Solar Power World

Solar powers all kinds of places, including donut factories. Imergy Power Systems announced that two of its ESP4 series vanadium-based flow batteries have been installed at Trojane, a restaurant in the Slovenian Alps famed for its donuts.

The restaurant has already pioneered a number of advanced energy infrastructures for self sufficiency, including a 49-kw photovoltaic solar power system, a 30-kw combined heat and power (CHP) system and an electric vehicle (EV) charging station.

The energy storage project, sponsored by the Slovenian Utility Elektro Ljubljana and supported by the Business Suport Center Kranj, is designed to demonstrate how Imergy’s flow batteries manage multiple applications, such as renewable energy system integration, peak demand reduction, backup power and EV charging. Energy storage systems that can support multiple applications like these deliver a higher return on investment (ROI) than systems that can only be used for a single application.

The project is part of the European AlpStore program, with partners from seven countries tasked with developing a long-term energy storage strategy for the Alpine regions. It will be evaluated by Elektro Ljubljana and will establish how energy storage systems incorporating vanadium-based flow batteries manage the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. For example, the system will be used for solar firming with the PV solar power system at the restaurant, smoothing out the system’s jagged solar power production in order to provide consistent power throughout the day. Flow-batteries are well-suited for solar firming and other renewable integration applications like these, as they can be charged and recharged an infinite number of times with little to no degradation in performance.

The evaluation period for the project will take two years, at which point an optimal function mix for this particular location will be set up and continuous operation will start.

The market for energy storage is growing rapidly. Worldwide revenue from energy storage for the grid and ancillary services is expected to grow from $675 million annually in 2014 to $15.6 billion in 2024, according to a report from Navigant Research.

“Trojane is well known for its advanced energy infrastructure for Renewables,” said Dr Jurij Curk, of Metronik Energija. “The new Imergy flow-batteries will further strengthen our reputation, and help us demonstrate how renewable and other advanced energy technologies can provide the Alps with clean, affordable and reliable energy.”

“This project reflects the increasing demand for energy storage systems that can perform multiple applications,” said Tom Tipple, Imergy Power Systems Regional VP, EMEA. “By combining affordability with flexibility, Imergy’s vanadium-based flow batteries deliver the price and performance needed for successful multi-use energy storage projects.”

Solar Power World

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in partnership with NRG Energy, through its wholly-owned subsidiary NRG Renew, unveiled its first project to integrate clean sustainable energy at The Phoenician, a luxury Arizona resort. Featuring approximately 2,000 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels (712 Canadian Solar 280-W, and 1,230 Silevo 300-W), the 568 kilowatt (kWdc) solar installation will offset a portion of the Phoenician resort’s energy demand – an amount equivalent to the energy needs of approximately 90 homes. Racking is supplied by Sunora (modified Sunora frame) and inverters are SMA Tripower.

Core to the project was the design-driven approach – from panel placements, which work with the terrain to create airflow, to the structure’s accent colors that blend into the natural surroundings. In addition to its sustainability benefits, the panels also provide shading and outdoor event space, a coveted amenity during the hot desert summer months. The project illustrates how Starwood and NRG together are advancing clean energy in a way that is design-led and experiential for guests.

“At Starwood, sustainability is second nature, and our work with NRG Renew at The Phoenician exemplifies our commitment to that idea while also going the extra step to create a better world to experience,” said Ken Siegel, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for Starwood and head of Global Citizenship. “In this project, we’ve integrated solar panels into the existing landscape in a subtle way so The Phoenician continues to complement its environment, maintaining its iconic views of Camelback Mountain while reducing its carbon footprint and helping us achieve our sustainability goals. We’ve set aggressive goals to reduce our energy consumption and carbon emissions by 30 percent and our water consumption by 20 percent by 2020, and this is one step in achieving those goals without sacrificing luxury.”

“Starwood and NRG are totally aligned in our intention to embed sustainability into every aspect of our core business operations and we were very pleased to assist Starwood with an aesthetically sensitive, clean energy solution at an iconic property like The Phoenician,” said David Crane, NRG CEO.

This project is the first of several between NRG and Starwood. The partnership will also incorporate solar installations at The Westin St. John Resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali.

Together, all three installations are expected to provide more than 2 megawatts (MWdc) of solar power. Both island installations are especially significant in their respective locations, as they will provide clean, efficient power that helps protect the pristine locations where our properties are located.

Solar Power World

The Solar Foundation (TSF), an independent nonprofit solar research and education organization, today released its fifth annual National Solar Jobs Census. The Census found that the U.S. solar industry employed 173,807 Americans in 2014, a figure that includes the addition of more than 31,000 solar jobs over the previous year, representing 21.8 percent growth in solar industry employment since November 2013. Solar employment grew nearly 20 times faster than the national average employment growth rate of 1.1 percent in the same period.

“The solar industry has once again proven to be a powerful engine of economic growth and job creation,” said Andrea Luecke, President and Executive Director of The Solar Foundation. “The solar sector has grown an extraordinary 86 percent in the last four years, adding approximately 81,000 jobs. Our Census findings show that one out of every 78 new jobs created in the U.S. over the past 12 months was created by the solar industry – nearly 1.3% of all jobs. It also shows for the fifth consecutive year, the solar industry is attracting highly-skilled, well-paid professionals. That growth is putting people back to work and strengthening our nation’s economy.”

The solar installation sector is already larger than well-established sectors of fossil fuel generation, such as coal mining (93,185 jobs). The solar installation sector added nearly 50% more jobs in 2014 than the total created by both the oil and gas pipeline construction industry (10,529), and the crude petroleum and natural gas extraction industry (8,688). Solar employers are also optimistic about 2015, expecting to add another 36,000 jobs over the coming year.[i]

“The tremendous growth in the solar industry last year, including job growth that is outpacing the national average, is further evidence that we can clean our air and cut climate pollution while also growing the economy,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P., philanthropist and 108th Mayor of New York City. “The more data we have about the renewable energy industry, the better positioned policymakers and investors will be to make informed decisions. The Solar Jobs Census has the potential to help make that possible.”

“Demand for clean renewable power is growing. Solar exists at the critical intersection between energy, the economy, and the environment,” said Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor and Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. “As the nation’s fastest growing energy source, solar is adding thousands of new jobs each year. Its growth will almost surely continue to be robust in coming years.”

