Trina Solar Limited announced the launch of two new high-efficiency modules, the Honey Plus (PC05A (II)), a multi-crystalline module and the Honey M Plus (DC05A (II)), a mono-crystalline module, which offer average power outputs of 275 W and 285 W, respectively. In addition, the Honey Plus offers an average cell efficiency of 18.7% while the Honey M Plus offers an average cell efficiency of 20.4%. The Honey Plus and Honey M Plus modules offer significant upgrades on Trina Solar’s previous Honey and Honey M modules.

Solar Power World

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited announced at the World Future Energy Summit that innovative CleanARC anti-reflective (AR) glass coating is now available on all Yingli product lines. Developed by California-based Enki Technology and offered through Yingli, CleanARC coating enables panels to generate more energy over time while simultaneously reducing cleaning requirements, creating additional project value in comparison to conventionally coated panels.

Due to their high resistance to abrasion and environmental degradation, Yingli’s CleanARC coated solar panels are ideal for project sites with harsh environmental conditions such as sandstorms, sea mist, high humidity, and extreme temperature fluctuations. CleanARC coated solar panels can also reduce operations and maintenance expenses because the coating’s structure and hydrophobic properties enable more effective self-cleaning than conventional AR coatings.

“We are pleased to bring this unique product to market in partnership with Yingli. Glass coatings are a deceptively simple component that create long-term financial implications for solar project owners. Extensive lab and field testing demonstrates the clear advantage of multi-functional CleanARC coatings in challenging operational environments,” commented Kevin Kopczynski, Chief Executive Officer of Enki Technology.

“It is extremely promising that our new CleanARC coated solar panels have already spurred project development in areas where solar adoption has been constrained by harsh climates. By driving innovation across all PV technology components, from cells to AR coating, we are making solar power a pragmatic clean energy solution everywhere the sun shines,” commented Dr. Dengyuan Song, Chief Technology Officer of Yingli Green Energy.

Solar Power World

An installer in Hawaii used the SunBeam system to hover over a multitude of air conditioning units on the Kauhale Makei Condominiums.

Rare is the flat and unadorned rooftop. Solar companies often face roofs resembling an obstacle course made of vents, pipes and uneven surfaces. What’s a solar contractor to do?

Mounting company SunModo listened to clients asking for a strong system capable of bridging obstructions and putting modules on a single plane, which eliminates shading. SunModo developed the EZHelio SunBeam commercial rooftop mounting system to fill this need.

“Our customers were struggling to find a good racking solution that could be elevated,” said SunModo account executive Brandon Gwinner. “We engineered a solution to meet this basic need, and it turned out to be a huge success.”

By spanning over obstacles, SunBeam takes full advantage of roof space to maximize system size, increasing ROI. Its aluminum construction reduces stress on the building structure while withstanding wind loads and salty air. A heavy duty beam allows longer spans, which reduces the number of posts.

Posts require cutting into the roofing material to the substructure and attaching. Gwinner recommends using the original roofer to apply flashing and boots around the penetration to keep the roof warranty intact.

A California-based contractor used SunBeam on a commercial roof complicated by an air conditioning unit and multiple skylights. The roof pitch was also asymmetrical.

“The SunBeam system made for a smooth and straight-forward installation,” said David Brown, solar consultant at Southwestern Solar Systems. “We were able to easily customize and adjust the racking leg lengths to account for multiple roof pitches on the site.”

Designing a SunBeam system is often a collaboration between installer and the SunModo team. While the components are standard, the number of posts will change due to wind load, snow load, height, tilt degree and obstructions. There is some customization that goes into each project.

“Preferably, a customer will start by sending us a roof diagram with modules,” Gwinner said. “Sometimes they will give me a roof diagram and ask, ‘How many modules can you fit?’”

A 20° tilt will often lead to a layout with modules three, four or five high. A no-tilt system, such as the one at Kauhale Makei Condominiums in Hawaii, can have unlimited modules on a single plane.

Contractors may worry about the effect of putting modules above vents, especially if they’re from a kitchen. Cliff Schrock, solar engineering consultant at SunModo, says 24 in. will probably be enough room for wind to disperse heat. Most vents have deflectors, too. SPW

Solar Power World

With the flip of a switch, PermaCity Solar and American fashion retailer Forever 21, powered-up a massive 5.1-megawatt (DC) high efficiency SunPower solar power system, crowning the construction project that employed many local workers.

Solar Power World

ET Solar will soon launch a comprehensive operations and maintenance system for photovoltaic power plants around the world. The system will be designed to maximize the efficiency and reliability of operating PV plants by using smart management and control throughout the entire lifecycle of the plant. The ET Solar system will increase output and optimize the levelized cost of electricity.

