Smart module company Tigo Energy offers a communications and safety hub to its smart module platform. The Cloud Connect (CC) is an on-site interface to modules, inverters and other accessories. In addition the CC functions as the gateway to Tigo’s SMART cloud services.

The Cloud Connect provides a centralized safety platform for firefighters and installers. The CC supports on-site deactivation of the array and when combined with Tigo’s smart module technology is compliant with Rapid Shutdown requirements (NEC 2014). The CC also supports the collection of data from string inverters, AC meters, and other equipment that is transmitted, analyzed, and displayed by Tigo’s SMART cloud services.

Tigo also announced the introduction of the Tigo SMART mobile app that connects directly to the Cloud Connect via a WIFI hotspot – the first in the market deploying mobile commissioning capabilities. SMART, which is available on both iOS and Android, enables installers to configure a system from a smart phone. This also eliminates the need to enter a customer’s house to connect directly to an internet router.
The Cloud Connect includes:

• Din-rail mounting, to easily fit inside a standard breaker,
• Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity for internet backhaul,
• RS-485 port to support inverter and third party accessory monitoring,
• Supports third party “ON” mushroom safety buttons,
• Hard-wired industrial power supply (enabling hard wired 208 or 240V power connection).

“We are excited to introduce this key component in our platform,” said Ron Hadar, President of Tigo Energy.  “Tigo’s platform is supported by all of the major inverter and module manufacturers globally.  The Cloud Connect makes deploying Tigo’s platform even faster and enables installers to harness more of their system data.  It’s a big step forward for the module-level power electronics industry.”

The Cloud Connect is shipping immediately.

Solar Power World

Main Street Power Company has been acquired by AES Corporation. The acquisition brings Main Street Power, a developer, owner and operator of distributed solar PV systems, together with AES, a Fortune 200 global energy company with operations in 18 countries and a large fleet of grid batteries in commercial service, to accelerate the growth of distributed generation solar capacity in key markets.

Main Street Power provides sustainable long-term distributed solar power solutions to clients by combining Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with government and utility incentives. The company maintains a long-standing financing relationship with MS Solar Solutions Corp. (MSSS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. Through its more than 200 commercial projects and several residential platform partners across the US, Main Street Power has developed and is operating a clean and affordable solar power generation portfolio with the capacity to supply the equivalent of more than 17,000 homes with electricity, annually.

With this acquisition, AES adds nearly 60 MW of operational distributed generation solar PV projects across the US and an additional 100 MW of projects in development in the US, Caribbean and Latin America to its 35 GW portfolio of operational generation resources and more than 7 GW in construction. On February 25, the company commissioned its first project on the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands which will provide as much as 5% of the island’s current base load capacity during daylight hours.

The existing leadership and broader team will remain in Boulder following the acquisition. The group will be known going forward as AES Distributed Energy and become a center of excellence for distributed solar generation within AES. In addition to adding capabilities in the US, the group will foster the development of distributed energy businesses in other AES markets, where electricity prices are higher and solar resources are more favorable.

Amory Host, President and CEO, AES Distributed Energy said, “As part of AES, we see tremendous opportunity to build on and grow the environmental, economic and social benefits that distributed solar generation brings to the communities, homeowners, schools, municipalities, businesses and utilities we serves.”

“The addition of the AES Distributed Energy group to AES strengthens our ability to provide affordable and sustainable energy solutions to our customers,” said Chris Shelton, Vice President for New Energy Solutions. “By combining the experience AES has in running and operating generation and utilities in 18 countries and in bringing innovative solutions such as energy storage to market with the expertise AES Distributed Energy has in delivering distributed solar solutions to customers, we believe we can successfully extend our share of the rapidly growing market.”

Solar Power World

ABB offers Transformer Intelligence, its sensor-based monitoring solution for transformers, at its US Automation and Power World event in Houston, Texas.

Making transformers more intelligent enables condition-based maintenance and reduces costs. At the same time, the improved insights help enhance performance, reduce failure risks and extend lifetime.

ABB’s solution is based on the next generation of its onlne monitoring system CoreTec which keeps a close watch on a transformer’s mission-critical functions and performs a complete evaluation of its operating conditions. It can also simulate future service conditions and forecast their impact on transformer lifetime, enabling predictive maintenance.

ABB has now enhanced its Transformer Intelligence solution with the CoreSense™ sensor which continuously records hydrogen and moisture and provides CoreTec with real-time data to optimize transformer management. ABB’s latest innovation can be deployed with existing and new transformers.

“This is yet another example of ABB’s transformer lifecycle support philosophy and commitment to service” said Markus Heimbach, head of ABB’s Transformers business, a part of the company’s Power Products division. “Our domain knowledge and century long experience as a global leader in transformer technology enables us to develop innovative solutions that support our customers in managing their assets more efficiently and help drive the evolution of smarter grids.”

ABB offers a complete range of power and distribution transformers designed for reliability, durability and efficiency. ABB is a major transformer manufacturer throughout the world and offers both liquid-filled and dry-type transformers as well as services for complete lifecycle support, including replacement parts and components.

Solar Power World

Following a year of financial turnaround, Conergy share the executives who will be leading the company. Andrew de Pass will serve as Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Gorski as Chief Operating Officer, Marc Lohoff as Chief Sales Officer and Dr. Christina Welsch as Chief Financial Officer. A year and a half since Conergy AG filed for insolvency in Germany, this leadership team has led Conergy to achieve nearly half a billion in revenue and operating profitability.

