Some climates and applications ask for more strength, a wider operating temperature range and more payload to hold more, and heavier, instruments. Kipp & Zonen said its sun tracker is well suited for these more demanding circumstances. The SOLYS Gear Drive has high torque and large temperature range for the harshest climates and carrying heavy loads. Thanks to its high precision gear drive system this new sun tracker does not require maintenance, making it ideal for operation in remote locations.

A sun tracker typically holds instruments such as pyrheliometers, absolute cavity radiometers or sun photometers that must be pointed precisely at the sun by following its arc throughout the day. However, it may also carry a shading assembly to block the direct sun beam from reaching pyranometers and pyrgeometers. Our sun trackers are widely used in networks of solar monitoring stations that measure direct, diffuse and global solar radiation and thermal sky radiation, for inputs to weather forecasting, solar energy and climate models. The new SOLYS Gear Drive is the most powerful automatic sun tracker available for monitoring solar radiation.

After extensive testing Kipp & Zonen has selected a state-of-the-art reduction gear system, with integrated high load bearings, that is maintenance-free, compact, durable and highly accurate. As a result the SOLYS Gear Drive has a payload of 80 kg and over 60 Nm of torque , allowing for the use of multiple and/or heavy instruments.

The wide temperature range is achieved thanks to a high capacity internal heater. For extremely cold regions an insulated cover is available that allows operation in temperatures down to -50°C and with wind speeds up to 20 m/s. For extremely hot regions the SOLYS Gear Drive can be fitted with a sun shield. This reduces heating of the housing by direct solar insolation and extends the upper operating temperature range to +60°C.

Kipp & Zonen has developed new and smart Windows software with an attractive user interface that allows remote monitoring and logging of the tracker status, solar zenith and azimuth angles, GPS time and date, and more; through Ethernet or an isolated RS-485 port. The integrated Web Interface with Ethernet connection allows operational parameters to be viewed and set, history log files can be downloaded, and firmware can be updated.

The new SOLYS Gear Drive sun tracker combines the highest payload, the widest temperature range and the most advanced communication with smart software for real-time status information.

Solar Power World

Conergy, one of the world’s largest downstream solar companies, and Holocene Clean Energy (Holocene) announced today the financial close of a 28 megawatt portfolio of North Carolina solar projects, most recently valued at $60M USD. Conergy and Holocene arranged federal and North Carolina state tax equity investments from two prominent US banks and provided development and sponsor equity capital. The transaction marks Conergy’s focus on growing its US market share following its latest equity round, led by major utility RWE.

Holocene, of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Conergy’s U.S. team completed development of the portfolio of projects after ESA Renewables, Sunlight Partners and Community Energy initiated project development. Conergy and Holocene collaborated on a financing solution and Conergy provided engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and O&M services.

Anthony Fotopoulos, Conergy’s Regional Business Head for North America, said, “Conergy is pleased at this opportunity to bring our global development, financing, and EPC capabilities to North Carolina, and to serve as sponsor in this significant endeavor. Development partners are important to us at Conergy; we were able to capture local expertise by investing in the projects brought together by Holocene.”

“We are thrilled to bring these utility scale solar projects to North Carolina,” said Ralph Thompson, CEO of Holocene. “Thanks to the hard work of our team and our partners at Conergy, the solar farms will represent a major achievement by our companies. Developing solar projects is dependent on the team’s capabilities and balance sheet, and I am glad we were able to bring the group together.”

The solar farms are located across five locations in Eastern North Carolina. Construction began in February and will be completed in 2015. The facilities, located in Johnston, Duplin, and Franklin counties, will bring significant employment opportunity, while boosting local tax revenue without burdening existing municipal services. Duke Energy will purchase electricity generated by the systems under a 15-year agreement.

Solar Power World

Upsolar, a leading provider of solar PV modules and services, today announced the commissioning of a 152-kWp project in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City. Built in partnership with local engineering, procurement and construction firm Wide Range Mexico, the system represents Upsolar’s first commercial installation in Mexico.