“SolarCity is extremely proud to be the largest solar employer in the U.S., and to have added more than 4,000 new U.S. jobs in 2014 – jobs that can’t be outsourced,” said Lyndon Rive, Chief Executive Officer of SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY). “Americans want greater clean energy deployment, and conventional electricity generation is among the largest sources of air and water pollution in the U.S. As the Census underscores, solar is providing a tremendous boost to our economy while meeting public demand for choice, competition, and cleaner, more affordable energy.”

“SunEdison is an American company that employs thousands of talented men and women across the United States,” said Ahmad Chatila, Chief Executive Officer of SunEdison (NASDAQ: SUNE). “As the largest renewable energy development company in the world, I’m very proud to be part of an industry that is creating thousands of high quality American jobs.”

Corporate leaders heralded The Solar Foundation’s Census findings, noting the exceptional double bottom line return on investment that solar deployment has provided them.

“IKEA is proud of its installation of approximately 40MW of solar arrays atop nearly 90% of our U.S. locations,” said Rob Olson, Chief Financial Officer, IKEA. “We are thrilled that our solar investment also helps contribute to a growing clean tech economy – and accelerate the creation of new solar jobs throughout the country.”

“At General Motors, we believe in the economic benefits that come with investment in and deployment of renewable energy,” said Rob Threlkeld, Global Renewable Energy Manager, GM (NYSE: GM). “With more than 46 megawatts of solar housed at 18 facilities across the globe, we see the power of sunshine as an integral part of becoming a more energy efficient company.”

The National Solar Jobs Census 2014 was conducted by The Solar Foundation and BW Research Partnership with support from The George Washington University. The report, derived from data collected from more than 7,600 U.S. businesses, measured employment growth in the solar industry between November 2013 and November 2014. The margin of error of this data set is +/-2.03%, significantly lower than any similar national industry study. “The study shows both aggressive hiring and clear optimism among U.S. solar companies,” said Philip Jordan, Vice President at BW Research Partnership. “Of particular interest was the continued high wages among solar installers. Additionally, we found that the installation sector is generally more diverse than other energy sectors, hiring African-Americans and Latinos at a faster rate than the oil, gas, coal and construction sectors.”

The full National Solar Jobs Census report is available at http://TheSolarFoundation.org. State-by-state jobs numbers, including a more detailed analysis of the Arizona, California, Georgia, Maryland, New York and Texas solar markets, as well as The Solar Foundation’s updated State Solar Jobs Map, will be released in mid-February.

Solar Power World

Schneider Electric Solar Business offers Conext Insight, its remote monitoring and asset management platform for distributed PV plants.

The Conext Insight web portal gives you detailed insight into the performance of your distributed PV plants from any Internet connected device—anytime, anywhere. You now have the convenience and ease to remotely monitor all your distributed PV plants from one central platform.

“We are proud to announce the launch of the Conext Insight platform,” says Mr. Manish Kumar, VP, Commercial & Residential LOB & Strategy, of Schneider Electric Solar Business. “The launch of Conext Insight reinforces our commitment to bring more and more differentiated and simple to use offers to our customers, to help them maximize the returns on their PV investments.”

Conext Insight provides smart insight to installers by facilitating remote diagnostics of PV plant issues, which can minimize their truck rolls in response to service calls. Installers can leverage Conext Insight to remain connected with their customers and offer value-added services. At the same time, Conext Insight also provides PV plant owners with powerful insight. The web portal gives them access to their plant’s performance data to ensure the desired ROI is realized.

“As an early adopter of the Conext Insight portal, I am pleased with the easy-to-use interface and the value brought by the portal to facilitate remote portfolio management through a single login access. Now I can better serve my customers and proactively suggest actions for better system performance,” says Ayi Rahmat, President Director, PT Indogreen Technology and Management, based in Indonesia.

Conext Insight is now available for remote monitoring of your ComBox enabled hybrid PV plants. The next version of Conext Insight will cover remote monitoring of decentralized PV plants using Schneider Electric’s Conext string inverters in April 2015.

Solar Power World

Alissa Jean Schafer

By: Alissa Jean Schafer, US Solar

For many people, the idea of solar has gone through a drastic transformation over the last several years. In the minds of an average American consumer, it has transitioned from a left-wing extremist idea, to an off-grid “hippie thing,” to a hobby that only rich people can afford. Now, thankfully, the market is beginning to mature to the point where the solar is no longer seen as extreme or exclusive–it’s just smart.

That being said, the initial cost of installing solar can still be intimidating to somebody who wants to “go solar,” depending on where they are trying to install. Despite the fact that the cost of solar has dropped by over 40% in some areas, it is still a considerable investment that requires financing options for many consumers. Would a $20,000 solar rebate help? How about $50,000? For most, it would help quite a bit. Florida Power and Light realized this, and so re-opened its solar rebate program yesterday for a 2015 solar rebate lottery.

After about a month of preparation, the highly anticipated solar rebate offered by Florida Power and Light (FPL) was opened for application yesterday morning (January 14, 2015). After a “sneak” opening of a minute or so around the 8:23 AM mark, the rebate portal was officially live at 8:30 AM. Residential solar rebate funds were all claimed or allocated within the first 30 seconds. Business solar rebates followed suit and were completely claimed in the next 3 minutes.

The incredible speed at which these solar rebates were claimed makes a strong statement: Florida wants to go solar, and is begging the market to make it an affordable choice. In addition to the FPL solar rebate, customers can also get a 30% federal tax credit for their solar installations in the year of 2015. These incentives mean that customers can expect a return on their solar investment in well under 10 years, depending on the size of the installation.

While the choice to go solar is often heavily influenced by concerns about the environment and climate change, it is a choice with huge financial benefits as well. How well the financial benefits are received are dependent on the state the panels are installed. Each state has their own policies regarding rebates, tax credits, net metering, PPAs and any other solar or clean energy incentives that may be offered. Policy dictates results. These financial benefits, combined with the continuously dropping cost of solar and the obvious benefits to the environment make solar the clear choice for many home and business owners.

“There are very clear financial benefits in solar energy.” Said Ray Johnson of Florida Solar One. “We have been completely flooded with requests to help home and business owners go solar; it is crystal clear that solar is what the people of Florida want.”