Since being acquired in late 2013, Conergy has transformed into a bankable and fast growing downstream solar company. In 2014, the company developed and installed 300 MW of utility scale projects, bringing its total installed capacity to nearly 1 GW and placing it among the largest solar companies globally. This year, the company also deepened its partnership with European utility, RWE, to offer rooftop solar in Germany, and closed a major bank guarantee facility with Deutsche Bank.

Conergy’s success is largely due to its global competitive advantage, which allows the Company to allocate resources to the fastest growing markets across the world. Conergy has decades of experience providing top quality downstream services, solid shareholder backing, and a strong balance sheet. Conergy enters 2015 with a project pipeline of a 4 GW and aggressive goals to expand its businesses in solar development, finance, engineering, procurement & construction (EPC), and operations & maintenance (O&M). Conergy will continue its leadership in utility-scale solar and expand its business in the fast-growing rooftop segment across existing and new markets in its global footprint.

Andrew de Pass will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer from his prior position as Executive Chairman of the Conergy Board. At Kawa Capital Management, Andrew led the acquisition of Conergy in 2013 and took a hands-on approach to restructuring and strengthening the Company financially. In the last year, Andrew and the leadership team made significant changes to Conergy’s business model, refocusing the Company away from manufacturing towards its key strengths in downstream operations, most notably project development and PV asset ownership. In addition, de Pass brought in high-profile equity co-investors, and prominent banks to provide required bank guarantee lines to support the core businesses. Andrew has over two decades of experience in private equity and renewable energy investing, having managed or invested over $1.3B of capital in infrastructure assets and growth companies globally over the course of his career. Previously, Andrew worked in various senior positions at Greentech Capital Advisors, Citi Venture Capital International, where he founded and headed Citigroup’s Sustainable Development Investments (SDI) group, and Morgan Stanley.

“Since Kawa acquired Conergy in 2013, we’ve turned Conergy around from a loss making position to profitability, with nearly half a billion in revenue,” said Andrew de Pass. “I am convinced that we will continue to accelerate our growth this year and that we have the right team and experience to execute globally.”

Alexander Gorski, based in both Hamburg and Miami, will serve as Conergy’s Chief Operating Officer and will continue to have geographical responsibility for Europe and Africa. He will also add the Americas to his regional responsibilities. Prior to Conergy, Gorski spent 15 years in the semiconductor industry where he served as Corporate Vice President for Qimonda AG. Before this, he held several senior management roles at Infineon Technologies AG as well as Siemens Semiconductor Group.

Marc Lohoff, based in Singapore, will serve as Chief Sales Officer and will continue to be responsible for the Asia, Pacific and Middle East regions, including Japan and Australia. Lohoff has run these regions since 2009. Before joining Conergy, Lohoff held senior management roles at Qimonda AG, Infineon Technologies AG as well as Siemens Semiconductor Group. He has spent most of his career in Asia, leading manufacturing corporations, joint ventures and sales groups.

Dr. Christina Welsch, based in Hamburg, will take the role of Chief Financial Officer, from her prior role as Vice President Corporate Finance for Conergy. Dr. Welsch joined Conergy in 2010 after nearly a decade of experience in finance and corporate performance related positions. Before Conergy, she worked as Project Manager in the restructuring and corporate finance unit of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.

Solar Power World

After construction, real-time monitoring and alerting lets O&M teams determine system health at a glance. Roll ups of financial performance help guide decisions to dispatch teams and schedule maintenance.

The Internet of Things (IoT), a technology trend of embedding tiny computers into networks of everyday devices to harvest and use data, has come to the solar industry through the partnership of balance of system provider Shoals Technologies Group and wireless solutions developer Synapse Wireless. Shoals envisioned a wireless monitoring system that could track a project’s production and progress even before commissioning—during construction, when money is flowing out a developer’s door.

Synapse, meanwhile, boasts a long record of providing a variety of industries with real-time, decision-making data through use of its SNAP IoT operating system which runs on top of a wireless mesh network. This platform enables wireless devices to collect and transmit meaningful data that now turns everyday items—light switches, refrigerators, valves—into smart devices that generate insightful information.

In the fashion industry, for example, this type of wireless capability notifies shop owners when customers are trying on a piece of clothing and when it’s not returned to the rack, suggesting it may be time to restock. In the solar industry, EPCs and owners now have real-time data that notifies them when a panel is experiencing soiling, shading or high heat, for example.

The system can also notify system owners when the panel is installed in the first place. The product that does this, available exclusively through Shoals, is called SNAPshot. “Shoals had a vision and partnered with Synapse to develop and build a portfolio of specialized SNAP-based solutions targeted at the needs of PV operators, owners and EPC partners,” said Dell Jones of Synapse Wireless.

SNAPshot transforms how solar farms are built and monitored by increasing speed-to-revenue for solar owners, who will be able to see how efficiently a solar farm is being built; with this ability, EPCs will be more accountable for their time on the job.

Because the nodes within the network are instantly connected upon install, data begins to transmit immediately with real-time access on your speed to market.

Project owners can see this data through a sleek cloud-based monitoring system (pictured) that details system production overall, as well as a precise inventory of panel performance. In a large solar field with multiple phases of construction, owners don’t have to wait to see whether the project is being built ontime. They know from hour to hour and minute to minute how it’s coming along.

“It simply becomes impractical to walk a large field to get details of string performance in the commissioning phase,” Jones said. “To wire a large field for monitoring is also financially impractical.”

According to Shoals, 30% of its EPC customers use SNAPshot as a commissioning tool, and the company said they found the benefit of constant monitoring during construction justified the cost.