ET Solar invites you to use your creativity and suggest an appropriate name for the system.

Necessary details include:

• Concise and eye-catching
• Reflecting the system’s characteristics
• Including a brief description explaining the literal meaning of your suggested name
• Submitted before the deadline of January 26, 2015

Please send your suggested names to pr@etsolar.com.

Prizes will be given to the winners:

• 1st Prize: A fashionable solar backpack (1 winner)
• 2nd Prize: A portable power bank (2 winners)
• 3rd Prize: A New Year’s calendar (10 winners)

The 1st prize winner will also be invited to ET Solar’s Global O&M Center in Nanjing, China.

Solar Power World

The International Trade Commission (ITC) today voted to uphold the tariffs proposed in 2014 on imports of solar products from China and Taiwan.

In response to this news, Jigar Shah, President of the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) released the following statement:

“While expected, it is disappointing that the ITC has voted to uphold tariffs on imports of solar modules from China and Taiwan, which will raise the price of solar power for American consumers and hurt American solar companies.

“It’s particularly troubling that U.S. trade policy is working to increase the cost of solar products through tariffs when we know that more affordable solar energy creates more American solar jobs.

“As shown in the data from the recent National Solar Jobs Census, falling module prices contributed to a 21.8% growth of solar employment in 2014, including a doubling of the installation sector since 2010, which is the largest source of domestic employment growth.

“We continue to urge the governments of the U.S., China and Taiwan to negotiate a solution to the tariffs rather than erecting self-defeating barriers to global trade.”

Solar Power World

Exosun, a leading provider of solar tracking technologies for utility-scale ground-mounted solar plants, has announced the expansion of its international presence with the opening of a subsidiary in Cape Town. Exosun South Africa (Pty) Ltd’s local team will provide sales, engineering support, as well as training on installation and O&M of its products. The company is also committed to local manufacturing of its trackers, in full aligment with the South African local content policy.

After successfully deploying 230 MW of solar tracking systems in Europe and America, Exosun is now entering the South African market which is booming thanks to the country’s rapid economic development and increased electricity needs. In order to regulate and accelerate private investment in renewable energy, the South African government launched the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program in 2011 centered around RFP rounds.

“By establishing a subsidiary in Cape Town, we are able to optimally serve our customers based in South Africa with top-notch tracking systems and services adapted to their specific needs”, declares Paula Korkie, Exosun’s Business Development Manager in South Africa. “We are also developing partnerships with South African manufacturers to ensure high quality local production and reduce transportation costs.”

“In this region with high solar irradiation levels, there is a significant market for solar trackers and it was important for us to build our presence here. We are confident that our technology, scalable and adaptable to all project and land types, will answer the needs of local and international PV plant developers, owners and operators in South Africa and the surrounding countries “, comments Frédéric Conchy, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Exosun.

On this coming March 24 and 25, you will be able to meet Exosun’s South African team at our booth E22 at the Solar Show Africa, Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg.

Solar Power World

The rules of solar are changing in California, and property owners that wait to go solar in the future will not receive the favorable conditions of today. The billing arrangement that provides solar owners full retail credit for the energy they put on the grid, called net energy metering, is ending. Industry experts suggest that homes and businesses that wait until the peak summer months to install a solar power system will likely miss their chance.

“The upcoming changes for solar producers will undoubtedly create an unprecedented demand,” said Daniel Sullivan, founder and president of locally-based Sullivan Solar Power, whose clientele includes UC San Diego, the Port of San Diego and San Diego State University. “Property owners that wait until June to sign up to go solar may miss their chance to receive the full retail credit that current solar producers receive.”

Net energy metering will end once a certain amount of solar is installed in each utility territory, and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) will be the first utility to reach its cap. Anyone that installs solar before the cap is hit will receive full retail credit for energy they produce, and will be grandfathered in for 20-years. Once net metering ends, new homes and businesses that install solar will receive less credit for the energy they produce.

“The period for going solar under the current net metering rules could end for SDG&E customers by December or even earlier, depending on how many people install solar this year,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA).

In order for property owners to get grandfathered in to current rules, the projects must be installed. A signed contract will not reserve a property’s space in the queue. Under normal market conditions, it takes an average of 120 days for a project to be delivered from the time paperwork is signed to installation completion. The solar industry is anticipating a bottleneck for installations, city permitting, and utility inspections.

“We are informing all San Diego property owners that are interested in going solar that they need to sign up by May in order to receive the current favorable rules and grandfathering protections,” said Sullivan, who has been providing solar to the region for a decade, “September is when there’s the greatest demand for solar, but it is unlikely that people who wait until then will be installed before the rules change.”

