HelioSage Energy, a national developer of utility scale solar projects, and Gulf Power Company, a Florida investor-owned electric utility and subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), have announced the development of three large-scale solar projects across Northwest Florida totaling 120 MW.

Gulf Power and HelioSage have partnered with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy to develop the solar facilities on three military sites along the Florida Gulf Coast. Once constructed, the projects will serve as the three largest photovoltaic (PV) solar facilities in Florida, and among the largest solar projects east of the Mississippi.

“This is an important collaboration between Gulf Power, the Navy, the Air Force, and HelioSage,” said Stan Connally, Gulf Power President and CEO. “We’re excited to be able to add solar energy to our generation mix. With some careful planning, we’ve been able to make sure these projects are cost-effective for our customers.”

Following approval by the Florida Public Service Commission, HelioSage will develop, finance, and operate the solar projects. The power generated by the facilities will then be sold to Gulf Power under a long-term Energy Purchase Agreement. Collectively, the solar facilities will produce enough energy to power over 18,000 homes each year.

“HelioSage is honored and excited to be partnering with Gulf Power, the Air Force, and the Navy on these landmark projects, which will bring renewable energy to Northwest Florida at rates competitive with traditional energy sources,” said Chris Quarterman, Vice President of Strategy for HelioSage.

“These projects serve as another example that large-scale solar has become a cost-effective, proven technology, and one that will play a major role in the energy future of not only the Sunshine State, but the nation. We congratulate Gulf Power and the Military for their leadership and vision, and look forward to working together on this collaborative effort.”

The solar facilities will be constructed at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach (30 MW), Holley Naval Outlying Landing Field in Navarre (40 MW), and Saufley Naval Outlying Landing Field in Pensacola (50 MW).  Construction is slated to begin early next year, with the projects reaching commercial operation by the fourth quarter of 2016.

Solar Power World

A partnership between Duke Energy, the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps will lead to a 13-megawatt (AC) solar facility being built at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Onslow County, N.C.

The facility will be owned and operated by Duke Energy Progress (DEP) and is expected online in 2015. It will help Duke Energy further its commitment to renewable energy, diversify its energy mix and meet the N.C. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard.

“This project strengthens Duke Energy’s commitment to bring more solar power to our customers, while advancing the Department of the Navy’s (DON) interest in installing more renewable energy at military bases around the U.S.,” said Duke Energy’s Rob Caldwell, senior vice president, Distributed Energy Resources.

Covering 80 acres, the 13-MW solar facility (or 17 MW DC) will connect to the electric grid at a DEP-owned substation on military property. The power will be available to DEP customers. Camp Lejeune will continue to purchase power from DEP.

“Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus set an aggressive but critical goal for the DON to produce or procure one gigawatt of renewable energy by the end of 2015,” said Robert M. Griffin, executive director of the Department of the Navy’s Renewable Energy Program Office. “Through an effective partnership with DEP, and once both parties sign the lease agreement, the project at Camp Lejeune will be another opportunity to bring renewable energy online, providing greater resource availability, and diversity for Camp Lejeune and the surrounding community.”

Crowder Construction Services, based in Charlotte, will serve as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor. The project will use monocrystalline solar panels supplied by SolarWorld Americas, based in Oregon. GE’s Power Conversion business will supply its Brilliance 2-stage Ultra tracking inverters to be built out of their Pittsburgh facility.

When the sun is shining, the new project could provide power to about 3,000 homes. To proceed, Duke Energy must obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the N.C. Utilities Commission.

Currently, Duke Energy purchases about 500 MW of solar capacity for its North Carolina customers.

In December 2014, Duke Energy received regulatory approval for a $500 million expansion of solar energy for its customers – including three facilities the company will own and operate, totaling 128 megawatts.

The company will also purchase 150 megawatts of power from five other large-scale solar facilities.

Duke Energy is a leader in renewable energy, with wind and solar facilities in 12 states. The company’s efforts have contributed to North Carolina’s No. 4 ranking in the nation for installed solar power.

Solar Power World

Andalay Solar, a supplier of integrated solar power systems, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hyundai Heavy Industries. Hyundai intends to license and manufacture solar modules using Andalay’s Instant Connect frame technology.

The new Hyundai-branded TG-Series solar modules are expected to use 60-cell monocrystalline or polycrystalline technology (255w-280w) with a black Andalay frame, and will be manufactured in South Korea with an initial annualized capacity of over 50MW.  The module is currently undergoing UL certification and is expected to begin shipping late in the first quarter of 2015.