“The added value to the owner is assuring the performance of the ongoing operations and the alerts for issues that are under warranty,” Jones said.

As SNAPshot encounters the future, it could move to monitoring distributed systems. O&M providers could use the system to monitor for repairs. One utility is looking at the installation of mesh networks to reduce the backhaul cost of many distributed systems in a neighborhood.

And if wireless monitoring appears on a roof, you can bet it will show up inside the home, too—watching over HVAC, lighting, water heating and pumps to optimize energy use. In addition to wireless monitoring solutions within the solar industry, Synapse is also a leader in both indoor and outdoor lighting controls that integrate well with the renewable side of the business.

Solar Power World

IHS announced that the global photovoltaic (PV) balance-of-system (BoS) market is forecast to grow at an average rate of 5% per year, reaching $21 billion in 2019. China, India and other large markets in Asia dominated by niche BoS suppliers, will account for 44% of global BoS revenues in 2019. The Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region is forecast to reach 34% of revenues, while the Americas will comprise 21%.

According to the “PV Balance of System Equipment – 2015” report, growth in EMEA will be led by the commercial market, which is forecast to reach 11.5 GW in 2019. “The Asian market is also highly attractive for BoS suppliers, especially in the ground-mount mounting market, where local steel manufacturers are very active presently, and this creates a huge opportunity for experienced PV mounting suppliers from EMEA and the Americas to expand abroad,” said Cormac Gilligan, senior solar analyst for IHS Technology.

Structural BoS (SBoS), which is composed of ground-mount trackers, fixed-tilt and rooftop mounting systems, will account for 45% of the global PV BoS market, reaching $9.3 billion in 2019. Within this category, rooftop-mounting systems are forecast to grow 5% per year, due to strong global growth in both the residential and commercial rooftop sectors.

The electrical BoS (EBoS) market, composed of DC cabling, connectors, monitoring hardware and combiner boxes, will grow faster than the SBoS market; revenues are expected to reach just under $3 billion in revenue in 2019. “The EBoS market is set to grow rapidly, primarily because these components will handle higher voltages and assist in arc-fault detection, isolation and other health and safety requirements,” Gilligan said.

The scope of the IHS “PV Balance of System Equipment – 2015” report is segmented into electrical BoS products, such as DC cabling, combiner box, connectors, inverters and system monitoring hardware, and structural BoS products, such as rooftop and ground-mount structural mounting products. It covers the total market for PV BoS equipment, which is defined as any part of a PV system’s hardware excluding the PV module. The report does not analyze components on the AC side of the inverter (e.g., AC cabling or AC combiner boxes). For more information about this report, visit here.

Solar Power World

SolarTek Solutions, a Utah-based provider of clean, reliable and renewable solar power, announces its name change to Auric Solar. The new name signifies the company’s rapid growth due to the rising demand for solar energy.

Auric Solar quickly became Utah’s largest supplier of residential solar power—averaging an annual growth trend of 173% over the last five years. The company serves all of Utah, Idaho and Louisiana and intends to offer its customized solar solutions to more people across the country.

Auric Solar was co-founded and is owned by Trent Vansice and Jess Phillips who both have a passion for solar power and providing a great experience for clients who switch to renewable energy. “The name change stems from our desire to evolve and enhance the great reputation and brand we already have in preparation for our continued growth,” says Trent. “While the name is new, our employees and customers can rely on the same core values and dedication to making solar energy an easy and affordable option,” says Jess.

Auric Solar strives to give everyone the opportunity to power their home or business with high quality solar applications. From site analysis and system design to installation and maintenance, the company ensures a seamless and cost effective transition from traditional to solar power.

“Our business is a strong advocate of education, customer service and environmental stewardship,” says Trent. The company earned the title of Top-Rated Solar Provider in the country by SolarReviews through its proven record of performance and consumer satisfaction.

Top priorities also include raising awareness about the benefits of solar power and providing a responsible way for clients to pay for solar, making it affordable for every homeowner. Clients who convert to solar power lower utility costs, receive state and federal tax incentives, and increase the overall value of their properties.

Additional objectives Auric Solar maintains include: creating efficiencies that pass along savings to consumers; improving customer experiences through exceptional service; and advancing as an industry leader by supplying grid-tied solar power that is owned by the client.

Solar Power World

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, today launched its Symphony Plus SD Series of flexible control and input/output (I/O) products, which offer total plant automation across application types, irrespective of size or physical location. They will be showcased at ABB’s Automation and Power World event in Houston, Texas, from March 2-5.

The SD Series is designed to improve energy efficiency and productivity in diverse operating environments within the power and water industries. The new range is especially suited for applications where control is distributed over a wide area often in harsh conditions, such as wind and solar power plants as well as water facilities.

The new portfolio is the latest addition to the Symphony Plus product family, ABB’s flagship automation platform for the power generation and water sectors and the most widely used distributed control system (DCS) in these industries.

“The launch of the SD series is a reaffirmation of ABB’s commitment to continue investing in the Symphony Plus platform based on an ‘evolution without obsolescence’ approach of introducing new technology with enhanced benefits while protecting the long-term investment by ensuring full compatibility with existing installations,” said Massimo Danieli, Managing Director of ABB’s Power Generation business, a part of the company’s Power Systems division.

SD Series is a portfolio of DIN rail-mounted control and I/O products based on a scalable architecture, flexible design and field-proven technology. The energy-efficient solution pays for itself through reduced long-term energy, operational and maintenance costs.