In addition to the local changes, solar policy is going to become less favorable on a national level as well. The tax credit, which covers 30 percent of a solar project, is currently the largest incentive available for property owners that invest in solar. The federal tax credit for solar is ending in 2016 for residential properties, and will be reduced to 10 percent for commercial property owners.

“Given changes that will be coming next year and favorable conditions right now, there has never been a better time to go solar,” said Del Chiaro.

Solar Power World

Heliene, originally an Ontario based manufacturer of commercial and residential solar panels, has expanded and will begin production at its new St Paul, Minnesota facility.

“We are delighted to be part of the Made in Minnesota program, and expand our operations into the Minnesota market”, said Heliene President Martin Pochtaruk. “We see this as a great opportunity to move into both Minnesota, as well as into the U.S. market in a big way.”

Heliene and U.S. partner SimpleRay will produce standard form-factor medium to high efficiency 60 and 72 cell modules ranging in output from 250 watt polycrystalline panels to 335 watt monocrystalline panels, with final assembly and testing taking place at the St. Paul facility. SimpleRay and Heliene will initially add 12-20 employees to their assembly plant and corporate offices to accommodate the expanded operation.

Said SimpleRay’s President and CEO Geoff Stenrick, “We couldn’t be happier to partner with the leader in North American module production. Heliene brings extensive manufacturing experience to help with any size project from a small residential system to large utility scale. With production in both Canada and Minnesota, we can also offer a high quality product that helps create manufacturing jobs throughout North America. ”

Blue Horizon Energy (BHE), based in Eden Prairie Minnesota, was selected to be a test site for Heliene’s initial product introduction to the Made in Minnesota market (pictured). Said John Aune, founding member of BHE, “We are very excited to finally have a high efficiency, standard module in the Made in Minnesota program. With Heliene we get the best of both worlds, a high quality module that also offers the flexibility we need to install on any project.”

Solar Power World

Solectria Renewables has entered into an agreement with Upsolar America whereby Solectria will supply its PVI 3800-7600TL, single-phase, transformerless, residential inverters for Upsolar’s turnkey financing and installation solution known as the Energy Freedom Loan Program.

Upsolar’s Energy Freedom Loan Program allows residential customers to overcome the primary barriers of solar adoption, such as upfront costs and lease commitments, while knowing their PV system is powered by Solectria’s state of the art, single-phase, residential inverters. This program’s performance solution also includes Upsolar’s high quality modules and racking.

“As more homeowners elect to own PV systems instead of locking into long-term lease agreements, it is the perfect opportunity to offer an integrated technology and financing solution,” said Stephane Dufrenne, President of Upsolar America. Dufrenne added “With Solectria and third-party financing, we are taking an important step towards simplifying and lowering costs of system ownership for residential customers.”

“Partnerships like this have established Solectria as a leading inverter manufacturer. Upsolar has designed a model that is simplifying the process for homeowners to own and benefit from their own PV systems,” said John Lavelle, Regional Sales Manager of Solectria Renewables.

This partnership reflects a trend in residential solar away from solar leasing to loan options and direct ownership of PV systems. This trend is driven by the declining costs of solar components, including PV modules and inverters, bringing solar investments within reach for homeowners.

Solar Power World

Blue Sky Energy is focusing on becoming a leader in the manufacture and supply of off-grid solar charge controller solutions for small to mid-power commercial, industrial, recreational and military uses. The company supplies Solar Boost charge controllers with Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology, which allow for the maximum tapping of solar power from PV modules while protecting your battery investment.

The company developed the products in response to the ever growing need and demand for off-grid power solutions, especially to reduce power costs, enhance power supply stability, offer power backup solutions, provide electric power to remote areas, and most of all, ensure that PV module users enjoy the full potential of their devices.

“We’ve built a solid industry reputation over the years through the provision of reliable Solar Boost charge controllers,” says John Vrahnos, Director of Global Sales & Marketing. “Our focus has been to improve our products and boost production to meet global demand.”

Blue Sky Energy consistently works to leverage technology and innovation to enhance efficiency of its solar charge controllers and related accessories such as IPN remote digital displays, battery temperature sensors and universal communication modules.

Blue Sky Energy’s use of quality materials and extreme efficiency make them ideal for deployment in mission-critical applications worldwide. The reliability and simplicity of their design ensures protection against most common user errors, allowing for easy networking set-up and use, including optional remote monitoring over the Internet. Programming or viewing of all settings is possible without extra accessories and via any computer. The two-wire network interface permits multiple controllers to function as a single coordinated charging machine. All controllers are made in the USA.

Solar Boost charge controllers have helped entities that initially installed solar systems with conventional PWM ones. Those who’ve taken advantage of the Solar Boost charge controllers have benefited from improved power supply even at times when the weather is not quite favorable. The company’s Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) devices deliver up to 30% more power from user PV modules than more conventional PWM solar charge controllers.