This rebate process literally put millions of dollars into the solar industry, an economic stimulus of the most immediate kind. As opposed to previous financial investments by Florida state and city government that have seemingly lead to nothing but wasted money and dead-ends, this is real money that is resulting in real jobs and real solar. The hope of solar experts at Florida Solar One and across the state is that the people of Florida will be able to continue moving forward to make the choice to “go solar” an affordable option for people across all economic brackets.

Solar Power World

Homebuilders across the East Coast can now partner with SolarCity, a Solar Power World Top Contractor, to secure affordable, clean energy for new home communities. More than 10 local homebuilders from Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York have already begun offering solar power to homebuyers through SolarCity, giving hundreds of homeowners the chance to save on their energy bills and lock in low, affordable solar energy rates for years into the future. SolarCity’s homebuilder program already serves the West Coast and has more than 100 builder partners across Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Texas.

SolarCity added more than 4,000 new jobs in 2014 and significantly expanded on the East Coast in the past year by opening nearly 10 new local operations centers. The solar industry has also experienced major growth across the East Coast thanks to favorable renewable energy policies and high levels of demand from consumers who want to take advantage of clean, affordable energy.

The East Coast builders who have chosen SolarCity to provide clean power in their communities include:
· Baldwin Homes

· Brookfield Residential

· Covell Communities

· Eager Street Development

· Fernmoor Homes

· Greenergy Communities

· LifeStyle Homes

· Rieger Homes

· Shea Homes (Trilogy)

· Station Arts

· Tommy Williams Homes

SolarCity provides homebuilders across the country with full-service solar solutions that include customer service, real-time monitoring, insurance and repairs for their homebuyers. The company currently serves 15 states from more than 65 operations centers across the U.S.

About the SolarCity Homebuilder Program
Solar power delivers distinct benefits for homebuilders and homebuyers. SolarCity can typically offer solar installation for no added cost and allow homeowners to lock in low, predictable energy rates for years into the future. SolarCity gives homeowners control of their solar electricity costs to protect them from future rate increases and can help them save money on their monthly utility bills.

Solar Power World

Continental Control Systems will present the latest additions to its ACT line of split-core current transformers (CTs) at the 2015 AHR Expo in Chicago, Jan. 26-28, at booth 3926. A key highlight will be the company’s Accu-CT family of wide-range CTs, which offer unprecedented accuracy, and its patented low phase angle technology. The product line’s unique design includes an innovative hinged design that simplifies installation, enabling users to set up the unit safely with just one hand. The company will also display its flagship line of WattNode AC power and energy meters.

“Available in both standard and high-accuracy options, the Accu-CT line provides IEEE C57.13 Class 1.2 and Class 0.6 revenue-grade accuracies along with a UL and cUL listing for energy management equipment,” said Cynthia A. Boyd, director of sales for Continental Control Systems. “Our customers will appreciate all of the Accu-CT’s features, designed into a unique split-core current transformer at an affordable price.”

Perfect for use on loads up to 600A, the Accu-CT CTs offer the ease of installation typically associated with an opening CT combined with the accuracy normally found with solid-core CTs. The Accu-CT line of CTs are ANSI C57.13-compliant, holding their accuracy and phase angle to one percent of full load, a measureable decade below most standard CTs. Featuring a safe low-voltage 0.333 Vac output, the Accu-CT line is an ideal companion to Continental Control Systems’ WattNode Revenue meter for revenue-grade electric power metering applications.

The Accu-CT family currently includes two models. The ACT-1250 features an oblong, hinged design that provides superior accuracy for loads up to 600A and will fit parallel feeds up to 500 kcmil while complying with ANSI C12 requirements, particularly when used alongside the WattNode Revenue meter. The unique shape of the ACT-1250 creates a window opening with sufficient room for parallel 350 kcmil or parallel 500 kcmil feeds that will not fit in a round or square CT of the same size, providing users with a smaller, safer, and easier-to-install high-accuracy split-core CT.

Designed for load measurements below 250A, the ACT-0750 is a high-accuracy split-core CT that includes a low-voltage output 0.333 Vac to ensure safe use with Continental Control Systems’ WattNode and WattNode Revenue meters. The ACT-0750 is available in a variety of full load ranges, from 5A to 250A, and is ideal for equipment monitoring and solar applications in which accuracy across a wide range of the full load is necessary.

Solar Power World

Trojan Battery says its Reliant AGM with C-Max Technology model is the industry’s first true deep-cycle AGM battery. Reliant AGM maximizes sustained performance and increases total energy output to meet demanding deep-cycling requirements in Trojan’s wide range of market applications.

Reliant AGM is manufactured in the U.S. at Trojan’s newest production facility in Sandersville, Ga., and applications including aerial work platform, floor cleaning, golf, material handling, recreation, renewable energy, and remote telecom will benefit from its true deep-cycle design. Reliant™ AGM is also designed to power equipment used in locations where regulatory mandates require use of non-spillable batteries such as airports, healthcare facilities, shopping centers, educational institutions, etc.

“Trojan’s Reliant AGM is specifically engineered for deep-cycling applications, unlike most AGM batteries on the market today which are designed for dual-purpose or standby applications, such as UPS backup,” said Dave Godber, Trojan Battery’s executive vice president of sales and marketing. “Trojan has focused on deep-cycle technology longer than any other battery manufacturer in the industry and has utilized our extensive expertise and knowledge in developing the industry’s most reliable deep-cycle AGM battery.”

Incorporating premium components, state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, a dual-sided pasting process and superior quality control, Reliant AGM delivers exceptional quality and reliability the Trojan brand is known for.

“Trojan’s Reliant line of true deep-cycle AGM batteries feature elements that offer a new direction in AGM technology,” said Gordon Beckley, senior vice president of engineering and quality assurance at Trojan Battery. “As the only true deep-cycle AGM battery on the market today, Reliant AGM is a completely new AGM design, which our engineering team has been developing for the last several years. After extensive market research and meeting with our customers to determine their specific requirements for deep-cycle AGM batteries, Trojan’s engineering team set out to develop a true deep-cycle AGM battery to meet these market demands.”