Installed at the Deportivo Azcapotzalco sports center and Alameda Norte Park, the array features 608 Upsolar smart modules, optimized by Tigo Energy. The installation provides enough clean electricity to illuminate the footpaths surrounding the Deportivo and Alameda sites. Overall, the system generates energy cost savings of more than USD 77,000 each year while negating the emission of 190 tons of carbon dioxide annually.

This first-of-its-kind project for Mexico City will serve as a benchmarking standard for local governments to assess future clean energy installations on public sites. The system was approved by Azcapotzalco delegation head, Sergio Palacios, and is part of Mexico City’s larger efforts to generate 35 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2024.

“The Mexican PV market is experiencing unprecedented growth and government support, making this an exciting time for the solar industry in the country,” said Rogelio Lopez, Director of Wide Range. “Upsolar’s made-in-Mexico smart module solution proved to be the perfect fit for this project and we believe this to be the beginning of a strong collaboration between our companies.”

“With exceptional solar resources, strong environmental goals and high electricity prices, Mexico is one of the most attractive PV markets in the world,” said Stephane Dufrenne, President of Upsolar North America and CTO of Upsolar Global. “The commissioning of this project is a pivotal step in our North American operations. Our TAA compliant, made-in-Mexico modules will allow us to further expand our activities in this rapidly growing market and play a larger role in the large-scale deployment of solar across the country.”

Solar Power World

Detroit-based solar design and permitting company GreenLancer just completed a capital raise of $5 Million to close their Series B Financing on April 1, 2015.

The investment came from a syndicate of new and existing investors, and will help fuel accelerated growth for the company.

Due to that growth and rapid expansion of the team, GreenLancer has expanded their offices to the tenth floor of the Ford Building in downtown Detroit, Michigan.

GreenLancer is excited to be a part of the fast growing business community in Detroit. The move seats the team in the epicenter of the bustling central business district of downtown Detroit. It also positions GreenLancer side by side with other Detroit based companies like Quicken Loans, General Motors, and countless others who know that downtown Detroit is where you want to be to attract the best talent.

GreenLancer is currently looking for experienced software developers to join the team.

“Downtown Detroit is transforming into an explosive high-tech corridor and technology has become the cornerstone of its revival. It’s very exciting to be part of today’s generation of innovators helping to rebuild the city and breathe in new life that has been missing for decades,” said EVP Michael Sharber.

The investment and expansion was needed to keep up with the growing demand for residential solar design services throughout the nation. Favorable policies and increasing electricity rates in markets such as New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Oregon, New Mexico are driving that demand.

“We strive to be the industry’s premier choice for residential solar system designs. As we continue gaining market share, we’re ramping up investments that revolve around technology improvement, our product, and customer experience,” said CEO Zac MacVoy.

Solar Power World

KACO new energy and Ampt LLC today announced the recent deployment of projects with their solar solution that lowers the cost and increases the performance of commercial PV systems. The solution, which combines KACO new energy’s blueplanet 50 TL3 SM solar PV inverter in Ampt Mode™ with Ampt’s String Optimizers, increases the allowable number of modules per string to lower system costs while distributing MPP tracking throughout the array to increase energy production. Together, these benefits generate higher rates of return for their system owners.

Deploying this solution allows up to 20 modules (with 72 cells each) in a string, compared to 11 modules without Ampt in a 600 volt system. The longer strings lower system costs by reducing the amount of electrical balance-of-system (BOS) components and by fully loading the inverter to deliver over 50 percent more power.

The joint solution also increases the MPP tracking resolution by a factor of 20, compared to traditional designs. The higher resolution MPP tracking increases energy production and allows for the greater design flexibility that’s needed for commercial rooftops, canopies/carports and some ground mount systems.

“We’ve seen an increase in demand for solar power solutions that have more granular MPPT and provide greater system footprint utilization,” said Jurgen Krehnke, CEO of KACO new energy Americas. “Combining our inverter with Ampt’s String Optimizers improves system performance and offers the layout flexibility needed to maximize coverage ratios.”