In September 2014, the company announced a partnership with Genasun, a collaboration that enables it to offer the off-grid power industry’s most extensive lineup of small to mid-power electronics. More importantly, the collaboration will lead to combining the best from both companies and the engineering and co-development of new, advanced off-grid products that are rugged, efficient, and easy to use.

Solar Power World

The following content first appeared in a blog by mounting provider Solar FlexRack. Read the company’s blog here.

The Solar FlexRack Series TDL solar tracking system.

Solar trackers are rising in popularity, but not everyone understands the complete benefits and potential drawbacks of the system. Solar panel tracking solutions are a type of device that host mounted photovoltaic panels, which use the sun to generate electricity. Stationary mounts, which hold these panels in a fixed position, can have their productivity compromised when the sun passes to a less-than-optimal angle. Compensating for this, solar trackers automatically move to “track” the progress of the sun across the sky, thereby maximizing output.

It’s a fantastic system for energy output, but there are a few considerations to bear in mind before pursuing one for your jobsite.

Advantages:

• Solar trackers generate more electricity than their stationary counterparts due to an increased direct exposure to solar rays.
• There are many different kinds of solar tracker, such as single-axis and dual-axis trackers, which can help you find the perfect fit for your unique jobsite. Installation size, local weather, degree of latitude, and electrical requirements are all important considerations that can influence the type of solar tracker that’s best for you.
• Solar trackers generate more electricity in roughly the same amount of space needed for fixed tilt systems, making them ideal optimizing land usage.

Disadvantages:

• Solar trackers are slightly more expensive than their stationary counterparts, due to the more complex technology and moving parts necessary for their operation.
• Some ongoing maintenance is generally required, though the quality of the solar tracker can play a role in how much and how often this maintenance is needed.

Overall, solar trackers are highly efficient installations, and are a great fit for many smaller jobsites.

Solar Power World

DPW Solar manufactured this custom solution for a mountain-top repeater station.

Custom mounting solutions can save developers and contractors money, especially those working on large utility-scale projects. But money isn’t always the chief concern. Sometimes the aesthetic value of a project takes priority. Other times, environmental and geographical factors require a unique mounting design.
Whatever the case, contractors and developers can approach metal formers with their needs. Companies offer a variety of services. Some provide basic manufacturing only, while others tackle design, testing, project management and fabrication.
For utility scale developers, a custom solution—one that solves logistical challenges and comes together faster—could save a developer labor and material costs, said Jason Weber, director of business development at SAPA North America, a global aluminum manufacturer. However, a custom system is just an option. Many times off-the-shelf solutions work well, Weber said.
“There is no hard and fast rule that says if you’re going to buy 2 million pounds of material, it will be worth your while to have a custom system,” Weber said.
Alexandria Industries, a Minnesota-based provider of aluminum extrusions, provided custom mounting for the Nevada Solar One site, a 64-MW concentrated solar power plant. The site required 8 million pounds of aluminum product, fabricated over nine months and shipped to the desert.
“The developer had a solution he was not happy with,” said Mark Turley, renewable energy market leader at Alexandria Industries. “A company developed another system, but they had no manufacturer. That’s where we stepped in. We took it from the drawing board to manufacturability.”
Steel fabrication, completed by feeding material through a series of rollers that bend it to a specified shape, can be an expensive process. A set of rollers often costs between $80,000 and $200,000. Manufacturers can construct systems with steel from standard pipe to avoid the cost.
Aluminum extrusion requires a die that costs about $500. For contractors looking for an entirely custom solution at a small scale, such as an installation at a sports stadium, for example, aluminum is a good option. It won’t necessarily drive down cost, said Turley, but it could complement certain architectural desires. Both the contractors and extruder benefit from such projects.
“It might only be a thousand pounds of aluminum, but it’s a high-profile situation,” Turley said. “And extruder can put their name on it and they were a part of the project.”
DPW Solar, a New Mexico-based subsidiary of Performed Line Products and manufacturer of mounting solutions, also provides custom manufacturing, often for the off-grid market.
A common installation for DPW Solar might be a mountain-top telecommunications site with harsh snow and wind loads. In these cases, the company often uses its off-the-shelf Top-of-Pole mount, but then fabricates a custom sub-structure with galvanized pipe, said Jeff Randall, vice president of engineering at DPW Solar.
“Everybody is concentrating on the grid-tie market, where there is a lot of product and standardization, but in off-grid you have challenges like severe weather or solid rock, or a remote location where it’s difficult to deliver large components,” Randall said.
The company also creates custom enclosures for batteries and inverters—boxes that will be the right size for the technology and appropriately designed for the climate, Randall said.
Whatever type of system a contractor is looking for, metal formers—who work with both contractors and mounting companies—request that clients don’t present samples of another system and ask a duplication.
“Number one, you’re taking another company’s intellectual property,” said SAPA’s Weber. “The other thing is, a lot of people don’t understand all the engineering work that goes into a system. There are tolerances and specifications, such as alloys and tempers. You can’t just copy a system. It probably wouldn’t work.”
The question of who takes liability for a custom system is also important. Often, it’s the engineering firm that designed the system, not the company that manufactured it. SPW

Solar Power World

Removing snow from solar panels has been a regular debate for the last decade. Various studies claim only a small percentage of production is lost from snowfall. Is it really worth tacking on snow removal O&M costs?