Reliant’s exclusive C-Max Technology incorporates a wide range of features not found in many of today’s AGM battery offerings. The combination of its proprietary paste formula, unique separator, special polymer case design and maximum flame arrestors, coupled with Trojan’s manufacturing excellence, delivers increased total energy output, maximized sustained performance, consistent quality, and enhanced durability.

Key Product Features & Benefits
• Proprietary Paste Formula – Paste features elements designed to address the unique needs of deep-cycle applications to maximize sustained performance and increase total energy.

• Unique Separator Composition – Thick design ensures high compression for effective contact between glass mat and plates which protects against stratification for extended battery life.

• Plastic Polymer Case Design – Distinct plastic polymer case formula with reinforced case end walls increases durability and provides higher battery cell compression to ensure reliable performance.

• Maximum Flame Arrestors – Features one flame arrestor for each cell for maximum safety.

• U.S. Manufacturing Excellence – Trojan’s advanced technology, premium components, exacting quality standards, dual-sided pasting process and superior manufacturing techniques, delivers consistent battery quality and reliability in deep-cycle AGM applications. Reliant AGM is manufactured in the United States at Trojan’s AGM facility in Sandersville, Ga.

Market Differentiation
• A single source manufacturer for deep-cycle flooded and AGM batteries.

• The more than 150 years of combined AGM expertise of Trojan’s engineering team, and the company’s investment in state-of-the-art cast-on-strap equipment specifically designed for manufacturing deep-cycle AGM batteries, ensures overall product quality.

• Global technical support team provides comprehensive customer support.

• Extensive testing, including compliance and verification to IEC, SAE and BCI Industry standards, ensures the reliability and consistency of Trojan batteries.

Solar Power World

Franklin Ford, a family-owned Ford dealership in Franklin, Mass., has partnered with Solar Power World Top Contractor Solect Energy Development of Hopkinton to deploy a 142.5-kW solar energy system. The system is expected to cover nearly 100 percent of the dealership’s electricity needs, generating more than $30,000 in annual electricity savings.

Franklin Ford recently underwent significant renovations to its showroom and service area on East Central Street; the first renovations for the building in more than 30 years. The renovations include increasing the size of the showroom to accommodate multiple cars and the addition of a new, updated customer waiting area. The dealership also added a 1,500-square-foot environmentally-controlled drive-in service bay.

As part of these renovations, which included replacement of about half of its roof area, Franklin Ford began thinking green. After speaking to a few of Solect’s automotive dealership customers, the dealership decided installing solar was a great addition to their project.

“As part of our updates, we had been looking for ways to reduce our environmental footprint and Solect has been a perfect partner throughout the process,” said Barry Madden, general manager and part owner of Franklin Ford. “They were able to walk us through every step of the process and help us understand—in layman’s terms—both the environmental and the financial benefits we would achieve with this project.”

When Franklin Ford remodeled its building, it replaced all of the interior and exterior lights with LED-based lighting. When the ceiling was pulled down to remodel, Madden realized the HVAC system also needed to be replaced, and upgraded to a more efficient two-stage unit. “We were originally hoping for 100 percent coverage from solar, and with these updates, I think we’ll get that,” he said.

In addition to cost savings, Franklin Ford is able to take advantage of state and federal tax incentives, including SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Certificates), which solar system owners earn based on the amount of solar energy their system generates. SRECs are ultimately purchased by electrical utility providers in Massachusetts to help them meet their state-mandated goals of a percentage of power coming from renewable energy sources.

“Given its location and rooftop, Franklin Ford had a textbook site for solar,” said Steve Bianchi, business development partner at Solect Energy Development. “With the improvements they did to their building, and the additional green measures they have taken to reduce their overall energy consumption, they will see their system cover nearly 100 percent of their electricity needs.”

System Details:
Panels: ET Solar (ET-255 watt)
Mounting system: Ecolibrium ECOFOOT 2
Inverters: Solectria PVI 60

Solar Power World

At an extraordinary General Meeting on January 15, REC’s shareholders approved to sell the business as the largest European supplier of solar panels worldwide and to combine with the Norway-based Elkem Group. The closing of the transaction is expected in early March 2015.

Bluestar Elkem Investment is set to acquire REC Solar Holdings AS and all of the assets and liabilities of REC Solar at a cash purchase price of NOK 4,340 million. Since 2011, the Norway-based Elkem Group is fully owned by China National Bluestar, which in turn is a joint venture between the conglomerate ChemChina and Blackstone.

Martin Cooper, CEO of REC, states: “We are pleased that the shareholders have voted in favour of this transaction, in accordance with the previous recommendation by the Board of Directors. We believe that a combination with the Elkem Group will provide a strong platform to further develop REC, with added strengths and new opportunities.”

Elkem is keen to develop the existing organization of REC and to invest in further growth as a leading global brand in the solar industry. According to members of management, both companies are strongly committed to maintaining the high quality of REC’s solar panels, which far surpass stringent certifications, as well as to ensure REC warranties stay reliable. The basis for this industry-leading product quality will continue to be REC’s fully-automated integrated production plant in Singapore. Perhaps most importantly, customers can expect “business as usual”.

Going forward, REC is expecting new business opportunities due to this transaction. As the Elkem Group is a leading supplier of silicon, REC can benefit from new synergies up-stream the value chain. The company’s already strong strategic and financial position will be further strengthened thanks to improved access to financing, further boosting research and development, new technologies, production capacity and penetrating new markets in Asia such as China. “The Elkem Group and REC have developed a strong business relationship and there is a good strategic match between the companies, as both have a Norwegian corporate culture and heritage. The Elkem Group has a strategic goal to grow its presence in the solar industry. The ambition is to establish a leading integrated PV player,” comments Helge Aasen, CEO of Elkem AS.

Elkem is one of the world’s leading companies for environmentally-friendly production of materials. Its principal products are silicon, solar grade silicon, special alloys for the foundry industry, carbon products and microsilica. Elkem has 14 production facilities in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia, as well as an extensive network of sales offices and agents covering the most important markets. The Elkem Group employs about 2,100 people and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Helge Aasen has been the CEO of Elkem AS since 2009, and is also member of Elkem’s Board. Operating revenues for the Elkem Group in 2013 were NOK 7.9 billion.