Furthermore, they can withstand extreme operating conditions such as temperatures from -20 to +70 degrees Celsius without the need for additional environmental protection. This significantly reduces their footprint and maintenance costs, and improves reliability and performance thanks to fewer components.

Symphony Plus enables plants and personnel to perform efficiently and balance objectives like asset availability, operational reliability and production efficiency with business goals like asset life extension, carbon reduction and regulatory compliance.

There are more than 6,500 Symphony installations in operation all over the world, including more than 4,500 in power and water applications.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 140,000 people.

Solar Power World

Many commercial solar panels convert light to electricity with an efficiency of about 20%. The efficiency figure has been stuck at that level, more or less, for several years. But that could change thanks to recent developments in materials and cell-building strategies.

Solar researchers now think the way to boost cell efficiencies lies in sandwiching together two different types of solar cells. The combination converts light to electricity more efficiently than either of the two cells working separately. Moreover, the resulting cell structure may cost about the same to make as those used in the solar cells produced commercially today.

A UCLA research group headed by Yang Yang devised a combination perovskite/polymer solar cell with this kind of makeup. In the diagram, PFN is lead iron niobate. PCBM is the fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, a fullerene derivative of the C60 buckyball. It is used as an electron acceptor. CH3NH3PbI3 is the main perovskite solar absorbing material. PEDOT:PSS is a combination of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and polystyrene sulfonate. The top PeDOt:PSS layer is a transparent resistive polymer, the second layer is transparent but conductive. Beneath these layers is a layer formed by spin-coating PFN with a titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) solution for form an interface between the two kinds of cells. PBSeDTEG8:PCBM is the photovoltaic polymer. Indium tin oxide (ITO) forms the backside electrode.

The most promising approach involves using a standard silicon solar cell as a base and building a cell made from perovskite on top of it. Perovskite is a crystalline material (also known as calcium titanium oxide) that is inexpensive. Perovskite cells made in the lab don’t yet have the efficiency of commercial cells but continue to improve.

The intriguing thing about ganging perovskite and silicon cells together is that the resulting structure can be made on conventional solar cell fab lines–most layers in a perovskite cell can be deposited from solution on top of the silicon cell. So theoretically, boosting solar cell efficiency this way entails no big capital expenses for revamped manufacturing facilities.

Combining the two types of cells works because silicon solar cells absorb photons of visible and infrared light, while perovskite cells respond only to the higher end of the visible part of the solar spectrum where the photons have more energy. Because the photons at these wavelengths have more energy, the perovskite cells generate more power per photon of visible light than silicon cells.

One difficulty that has thwarted the construction of perovskite/silicon combo cells has been the lack of a suitable material able to serve as an electrode. Both top and bottom electrodes for the perovskite cell must be transparent so photons reach the silicon cell beneath it. Complicating the search for a suitable electrode material is perovskites’ fragility. Heat can damage them and they readily dissolve in water.

Several research groups have recently made progress on these issues. For example, researchers at Stanford University came up with a way of applying transparent electrodes onto the perovskite cell by pressing a sheet of plastic containing silver nanowires against the top of the cell. The wires transfer from plastic sheet to the perovskite cell the way a temporary tattoo transfers to human skin.

Moreover, the Stanford team used a low-quality silicon cell for their bottom layer. The perovskite/silicon combination was 17% efficient, about 50% better than the silicon cell working alone. The researchers, led by Stanford professor of materials science and engineering Mike McGehee, now think that the technique could make practical the use of low-quality (less pure and less expensive) silicon that previously wasn’t good enough for solar cells.

When perovskite and silicon solar cells are combined, it is important that both kinds of cells produce nearly the same current. Otherwise, the two-cell combination could be less efficient than the cells working alone. Researchers at Stanford devised this example perovskite/silicon module to demonstrate how current-matching at the module level might happen with a mechanically-stacked tandem. In this example, the filtered silicon produces half the photocurrent density of the perovskite, so the silicon cells are twice as large to match the current of the perovskite cells. This example module assumes cells are strung together in series so the total voltage of the module would be the sum of the individual cell voltages.

Silicon cells aren’t the only devices with which perovskite can combine. Another research group at UCLA is working on sandwiching perovskite and plastic solar cells. A problem has been getting a smooth perovskite surface to grow on the plastic cells. (The smoother the surface, the less the leakage currents.) The UCLA group, headed by materials science and engineering professor Yang Yang, came up with a technique for applying a special solvent that helps form layers of perovskite that are gap and void-free. In addition, the process takes place at temperatures low enough to be compatible with the plastic cells beneath the perovskite.

It also looks as though researchers aren’t done improving the efficiency of perovskite cells alone. Recently a group working in South Korea’s Research Institute of Chemical Technology and Sungkyunkwan University were able to devise perovskite cells working at 18% efficiency. They started with a methylammonium lead bromide perovskite and added formamidinium lead iodide to get the higher efficiency. The latter compound also makes the perovskite crystals more stable—otherwise they tend to change phase and lose their photovoltaic properties in the right temperature and humidity conditions over time.

And in fact, the long-term stability of perovskites is still a research topic. Nevertheless, researchers seem to be confident that they can overcome the remaining difficulties and develop useful devices in the next year or two, though there are still questions about the economics of the resulting technology. Some of the materials used in experimental perovskite cells are expensive–fullerene derivatives found in some cells being one example. But researchers are hopeful they can come up with versions of these cells that will be able to compete commercially.

Solar Power World

Designing a PV system to meet both residential and agricultural needs for the Bauer family home and farm in Los Molinos, Calif., required a microinverter solution with flexibility and power.