Janitorial solar O&M companies, like Solar Maid, say yes, but not for production claims. Safety concerns are becoming louder in the solar industry. While experts (and Solar Maid) suggest giving Mother Nature time to melt snow off tilted panels, that falling snow can be problematic, especially on public solar arrays like carports.
“It’s becoming a pretty big issue now,” said Jay Welsh, general manager of Solar Maid. “We’ve really seen a spike this year in business.”

Solar Maid snow removal before picture

Founded in 2003, Solar Maid specializes in janitorial solar O&M—panel cleaning, landscaping, pest abatement—and is headquartered in Pittsburgh but has affiliates in nearly every major market in North America. Snow removal from a safety standpoint is more prevalent on residential and commercial projects. Utility-scale solar arrays turn to Solar Maid in the winter specifically because of production losses.

“Some of those bigger sites lose $80,000 a day when those things aren’t producing,” he said. “They’ll pay us $5,000 or $10,000—it’s certainly a cost benefit.”

Solar Maid uses its own snow rakes to push and pull snow off arrays. Pricing is based on type of snow—wet, heavy snow is more expensive than light, powdery snow just because of time involved to remove it.

Solar Maid snow removal after picture

“Carports are easier. You just pull the snow off, then we use a plow and push it out of the way of the parking lot,” Welsh said. “Our rooftop commercial jobs are a bit of a challenge because you have a lot of wires and cabling between the panels, so there’s really no place to put the snow. We’ll set up tarps, push snow on the tarps and then drag the tarps to the edge of the roof and then dump them. Every site is going to present some challenges.”

Solar Maid has been installing more snow guards on its residential arrays to prevent snow and ice from falling off the roof.

“Typically, snow falls and then the sun comes out and warms up and that bottom layer of snow starts to melt,” Welsh said. “It may not melt enough to push the snow off, but then it freezes again. Then you have a sheet of ice, and it snows on top of it. It’s likely not going to stay in one place. If the panels happen to be on the front of your house, if you slam your front door shut, the snow avalanches.”

“Block guards” are randomly placed and clamped to the edge of panels to stop ice sheets, while the typical “snow guard” acts as a lip, attaching to the end of panels to hold back snow.

Alpine SnowGuard’s Solar SnowMax product

Solar mounting manufacturer EcoFasten Solar and its sister company Alpine SnowGuards offer a snow management system for solar panels—Solar SnowMax. Made of aircraft-grade aluminum fabrication, it’s strong and rugged and clamps directly to the solar panel frame.

“This snow management system was designed to impede a sudden avalanche of snow,” said Brian Stearns, president and founder of EcoFasten Solar and Alpine SnowGuards. “Snow will still crest, rise up and over the top of the snow management system and fall to the ground in a controlled manner. Solar SnowMax allows smaller, managed amounts of snow to drop to the ground slowly, without that massive rush of snow shooting off the roof that you sometimes see in the phenomena of a roof avalanche, especially on frictionless surfaces, such as solar panels or metal roofs.”

So while production losses on small residential and mid-size commercial projects aren’t worrisome when snow falls, it’s wise to keep in mind all safety concerns. Find a snow-specific O&M company in your area, buy your own snow removal gear or install snow guards to gain some peace of mind.

Solar Power World

The YC1000 solar microinverter from APS will power a significatn 3-phase installation going into service in China’s Zhejiang Province this week.

More than 1.4 MW of the total 8.13 MW project will be generated using APS microinverter technology – which is says is the world’s largest 3-phase microinverter installation, by far.

The project at the Haining Hailide Jianshan factory began development four weeks ago, and is planned to join China’s national power grid on Dec. 30.

The installation includes 1,200 APS YC1000 microinverters. Now available in all APS markets worldwide, the YC1000 is the industry’s first 3-phase microinverter and handles up to four modules per unit, simplifying PV system design and installation while significantly lowering balance of system costs.

The YC1000’s balanced 3-phase output features a low-voltage, parallel circuit design, promoting system safety by negating the possibility of “arc fires” from high-voltage current.

