer CSP.

Thanks to the excellent low light and high temperature behavior of the organic semiconductor, the electricity generation of the newly developed cells corresponds to the output of conventional solar cells with 16 to 17% efficiency when both are under real world conditions.

This new result confirms the world-leading technology position of Heliatek as demonstrated by its continuous progress from 3% to more than 13% efficiency over the last 10 years. It also supports its roadmap towards 15% efficient organic solar cells. The result further validates Heliatek’s unique technology approach of using vacuum deposition of small molecules on plastic films.

Dr. Martin Pfeiffer, CTO of Heliatek, says: “We are very proud of this new world record. This success is based on our chemical research for new organic absorber materials. Key to this success is the close cooperation of our physics and chemistry R&D teams, which leads to an optimal combination of the properties of this new solar cell design.”

“I am delighted by this latest result,” adds Thibaud Le Séguillon, CEO of Heliatek. “It validates our choice to internalize our R&D, both by developing new absorber molecules and optimizing the device architecture. This will provide the baseline for efficiency in our large-volume manufacturing line. With our HeliaFilm®, we are clearly executing our strategy to provide de-carbonized, de-centralized energy generation directly on buildings all over the world.”

The world-record cell is a multi-junction cell combining three different absorbers. Each of them is dedicated to efficiently convert green-, red- or near-infrared light of the wavelength range between 450 and 950 nm into electricity. These absorber molecules have been developed and are patented by Heliatek.

The new record efficiency was measured at simulated AM 1.5 illumination and was confirmed by the Fraunhofer – Center for Silizium-Photovoltaik – CSP in Halle, a recognized center for independent verification of solar cell performance results under standard testing conditions.

Solar Power World

UGE International Ltd. has closed the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of Endura Energy Project Corp., a Toronto-based renewable energy company.

“Endura’s engineering and project management experience will markedly enhance UGE’s existing strengths in developing commercial solar projects, allowing our clients to take advantage of the many benefits of distributed renewable energy,” said Nick Blitterswyk, CEO of UGE. “We are excited to welcome the talent and experience of Endura to the UGE family.”

UGE has focused primarily on developing renewable energy solutions for commercial clients in the United States, Panama, China, and the Philippines. Endura, a leading design-build firm in Ontario, has deployed and consulted on distributed solar projects across Canada, the U.S., and Panama.

Cameron Steinman, the President of Endura, was appointed to the board of directors of UGE and will also serve as UGE’s Chief Strategy Officer. “Together, we are a bigger and better team, committed to providing more affordable, reliable, sustainable energy to our clients across all markets,” stated Steinman.

The past twelve months have shown significant momentum for the renewable energy sector. In addition to the historic global agreement signed at COP21, the United States recently extended the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which management anticipates should rapidly increase the deployment of solar.  According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the United States could reach 100 GW of total solar installations by the end of 2020.  In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was recently elected after campaigning for a new energy and environmental future, including a promise to invest $100 million annually in companies developing clean technology.

In a fragmented commercial solar market, combining our respective strengths gives us the ability to deliver the best end-to-end service to businesses worldwide, priming us for leadership in the sector,” said Blitterswyk.

Pursuant to the terms of the share purchase agreement among the vendors of the Endura shares, UGE, and Endura entered into on November 22, 2015, UGE acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Endura. In consideration for the Endura Shares, UGE paid CAD$1 million, as adjusted pursuant to the terms of Acquisition Agreement, and issued 8,888,888 common shares to Endura. Approximately 75% of the Payment Shares are subject to an escrow agreement entered into today.  Pursuant to an amendment to the Acquisition Agreement entered into today, the Cash Payment was satisfied by delivery of a promissory note in favour of the Seller, secured by a general security agreement and personal guarantees from major shareholders of UGE.  Pursuant to the Amendment, the Seller shall have the option to exercise their security  resulting in the return of the Endura Shares to them, in which case the Payment Shares will be returned to UGE, or release the Payment Shares from the Payment Share Escrow, if the Company does not pay the Promissory Note in full, or provide additional security in the form of a letter of credit, by February 29, 2016.

Early Warning Pursuant to National Instrument 62-103

The receipt of the Payment Shares by the Seller resulted in new insider being created. The Seller owns and controls 31.93% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of UGE. The Seller will file an early warning report as required under National Instrument 62-103.