The challenge was compounded by the distance between the solar array and the monitoring devices in the home. Only a system with robust wireless capabilities would suffice.

When other microinverter systems failed, a resourceful installer contacted Rich Varlinsky, owner of Chico, Calif.-based RR Lane Solar Distributing, to see if a solution could be engineered. Rich proposed the APS microinverter solution to complete the Bauer PV system.

“To our knowledge, this is the first time this particular router, the ECU and a hotspot have been used for a solar array. The design was challenging due to the distance and other factors, but was ultimately successful,” Varlinsky said. “The customer was very pleased, as his cost did not increase and he could monitor the system using his hotspot.”

The Bauer system includes three dozen 255-watt modules in a ground-mount array, to serve both the residence and a 3-phase (delta-wye) agricultural pump system. The system was designed with microinverters from a name brand, but once completed could not be made to function.

There were several challenges to overcome. The agricultural pump required the output from 10 modules, but the name-brand microinverters would not support the delta-wye power system without additional transformers – an expensive add-on that the customer did not want to pay for.

The second problem involved wireless communication and monitoring. The array was located 300 feet from the household’s internet source, and the signal had to travel through four walls of the residence. The existing wireless hotspot only had a range of about 40 feet and needed to monitor two communication units at intermittent intervals, as it would not be on continuously.

After a month of fruitless troubleshooting, the installer turned to APS YC500 microinverters for power and the APS Energy Communication Unit for monitoring.

The YC500 microinverters did not require additional transformers to support the delta-wye configuration, and once the APS units were installed, the system performed flawlessly.

The wireless communication challenges were resolved with two inexpensive routers – one for the residence, and one mounted alongside the array and the APS ECU at the agricultural pump site. The second router was redesigned to extend its range and bandwidth, and to negate line-of-sight issues.

This new configuration easily covered the 300-foot distance from the array to the home, and transmitted module performance data even through the stucco walls.

“RR Lane Solar really put our microinverters and monitoring solutions to the test, and they succeeded where competitors just couldn’t get the job done,” said Paul Barlock, APS Senior Vice President. “One of the hallmarks of APS technology is its flexibility and functionality in all environments, and RR Lane proved it.”

Varlinsky said the APS solution provided many advantages over the competition. The most important was the microinverters’ ability to function in a delta-wye system without transformers, bringing significant savings and simplifying the installation.

Also, the APS ECU could be programmed with inverter serial numbers and did not depend on line communication for identification. The changes made to the router increased its transmit power and diminished data packet loss. The routers were programmed to constantly check for the hotspot and connect automatically when it was activated.

“The use of APS products saved the customer several thousand dollars in this installation, and gave them flawless ECU communication even with a consumer-grade hotspot,” Varlinsky said.

For their creative application of APS microinverter technology in this demanding setting, RR Lane Solar Distributing has earned the APS Project of the Year Award for residential applications.

Project Details
Installer: RR Lane Solar Distributing, Chico, Calif.
Project name: Bauer residential/agricultural installation
Location: Los Molinos, Calif.
Completion: October 2014
Capacity: 9.18 kW
Modules: 36, 255 watt
Inverters: APS YC500
Monitoring: APS Energy Communication Unit

Read more about this installation here.

Solar Power World

Coinciding with the Lancaster County dairy farm’s year-long celebration of its 80th anniversary, Kreider Farms in Pennsylvania is pleased to announce that new, energy-efficient solar panels for its four chicken houses are now fully operational.

Solar Power World

Black River Produce located in Springfield, VT, is a wholesaler of fresh, organic, and specialty produce for more than 2,000 customers, made bold moves last year after deciding to take their local business to a new level. It’s no secret that the facility’s strict refrigeration rules and refrigerated diesel delivery trucks soak up energy like a sponge: a yearly electricity bill of $115,000 compelled Black River Produce to tighten its financial belt. For this company, making a change toward solar was the sensible, and prudent, thing to do.

When Black River put out a request for installation bids, there were two options: use microinverters proposed by Prudent Living or central inverters proposed by each of the four other contractors.

“The building’s multiple roof surfaces and levels guaranteed shading would fall over some panel throughout the day. Using central inverters seemed crazy. Enphase microinverters were the only sensible option for such a complex job,” said Tim Biebel, Vice President of Prudent Living.

Deciding between microinverters and traditional central inverters had the owner of Black River Produce caught in the middle of opposing contractor bids. But when the time came to choose, Enphase microinverters proved to be the last inverter standing.

• Challenge: Transform an energy-guzzling warehouse into a facility as eco-friendly as its organic produce
• Solution: Deploy a 357.6-kW microinverter system atop the building’s complex roof spaces
• Result: 80-90% annual utility bill savings compared to the previous year

Enphase’s 25-year warranty also appealed to Black River Produce, who needed a reliable technology for the long term. Combined with the warranty, the Enphase System offered intelligent monitoring, virtually zero system downtime, and a better return on investment than traditional inverters.

Prudent Living worked hand-in-hand with Enphase’s field applications engineering team to address the challenges posed by multiple roof surfaces, sizes, and orientations. With nearly 1,500 microinverters and solar modules and 62,300 square feet of roof space, the complex electrical design posed challenges when it came time to wire the system together while keeping branch sizes – and communications domains – manageable. Also, having to connect the system across different roofs required strategic transformer placement to help maximize the available space for solar.