Independent output and tracking optimizes the performance of each PV module while minimizing shading effects across the whole array.

APS microinverter technology increases array output by 5-25% compared to conventional “string” inverter systems.

Using the integrated APS Energy Communication Unit (ECU), Haining system managers will be able to track power output, voltage, current, temperature and other performance data of every module in the array.

The completed project will provide approximately 8.14 million kWh of energy per year, saving nearly 3,000 tons of coal while reducing CO2 admissions by more than 700 tons. Over the plant’s projected 25-year lifespan, the reduction in coal use and carbon and sulfur dioxide emissions will be multiplied many times over.

The year 2014 has marked the first widespread development of distributed PV power throughout China, an effort vigorously promoted by the Chinese government.

The electricity generated by the Haining system promises a strong economic return for investors, powering the factory even as it protects the local environment and promotes APS 3-phase microinverter technology in the robust China market and worldwide.

Solar Power World

APS America has added a new video, “YC500 Microinverter and Energy Communication Unit Installation,” to its lineup of training resources.

The training video supplements current webinars for APS installer certification, and can be found online.

This video fully explains the YC500 microinverter installation process and provides basic setup of the Energy Communication Unit. Subsequent videos will cover ECU programming and Energy Monitoring and Analysis registration and management.

APS America still hosts WebEx training on the first and third Wednesdays of every month. The first session will cover YC500 and ECU installation procedures, while the mid-month session is on EMA registration and management.

To sign up for APS installer training, send your name, company, email address and phone number to support@apsamerica.com. The training facilitator will send invitations that include WebEx access information in the days leading up to each session.

Solar Power World

The Fronius Primo completes the total SnapINverter line. The dual MPPT, transformerless, lightweight residential inverter is ideal for residences looking for top performance, quality and sleek design.

• Power classes from 3.8 to 8.2 kW
• Completely integrated with WiFi, free lifetime monitoring, SunSpec Modbus, industry-leading AFCI and GFDI.

With power categories ranging from 3.8 kW to 8.2 kW, the transformerless Fronius Primo is the ideal compact
single-phase inverter for residential applications. The sleek design is equipped with the SnapINverter hinge mounting system which allows for lightweight, secure and convenient installation and service.

The Fronius Primo has several integrated features that set it apart from competitors including dual powerpoint
trackers, high system voltage, a wide input voltage range and unrestricted use indoors and outdoors. Other standard
features include a Wi-Fi and SunSpec Modbus interface for seamless monitoring and datalogging, Arc Fault Circuit
Interruption (AFCI), and Fronius’s superb online and mobile platform Fronius Solar.web. The Fronius Primo is NEC
2014 ready and designed to adjust to future standards, offering a complete solution to code restrictions and technical
innovations of tomorrow

The Fronius Symo adds the commercial component to the Fronius line of SnapINverters. With several mounting options and the unique hinged system, The Fronius Symo allows you to build the commercial project you’ve always wanted.

• Power classes from 10 to 24 kW
• Grid connection options available and NEC 2014 compliant.

Solar Power World

BIPV is a quickly growing sector of the global solar market. Transparency Market Research expects this area to grow by 18.7% by 2019, reaching 1.15 GW. One BIPV product picking up popularity is the solar shingle.

By nature of their design, solar shingles are primarily geared for the residential market, said Josh Wimble, communications manager at Dow Solar, manufacturer of the Powerhouse Solar Shingle. This is because sloped shingle and tile rooftops are most often found on single-family homes.

Dow Solar’s Powerhouse shingles, made of CIGS thin-film solar cells, are certified to resist up to 150-mph winds, hail up to 1.25 in. in diameter and heavy rain.

Solar shingles not only look aesthetically pleasing, they also serve a function outside powering the house. Apollo, a solar shingle developed by building products manufacturer CertainTeed, is designed with waterproofing capabilities.

“The Apollo panels generate electricity from the PV cells and also function as the roof itself by shedding water just like the surrounding shingles or tiles, so you don’t have to install a roof underneath it,” said Mark Stancroff, director at CertainTeed.

“Solar shingles increase the integrity of the roof over conventional panels by having 10 times fewer roof penetrations and greatly reducing wind uplift concerns,” added Wimble.

Perhaps the biggest news in solar shingle technology is the ability to integrate with a wider variety of roofing materials. Initially, solar shingles could only integrate with standard asphalt shingles. But now, Dow has developed its shingles to integrate with cedar shake, concrete and clay tile, polymer and traditional slate.

Another added benefit is that solar shingles don’t use traditional rack mounts, thus are free from configuring balance-of-system technologies into the installation. CertainTeed’s polymeric frame allows the shingle to seamlessly integrate with the roof and provides hassle-free roof replacement.