“The addition of Hyundai as an Andalay frame technology partner will help us expand our sales in the rapidly growing U.S. residential solar market,” said Andalay Solar President and CEO Steven Chan. “The Hyundai brand is well known to end-consumers and the company’s financial strength as an over $50 billion revenue company is also acknowledged by solar leasing companies.”

“This Hyundai partnership is a giant first step in our new strategy of partnering with tier-one module manufacturers to license Andalay’s patented technology.  I expect these partnerships, each of which validates the value of our core technology, will serve as the key catalysts to enable us to rapidly expand adoption of our Instant Connect system among major installers in the marketplace. We already have pre-orders for over 1MW of the Hyundai TG-Series module and are excited to grow this rapidly,” Chan said.

Andalay was the first in the residential solar industry to receive a patent from the USPTO for its Instant Connect integrated solar technology which eliminates conventional racking and provides a cleaner look, safer wire management, and faster installation.

Solar Power World

The frameless crystalline solar module is gaining traction in the industry. Some customers prefer the way they look and how they perform. But even with their benefits over their framed cousins, frameless modules haven’t picked up much steam in the installation department. Here’s a quick summary of what’s out there and what’s holding them back.

Types
A frameless module has a pretty obvious definition—there’s no frame. A dual glass (AKA glass-on-glass or glass-glass, among other names) is also pretty self-explanatory—solar cells are sandwiched between two pieces of glass. Keep in mind that frameless is not a synonym for glass-on-glass. SolarWorld’s glass-glass module (the Sunmodule Protect) has an aluminum frame. On the other end, Solaria’s range of frameless crystalline solar panels have a backsheet instead of two glass pieces. So make sure you’re dealing with a true frameless module.

Lumos Solar LSX frameless solar modules on a carport project

Benefits
The most notable benefit is no need for grounding. Without a metal frame, frameless modules are less likely to shock workers. Frameless modules are also great for those worried about potential induced degradation (PID). Electrical current can’t leak out of a frame that isn’t there, so modules are more efficient. If it’s a dual-glass module, it has a stronger fire safety rating because there’s no backsheet. Frameless modules also provide a unique aesthetic value for customers who want to blend their solar systems into roofs.

Detriments
Why aren’t more frameless modules installed in the field? The main hold-up is the lack of compatible mounting systems. A number of mounting companies cater to specific types of frameless modules—including Array Technologies trackers and Schletter’s Eco Series laminate clamps—but they’re almost entirely for thin-film frameless modules. A few companies, such as Lumos Solar, manufacture both the modules and the racking systems and have carved out a nice niche for themselves. Lumos’s LSX frameless modules mount with their own racking solution, providing customers a one-stop shop.

Outlook
Most companies seem to be dabbling in the frameless pool but are not diving head-first. Trina Solar’s PDG5/Duo Max dual glass module has been on the North America market for more than a year. Canadian Solar will release its double-glass Diamond Module sometime in 2015. But as more and more module manufacturers announce their own frameless models, the need for mounting is necessary for market growth.

Lumos Solar has been in a class of its own for a while—offering both the module and the racking. “It’s interesting to us to see big guys now offering frameless modules,” says Scott Franklin, president and CEO of Lumos Solar. “I think they’ve all realized a few things—there’s no PID, there’s no corrosion of the frames, there are a lot of durability benefits. I think they’re just trying to find other niches and areas to push into.

“I suspect you’ll see a lot more frameless modules being used in utility-scale installations and larger installations, because they’re looking for a lower cost wherever they can. If they can find a smart mounting solution, then they can eliminate the cost of frames. There’s definitely an opportunity.” SPW

Solar Power World

Solar panel manufacturers produce a steady stream of news about advancements made in labs. Often, news heralds a higher efficiency solar cell—usually a few tenths of a percent at a time.

“Any corporation out there, from Apple to Ford, wants to show they’re continuing to innovate and answering the needs of their customers,” said Daniel Chang, product manager at Trina Solar. “They’re saying, ‘We’re walking the walk.’”

Sounds good. But, from a technical standpoint, is a few tenths of a percent really that important?

“People seem to think of this like test scores—a 100% versus a 99.5%,” said Tom Thompson, key account manager at JA Solar. “They think, what’s the big deal? But it is a big deal.”

These small improvements have at least two important consequences, according to experts. First, even a small efficiency increase can make a remarkable reduction in installed cost. And second, they contribute to the long-term success of solar technology.