Black River Produce’s system is comprised of Enphase M215 Microinverters mounted to AET Racking and attached to Yingli modules. The $1.3 million photovoltaic project in North Springfield, Vermont, is expected to generate enough power to save roughly 80 to 90% of the company’s utility bill. In addition, restaurants, markets, schools, hospitals, and others throughout Vermont and its surrounding states can enjoy Black River’s delicious organic produce knowing their food has been kept fresh by buildings and trucks powered by solar.

Project Details

Size: 357.6 kW
Panels: Yingli Solar
Inverters: Enphase M215 Microinverters
Racking: AET Racking
Designer/Installer: Prudent Living

Solar Power World

SolarBOS is pleased to announce it has begun shipping wire harnesses and cable assemblies from its Grand Rapids, Michigan, facility, utilizing automated Schleuniger wire cutting, stripping, and labeling equipment. All wire harness assemblies are custom manufactured to client specifications, making any installation effective and cost efficient. Customers can choose from various American Wire Gauges (AWG) and jacket colors for the conductors, industry standard connectors, as well as custom labels at each connection point.

“We’re pleased to have added this capability to our plant,” said Ron Skorich, Production Manager, Grand Rapids, Michigan. “We believe this will help our customers to further streamline their projects and by tooling up we can help keep manufacturing jobs in the U.S.”

SolarBOS Wire Harness solutions include over-molded “Y” harnesses with inline fuses, homerun cable assemblies, and combiner box whips, all of which can be customized in lengths, machine-labeled and/or bundled per customer wire schedules.

For more information about SolarBOS’ Wire Harness Solutions, please visit http://www.solarbos.com/products/wire-harness-solutions.

Solar Power World

NEC 2014 section 690.12 requires that inverters must be installed within 10 ft of the solar array to meet rapid shutdown requirements. Inverters must also be elevated to meet new fire safety codes. The easiest way to achieve this is to mount inverters on racking, but since manufacturing these isn’t in the realm of most inverter manufacturers’ specialties, third-party companies are stepping up to offer a standard solution.

Steel PowerRack and PowerShield

For example, Bentek offers the PowerRack, an inverter rack that comes in steel or aluminum and works with most three-phase inverters including models from ABB, Advanced Energy, Chint Power Systems, Fronius, Schneider Electric, SMA America, SolarEdge, Solectria Renewables and SunGrow.

This isn’t the equivalent of making poor quality, off-brand power chargers for Apple iPhones that may or may not work with the product. Bentek’s John Buckley explained that his California-based company works closely with inverter manufacturers to ensure Bentek’s racking is completely compatible with their models.

“We’ve developed good relationships with inverter manufacturers through manufacturing their recombiners,” Buckley said. “We value working with them to ensure our racking is completely compliant with their inverters. We test in their labs and get input to continue to make our product better.”

Aluminum PowerRack and PowerShield

Furthermore, Bentek’s 10-year warranty matches the warranty on most three-phase solar inverters which eliminates concerns about having to replace one before the other.

Bentek can also integrate three-phase inverters and its AC disconnects in its ISO 9001:2008 factory and ship the completed assembly to the job site for added convenience. Bentek offers shields that can mount on the rack to protect the inverter from direct sunlight.

The PowerRack is also compliant with NEC 2011 & 2014 Article 110 requirements for working space clearances further enabling acceptance from plan checkers and inspectors. “We manufacture a standard industry rack that installers can rely on universally without having to worry about which inverters they are using,” Buckley said. “Making a rack that is compatible with most major manufacturers also helps increase volume and bring down the price to avoid adding a lot of cost to adhering with NEC 2014 requirements.”

Additional racking options:
Some traditional panel racking manufacturers also offer solutions for inverter racking. For example:

• Applied Energy Technologies (AET) offers its Rayport I ballasted inverter mounting model (above), which fits most string inverters available on the market and does not penetrate the roof.
• SunLink believes that rooftop flexibility is key, so it offer inverter racking through its Precision-Modular RMS system. This customizable modular system addresses flexibility and is optimized for inverter wiring with channels and other features already built in.

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SunEdison Inc., the world’s largest renewable energy development company, and Solar Grid Storage LLC, a leader in deploying combined energy storage and solar PV systems, announced that SunEdison has acquired the energy storage project origination team, project pipeline and, subject to customary consents and assignments, four operating storage projects from Solar Grid Storage. SunEdison now offers battery storage solutions to complement solar and wind projects worldwide, providing solutions that can benefit utilities, municipalities, businesses, and consumers alike.

“Storage is a perfect complement to our business model and to our wind and solar expertise,” said Tim Derrick, General Manager of SunEdison Advanced Solutions. “Our strategy is to increase the value of the solar and wind projects that we finance, develop, own, and operate by improving their availability and ability to interact with the grid. With this acquisition we have added the capability to pair energy storage with solar and wind projects, thereby creating more valuable projects and positioning ourselves as a leader in the rapidly growing energy storage market.”

The growth in the energy storage market is being driven by commercial and municipal customers who are interested in both immediate energy savings from solar and emergency back-up power from storage, and by electricity grid operators, who place a high value on storage for its’ ability to make the grid more resilient and less susceptible to failure. Renewable generation-plus-storage has proven to be a cost-effective way of integrating renewable energy such as solar and wind into the grid.

“Solar Grid Storage is unique in the storage industry in that we approach storage from a solar perspective. Understanding the core solar customer value proposition, as well as the ways that energy storage can add customer benefits and economic value to solar projects, enables us to deliver renewable energy projects that are more valuable for both customers and grid operators,” said Tom Leyden, Chief Executive Officer of Solar Grid Storage. “Becoming a part of SunEdison, a renewable energy market leader with a strong pipeline of customers and development projects, positions us incredibly well to accelerate our growth and integrate energy storage with renewables to help create the electricity grid of the future.”