Solar Power World

SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA) is furthering its support of the Latin American solar market with a new PV subsidiary in Brazil. SMA Brazil conducts all sales, project planning, service and technical training for the entire country, with the support of regional subsidiary SMA South America, located in Chile. It offers SMA’s entire product portfolio of residential, commercial and utility-scale solutions and global standard service packages to meet the increasing demands of all segments of this fast-growing PV market.

“SMA expects a strong growth in solar installations in Brazil in the coming years. With our new subsidiary in Itopeva/Sao Paulo we will support our domestic and international customers to benefit from the market development. SMA’s industry-leading solutions for all applications and system sizes will help catapult Brazil into a top solar market,” explained SMA Chief Executive Officer Pierre-Pascal Urbon.

Brazil is also an attractive PV market because it offers federal energy contract auctions, net metering and tax exemptions on the consumed credits generated by net metering (in most states). Moreover, droughts in recent years have highlighted challenges with the country’s dependence on hydroelectric power, with millions of consumers affected by power outages and electricity rationing. Because of these factors, solar power is an attractive option that is expected to stimulate economic development and stabilize electricity prices.

“While SMA Brazil will focus on all PV market segments, the most relevant one currently—in terms of size and potential—is utility-scale. It continues to attract international developers, which in turn helps develop the PV supply chain while spurring the growth of distributed generation in Brazil,” said Daniel Rosende, managing director of SMA South America. “We are already supplying SMA solutions for every PV market segment in Brazil and participating in major utility-scale projects locally.”

Solar Power World

The U.S. Department of Energy today announced $21 million in new funding to lower solar energy deployment barriers and expand access to solar energy to all Americans. The Department is making $13 million available to help states take advantage of falling solar prices and maximize the benefits of solar electricity through energy and economic strategic planning. This new program will offer technical and analytical support in the development and implementation of solar energy deployment plans. An additional $8 million under this funding opportunity will support research on solar energy innovation and technology adoption patterns in order to increase understanding of solar deployment barriers and other “soft costs.”

As more communities across the country look to solar energy as a source of clean, renewable electricity to meet their economic goals, the funding announced today will help lower barriers to solar energy deployment for states and regions across United States. It will also increase understanding of how and why solar innovations are adopted throughout communities to enable expedited development moving forward.

“As the cost of solar technology continues to fall, it’s more important than ever that we lower the other barriers to solar deployment—soft costs,” said David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. “The funding announced today will provide technical and analytical assistance to states in setting and meeting their renewable energy goals. This initiative will leverage decision science and solar datasets to build our understanding of how and why solar technologies are adopted to make it faster, easier, and more affordable for families and businesses to choose solar to power their daily lives.”

MAXIMIZING STATE SOLAR BENEFITS THOUGH STRATEGIC ENERGY PLANNING ASSISTANCE

$13 million from the funding opportunity announced today will directly tackle solar soft costs and market barrier challenges at the state and regional levels by maximizing the benefits of solar electricity through energy and economic strategic planning. In 2015, solar was the second-most installed source of new electric generating capacity—but this remarkable growth has been limited to a handful of states. Many states do not have the knowledge, time, or staff resources needed to develop a robust solar deployment strategy. They might not know where to begin with “going solar,” but require technical and analytical support. This program will help to establish partnerships between states and utilities and provide them with technical support, enabling teams to develop strategies to determine optimal solar energy targets that will maximize emissions reductions, create jobs, expand energy access, and increase grid resiliency.

BUILDING UNDERSTANDING OF SOLAR TECHNOLOGY DIFFUSION

The funding opportunity announced today will also aim to increase understanding of the technology evolution, soft costs, and barriers to solar deployment in the United States. By combining cutting-edge research tools with the creation, analysis, and use of data and information, this second round of the Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies (SEEDS) program will partner researchers with data and energy experts. Through this collaboration, they will examine how solar technologies, the electric grid system, and the institutions that comprise the solar business marketplace support or inhibit the evolution and adoption of solar energy. For this second round of SEEDS, the projects will specifically examine barriers to solar energy deployment within low- and moderate-income communities. The goal of these projects is to increase foundational understanding of solar technology evolution, soft costs, and barriers to solar deployment, while advancing social and decision science methods though the use of the unprecedented data available within the solar sector.