CertainTeed’s Apollo solar shingles and tiles are made up of crystalline silicon solar cells and can withstand winds up to 110 mph.

“With standard rack and panel, the entire system needs to be pulled off and reinstalled when replacing the roof. But with solar shingles, the system can stay in place and the new roof can be installed around it,” said Stancroff.

Although solar shingles are a viable option when retrofitting existing roofs, Chris Jones, commercial director at Dow Solar, said homeowners receive the greatest financial return when shingles are installed when building new or re-roofing existing homes.

“It allows a homeowner or homebuilder to install a solar array with the same roofing labor, while saving money by off-setting re-roofing material costs,” said Wimble. “With increasing simplicity, a roofing crew can be trained to install the solar shingles and do the installation in only a little more time than it takes to re-roof with ordinary shingles.”

An array of 350 shingles could reduce one’s electric bill by 40 to 60%, but it costs upward of $20,000. However, in addition to federal, state and local incentives, companies like Dow Solar and CertainTeed are finding their own ways to drive costs down and make solar shingles price-competitive with rooftop solar. For Dow, customer savings start by working closely with builders and roofers, selling kitted systems with all the necessary parts rather than pricing individual components, and giving region-based quotes that include local labor costs. SPW

Solar Power World

Many industry leaders are predicting a banner year for residential solar in 2015. The possible end of the ITC, not to mention the looming CA Net Metering Cap, means residential installation companies need to increase productivity. Implementing business models that unify project development phases will keep operations in-sync and on schedule.

Residential project development and design have always been evolving arts and key phases for any successful project. If predictions hold, installers will need to incorporate new innovations to prepare for the dramatic increase in demand for solar.

Combining remote site analysis, system design and site planning unifies project development phases. This approach synchronizes the value chain from the point of sale through installation.

Using Remote Design to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiency

To evaluate a site and design a residential solar system, the installer must know the number of panels that can fit on every usable roof pitch (taking into account fire restrictions and all on- and off-roof obstructions), the roof slope and orientation for every usable pitch, and the shading impacts per panel. Only then will the installer and designer be able to give an accurate estimate of the annual kWh production to build the best system. Traditionally, most of this data would have been collected at the site–a costly and time consuming process which elevates the installers risk exposure. For the sake of expediency, manual site surveys are usually done with certain assumptions in mind and don’t attempt to be an all-inclusive analysis of the entire roof. With higher volumes, mistakes increase and are exacerbated by the number of people and touch points involved.

While larger installers might have the financial flexibility to absorb the consequences of these errors, many installers do not. At Bright Harvest, our approach eliminates many of these errors, providing accurate remote site analysis, system design and production estimates in as little as one business day. One comprehensive site model includes shading analysis, production estimate, system design and site plan, all in one. This approach gives PV designers maximum flexibility when running multiple design scenarios because they are never constrained by a single fixed data set that must be manually acquired on site or re-acquired if the original assumptions about the system locations change.

Taking Advantage of Remote Site Analysis for Residential Solar

In the past, third party owners (TPOs) have forced installers to validate each site with manually collected shading data before funding. While this approach has arguably propelled the growth of residential solar, it is not an approach that can easily accommodate expanding volume. Funders who insist on this requirement handicap the installer and themselves by taking away the benefits of accurate data at the earliest stages of the project by dismissing these innovations without consideration. This requirement also locks the installer into a higher cost structure that puts them at a competitive disadvantage.

Installation companies realize the risk exposure and monetary inefficiencies of dispatching personnel to perform an onsite analysis. A growing number of TPOs are discovering advantages available to them as well. A per module shading analysis creates a more detailed picture about panel placement and production from the start. Allowing funders to customize deals and set tighter criteria for production to system size ratios. Integrating the analysis and the site plan improves the crews ability to accurately position the panels on the roof. This reduces mistakes in the field that can impact production and insures the system is installed based on the analysis.

Unifying the Process and Increasing Efficiency to Meet Demand

Everyone involved in the installation cycle, from sales to installation crews, are responsible for making this complex proposition a reality on the roof. Our goal at Bright Harvest is to maximize efficiencies through accurate remote designs that streamline the solar project development process. We aim to reduce costs, eliminate guesswork and increase accuracy when qualifying projects and designing PV systems. After evaluating the accuracy of our designs in the field and validating them against traditional onsite methods, funders are quick to realize the benefits to installers and themselves. A proposed PV design should inform and have value for all stakeholders from the start.

From point of sale to installation, everyone should have confidence in the PV design. Until as recently as a few years ago, installers had no choice when evaluating solar sites except to rely on a multi-step, multi-touch process. However, now the entire process can be unified. Streamlining the analysis, design and the site plan creates a project development system that is relational. The site plan can then be incorporated into the permit set or go directly to the installation crew, harmonizing all phases of project development with the entire value chain.