“Our customers are realizing 1,000 volt system value using 600 volt components,” said Evan Vogel, vice president of sales and marketing at Ampt. “In addition to the cost savings, customers building commercial rooftop and carport systems are benefiting from the simplified design offered in the KACO new energy-Ampt solution.”

Recently Deployed Projects

Three projects in California, a 350 kW ground mount system and two carport installations totaling over 200 kW, selected the KACO new energy-Ampt solution over competing designs. The solution saved approximately 3 cents per watt on electrical BOS costs in each of the projects. Performance models used to finance the projects showed an increase in energy generation ranging from 2-5 percent among the three PV systems when using the KACO new energy-Ampt solution. Actual energy production since commissioning these projects has outperformed these production estimates.

In another recent project, located in Costa Rica, this new solution made project economics viable on a multiple pitch rooftop. The more granular MPP tracking mitigated mismatch losses and provided the flexibility needed to maximize the system footprint amid near and far shading obstructions.

Solar Power World

Mounting systems manufacturer Renusol has extended its MetaSole mounting solution to include the new MS+ Portrait, which is capable of fixing photovoltaic modules to roofs in portrait orientation. The innovation ensures excellent rear ventilation of the solar modules and eliminates continuous mounting rails. Moreover, pre-assembled parts and the low number of components reduce installation time as well as logistics and transportation costs.

“Depending on the roof surface available, mounting solar modules in a portrait configuration sometimes allows more panels to be fitted, enabling a greater output to be generated. It may also be preferable to install PV modules to the roof in a portrait as opposed to a landscape orientation for aesthetic reasons. This is why we have added the MS+ Portrait solution to the MetaSole product family,” reports Felix Janssen, product manager at Renusol. During the development process, the mounting systems specialist analysed 270 different types of trapezoidal sheet metal coverings by the 20 largest European manufacturers. “The MS+ Portrait is an extremely economical mounting system that can be used with all solar modules and the majority of trapezoidal sheet metal roofs. To make the work of installers as simple as possible, we have incorporated a few special features that reduce the installation time to around ten minutes per kilowatt peak (kWp).”

For example, the sealing strips are pre-assembled onto the MS+ Portrait’s mounting base, eliminating the need for installers to individually fix the strips to the roof. Furthermore, the screws can be drilled through the rail at any point, making the rail compatible with different distances between the corrugations found in metal roofs. “Rails made by other manufacturers often include holes that do not always correspond with the distance between the ribs on the trapezoidal sheet metal. This prevents the screws from being fixed properly, possibly leading to permeable areas in the roof covering,” explains Janssen. The MS+ Portrait’s mounting base, which is 39 mm in height, guarantees excellent rear ventilation of the solar modules.

The MS+ Portrait allows PV panels to be securely installed on roofs with inclinations ranging from as low as 3 degrees to as steep as 70 degrees. At just 3.0 kg per kWp, the system is extremely lightweight, making it suitable even for roofs on commercial buildings with low load-bearing capacities. The mounting material needed for 1 kWp fits into a shoe box, saving both logistics and transportation costs.

Like all Renusol products, the MS+ Portrait has a well-thought-through yet simple design and is compatible with other Renusol components. It can be used, for example with the new RS1 universal clamp, which combines the middle and end clamp into a single clamp, making planning, ordering materials and mounting even easier for installers.

Solar Power World

Jamie Evans, Managing Director and Head of U.S. Eco Solutions for Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Compan

Financing a solar energy project can be a fragmented process full of complex, tax-driven financial structures and multiple layers of development.

Traditional solar financing models require a new third-party vendor at each phase. From the start, facility directors, developers and sustainability officials must engage with one firm for concept, one for design, another for financing and the list goes on. This can lead solar projects to become disjointed and inefficient, resulting in cost increases, missed deadlines, and frustration.