“A one-point rise in module efficiency (e.g. 16% to 17%) is worth about 1.5 to 3 cents per watt in installation cost savings,” said Lyle Rawlings, president and CEO of Advanced Solar Products. “In any space-constrained project, it can make the difference between a sale and no sale.”

In the 1980s, solar modules sold for $100/watt. Improvements in manufacturing, such as the way a cell is doped or cut from raw material, have cut manufacturing costs to about $.50/watt.

“Every time our industry doubles production, costs drop by about 20%,” Thompson said.
For solar installers to benefit from increased solar cell efficiencies, R&D needs to make it into a company’s manufacturing line, and at a price consumers are willing to pay.

A typical module can take three months to two years to complete the whole process, experts said.

“The go-to-market process includes data sheets, installation manuals, collateral, sample modules and certifications,” Chang said. “All of those little parts need to be taken care of before we can sell.”
Chang said most reported efficiency improvements eventually make it into manufacturing, especially as the go-to-market process in the solar industry matures. But companies must also consider their manufacturing capacity and the stomach of customers.

“If we were to ask our production team to make something that’s not going to sell, it’s cannibalizing on what we can currently produce,” Chang said. “We’re constantly listening to our customers.”

As the industry matures, it appears customers continue to demand higher efficiencies at lower cost, and module companies are happy to report on their progress, which comes with one more benefit: Higher efficiency modules mean fewer are needed for a target output, and solar can reduce the ecological footprint of energy production even more. SPW

Solar Power World

Calling it an “enormous success,” Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), said SEIA’s 2^nd annual “Shout Out for Solar” Day, which took place last Friday on social media venues including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, set impressive new records for the organization’s communications team.

“No matter how you measure it, ‘Shout Out for Solar’ Day was an enormous success, and we want to thank everyone who took part – especially SEIA member companies,” Resch said.  “This year, participation by our members was up a whopping 200 percent over 2014.”

Here are the highlights of the day’s events:

• Pro-solar messages reached 40 million unique Twitter accounts, generating 105 million impressions from nearly 20,000 Tweets.
• SEIA passed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Facebook likes, adding 81,208 likes during the campaign – bringing SEIA to a total of nearly 455,000.
• SEIA’s “Shout Out for Solar” Facebook post set a single post record of 30,692 likes, reaching 234,368 people.
• Support came from across the spectrum – leading businesses, environmental groups, politicians, sports stars, celebrities and trade associations, such as the National Association of Realtors.
• The Top 10 contributors were: President Obama, Climate Reality, SEIA, Senator Cory Booker, fitness guru Rock, Philadelphia Eagles, Greenpeace, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants and Solar Power World (followed closely by the Washington Redskins, the Sierra Club and Vote Solar).
• Celebrities and sports stars taking part included human rights activist and former actress Bianca Jagger; and NFL stars Anquan Boldin (49ers), Pierre Garcon (Redskins) and Connor Barwin (Eagles), to name just a few.

“I want to give my own special ‘shout out’ to NRG, which finished #1 among our companies in total impressions,” Resch added.  “Rounding out the Top 10 were Dupont, SolarCity, Sun Power, First Wind, Inovateus Solar, Sunrun, Enphase, Recurrent Energy and Clean Power Finance.  Coupled with The Solar Foundation’s new report, showing solar jobs up by more than 20 percent 2014, you can make a persuasive argument that this was one of the best weeks ever for solar energy in America.”

Solar Power World

The only way to survive multiple decades of business is to evolve with the times. Seventy-year-old A-C Electric was approached in the early 2000s to assist contractors on solar projects in California’s Central Valley. Ten years later, its spinoff A-C Solar functions as its own EPC with a steady stream of projects out of its Bakersfield, Visalia and Fresno divisions.

“Getting that early start has been very helpful,” said Jeff Petrini, energy manager. “It has given us the ability to grow along with the technology.”

Valley Baptist Church,
942.5-kW solar carport installation by A-C Solar

A-C installs all types of projects but primarily focuses on the commercial, industrial and non-profit segments. The Central Valley is a hub for agriculture and manufacturing, so there is an abundance of businesses that benefit from solar. A-C considers itself a local company and attributes its success to building relationships with the community and its customers.

“It’s important to us to give the best effort that we can because it’s more than just a business relationship. All of our relationships extend outside of that into the community,” said Katie Van Dyke, sales and marketing manager. “That has a really profound effect on the way we approach our market.”