The move into energy storage follows SunEdison’s successful acquisition of First Wind. With 5 gigawatts of solar and wind assets under management around the globe, the company expects to realize significant synergies and opportunities for growth by integrating energy storage into its global finance, project development, and asset ownership platform. Solar Grid Storage will integrate its solar-plus-storage control services with the SunEdison Renewable Operation Center, enabling global 24/7 asset management, monitoring and reporting services for energy storage assets.

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O2 Energies has flipped the switch on its 4.25 MW Rockwell Solar Farm in North Carolina. The utility-scale PV plant is powered by decentralized inverter solutions by SMA, including 145 Sunny Tripower TL-US three-phase, transformerless inverters and two SMA Cluster Controllers. The system is expected to generate more than 6,200 MWh of clean, renewable energy for Rowan County annually.

“Because the site was in rolling terrain, a decentralized system design with multiple power point tracking was the optimal solution,” said Henry Dziuba, president and general manager of SMA America. “With this approach, owner-operator O2 Energies will benefit from reduced upfront and long-term costs and increased energy production, while the redundancy provided by multiple inverters will preserve system uptime, protecting against lost profits.”

O2 Energies focuses on integrating cutting-edge technology into sustainable, community-friendly solar development. For the Rockwell Solar Farm, it selected 16,629 Hanwha SolarOne modules, one Sunny Tripower 20000TL-US and 144 Sunny Tripower 24000TL-US inverters, as well as the Cluster Controllers, which provide advanced system monitoring and control.

“Quality and reliability were imperative when selecting components for this project,” said Joel Olsen, president of O2 Energies, based in Cornelius, North Carolina. “The Sunny Tripower is a top-of-the-line, three-phase inverter with significant global deployments.”

The Sunny Tripower TL-US is UL listed for up to 1,000 V DC maximum system voltage and has a peak efficiency above 98 percent, while OptiTrac Global Peak minimizes the effects of shade for maximum energy production. Also available in 12 and 15 kilowatt models, the Sunny Tripower TL-US delivers full grid management functionality, cutting-edge communications and advanced monitoring. It is also equipped with all-pole ground fault protection and integrated AFCI for a safe, reliable solution. The Sunny Tripower TL-US offers unmatched flexibility with a wide input voltage range and two independent MPP trackers. Suitable for both 600 V DC and 1,000 V DC applications, it allows for flexible design and a lower levelized cost of energy.

Meanwhile, the SMA Cluster Controller offers reliable monitoring and control of up to 75 inverters, thanks to its Ethernet-based Speedwire fieldbus and high-performance, dual-core processor. Advantages of the SMA Cluster Controller include optimum data transmission rates for plant monitoring and fast processing of the measured values, status updates, and plant control commands. Furthermore, a variety of sensor connection options allow for precise evaluation of plant power, which also can be viewed via the Sunny Portal Web-based PV monitoring platform.

The Rockwell Solar Farm demonstrates O2 Energies’ hyper-local focus, which includes hiring local labor, renting local equipment, obtaining financing through a local bank, and, in this case, allowing local sheep to graze on the grass that will grow under and around the solar panels. O2 Energies also partners with local schools and has developed a six-week science course that culminates with a field trip to one of the company’s 11 solar farms in North Carolina.

The Sunny Tripower TL-US and Cluster Controller are available through SMA’s North American distribution program. To locate an SMA Authorized Distributor, visit SMA America’s website and click “Where to Buy.”

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Nextronex was issued Patent Number 8,963,373 on February 24, 2015, elevating the Nextronex unique solar inverter configuration, Distributed Architecture. This patent issuance, named “Grid Tie Solar System and a Method,” recognizes Nextronex’ innovation and reinforces the uniqueness of its solar inverter system.

The Nextronex inverter system connects multiple inverters, each rated at 160 kW to 300 kW, on a common DC bus. The inverters operate in a master-slave relationship. Each day the Smart Controller selects the master inverter based on cumulative run-time. This inverter comes on first and turns off last. Additional inverters are brought on as warranted by the insolation. This system turns on earlier in the day and shuts off later than other systems. It produces superior low light efficiencies. System availability is virtually 100% because if one inverter is down for any reason the remaining inverters can process the power produced by the entire array. Finally, the inverter lives are extended because they each have less runtime in the master-slave system.

“Distributed Architecture combines the benefits of central and string inverters,” states Jay Troger, Nextronex Chief Executive Officer. “You get the simplicity of a central inverter system with even higher system availability than with string inverters.”

Nextronex systems are available in a factory commissioned, plug-and-play Power Podium, which includes all equipment from the combiner boxes through medium voltage AC interconnection. A full-function internet accessible monitoring system is included with the system.

Troger further noted that, “Nextronex is committed to vigorous ongoing technology development, as evidenced by our two pending patents applications. The first relates to a lower capital cost, higher efficiency integration of PV with battery storage. The second involves a technology that will help displace diesel generators with PV in situations where grid interconnection of the PV is problematical.”

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Green Charge Networks’ storage solution protects commercial and industrial customers
through “peak shaving.”

Innovative companies around the country are coming up with creative ways to store solar. Here’s a look at several that caught our eye. 