The United States has installed more than 24 gigawatts of solar power—enough to power five million average American homes—and deployment is expected to accelerate as costs continue to fall and more residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects come online. These investments support the broader goals of the SunShot Initiative to drive down the cost of solar power so that it is accessible and affordable for all Americans.

Solar Power World

Price Energy Systems LLC, an affiliate of David Price Metal Services Inc., in Norwalk, OH, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Nextronex, a leader in high performance solar inverter systems.

The Nextronex inverter solution is based on a patented Distributed Architecture topology which provides increased yields due to superior low light energy harvesting, higher efficiency operation and virtual 100% reliability and availability. The RAY-MAX system uses a proven technology platform based on a Bidirectional inverter module with over 30 years of very reliable performance in the VFD motion control industry. The Nextronex Power Podium provides a “plug-and-play” medium voltage solution integrated on a skid, factory wired and tested, requiring minimal on-site installation cost and commissioning.

RAY-MAX inverters provide outstanding performance in all types of environments, and are especially well- suited for harsh environments. All electronic components are completely sealed from the elements and properly cooled thanks to a patented enclosure. Nextronex also offers an integrated battery storage solution to manage peak-shifting and solar power intermittency.

Christopher Price, President of David Price Metal Services, Inc. (DPMS) states, “We are very pleased to expand our Renewable Energy capabilities with Nextronex’s full line of Utility Scale Inverters allowing DPMS to provide the solid backing and reputation of being in business for over 44 years”

Solar Power World

Sunerg Solar s.r.l., a global leader manufacturer in photovoltaic modules and solar thermal collectors, is expanding its product portfolio by integrating the Tigo TS4 platform on their PV modules at the production level.

“Tigo’s TS4 perfectly complements our portfolio of PV modules. Their solutions will enable us and our partners to offer their customers cost efficient solutions for PV systems, where conditions for solar installations have never been ideal or have else gotten worse over the years and modules are not able to fulfil their full nominal power”, says Mr. Luciano Lauri, CEO and Founder of Sunerg Solar.

The Tigo TS4 is integrated into every module, converting it to a “Smart Ready” Panels. Fitted with the TS4-D option, at no price increase, provides the customer an improved reliability compared to a simple Diodes only Jbox. Thanks to the unique modularity of the TS4 platform, Sunerg will be able to keep offering pre-assembled smart modules with each TS4 functionality, like the most well known “optimization” mounted in the Sunerg Intelligent in order to increase the energy production of the whole PV system by up to 20 per cent. The products simplify design and installation, improve fire safety, and ensure the highest uptime and reliability with cloud-based monitoring. Tigo’s Platform provides the industry’s lowest part count, highest reliability, and most efficient smart module solution in the world (see our Design with TS4 presentation).

Integrating the TS4 platform allows Sunerg’s partners to select the most cost effective functional cover for a specific project which could be ordered before installation or mounted retrofit. From Monitoring to Optimization and\or long strings. The TS4 expands Sunerg’s ability to address quickly different market demands and offer faster lead-times. Tigo’s TS4 energy harvesting optimization is utilizing a patented impedance matching optimizer technology. The TS4 enhances PV modules performance through state of the art technology utilizing the patent pending PIV-Predictive IV. TS4 is the only platform offering Selective Deployment abilities resulting in the lowest cost optimization in the market and the availability of real-time monitoring, while ensuring a reduction in the overall maintenance costs.

“Sunerg’s and Tigo’s cooperation is confirming the increase market demand for Smart PV Modules. This association offers an excellent opportunity for Sunerg and Tigo to deliver superior solution to the customer in which all parties benefit”.” says Christian Carraro, GM & Vice President Sales for Europe. “The combination of our leading technologies is improving the solar technology and adapting to the demand for smarter, more convenient and higher quality products.

Solar Power World

Solar Power World spoke with JuiceBox Energy’s Founder and Vice President Sales & Marketing Greg Maguire to find out more.

Solar Power World: How is your system different from other solar storage solutions on the market?