Solar Power World

The Levitated Toy Factory is the company’s a high-tech workshop and event space in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. When the company made a decision to integrate solar into their workshop, the resulting array needed to be strikingly visible to meet the expectations of Levitated and their customers. To achieve the desired impression, Lumos LSX frameless solar modules were selected. The eye-catching solar awning, installed by AMenergy, flawlessly meets the high expectations of Levitated.

• Location: Albuquerque, NM
• Modules: (86) LSX 250 clear backsheet
• Racking: LSX Rail and custom awning array

Solar Power World

SolarSense and AllEarth Renewables completed 2.15MW of net metered projects in the last quarter of 2014.

SolarSense, a provider of clean, reliable and affordable power for commercial and industrial scale customers in the U.S., announced the commissioning and financing of 2.15 megawatts (MW) of net metering projects utilizing American-made AllEarth Solar Trackers.

The five solar tracking projects, all net metered in Vermont, were commissioned and placed in service in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Among the projects were three, 500 kilowatt (kW) projects for the State of Vermont, providing solar energy at below market rates to correctional facilities and state office buildings.

Two additional projects are providing solar energy to three prominent Vermont businesses – Danforth Pewter, Gardener’s Supply, and Wake Robin.  All projects are retaining the Renewable Energy Credits associated with the energy production.

The five projects were all constructed utilizing AllEarth Solar Trackers, manufactured in Williston, Vt. by AllEarth Renewables, which track the sun throughout the day to maximize energy production.  The award-winning trackers are utilized across the U.S. for residential and commercial scale solar projects.

The 24-panel trackers are equipped with SunPower solar panels, the most efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) panel commercially available.  SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) is a leading solar technology and global energy services provider based in Silicon Valley, Ca.

Building on the success of 2014, SolarSense and AllEarth will develop, construct, and finance 6MW of net metering projects in 2015-2016, largely for State of Vermont facilities and their power needs.

“The optimized design pairing of ultra-high efficiency SunPower solar panels with the reliable AllEarth dual axis tracker to harvest the sun has proven to be a winning combination,” said Chris Fraga, founder and CEO of SolarSense LLC, the project developer.  “We celebrate the State of Vermont’s commitment to sourcing solar generated power through long term Power Purchase Agreements, and the commitment to sustainability by the teams at Danforth Pewter, Gardener’s Supply, and Wake Robin.”

“We are excited to be working with SolarSense as a financing partner.  Their expertise in financing renewable energy projects around the country will help us continue our national growth,” said David Blittersdorf, president and CEO of AllEarth Renewables.  “By utilizing our tracking technology, we can maximize production, boosting the total solar savings for both the off-taking customers and the economic returns for the owners of each project.”

Solar Power World

QSolar Limited is pleased to report today that it has been notified by TUV SUD China, that Renewable Energy Test Center, the U.S.-based laboratory undertaking UL 1703 certification testing, has advised that QSolar has achieved positive test results for the UL 1703 standard for safety requirements of flat plated photovoltaic (PV) modules for the North American market and will receive certification. This certification is in addition to the previously announced positive test results on December 3, 2014 for TUV SUD IEC 61730-1 for which QSolar will also receive certification. These two solar industry milestones validate QSolar’s proprietary non-glass trade secret technology and processes. This now completes QSS certification testing at this time.

QSolar is looking forward to receiving the formal issuance of UL 1703 and TUV SUD certifications. The corporation will be allowed to use the TUV SUD IEC 61730-1 certification mark and additionally the UL 1703 certification mark, upon a UL 1703 specific factory audit being performed on QSolar’s QSS product range that was tested and formal certification issuances.

The notification of this second set of positive test results, again validates the use of the corporation’s non-proprietary trade secret Spraytek technology and related processes that are used on its QSS product range tested. The same trade secret proprietary technology and related processes are also used on all of QSolar’s products currently designed, developed and manufactured in Shanghai, China. The confirmation of the positive test results represents the first time products made from a non-glass substrate, utilizing proprietary non-lamination processes, with completely new non-glass materials, have achieved UL 1703 and TUV SUD IEC 61730-1 certification.

The corporation is deferring further testing of TUV SUD IEC 61215 certification until a new testing protocol is introduced that addresses the special properties of non-glass panels including the QSS Spraytek99 ESS panels. The Corporation’s QSS family passed the TUV SUD IEC 61730-1 and the UL 1703 certification tests, notwithstanding the fact that these certification tests have been primarily designed and tailored for glass panels. The corporate decision to defer further specific IEC 61215 tests arises from the fact that the IEC 61215 standard is not suited to thin film panels and technology. Similarly, the Corporation will consider proceeding with testing when a new certification standard is developed for non-glass panels that addresses the unique and special properties of the Corporation’s Spraytek compound.

Mr. Andreas Tapakoudes commented, “QSolar is extremely excited to have passed the stringent UL 1703 certification tests with our industry disruptive technology. The process for certification has taken longer than anticipated. It is not always possible to accelerate or force development and gain acceptance of a completely new technology in a sector where there has been no fundamental technological change in decades. Management would like to especially thank the staff of QSolar that worked extremely hard and persevered through this stage of corporate development, have always believed in our technology and assisted in achieving these positive results. QSolar would also like to thank those shareholders that have continued to believe in us, and the possibilities of our technology. We look forward to QSolar’s next phase of progress.”

Solar Power World

Solar industry professionals face countless challenges in honing a real competitive edge, including anything from client/customer prospecting, sales, forecasting and more. Along with the responsibility of managing these functions, they are also faced with implementing an effective marketing communications strategy to get the word out about what they offer and why they’re the best option.

This article is authored by Robert J. Sincovich, President of R.J. Sincovich Communications Inc.

One of the most valuable, yet overlooked, tools for helping to drive sales is public relations. Public relations can be an important part of the marketing mix because it offers opportunities to deliver information about a product or service in ways that make people really stand up and take notice.

PR can incorporate a wide variety of skills and tactics that can include working with the news media, generating partnership opportunities with third-party organizations, working with advocacy groups, government agencies and more.

Understanding the different facets of PR can be worthwhile, and of particular assistance to business managers as a marketing-support function. As a marketing tool, public relations can be used to generate influential news about a product; it can be used to develop alliances to help broaden the distribution of messages; and it can be used to help advance compelling awareness about a certain business issue. The list of possibilities is endless, but the question remains: How do you make all this happen?