A-C is constantly seeking the best financing options, monitoring utility and rate changes and vetting new products to provide customers with the best overall experience.

“Our customers know that they mean more to us than just a paycheck,” Van Dyke said. “It’s not just about making money at the end of the day. It’s about making and building communities.”

There will be plenty of future opportunities to install solar in A-C’s community, Petrini said, even if the ITC is not renewed.

“The bankability of solar and the reliability of solar is becoming more and more attractive to financial institutions, and private business owners want to invest their money long-term in something a little bit different,” Petrini said. “I have a feeling we’re going to see very lucrative systems until the end of 2016 because the utility rates appear to be on a steep curve right now. Once that ITC drops away, we’ll come back to where we are at the moment. The way I see it, the solar future is bright.”

Bakersfield Christian High School,
500-kW solar carport installation by A-C Solar

The best way to ensure solar continues its upward climb is to be truthful with customers, Petrini said.

“There is a lot of pride in knowing that we are providing a sustainable product and cost savings for our customers,” he said. “I’ve sat in front of customers and recommended that it might not be in their best interest to go with the project. We are a 70-year-old company; we need to make sure we are up-front with our customers and provide all of the knowledge that we have [and] not just trying to sell a project. Making sure we provide the most accurate information is part of the challenge.”

Van Dyke said she’s proud of the work A-C Solar has done.

“With the proper financing, we can get a large-scale institution, with zero out of pocket, saving money from Day 1,” she said. “As a school, that means more scholarships, more money in the classroom. As a business, that means they can hire that new employee. For us, it’s knowing that we’re giving them something that is sustainable from an environmental aspect but it’s also hugely economically sustainable. We can always feel proud of that as a company. SPW

Solar Power World

tenKsolar DUO System in Templeton, Massachusetts.

tenK Energy, Integrys Solar, LLC and groSolar today announced the completion of a 4.5-MWdc solar power project in Templeton, Massachusetts.

The ground-mounted installation was developed by tenK Energy and sold to Integrys Solar, LLC. groSolar designed and built the project. The solar farm uses the high energy density tenKsolar DUO system, which provides nearly 40% more energy per unit area, as well as conventional photovoltaic solar modules. They will supply enough energy to power about 700 homes.

Templeton Municipal Light & Water Plant (TMLWP) is purchasing the power generated from the project under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

Jack Levi, managing partner at tenK Energy stresses the value of solar for this community and credits John Driscoll at TMLWP and the Town of Templeton as the key to the success to bring this project on line.

“Achieving commercial operation of our largest solar photovoltaic project in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a key milestone for our company,” said Joel Jansen, Vice President of Integrys Solar, LLC. “Integrys Solar would like to thank the Town of Templeton for their support of solar energy, and our engineering, procurement, and construction partner, groSolar, for bringing this project to completion both safely and on-time.”

“groSolar greatly appreciated the partnership approach that carried through the, development, engineering and construction processes for this project,” stated groSolar’s CEO, Jamie Resor. “All of the partners worked together through the challenges and towards a successful project that will provide a reliable source of solar energy for the Templeton community.”

Solar Power World

Vasari Energy Inc. announces an expansion of its product line to offer a 12 volt solar panel selection in its E-12 Series, giving photovoltaic solar panel wholesalers, distributors and OEM product makers the option of a versatile 12V solar panel at industry leading price points.

With the E-12 Series, Vasari Energy offers a full line of poly-crystalline PV solar panel modules, ranging from 10W to 160W. The E-12 Series of 12V solar panels is an ideal solution for off-grid battery charging, making it useful for a wide-range of applications, including street lighting, signage, pumping and telecommunications.

“We have expanded and refined our market strategy earlier this year and have developed a strong product value proposition for our customers. In addition, to offering branded poly and mono PV grid connected modules from 190W to 315W, we have broaden our product offering to include a complete line of 12V off grid modules,” said Ron Tovella, Vasari Energy CEO. “The E-12 Series expansion gives Vasari Energy a complete product offering by complementing our existing line with a lower wattage, off-grid module. We will now take this exciting expanded value proposition to market and develop several OEM related application opportunities, including pumping, telecom and lighting packages.”

The E-12 Series meets rigorous quality control at the highest international standards. The sturdy frame passes a mechanical load test of 5400Pa, providing far more strength for heavier snows and higher wind pressure than the standard 2400Pa rating. The 12V solar modules in the E-12 Series feature an aesthetic appearance, along with highly-efficient, innovative PV technology.