With one report that covers all the details, the salesperson will possess the best design from the designer and an accurate estimate of system size and the annual kWh production. The salesperson is at a huge advantage when the choices that underlie the design are informed by a per panel analysis and illustrated in a way that can be easily understood by the client, reducing misunderstandings. This increases client engagement in the design process allowing them to make informed decisions about system size and layout vs. production.

The challenges installers face, from changing equipment pricing and availability, to rearranging installation schedules, are too numerous to list. The last thing they should have to worry about is visiting every potential job site, or re-visiting the project site because the design changed. Any guesswork, overly optimistic assumptions or miscommunications on the front end can be problematic or disastrous down the line, but they can be avoided by streamlining the process and using accurate analysis from the beginning.

We often hear about the need to reduce residential solar soft costs, but until now the only tools available to assess and design residential solar have taken a do-it-yourself approach that don’t attempt to give installers all the answers they need to design a system. At Bright Harvest we’ve taken a different approach to remote system design that’s comprehensive and accountable.

2015 will test many residential installation companies, both large and small. Everyone in the solar industry should be feeling a renewed sense of urgency. The pressure from increased deal volume will have the potential to showcase residential solars strengths and expose its weaknesses. The companies that look for effective, comprehensive strategies that leverage current technologies are the ones who will lead the way in 2015, and into the future.

This article was authored by Joel Lusk, CEO and co-founder of Bright Harvest Solar.

Solar Power World

Siva Power, a leader in advanced solar energy, has received an award from the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative recognizing the firm’s innovative technology and processes that will enable it to manufacture solar panels in the United States at a low cost.

The SunShot Initiative is a national effort to make solar energy cost-competitive with traditional energy sources by the end of the decade. Ten firms nationwide recently received cooperative awards under the Solar Manufacturing Technology funding program, which aims to bridge the gap from invention to commercialization, bringing innovative technology to scale. Siva was the only thin-film panel awardee.

The SunShot goal is to reduce the average selling price of solar panels to under $0.50 per watt by 2020.  The Chinese currently sell the cheapest solar panels in the world with prices averaging about $0.70/watt. While the lowest Chinese manufacturing costs are close to $0.50/watt, they need a little profit, so the selling price is still about 40% over the SunShot goal. Siva Power plans to build a production line with costs of $0.40/watt within the first year of operation, and achieving $0.28/watt two years after that. This means Siva Power could profitably – and sustainably – sell solar panels at less than the $0.50/watt SunShot goal, and Siva Power states these record-breaking numbers could be achieved while manufacturing in the United States.

The Energy Department’s $3 million award to Siva Power supports the firm’s plans to demonstrate a CIGS co-evaporation source with 12x higher manufacturing throughput (m2/min) than currently available sources, enabling a fully automated CIGS deposition system at a 3x reduction in capex, labor, and overhead costs per watt. This CIGS system along with other high-speed tools will allow Siva to build the world’s largest production line, at 300MW.

SunShot employs a fair, unbiased, and rigorous selection process, including peer reviews by DOE scientists and industry professionals, to select the most meritorious projects for funding.

“It is exciting to see the U.S. government invest not only in new technology, but in bringing that technology to market, which is exactly what Siva Power is doing,” said Brad Mattson, Siva Power CEO.  “This award will help us scale our proprietary co-evaporation process to build a 300MW production line, about 10X the output of typical solar production lines. That 10X advantage is the key to reducing costs, enabling Siva Power to beat the ambitious SunShot targets and to do it ahead of schedule.”

Mattson is highly experienced in scaling technology from the laboratory to production lines. He is a Silicon Valley veteran who has twice founded companies in the semiconductor industry, including Novellus Systems and Mattson Technology. He attributes much of this success to understanding not just how to develop the right technology, but how to speed it up so as to achieve scale economically. Mattson says that methodology is exactly Siva Power’s strategy, now being applied to solar instead of semiconductors.

“We look forward to continuing a research partnership with Siva Power as part of the Energy Department’s SunShot Solar Manufacturing Technology program,” said Dan Arvizu, Director of the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “CIGS cell efficiency has risen to nearly 22 percent, and this is an opportune time for companies to accelerate commercialization efforts in the U.S.”

“After more than 20 years in the industry, it is great to be part of a management team that gets it!” said Dr. Markus Beck, Siva Power CTO.  Beck is widely regarded in the solar community as one of the top scientists in his field of CIGS thin-film solar. “There are two parts to the solution,” Beck continued. “You need to have the right technology, but also the right processes to enable the efficient scaling of product in order to make a huge difference in the solar industry. I dedicated my career to seeing CIGS make it, and now we have the team and support to make it happen.”

Solar Power World