Advertising vs. Public Relations
There is an industry phrase that helps put things in perspective: “Advertising you pay for; public relations you pray for.”

For example, many people reading a report about a new product would learn about the use and benefits of the product. Appropriate visuals are used to support the story, such as photos of the product in use, and there’s an expert included who offers commentary. Often, the material is generated by the actual publication. But sometimes, that’s not the case.

On appropriate occasions, the material may be developed by a public relations professional working on behalf of the product company. The value of this approach is that the information was reported through a very credible source, the news. Another benefit is that there was no media placement cost involved. Rather, the news producers used the story because of the educational value it had for their readers. In many ways, this is one of the greatest differentiating factors between advertising and public relations—the actual delivery costs you nothing.

With advertising, the content of the ad, the selection of the media and the choice of timing are all controlled by the ad’s sponsor. Since public relations material is considered “editorial” in nature, the quality and news value of the material are the primary factors that help editors and producers to decide what ultimately will be used. As a result, added credibility is accorded the messages since a third-party decision maker was involved in selectively running the story.

In fact, a recent solar product client article that appeared in a leading trade publication scored 741 online hits in the first two hours live, with visitors spending 3.5 to 5+ minutes each reading the article that totaled more than 42 hours of reader time learning about the sponsoring client. That is a staggering amount of influence that made the client stand-out as a key opinion leader and category expert.

It is also important to remember that PR can be a valuable communications tool through the entire lifecycle of a product. Even before a product is introduced, news announcements can be sent out alerting audiences to an upcoming development of interest to them. Additional “pre-launch” work can be done to build awareness about certain voids in the market place about needed product solutions, so that when the new introduction takes place, it is accepted as the long-awaited answer. During the lifecycle, product improvements and updates can also be publicized to continue the momentum and purchasing interest.

Leveraging third-party involvement
Public relations is not limited to communicating through the news media. Often, a successful outreach program can be accomplished by inviting the participation of an outside organization, such as trade, industry and/or consumer groups. Their involvement in a press conference or press release, for example, lends an entirely new level of credibility that helps support your position. And, because the effort is usually mutually beneficial, there are no fees involved, just cooperation.

Public relations can be stand-alone
While it is always important to consider ways to integrate public relations strategies and tactics into an overall communications program, it is also possible to create public relations programs that can be run separately.

An example of a stand-alone effort involved a renewable energy client introducing a new geothermal pipe system. With limited funds, a series of press releases were produced announcing several “threshold” developments as the product moved through different stages of development, completion, patent acquisition and ultimate introduction. A real-world installation project was also written up as a “Case Study,” showing the step-by-step process, and published in the leading trade publication reaching professional installers. The combined publicity created such a rush of purchasing interest, that the manufacturer needed to ramp up production/distribution to help keep pace with product demand.

Clearly, the word was getting out there and the sales interest was generated.

Is public relations always applicable?
Like any other tool, public relations is most effective only when and where it fits best.

Although it would be difficult to say that there are occasions where public relations tactics cannot be applied, a business manager should always consider the potential communications benefit against the cost. And, while PR can be very cost-efficient, there are no set parameters that dictate specifically what a public relations budget should be.
As a general rule, if an overall promotional budget is in the range of about 8 to 12% of total sales, an appropriate public relations allotment might be about 12% of this amount. Naturally, this can vary greatly, depending on the opportunity, or lack of it, based on the circumstances. In some cases, the public relations portion can be substantially higher or lower. Nonetheless, flexibility is certainly a valued benefit.

Measuring results
Very often, the results are measured not just by the amount of sales that are generated, but by the amount of editorial space or airtime achieved through the public relations program. Converting this information into the number of people reached, or calculating the cost for an equivalent level of advertising space are two other common approaches. However, depending on the budget available, benchmark testing, combined with zip code analysis and attitude measurement should be considered as appropriate methods for estimating results. Website spikes are also helpful.

In one case, a client undertook a careful zip code analysis of sales in regions where clusters of consumer-targeted material appeared. When the sales numbers in these areas were compared to areas where the material had not appeared, a consistent increase in sales was indicated wherever the news material had appeared. As a result, the client acknowledged that the effort was well worth the small cost involved in the initiative and helped drive measurable sales.

What steps can you take?
If you’ve not been involved with a public relations initiative before, or if you are not certain about what public relations can do to help you in reaching your marketing objectives, you may want to consider contacting professional organizations, such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), based in New York City. This and other such organizations may have regional chapters where you can explore the services that are available.

Your colleagues can also be a valuable resource for information about PR firms since they may already have had experience in this area. First and foremost, however, is the need to recognize the value that PR can add to your overall marketing communications program and explore the possibilities engaging a public relations professional.

Five Keys To Public Relations Support

• Recognize the potential for expanding the frequency and reach of messages through alternate channels.
• Consider the news value your product may offer.
• Reserve sufficient funds in your promotion budget for public relations.
• Be aware that all stages of the product life cycle can be considered.
• Seek the counsel of a public relations professional wherever possible.

About the author
Robert J. Sincovich is founder and owner of R.J. Sincovich Communications, an independent public relations consultant firm offering strategic PR services to industrial, consumer and institutional-oriented companies. Further information can be gained by calling 267-614-2265, sending e-mail to rjsincovichpr@msn.com or visiting www.rjsincovichpr.com.

Solar Power World

The Fronius USA Service Provider program is a valuable tool for solar installers to add to their experience while achieving the necessary certification for in-warranty and field service work on Fronius inverters in the United States. Solar installers are able to experience an in-depth look at various Fronius inverter lines while also securing NABCEP continuing education credits.  After participating in the Fronius Service Provider product trainings, installers are also able to buy inverter replacement service components and PC boards at minimal cost, allowing for cost-effective service and limiting customer system downtime. Trainings will be held at the United States headquarters of Fronius USA, 6797 Fronius Drive in Portage, Indiana, to offer exclusive looks at Fronius products. The 2015 dates for Fronius trainings are:

March 9th – 12th Fronius IG Series, Fronius IG Plus Series, Fronius Galvo and Fronius CL

May 18th –  22nd Fronius IG Series, Fronius IG Plus Series, Fronius Galvo, Fronius Symo/Primo and Fronius CL

August 10th – 14th Fronius IG Series, Fronius IG Plus Series, Fronius Galvo, Fronius Symo/Primo and Fronius CL

November 9th – 13th Fronius IG Series, Fronius IG Plus Series, Fronius Galvo, Fronius Symo/Primo and Fronius CL

Register Online 

Installers are welcome to register for all days of training or for specific products. Course registrants are to arrange their own travel. The cost of the course is $295 per day, which includes the training, training materials, meals, and can be used as a credit towards an FSP starter kit.  The FSP starter kit is a collection of the most commonly used inverter repair parts. This kit is highly recommended, as it allows the installer to fully utilize the benefits of the FSP program. Currently, there are 2,300 worldwide, certified Fronius Service Providers. Register online, or for more information on the course, please call 219-734-5666 or email pv-training-usa@fronius.com.