Storage system strengthens utility-customer relationships
Consumers want reliable power, and utilities want control over grid management and eased concern over energy delivery cost. Is there a way to make everyone happy? Stockton, Calif.-based Sunverge thinks it has the answer by combining distributed computing intelligence, advanced power electronics and battery storage in a solution that solar customers, utilities and electricity retailers can appreciate. Its Solar Integration System (SIS) provides a platform for utilities to harness to power of distributed energy. It does so by combining batteries, power electronics, and multiple energy inputs in a UL-certified appliance controlled by cloud-based software that monitors and controls distributed generation and stored energy. The unit monitors solar generated by an array, electricity demand, prices and battery capacity. Therefore the systems can coordinate with each other to react to storms or fluctuating wholesale electricity prices, and integrate with utilities to respond to demand. The SIS is a utility-grade product designed for the consumer market.Customers can see their virtual power plant and storage units. With investors like Siemens and partners like SunPower, Sunverge is definitely a store technology to watch.

Peak shaving prevents unpleasant surprises

Sunverge combines distributed
computing intelligence, advanced
power electronics and battery storage.

Many businesses pay for their electricity consumption according to the times they use it. So if their solar array isn’t producing power when they need it, and it’s during a time of peak demand (usually between noon and 6 p.m.) they may find they’re charged with high rates in their next bill. Green Charge Networks offers a solution to protect commercial and industrial customers through “peak shaving.” Its GreenStation energy storage units are installed on site and use lithium-ion batteries to store energy when there’s more than the customer can use and draw from it during times of high demand rates. Furthermore, it uses predictive algorithms based on utility and weather data to anticipate high demand and grid disruptions such as storms. With offices in California and New York, the company already has contracts with national chains like Walgreens and 7-Eleven, and offers great solutions for schools and cities too. It was even awarded DOE funding, so keep an eye out as it takes its business to the next level.

Greensmith’s GEMS IV software integrates with multiple battery and inverter types.

Flexible software for the best solutions
Greensmith can design and deploy systems from kilowatts to mulitmegawatts but its strength is its software. Its GEMS IV software integrates with 10 different battery types and 6 different inverters in multiple combinations, providing a neutral approach to energy storage system development. Greensmith partners with many other storage companies to provide deep control and integration expertise while allowing the flexibility to use the best battery/power conversion system combination for each project. GEMS IV is built on an openinformation architecture modeled after the “Open Automation Demand Response Standard” approved by the Department of Energy and easily integrates into any utility framework. Users have access to the software through an online web-portal interface, which allows flexibility in applications such as frequency regulation and following PV loads while retaining the ability to centrally control any or all units. The company already has offices in Maryland, Virginia and California. Watch as it continues to grow in 2015.

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What is the 2015 Top Solar Contractors list?

Solar Power World, the leading solar publication covering technology, development and installation, publishes the Top Solar Contractors list every year. The list includes hundreds of solar contractors and developers in the United States and Canada, ranked and categorized by country, state, service and market.

Who can apply for the 2015 Top Solar Contractors list?

The list includes companies that provide the following services: EPC, Development, Engineering, Construction, Electrical, Sloped Roof Installation, Solar Hot Water and Non-Profit work. Companies can do work in any market segment, including utility, commercial, residential and off-grid.

How do I apply for the 2015 Top Solar Contractors list?

Applying is easy. Click here and fill out the three-page online form. Be sure the information you submit is complete and accurate. The deadline is April 30.

When will the 2015 Top Solar Contractors list be published?

The list will appear in Solar Power World’s July issue, which subscribers will receive in late July. The list will also be published online around that time. Subscribe for the latest updates.

Where can I see previous Top Solar Contractors lists?

Previous lists are available on the Solar Power World website. Here are the lists for 2014, 2013 and 2012.

How are companies on the Top Solar Contractors list ranked?

Companies are ranked according to the capacity of projects they installed, engineered or helped construct in the previous year. Each company is ranked multiple ways: by state or province, market and service.

How is information on the Top Solar Contractors list verified for accuracy?

The Solar Power World team takes the validity of information presented on the Top Solar Contractors list seriously. We reserve the right to remove any company that appears to have misrepresented itself.

Companies that are unable to verify their work with documentation will be removed from consideration.

Solar Power World has compiled an advisory panel comprised of contractors and developers from across the country who will review the list prior to publishing.

In addition, SolarReviews.com has agreed to check applicants against its extensive database of consumer reviews, providing a check for good business practices.

What companies are on the Top Solar Contractors list advisory panel?

The following companies have volunteered to review applicants in their region for possibly erroneous information. If your company would like to be involved in the important work of the advisory panel, please e-mail Kathie Zipp at kzipp@wtwhmedia.com.

California:

Helix Electric

Palomar Solar

Rosendin Electric

Tennessee:

LightWave Solar

Ecological Energy

Florida:

SolarFit

Solar Source

Nevada:

Sierra Solar Systems

Sol-Up USA

Colorado:

E Light Wind and Solar

AES Distributed Energy (formerly Main Street Power)

Pennsylvania (Eastern) / New Jersey:

Exact Solar

Pennsylvania (Western):

Energy Independent Solutions

New Jersey:

Green Power Energy

New York:

Monolith Solar

Michigan:

Helios Solar

New Mexico:

Positive Energy Solar

North Carolina:

FLS Energy

Hawaii:

Photonworks Engineering

Arizona:

Harmon Electric

Massachusetts:

Solect Energy Development

New England Clean Energy

… and more to be announced.

Will there be a Top Solar Contractors Gala this year?

Yes. This year’s event will take place in Anaheim, California, during Solar Power International. More information will come available after the list is published.

I have a questions that wasn’t answered.

That’s OK! Send us an e-mail at topcontractors@solarpowerworldonline.com.

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