It’s not just the residential segment which sees financing struggles. Financing and monetizing solar projects can be especially difficult for small organizations and businesses with short operating histories. Financial structures are complicated and many companies lack the greater understanding of monetizing tax credits and depreciation benefits needed in a post-Section 1603 Federal Grant Program environment. In addition, while Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) have grown in popularity, the challenges associated with negotiating, structuring and financing these deals, particularly with numerous parties, can frustrate potential customers—and contractors—and make the transaction cost prohibitive. Contractors alone don’t always have the financial expertise to help guide these customers through.

A shoulder to lean on
There’s a new model taking hold to streamline the process of going solar, making it easier for all parties involved. Companies who may be experts in one area are partnering with solar businesses in multiple disciplines so together they can be a one-stop-shop for customers. This is the approach Panasonic is taking as it combines its expertise with partnerships to also offer project development, engineering, financing, construction and long-term service and maintenance services.

This integrated model can enable offering a variety of financing options that eliminate the need for upfront capital outlays and simplifies solar through a structured, standard set of contracts. It can also mitigate project delivery risk for a more efficient and cost-effective solution that ensures attractive and reliable benefits.

Considering teaming-up
These one-stop-shops are looking to partner with developers, EPCs, installers and other solar contractors. When considering joining forces with an end-to-end solution provider, contractors should look for companies that have years of strong experience, a global portfolio of projects and products, leading experts and financial strength. Each provider will have different terms and conditions to the partnership so it’s important to understand these before signing on as well. In turn, these providers are looking for reliable, dependable partners who have a strong project portfolio. They want to ensure the can deliver a quality project, on time and on budget.

Reaping the benefits
By joining this model, contractors are able to secure new customers that were previously hesitant to go solar due to the traditional, fragmented process of working with a different third party each step of the way. Joining forces helps streamline the project, ensuring it is efficient and cost-effective for everyone involved.

By Jamie Evans, Managing Director and Head of U.S. Eco Solutions for Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company

Solar Power World

Strathcona Solar Initiative, a full service integrator in Southeastern Ontario, was recently honored with the 2015 Urban Initiatives Award by the non-profit group SWITCH Ontario. Presented at the organization’s annual Green Profit Conference in Kingston, the award recognizes members who excel at enabling urban communities to commit to their renewable energy goals and integrate sustainable energy technologies into the region.

SWITCH Ontario Executive Director Tyson Champagne presents the Urban Initiatives Award to Strathcona Solar Initiatives’ Andrew Jones at the 2015
Green Profit Conference in Kingston, Ontario. Photo Courtesy of SWITCHOntario.

Since its founding in 2009, Strathcona Solar Initiatives has designed, engineered and installed thousands of kilowatts of high-yielding solar trackers, rooftop solar applications, as well as ground-mount PV installations throughout Ontario. With its focus as a full-service provider, the company has helped hundreds of home and business owners and municipalities by conducting site evaluations regarding the feasibility of solar energy, completed the application process for FiT and micro-FiT projects, and continues to monitor and maintain the panels after installation for optimal energy production.

“Strathcona Solar Initiatives is a SWITCH Member that has shown that renewable energy is not just the right choice for the environment and a more sustainable future, but also the right choice for creating jobs and spurring economic development in Southeastern Ontario,” said SWITCH Executive Director Tyson Champagne. “The company is a perfect match for the criteria of the Urban Initiatives Award and SWITCH looks forward to continuing to support the company as it grows.”

The fast growing demand for reliable and high-yielding photovoltaic installations and energy systems has prompted the company to launch an international holding group last fall. As a highly diversified enterprise, the Strathcona Energy Group specializes in vertically integrated solar energy products and services, ranging from manufacturing and assembly, to sales and installation, and financing and after-sales services across North America.

In October 2014, Strathcona Solar Initiatives also opened a new 60,000 square feet manufacturing plant in Napanee which employs around 50 workers producing a ground-breaking new type of solar module for national export as well as global distribution. Recently the company also acquired the 300,000 square foot Nortel building in Belleville which will enable to group to expand its state-of-the-art manufacturing capacity even further, creating about 120 jobs beginning in the later part of 2015.