“We have an exciting task ahead of us as we assemble an experience team to support our sales and product expansion efforts,” said Sam Lipman, Vasari Energy executive vice president of business development. “The E-12 series was developed in response to our growing customer base and anticipating our customer’s future needs. Local specialists and support development are critical for serving our customer base.”

More on the E-12 Series

The E-12 Series offers an industry-leading warranty for quality assurance, including a 10 year limited product warranty, 15 years at 90 percent and 25 years at 80 percent of the minimal rated power output. The unique design can be set up at 45 degree angles without screws and features drainage holes that prevent freezing. The E-12 Series provides a high-quality connector box that is easy for service provider to integrate into a range of applications.

The modules are constructed with a strong aluminum frame, high-transmissivity low-iron tempered glass and UV-resistant silicon. The product will be warehoused in the U.S., providing for immediate delivery. All modules are UL certified with industry standard warranties and pass mechanical load test of 5400Pa, exceeding the normal 2400Pa. The E-12 series comes in a range of performance levels from 10 Wp to 160 Wp.

Solar Power World

At this year’s Ecobuild in London, mounting systems manufacturer Renusol is set to present the world’s first universal clamp for mounting photovoltaic (PV) panels which can be used as either mid or end clamp. In order to switch between the mid and end clamp function, the clamp head is simply turned by 90 degrees. Since only one component is needed instead of two, planning, ordering materials and mounting are all made noticeably easier for installers – saving time and money. The new RS1 clamp is height adjustable, making it suitable for all standard framed solar panels.

“There are an incredible number of different PV module mounting clamps on the market, which are often only compatible with individual panel heights. Our aim is to make things as easy as possible for installers and wholesalers. So we have developed a clamp that always fits – one for all. We are proud that we are the first manufacturer to achieve this,” explains Felix Janssen, product manager at Renusol. “We have already presented the new clamp to a handful of customers, who have shown a great deal of enthusiasm for it. Amongst others because the clamp also allows them to make spontaneous changes to the layout on site. If a sudden need arises for more mid or end clamps than originally planned, you don’t need to order new materials, you simply turn the clamp’s head by 90 degrees.”

The RS1 universal clamp is suitable for use with all PV panel frame heights between 30 and 50 millimetres. The clamp can be positioned, adjusted and fixed in the mounting rail with one hand, which is a big advantage for installers, particularly on steep pitched roofs.

“The RS1 clamp also saves on warehouse costs, since wholesalers and project planners need to stock one type of clamp only, that always fits regardless of the solar panels, project or system design,” adds Janssen.

Solar Power World

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued Andalay Solar Inc. its seventh U.S. patent, which further strengthens the company’s unique InstantConnect wiring technology. U.S. Patent No. 8,938,919 covers the built-in electrical connectors that mate into the Andalay frame technology. Andalay Solar is the first and only company in the industry to enjoy the advantage of having electrical connections that are integrated in the frame. As the modules are assembled, the electrical connections automatically and instantly connect, thereby reducing the amount of rooftop manual labor normally needed to complete wiring for solar systems.

This latest patent for Andalay’s award-winning plug and play solar solution complements the patents that have already been granted for its integrated mounting system for solar panels. Andalay Solar, Inc.’s game-changing patented technology is a low-profile, rail-less system that is aesthetically pleasing. The company’s splice technology not only connects the modules together, but also automatically wires and grounds the system, which saves costs and eliminates the need for extra parts such as panel to panel copper wire and grounding lugs.

“Our patent portfolio is even stronger now with this patent which focuses on the easy and instant connection of solar panel wiring. The built-in wire management saves time for installers as well as reduces future operation and maintenance costs,” said Steven Chan, President and CEO of Andalay Solar. “Since the wires in our system are built-in, we have seen far fewer maintenance issues due to wire management issues as compared to conventional systems given that there are no dangling wires, less manual wire connections, no wires touching the roof surface and no exposed wires. We have done multiple product demos with installers who have commented that the Andalay system has by far the best thought out integrated wire management system as compared to other solar mounting systems, including other rail-less systems.”

Solar Power World

Kyocera Solar Inc. and the town of Parker, Ariz., recently commissioned a 175-kW solar energy project. The effort was developed and financed through Kyocera’s in-house Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) program, which enables towns, school districts and other entities to enjoy the benefits of solar energy with no up-front costs.