As a Certified Fronius Service Provider, you can have all necessary parts for field servicing on hand, giving you the upper hand in competition by offering the least amount of service time and most cost savings for your customer. In addition to receiving NABCEP credits for your training, you will also receive the valuable hands-on experience in Fronius inverters. There is an industry-leading service reimbursement for in-warranty service of $250.

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Business leaders globally have strong confidence in their own ability to turn sustainability challenges such as water scarcity and lock-in to fossil fuels into new business opportunities, particularly in the manufacturing and finance sectors in emerging economies. This is one of the key findings of the Global Opportunity Report by DNV GL, UN Global Compact and Monday Morning Global Institute. The new report is based on a survey and consultations with more than 6,000 public and private sector leaders in over 21 countries.

“Businesses across the planet are not shying away from global risks such as climate change, and increasingly recognize the positive benefits of seizing the related opportunities. The report confirms that there has been a turning point, where private sectors are now a critical driver of sustainable development with emerging economies in the front seat,” says Georg Kell, Executive Director of UN Global Compact.

In addition to the 6,000 leaders surveyed, 200 experts from eight countries have shared insights and contributed to creating the Global Opportunity Report. The report identifies and ranks 15 sustainability opportunities according to public and private sector interest and potential impact on societies and business. With the new report, the partners aim to demonstrate how global sustainability challenges and risks can be seen as opportunities. The work provides an open innovation platform where stakeholders worldwide can explore and capture sustainability opportunities and solutions across risk domains and regions. Additionally, the report identifies more than 120 readily available solutions.

Water Innovation Leading Opportunity
Asked about future prospects, business leaders see untapped and profitable opportunities especially in handling and providing solutions to address water scarcity and to promote green consumer choices. Overall, developments in water-efficient agriculture is the opportunity that inspires most confidence among the leaders. 37 per cent find this opportunity to have great benefits for society and consider their country to have great capacity to seize this opportunity.

“I believe one of the most clear signals in the survey is the confidence we see in our ability to address water scarcity. It is a grave problem that affects hundreds of millions of people globally and the competition for water is seen as a major obstacle to health, growth and prosperity. This finding also makes me optimistic that we’ll meet a global development goal toensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, “says Henrik O. Madsen, Group CEO and President of DNV GL, one of the partners of the network and report.

Green Consumer Choices Highly Favored
Opportunities related to lock-in to fossil fuels also is assessed positively. The most favored opportunity here is green consumer choices. This includes innovations to change consumer behavior to increased uptake of renewable energy in households or a growing selection of consumer products made with the use of renewables.

Private Sector More Optimistic than Public Sector
The public sector is expected to play an important role in realizing many of the opportunities described in the report, especially those that are regulation-oriented. Nevertheless, public sector respondents were consistently less optimistic than the private sector about how the opportunities can positively affect society and their capacity to pursue these opportunities.

“The report findings are encouraging and concerning at the same time,” says Erik Rasmussen, Founder of Monday Morning Global Institute. “The strong interest in pursuing sustainable business opportunities in the private sector is very positive. Yet, the governmental sector seems to be more reluctant and not seeing the same opportunities. This is a pity. Governments can play an important role by issuing regulations that support both sustainability and business ventures. Business and governments must share visions and initiatives.”

However, the Global Opportunity Report indicates that this scenario is likely to change.

For leaders below 30 years of age, female leaders and leaders in emerging economies in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and South America, regulated energy transition and smart water regulation are the top-ranking sustainability opportunities.

“I believe that one of the most interesting findings in the report is how young leaders under 30 years of age, people in emerging economies and also women embrace regulation as a strong tool for sustainable change. It is very likely that the decision makers of tomorrow will be found in these groups, and it gives us hope that we can see a stronger collaboration between the private and the public sector in the future,” says Henrik O. Madsen, Group CEO and President of DNV GL.

Manufacturing and Finance Sector Most Confident
Emerging economies are especially ready to pursue market opportunities associated with sustainability challenges. The report shows that the manufacturing sector – especially in China – is most confident in their ability to address sustainability barriers and deliver profits and prosperity in return.

China First, Europe Last
Regionally, China is the most optimistic in the survey with 48 percent showing great confidence in sustainability opportunities, followed by India with 44 percent and South America 37 percent. Europe is the least optimistic with only 23 percent, making it the most cautious region when it comes to belief in development associated with sustainability.

The Global Opportunity Report and the global survey will be conducted annually.

Solar Power World

Solar Impulse | Anna Pizzolante | Rezo.ch

ABB is proud to accompany Solar Impulse and its crew on the plane’s flight around the world powered only by energy from the sun.

Solar Impulse, based in Switzerland, announced today it will begin its historic flight between late February and early March in Abu Dhabi. In 2014, ABB and Solar Impulse formed an innovation and technology alliance to advance a shared vision of reducing resource consumption and increasing the use of renewable energy.

“Solar Impulse will inspire a new generation to embrace innovation and technology to solve the planet’s biggest challenges,” said ABB Chief Executive Officer Ulrich Spiesshofer. “ABB will be with the Solar Impulse team every mile of its journey.”

Three ABB engineers have joined the Solar Impulse team where they are contributing expertise and passion. Their work includes improving control systems for ground operations, enhancing the charging electronics for the plane’s battery systems and resolving obstacles that emerge along the route.

On the plane’s 40,000-kilometer route, pilots Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg will share duties as the aircraft stops in cities including Muscat, Oman; Varanasi and Ahmedabad in India; Chongqing and Nanjing in China; and Phoenix, Arizona in the U.S. It will also stop in Europe or North Africa.