Founder and Vice President Sales & Marketing for JuiceBox Energy Greg Maguire

Maguire: JuiceBox Energy was one of the early movers in the advanced energy storage and management segment. We believe that we have a few significant differences. First, our product is simple to install and available to any licensed and certified installer who has performed solar installations. Second, JuiceBox customers own their system and keep all of the rebates, incentives and lifetime savings. It also works for both new and existing renewable energy installations in either AC or DC coupled configurations. Lastly, we offer a complete, integrated solution that includes the lithium-ion battery modules, intelligent controller that sets the inverter mode of operation, and most importantly a cloud-based interface that installers, consumers and utilities can use to monitor and control their device. This is the new model for residential energy networks.

SPW: What opportunity did you see in founding this company? What was the market need?

Maguire: Energy storage changes the entire economic model for solar, particularly in the residential market. Consumers have benefited with solar panels that were perfect for simplified power rate structures and generous net metering schemes. We anticipated that net metering policies would change as solar installations increased, and the reduced reimbursements from the utility would encourage customers to include the added capabilities of an intelligent energy storage system with their solar. Rate structures are changing, and customers are much more focused on doing what they can to take charge of their energy network, reduce their carbon footprint and lessen their reliance on the utility grid.

SPW: How did your 25-year aviation career help you in founding this company?

Maguire: Serving as a U.S. Navy Captain and Aviator is something I’m tremendously proud of. Naval forces practice distributed operations and then aggregate that energy and power together, which is exactly what we can do with residential solar over the JuiceBox Energy network. And what better way to do so than join forces with my brother, Neil, to form JuiceBox Energy?

The JuiceBox 8.6-kWh lithium-ion storage system works in residential and small scale commercial buildings.

SPW: Tell me a little about the installing the JuiceBox System and how it pairs with the Schneider inverter/charger. 

Maguire: Our installation process was designed to be extremely simple and familiar to any electrical installer. The JuiceBox design provides a lot of flexibility on the location for the install. It is a modular assembly so you don’t need a special crew or equipment to move the system. It is wall mounted and can be installed inside or outdoors. The other activities include potentially splitting out a protected load panel for back-up loads and installing the inverter and safety disconnect.

During our training courses, installers undergo a hands-on tutorial that shows them exactly how easy it is. We often hear, “That’s it!?” when they realize that in less than 25 minutes they’ve mounted the JuiceBox enclosure, installed battery modules and the control box, connected to the inverter and then commissioned the system. Of course, there are other tasks involved such as preparing the site and running conduit, but overall it is a repeatable process so installers can accurately quote a job and make a reasonable profit.

SPW: How does the customer benefit from the system?

Maguire: We’re all connected to our devices, from our phones to our cars. To align with that trend, we offer a cloud-based interface that shows a consumer the status of their system, their scheduled mode of operation, as well as other system information. What makes this information different from panel output data is that the consumer has the ability to know that their JuiceBox Energy system is doing what it’s intended to do, whether that’s peak shifting, load shaving or back-up. For the latter, it’s about peace of mind. Consumers who face a localized grid failure receive an email or text alert and know how long the battery will last and can adjust house loads until the sun comes up the next day to recharge it off the solar or until the power is restored.

SPW: How can I become a certified installer?

Maguire: Every month, we have new installers coming to our facility in Milpitas, California for training. More than 100 have successfully completed the certification course that includes classroom lectures, practical examples and the hands-on training component. We require obtaining our certification for installers to sell because we want to ensure that each installer gets the proper training and interaction with our engineers so they’re comfortable when they’re onsite installing their first system. It has also been a great source of product feedback and has driven hardware engineering changes to facilitate ease of installation

Installers interested in attending our certification course can complete this form and we’ll schedule them for our next available class.

Solar Power World

With the United States in the lead, due in large part to the recent extension in the country’s solar investment tax credit (ITC) late last year, the global solar photovoltaic pipeline now exceeds 200 gigawatts (GW). At a combined capacity of 110 GW, projects in the U.S., China and Brazil make up half of the current PV pipeline, according to IHS Inc., the leading global source of critical information and insight.

“A large share of the planned projects is still immature, with developers scouting for tenders and other opportunities to sign power-purchase agreements,” said Josefin Berg senior analyst for IHS Technology. “The previous panic to complete project phases ahead of schedule has reverted to a development pipeline responding to demand and contract fulfilment.”

The biggest growth of the global solar pipeline has been in the United States, where 16 GW of new projects entered the pipeline in 2015; at the same time, 10 GW of tracked projects were installed or entered construction. As a result of the ITC extension announced in December 2015, the U.S. pipeline is now changing shape, according to the latest IHS Solar Deal Tracker.