This innovative method of financing solar installations will transform the abundant Arizona sunshine into renewable energy to benefit Parker. The carport installations, which cover portions of the parking areas for Parker’s town hall, library and senior center, will shade approximately 50 cars from solar heat while simultaneously harnessing the sun’s energy. The 700 Kyocera high-efficiency solar panels and 12 SMA inverters will generate an estimated 300 megawatt hours of electricity annually to offset approximately 80% of the electricity consumed by the three buildings.

“Municipalities have a responsibility to their citizens to undertake projects that provide long-term benefits at a reasonable cost,” said Timothy Edwards, Public Works Director for the town of Parker. “We are excited to work with a reliable company like Kyocera, which provided the method for reducing our energy costs with their proven solar modules and financing model. By stabilizing our town’s electricity bills for decades to come, we’re providing a brighter future to Parker’s residents.”

This project, installed by Photovoltaic Systems Manufacturing of Mesa, AZ, benefits from a production-based incentive under the Arizona Public Service’s “Solar for Schools and Government” program. It represents the latest U.S. solar project developed using Kyocera’s in-house financing programs — which also include a 1.6-MW installation for the Madison School District in Phoenix. As part of a $14 billion global enterprise that has remained continuously profitable throughout its 56-year history, Kyocera Solar Inc. is leveraging its financial strength to develop and finance projects at attractive rates. This new business model enables Kyocera to offer its full turn-key solar energy systems with industry-leading reliability at very competitive rates.

“Kyocera is committed to helping municipalities and other entities adopt environmentally responsible methods that help their bottom line with our decades of expertise in providing reliable, efficient solar energy solutions,” said Brian Cowan, Director of PV Project Solutions for Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Kyocera Solar Inc. “Many people focus on driving down the cost per-watt in a solar installation, but the cost of financing also has a significant impact on the customer’s cost per-kilowatt-hour. By combining Kyocera’s premium product, systems engineering expertise and attractive financing, we offer an unbeatable combination.”

Solar Power World

Andalay Solar has received its largest-ever commercial solar system mounting hardware purchase order. The buyer has ordered from Hyundai Heavy Industries more than 1 MW of the upcoming Hyundai TG-Series modules which feature the Andalay Instant Connect frame, and in turn has ordered from Andalay Solar more than 1 MW of commercial flat-roof mounting hardware.

“I’m pleased to see early demand for the new Hyundai TG-Series module. It’s a great vote of confidence coming from a top installer in the industry to take the first modules manufactured by our new partner, Hyundai Heavy Industries,” commented Steven Chan, President and CEO of Andalay Solar. “Customers now have the option to buy our modules manufactured under license by ‘Tier One’ brands, and to purchase our patented mounting hardware directly from us. I am excited that our new business strategy of partnering with top-tier solar module manufacturers is showing signs of success, and we expect it will optimize use of our working capital and ultimately translate into stronger profits.”

Andalay’s commercial flat roof system is a ballasted, aluminum pan and fairing solution which takes advantage of the patented Andalay frame design and allows for faster installation with far fewer parts than ordinary, rail-based flat roof systems.

Solar Power World

Industry-leading PV distributor Krannich Solar will offer APS microinverter products through its domestic channels, under a first-time agreement between the two companies.

Krannich Solar USA maintains sales operations on both coasts, in New Jersey and California, and serves customers throughout the country.

“We pride ourselves on carrying the very best in PV products, and APS certainly fits that bill,” said Juan Romera-Wade, Krannich CEO. “Our customers will appreciate the advanced technology that APS has brought to the solar market.”

Krannich Solar, founded by Kurt Krannich as a family business in 1995, has quickly become one of the world’s largest solar wholesalers and system design houses, designing high-performance PV arrays while supporting both trades people and major energy utilities. Krannich Solar Inc. is now the U.S. office of the international Krannich Solar Group, founded in 2005.

The company recently expanded its Latin America operations with a new sales office in Mexico City.

The installed capacity supplied by the Krannich Group topped 1,600 megawatts worldwide in 2014.

Paul Barlock, APS senior vice president of U.S. operations, welcomed the agreement with a distributor of Krannich Solar’s stature, saying the companies share a strong culture of customer service.

“Krannich is a national top-tier solar supplier, and very exclusive in their offerings,” Barlock said. “When they carry your brand, it says your product line has arrived. Krannich will help us make 2015 another year of rapid growth.”