“The support of Switch Ontario has been a huge help for us from the very start,” says Karl Hollett, the CEO of Strathcona Solar Initiatives and its parent company Strathcona Energy International. “It has provided us with an established, high-profile network of likeminded experts in the sustainability landscape and has played a tremendous role in the widespread acceptance for solar energy in Ontario. While I thank you wholeheartedly for honoring us with the Urban Initiatives Award, I also want to thank you for all your work and dedication to enable Ontario to switch to renewable energies.”

Solar Power World

Nexamp has completed a 168-kW rooftop solar project for Circle Furniture in Acton, Massachusetts. A key piece of the popular retailer’s sustainability practice, the solar installation will cover 100% of the energy used at Circle Furniture’s Acton warehouse with additional capacity powering its store in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Circle Furniture is a founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, a non-profit coalition created to promote sustainable practices among manufacturers, retailers and consumers. With its switch to solar power, Circle Furniture helps to reduce the same amount of CO2 emissions as 124 acres of US forest in one year, while simultaneously insulating its business from electricity price fluctuations.

“Circle Furniture’s mission is to provide beautiful, quality, and sustainably made home furnishings to our customers. The solar project greatly aligned with that goal,” said Jessica Tubman, Director of Business Development for Circle Furniture. “It’s a tangible expression that our business is continually taking steps to be part of the greater environmental, social and economic solution. Nexamp made the entire process easy and also demonstrated to us that adopting clean and sustainable solar power made great business sense. Additionally, Nexamp’s focus is here in Massachusetts so we know, like us, they are committed to supporting and working with our local communities.”

According to Nexamp CEO Zaid Ashai, “Innovative and progressive companies like Circle Furniture think through the impact of every aspect of their business and actively seek ways to improve that impact for the near and long-term. Circle Furniture stands for quality furnishings that last and take care of our environment, so the integration of solar power into their business is a natural fit.”

Project Details
Racking: PanelClaw
Panel: Yingli Solar
Inverter: Solectria Renewables
Monitoring provider: DECK

Solar Power World

KB Racking and A1 Solar Power have completed their first co-rooftop project: a non-penetrating rooftop solar system in the state of California.

The project is located on the coast of Corte Madera, just north of San Francisco. The system was installed using EkonoRack 2.0, an aerodynamic mounting solution designed for simplicity and rapid installation. EkonoRack 2.0’s modular design and KB Racking’s custom engineering allowed the system to be installed a few feet from the coast, without the use of seismic anchors.

“Most parts of California have stringent seismic restrictions set forth by the Structural Engineers Association of California. Our engineering team prepared a custom layout and engineering calculations to ensure that the system adhered to the seismic displacement requirements in the area. We are pleased to have our first non-penetrating system up and running in California and look forward to many more in the coming year,” said Alex Taillon, head of engineering at KB Racking.

Solar Power World

The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released an updated proposal that will establish an international quality standard for photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing. The document is intended for immediate use by PV manufacturers when producing modules on an industrial scale so they can increase investor, utility, and consumer confidence in PV system performance.

“Our recent research on 50,000 systems found that, during the time period we studied, just 0.1% of all PV systems were affected by damaged or underperforming modules and less than 1% experienced hardware problems each year,” said Sarah Kurtz, one of eight authors of the technical report and a research fellow at NREL who manages the PV Reliability and Systems Engineering Group. “Even so, with manufacturers feeling pressure to lower prices, it is essential that quality be maintained and assured. The new guidelines help to ensure that quality is not compromised for lower priced modules and make it easier for PV customers to assess the expected quality.”

NREL has worked with industry partners in the United States, such as SunPower and First Solar, and international colleagues in Japan, Europe, and China to develop PV-specific quality management standards to supplement the existing ISO-9001 in the application of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 61215.