Early-stage projects that faced the challenge to complete development and break ground, in order to reach completion prior to the previous deadline at the end of 2016, are now relaxing their schedules, as they do not need to enter construction before 2019 to benefit from the 30 percent credit. “We expected to see some hectic activity from late-coming developers in 2016; however after the ITC extension, developers have calmed down,” said Christine Beadle, senior analyst at IHS Technology.

On the opposite end of the global spectrum is the United Kingdom, where the PV pipeline of pre-construction projects decreased by more than 4 GW in 2015. Projects continue to be built; however, few new projects have started development, because of the looming expiration of the Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC) scheme in April 2016.

Economies of scale, and an inclination for oversized projects, are expected to increase system sizes. Two thirds of the global PV pipeline capacity are projects larger than 50 MW. Developers in both the United States and China target economies of scale by implementing large projects in areas with abundant land. The oversizing of module capacity in relation to the output inverter capacity also raises total system sizes. In the United States, IHS tracks projects where the module capacity is up to 40 percent higher than the inverters. “Among the markets with the largest pipelines, only Brazil prefers the more modest system size of 30 megawatts, as a result of regulation; however, Brazilian developers are bundling projects to reduce costs,” Berg said.

Solar Power World

SolarEdge Technologies has shipped its 10 millionth power optimizer. With systems installed in more than 90 countries, SolarEdge reached its 10 millionth shipped power optimizer in 10 years following its founding and after only 6 years of commercial shipments. Close to 5 million power optimizers were shipped globally, solely in 2015.

“We founded the company with a vision that every solar panel would have smart electronics, and we are on our way to fulfilling this,” stated Guy Sella, CEO, Co-Founder, and Chairman of SolarEdge. “SolarEdge’s commitment to offering solutions that provide value at competitive prices is what has allowed us to become an industry leader.”

To celebrate, SolarEdge is labeling 10 prize-winning power optimizers, all signed by the company’s founders, in its global shipments. Each recipient of a prize-winning power optimizer will be entitled to receive US$10,000 cash.

“We attribute much of our success to solar energy installers who have placed their confidence in SolarEdge and the benefits of our technology,” stated Lior Handelsman, SolarEdge’s VP of Marketing and Product Strategy. “We are committed to continue providing innovative products to maximize installer benefits, such as increased profits and high-quality service.”

Solar Power World

Solar Power World

Rising Sun Solar + Electric LLC has announced that it is among the first Tesla Energy authorized resellers and installers in the State of Hawaii.

Based out of Maui and serving the entire state, Rising Sun Solar has added to its product offerings with Tesla Energy’s Powerwall home battery and Powerpack commercial battery.

“We are very proud to become a Tesla Energy authorized reseller and installer. Solar customers can save more money by adding a Powerwall to their home system than is currently possible with any standard solar system under the new utility rules,” said co-owner and founder of Rising Sun Solar Brad Albert.

As Net Energy Metering ends, solar customers are now able to choose from two options to connect to the utility grid: Grid Supply or Self Supply.

With the Powerwall, customers are able to maximizw solar energy consumption and cost savings under either supply option. The battery features self-consumption of solar energy for self-supply, as well as backup, grid services, load shifting, and peak shaving.

“This product is the future of grid-ties storage and battery back-up,” according to Alberts.

The Powerwall is able to provide battery back-up in the event of a utility power outage, however, the Tesla Home Battery systems do not currently work off-grid.

In addition to the Tesla Energy Powerpack for home-use, the battery systems are also being offered commercially. Tesla Energy Powerpack commercial batteries offer renewable firming, capacity/spinning reserve, load shifting, peak shaving, demand response, micro-grid, transmission/distribution support, backup, and grid services.

“Energy storage was the missing link on our path to 100 percent renewable energy in Hawaii,” said Albert. “The Tesla Powerwall is a convenient, attractive, wall mounted product that is home ready. The product can easily be retrofitted into a regular home without additional venting, clearance of structural reinforcements. The future is here.”

Solar Power World

Leading energy companies in the solar market have announced the formation of the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA), the first-ever national trade association for community solar. The Coalition’s founding leadership includes Clean Energy Collective, Community Energy, Ecoplexus, Ethical Electric, First Solar, and Recurrent Energy.