APS’s flagship product, the groundbreaking YC500 microinverter, handles two PV modules independently and can be configured to support any grid standard anywhere in the world. The YC1000, the world’s first true 3-phase, four-module microinverter, recently entered the U.S. market after a highly successful rollout overseas.

Solar Power World

Radian Generation, a provider of ongoing solar asset management and advisory services, announced that since Q1 2014, it has tripled its portfolio of solar assets under management. The company, founded by solar industry veterans with decades of collective PV industry experience, offers a comprehensive suite of solar asset management services to the residential, commercial, industrial and utility markets in North America.

Radian Generation has grown its asset management portfolio by 300% over the last 12 months. Radian is now contracted to deliver comprehensive services (operations, technical, contractual and financial) to over 150MWs of projects located at 55 sites across the U.S. and Canada. Individual projects range in size from as small as 30kW to over 30MWs.

In response to this growth, RadianGEN has increased the size of its team in San Francisco and established an office in Charlotte, NC to service the East Coast markets. Through its partnership with Quietstream, RadianGEN also has a presence in Boston, Los Angeles and New York City. The significant growth in scale has also allowed RadianGEN to invest further in technology platforms and processes to drive increased performance and cost savings for its customers.

“As solar becomes a mainstream energy resource and an established investment asset class, the solar industry must turn its focus to ensuring the long term success of projects,” said Chad Sachs, CEO of RadianGEN. “It is estimated that there will be 20GW of solar deployed by 2016. RadianGEN is leading the effort to optimize solar project performance and establish asset management best practices. We are excited to expand our team in new geographies to support new customers and leverage our scale to create better technology and software solutions. We enable solar system owners and investors to enjoy higher returns on their investment with less risk and lower costs.”

Solar Power World

The U.S. Department of Energy invests in new technology to revolutionize the landscape of solar data. Reliable solar grid data, true performance of solar panels, and a twist to homeowner solar engagement are a few of the promises Pick My Solar’s big data application, PVimpact, plans to bring to the market.

The dawn of the smart home is upon us with various products connecting homes to information networks. However, Solar Big Data has yet to be captured at scale or leveraged to its potential. That is all about to change as the team behind PickMySolar.com expands its role in the solar industry with a powerful new mobile app – PVimpact. The U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded Pick My Solar a grant to develop a universal tool for all solar homes to connect to the information grid. The app’s dynamic capabilities will benefit homeowners, solar installers, manufacturers, and utilities by analyzing homeowners’ energy use in real time. This summer the technology will be rolling out for free to all Pick My Solar customers, and then expanding to the rest of the U.S. residential solar market in early fall.

The DOE’s SunShot Initiative is a national effort to make solar energy cost-competitive and PVimpact has been designed to help that cause (the name is fitting as PV is a technical term for solar). The technology behind PVimpact aggregates three principal pieces of data; the homeowner’s electricity usage, solar system production, and contractual details of the solar system, and prepares it for easy analysis by homeowners, solar installers, and utility companies. Currently none of these data points are collected together nor is there any universal technology that can capture solar system production from the various metering systems on the market. Here’s the “impact” of this new technology:

Solar Homeowners – Homeowners will now have an easy way to interpret true dollar savings, receive alerts and key tips on their system, and have the ability to share this information. This all ties into Pick My Solar’s dedication to transparency. They further build on this principle by incorporating a map feature which allows future solar buyers to see who in their neighborhood has gone solar, how much they paid, and how much they are saving.

Solar Installers – “50% of the time or more, a user increases power consumption after going solar,” explains an owner of a prominent Southern California solar company. He goes on to add, “They don’t know how much electricity they are actually consuming.” In the solar industry this is known as the rebound effect. Homeowners start thinking their solar systems are malfunctioning when, in fact, their total household power consumption is increasing. This gives headaches to installers to prove the system is working and it also damages their customer satisfaction. Once this installer heard about PVimpact he said, “This is a game changer.”

Solar Manufacturers – There is a very limited pool of data capturing solar equipment performance. PVimpact will have the ability to capture data on how well panels and inverters perform compared to their ratings and how well they perform in different climates and conditions. Using the compiled data, PVimpact will be the leader in aggregating solar performance data, providing valuable information to solar manufacturers.

Utilities – Consumption and production trends are in high-demand by utilities. However, they currently do not have a reliable means of gathering this information from residential solar installations. Without knowing how much power solar contributes to the grid on any given day, utilities end up with excess generation that goes to waste. By providing utilities with this valuable data, all ratepayers will save money.