Among challenges before the mission concludes in Abu Dhabi in mid-2015 will be a non-stop flight of five days and nights from China to Hawaii. The plane, powered by 17,248 solar cells, will soar higher than Mount Everest each day while fully charging its batteries to stay aloft during the night.

ABB’s enthusiasm for Solar Impulse stems not merely from shared faith in innovation and technology but also from the company’s credo: “Power and productivity for a better world.” Solar Impulse’s ethos mirrors ABB’s aspirations of helping boost operational efficiency, reduce resource use, enable sustainable transportation and increase penetration of clean, renewable energy.

As the world’s second-largest supplier of solar inverters and one of the largest suppliers to the wind-power industry, ABB is a leader in integrating renewables efficiently and reliably into power grids. ABB is helping build the most-comprehensive electric vehicle fast-charging network in Europe and is supplying key equipment for the world’s largest network of fast chargers for electric cars in China.

Piccard said the addition of ABB, with its leading technologies that enable energy generation from renewable projects as well as boost efficiency, to Solar Impulse’s team have reinforced the endeavor’s ability to demonstrate the power of innovation and clean technology.

“This is what the world needs,” said Piccard, the Swiss aviation pioneer who was part of the first team to circle the earth in a balloon in 1999. “Otherwise, we’re going to waste all our natural resources.”

Since 2010, Piccard, the project’s chairman, and Borschberg, its chief executive officer, have combined to set eight international aviation records including for duration, altitude and distance flown as they crossed Europe, North Africa and the United States in a prototype plane powered only by the sun.

ABB salutes and shares this vision as the journey’s next step kindles new interest in aeronautics, clean technology and renewable energy. “Together, we need to run the world without consuming the earth,” ABB’s Spiesshofer said. “In very simple terms, that’s what we stand for.”

Solar Power World

Astrum Solar and The Tower Companies announced The Millennium Building, located at 1909 K Street NW, flipped the switch on a newly installed solar photovoltaic (PV) system.  This project is a first of its kind in Washington, D.C. It will help improve the district’s environmental footprint and reduce the building’s operating costs.  Both Tower and Astrum Solar led this initiative to hopefully inspire other commercial building owners to use on-site renewable energy in building operations.

Astrum Solar, a Maryland based full service solar provider designed and installed this 30 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system for Tower, a privately-held and family-owned organization that has both developed and managed The Millennium Building since 1973. The 235,000 SF, multi-tenant, commercial office building is LEED Gold Certified under Existing Buildings: Operations and Management (“EBOM”) and ENERGY STAR Certified with a current score of 86.

“It’s encouraging to see solar catching on for commercial uses. For years, homeowners have realized the benefit of solar to lower their energy costs and help the environment. The Tower Companies is a very forward thinking leader, we hope others will follow,” said Sandy Roskes, Chief Sales Officer of Astrum Solar.

The new solar PV system is located on the roof and features 109 American made panels (270 watts each), with an estimated annual production of nearly 40,000 kWh. That’s equivalent to operating three elevators in the building for one year. This is the first solar PV installation on a large, commercial, class-A, office building in Washington D.C. Tower decided to purchase instead of lease the system, which is a unique approach in the market. Tower has installed a live dashboard in the penthouse lobby, which will display the daily and on-going electricity generated and will act as a visible reminder of both the environmental and financial savings from this project.

Tower is committed to developing and managing buildings that are sustainable and socially responsible. “It’s in our DNA as an organization. We strive to be in the forefront of the green building industry and have wanted to incorporate solar for a while now,” said Eugenia Gregorio, Director of Corporate Responsibility for The Tower Companies. “When we combined the decreased cost of solar panels and the tax and SREC incentives available, the project just made good business sense and aligns with our environmental goals,” added Gregorio.

The project will contribute to the Sustainable DC Plan, and the long term goal of increasing renewable energy sources to 50% by 2032. According to the District Department of the Environment, there are more than 1200 PV systems in the District registered with the Renewable Portfolio Standard Program. That translates into approximately 9 MW of PV capacity. “The District of Columbia has one of the strongest solar markets in the nation thanks to the coordinated effort of industry, District Government, and strong advocates,” said Tommy Wells, Acting Director of the District Department of the Environment. “The Tower Companies’ new solar installation gets us closer to our ambitious renewable energy goals. On behalf of Mayor Bowser, I congratulate Tower for their leadership.”

Solar Power World

Nexamp, a provider of solar energy and Solar Power World Top Contractor, has completed a 4.4-MW solar project in Charlton, Massachusetts. The project, which achieved commercial operations at the end of December, marked the 21st megawatt of solar power commissioned by the company in the Commonwealth in 2014. Among the many benefits of the installation, Nexamp has partnered with the Town of Westford to deliver substantial savings through net metering credits, while the project generates new recurring tax revenue for the town of Charlton.

The project was made possible by last April’s expansion of the Massachusetts Solar Carve-Out Program, known as SREC-II, designed to maintain and expand the successful development of solar installations that have kept the Commonwealth at the forefront of clean energy deployment. This is the largest project under the 2014 Managed Growth portion of the SREC-II program, and will produce enough electricity annually to power over 800 homes.

“Westford is committed to progressive strategies to reliably reduce its energy use and electricity costs,” said John Mangiaratti, assistant town manager for the town of Westford, which expects to save over $300,000 in electricity costs in 2015 alone through the project. “Our net metering credit partnership with Nexamp has allowed us to do so while supporting local sources of renewable energy and this is a remarkable achievement for our Town.” Town Manager Jodi Ross stated “Our Board of Selectmen has established a goal to support renewable energy projects. Assistant Town Manager Mangiaratti and Nexamp have partnered to enable us to achieve this goal, along with a reduction in the costs of electricity for our municipal buildings.”

“I’m extremely proud of our team’s accomplishments in 2014 and we look forward to an exciting year ahead for Nexamp,” said Zaid Ashai, Nexamp’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our Charlton project will set the standard for our team in 2015 as we continue to expand our solar asset base in Massachusetts and other promising markets that have taken cues from the success of the policy makers on Beacon Hill.”

Project Details
Panels: Yingli – YL305P
Racking: RBI
Inverters: AE 500NX-HE

Solar Power World