CCSA is a business-led trade organization that works to expand access to clean, local, affordable energy nationwide through community solar. Community solar refers to local solar facilities shared by individual community members, who receive credits on their electricity bills for their portion of the power produced.  Community solar projects provide American homeowners, renters and businesses access to the benefits of solar energy generation unconstrained by the physical attributes of their home or business, like roof space, shading, or whether or not they own their residence or building.  These programs can also expand access to solar energy to low-income households.

“Community solar is the necessary next step to bringing solar to the majority of Americans for whom solar is not yet an option,” declared CCSA Executive Director Jeff Cramer. “We’re meeting a growing need with a coordinated, collaborative approach that will help expand the American solar market benefitting both consumers and business.”

“CCSA is responding to the ever-growing consumer demand for solar. Our companies are hearing from customers who want to go solar but are limited by shading, roof space, or other factors,” said CCSA Board Chair Hannah Masterjohn of Clean Energy Collective. “And we hear every day from community leaders, utilities, clean energy advocates and policy makers across the country who are interested in expanding access to affordable clean energy in their communities.  As a coalition of experienced community solar providers, CCSA will be the go-to resource for those leaders to help them establish successful programs.”

Community solar is a rapidly growing market with immense market potential. A recent NREL report outlined that market potential of up to $16 billion in investments and up to 11 GW of cumulative installed capacity through 2020.  Successful community solar models are operating across the country with a beneficial role for all parties in the partnerships forged between subscriber, developer, and utility.

CCSA will work in partnership with consumers, local stakeholders, and utilities to promote smart policies and innovative program models to give all Americans in every community the ability to directly benefit from clean, affordable, and reliable solar power. CCSA’s initial goals are: to open markets in key states; serve as the resource for policymakers, utilities and advocates who seek clear, practical options for establishing community solar programs; and to be the messenger to highlight the growing success of the community solar market.

Initially, CCSA will target several key states in 2016, including New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland, and broaden its reach as the organization and the community solar market grows. The coalition will work with legislators, regulators and utilities to help develop fair policy and regulatory frameworks to drive sustainable growth for community solar.  Through this collaborative approach, these states can deliver not only the economic and environmental benefits of solar to their citizens, but can create good-paying, long-term jobs in their communities.

“We are already working closely with other national and local solar groups to promote broader access to community solar, and our voice will complement existing efforts,” declared Board Member Joel Thomas of Community Energy. “Solar is a rapidly growing industry employing over 200,000 Americans and serving over 750,000 customers nationwide. Our combined efforts will help expand the opportunity for all Americans to have access to and meaningfully benefit from solar energy.”

Each CCSA member company has agreed to adhere to a set of nine “Core Principles” for developing effective community solar policies and programs, including the importance of access to solar for all consumers, economic benefit to customers, customer choice, and consumer protection.

“We are partnering with other solar organizations, utilities and advocates to help promote the growth of solar broadly and intelligently,” said Board Member Eran Mahrer of First Solar. “Our message is simple, ‘If you want access to solar energy, you should have that option, regardless of where you live.’”

“Ultimately, our work is about expanding access to solar for homeowners, renters, and small and large businesses through community solar programs,” declared Board Member Sandy Roskes of Ethical Electric. “We will help create new opportunities for all consumers to choose the clean, affordable, and reliable options for solar power that are right for them.”

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Applied Energy Technologies (AET), a manufacturer of commercial and utility-scale racking systems, announced it has surpassed more than 1,000 units sold of its Rayport-I string inverter mounting solution. AET’s Rayport-I was the first of its kind, designed to address a market need for a product that not only protects the string inverter, but also simplifies design and installation.

The Rayport-I fits most string inverters on the market and can be used in either rooftop or ground mount systems. The stainless steel kit can be mounted at a 20 degree tilt and has been rigorously tested to withstand the most challenging environmental conditions. Its lightweight and durable design helps to reduce shipping costs and enables easier handling on the job site.

“The introduction of our Rayport-I is a direct reflection of AET’s insight to innovate and address market demand,” said Aaron Faust, VP of Business Development at AET. “There was a lot of enthusiasm around the introduction of the Rayport-I, shade cover and disconnect mounting kit, and that momentum has continued to build with the growth of the solar industry.”