Pick My Solar is an online solar purchasing marketplace, providing homeowners with expert advice and high quality custom bids from solar installers. The overarching mission of Pick My Solar is to simplify the solar purchase process, drive down costs and provide the consumer advocacy necessary for solar to achieve broad market success.

Solar Power World

ABB, supplier of transmission and distribution equipment and solutions for today’s grid, will be promoting new grid integration technology applications and product enhancements at the DistribuTECH 2015 conference and exhibition.

These new offerings and enhancements include:

• ABB Wireless’s new Tropos 6420 broadband wireless mesh routers, providing the performance and reliability required to support video surveillance and other physical security applications in electric utility substations
• ABB enterprise software solutions from Ventyx, targeting utilities’ biggest challenges, including Asset Health, Outage Life Cycle Management, Service Suite, FocalPoint business intelligence software, Network Management (DMS and OMS as part of an OLM bundled solution)
• ABB’s newly-expanded Relion® 605 product family of protection and control relays – the REF601, REJ601 and REM601 – for the ANSI market.
• Pole mounted distribution transformers, a single phase, pole mounted transformer for 3kVA or less, designed for small or isolated load applications
• High voltage Capacitor Banks for VoltVAr management
• GridSync wireless sensors
• GridShield three-phase reclosers, and other advanced Distribution Automation solutions.

Introducing the Smart Squad
Showcasing more than 180 years of combined global experience at the highest levels, ABB will make available 12 of its authorities – in a specially-built “Smart Bar” concept – to interact and answer tough questions for DistribuTECH attendees on a dozen hot topics – including Distribution Automation, VoltVAr optimization, microgrids, wireless communications, outage management, DMS/OMS, and more. ABB’s Smart Squad members will be available in the Smart Bar in booth #1421.

Additionally, ABB will be sharing insights in five Paper Presentations during the week at DistribuTECH.

“We are pleased to once again have a major presence at DistribuTECH, and we’re eager to show off our newest product enhancements and expertise around distribution grid management and high voltage transmission applications,” said Gary Rackliffe, ABB vice president for smart grids, North America. “No other T&D solutions provider offers the shear breadth of integrated solutions, systems expertise, equipment, software and communications technology that ABB does.”

DistribuTECH 2015 runs from February 3-5 at the San Diego Convention Center, and ABB will be exhibiting in booth #1421 on the show floor. For more information and to register, please click here.

Solar Power World

SolarBOS, a developer and manufacturer for solar balance of system products, offers AC breaker panels.designed specifically for PV systems, making it easy for system integrators to combine the AC outputs of multiple string inverters. The NEMA-4 enclosure allows for vertical as well as horizontal installation, and the breaker spacing reduces breaker temperatures in order to minimize nuisance-tripping on rooftop installations.

Key Features
-ETL listed to UL 508A
-Sized for 2 to 16 input circuits
-Main bus sized for 250 or 400 amps
-480 VAC, 3 Phase output
-Rated for 14 kAIC, (higher kAIC ratings are available upon request)
-NEMA‐4 powder coated steel or NEMA-4X fiberglass enclosure
-Optional main breaker up to 400 amps
-Optional revenue grade monitoring

“What’s interesting about this new product line is how SolarBOS engineers figured out how to package a typical AC breaker panel in a NEMA-4 or 4X enclosure in a way that reduces breaker temperatures and allows for an integrated power meter,” said Jason Schripsema, CEO of SolarBOS. “We think this will help our customer save on both installation and O&M costs in their commercial rooftop projects.”

Solar Power World

Solar Power World

In addition to the renewal of its ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications concerning quality and environmental management, Exosun has been certified OHSAS 18001, an international standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) management.  Exosun is the first solar tracker design and supply company worldwide to earn this triple certification for its entire business, covering the design of its trackers, as well as the engineering, installation, training, operation, and maintenance of ground-mounted solar plants.

Exosun is committed to optimizing work conditions and watches over the safety and health of its employees and of all third parties present at its work place, including its suppliers, subcontractors and visitors. Exosun also dedicates much of its time in raising awareness and training all concerned parties to respect the company’s safety rules in order to avoid accidents and reduce risks. This endeavour have been rewarded by the company’s OHSAS 18001 certification.

It is also key for Exosun to maintain the highest quality standards of its products and services. Consequently, for the fourth consecutive year, Exosun’s ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications have been renewed.

Delivered by Afnor Certification, these certifications confirm Exosun’s continual commitment to customer and partner satisfaction.

Solar Power World