AET was also the first to introduce a shade cover and disconnect mounting kit, accessories to the Rayport-I. The Rayport- I shade cover helps decrease and maintain inverter temperatures, particularly during the summer months, in order to maintain the lifespan, reliability and performance of the inverter. The Rayport-I disconnect mounting kit allows for disconnect units to be fixed in a convenient location on the front or rear of the rack, close to the inverter itself.

AET has been at the forefront in developing groundbreaking products that help bring solar energy to a wider audience. With an impeccable track record of 100% on time delivery, 100% on budget, and zero warranty claims, AET meets the highest standards in product manufacturing, design and engineering, and installation required by the solar industry’s foremost leaders.

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Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association

Two breweries open every day in the U.S., and 75% of Americans live within 10 miles of one. And as it turns out, many brewery owners are conscience of the environment and energy usage, making them perfect potential solar customers.

This is especially true as breweries mature and make plans for their next phase of growth, said Bart Watson, chief economist of the Brewers Association.

“[Renewable energy] makes good business sense,” Watson said. “Breweries are energy intensive. It’s a manufacturing business. When you’re constantly heating water for your boil kettle or hot liquor tank, having a reliable source of energy that over the long term reduces your costs makes sense.”

Listen to this Solar Speaks podcast to learn more about the micro-brew business and whether breweries could be good prospects for your solar business.

Photos © Brewers Association

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Article by Chris Blevins, co-founder, Pick My Solar

Common sense often leads would-be solar buyers to believe that purchasing a PV system in cold, snowy climates is a foolish investment. With low temperatures and snow cover, how could a solar owner possibly get his or her money’s worth during the winter months? Though these fears are not entirely misplaced, research has shown that winter solar may not be as problematic as it first appears.

Many would-be solar panel owners are put off by the thought that snowfall and cold will reduce the potential output of their solar arrays. While it is true that snow buildup can hamper a panel’s ability to produce, this dip in output is usually only significant in systems that are poorly optimized for snowy climates.

Snow cover will only reduce output if it’s thick enough to shelter the panels from sunlight. More often than not, snow will thaw and slide off angled panels, with the help of stored heat from the sun. As a result, serious build up should only occur on non-tilted or slightly tilted panels (such as those in many rooftop applications). However, even if such buildup occurs, measures can be taken to restore them to operating capacity. Options to consider include automatic panel cleaning systems and hiring a company to sweep the snow away.

Those looking into PV systems also express concern about efficiency of their panels in the cold, but their concern is not founded in fact. Cold and snow have been shown to improve panel efficiency. A PV temperature reduction of about 20°C leads to a 9 to 12% increase in electrical yield.

Like other electronic devices, efficiency and temperature for solar panels are inversely related. In other words, the colder the temperature, the more efficiently panels will be able to operate. Also, fallen snow tends to reflect the sun’s light back upward. This reflected light, called albedo, hits angled panels, adding to the direct light from the sun and resulting in higher energy yields. These two effects in combination can result in higher output from panels on a clear snowy day than the average summer day when one would expect output to be highest.

Even when factoring in the snowy cold months of the winter, a solar installation will assuredly help curb a consumer’s annual energy bill. To see this in action, look no further than Germany, where despite a frigid climate, residents have spearheaded the move toward renewable energy, making Germany the leading market for solar.

Of course, to help clients most effectively reap the rewards of the winter months and avoid being buried by the snow, it is important to effectively angle panels during installation. Doing so will minimize snow buildup and maximize output from reflected light. If properly optimized, solar output in the winter can compete with that of other parts of the year, making solar the perfect energy source for homes in all climates.

Chris Blevins earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. After graduation, he traveled extensively and discovered the financial and environmental benefits of solar energy in rural developing nations. Upon returning to the United States, he co-founded online solar marketplace, Pick My Solar.

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Irvine-based solar solutions provider ecoSolargy has installed a 63.75-kW solar system on the roof of the headquarters of MGM Plastics, a San Marcos, Calif., company that performs plastic fabrication and machining services.  The 209 X 305W ecoSolargy Titan 1000 modules with four Solectria inverters will offset 85% of MGM Plastics’ electricity costs over the next 25 years.

“With generous government incentives available, companies such as MGM Plastics 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 MGM Plastics 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 was recently extended to 2019, and then will gradually decline to 10% in 2022.

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 MGM Plastics 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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