The new technical report, titled Updated Proposal for a Guide for Quality Management Systems for PV Manufacturing: Supplemental Requirements to ISO 9001-2008, provides PV manufacturers the opportunity to begin to use the specification proposed for release in Technical Specification IEC/TS 62941, “Guideline for increased confidence in PV module design qualification and type approval.” Technical Specification IEC/TS 62941, which is to be finalized in late 2015, will describe aspects of the quality management system that need to be in place when producing modules on an industrial scale.

With PV customers worldwide now investing in PV to the tune of about $100 billion annually, the international solar community is driven to maintain the quality of that investment. To this end, NREL, along with other international groups, has spearheaded the International PV Module Quality Assurance Task Force (PVQAT) to establish guidelines dealing with:

• How to test PV modules for adequate durability for the chosen climate zone and mounting configuration,
• How to ensure consistent manufacturing of the durable design, and
• How to ensure that the final system is fully functional.

The PVQAT effort is closely coordinated with the IEC, which uses an international consensus process to refine and define the final documents. PVQAT’s Task Group 1 developed the first draft of the proposed PV manufacturing specification, which was published in 2013. The technical report announced today represents an update to the previous version, and includes progress made between 2013 and early 2015. Key requirements for manufacturers in the new specification include:

• Focus on the manufacturer’s control of the PV module’s design to align the expected lifetime with its relationship to the manufacturer’s warranty.
• A requirement to improve product traceability through the entire supply chain to enact positive control of the product for recalls and warranty claims.
• A requirement to maintain calibration of the instruments needed to assign the PV module power rating within the stated uncertainty.

The community is encouraged to use this approach to verify the robustness of their and their vendors’ quality management systems and to provide feedback to PVQAT and to IEC before the international standards process is completed. For more information, see the NREL News feature, Assuring Solar Modules Will Last for Decades.

Solar Power World

Houghton College today announces the completion of its 2.5-MW on-site solar energy installation, which is currently the largest on a college campus in New York State. The array will provide enough energy to meet more than half of the school’s electricity needs, significantly reduce its energy costs and have a long-lasting positive environmental impact.

The system will generate an estimated 3.15 million kilowatt hours of electricity in its first year of operation—the equivalent amount of energy needed to power 370 homes annually—and will allow the college to realize a 23 percent first-year greenhouse gas reduction and save up to $4.3 million during the 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) contract period.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place today at the site of the solar array park — located at the Houghton College Field of Dreams — to celebrate the completion of the system. Special guest attendees and speakers included Houghton College President Shirley Mullen, Director of the NY-Sun program David Sandbank, other representatives from Houghton College, state and local officials, Borrego Solar, General Energy Solutions and WGL Energy.

“The solar project reflects both Houghton College’s commitment to renewable energy and our commitment to form creative partnerships for the greater good of our region,” said Shirley Mullen, president of Houghton College.

The project was designed and built by Borrego Solar Systems Inc., a designer, developer and installer of grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems, and financed by WGL Energy, through a PPA that covered all upfront costs. General Energy Solutions, which provided the 8,568 plus solar panels for the project, was the initial owner of the system, but introduced WGL Energy to the project and subsequently sold it to WGL Energy.

“With this solar installation, Houghton College has taken a leadership role in sustainability in the education space,” said Amy McDonough, senior project developer at Borrego Solar. “We commend Houghton for working with Borrego Solar, WGL Energy and General Energy Solutions to take advantage of available financing, technology and New York’s net metering policies to secure the long-term economic and environmental benefits that solar can provide for schools statewide.”

The new solar facility will allow Houghton to replace a significant amount of fossil fuel-generated electricity with renewable energy. This translates into cleaner air and water, fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and a healthier climate for future generations. The installation will offset 2,000 metric tons of CO2 annually, which is the equivalent of taking 421 cars off the road or the amount of carbon sequestered by 1,639 acres of U.S. forests each year.

“We commend Houghton College for reducing the institution’s carbon impact while stimulating growth in the solar energy industry,” said Sanjiv Mahan, chief operating officer of WGL Energy. “We look forward to completing more projects throughout New York with our diversified offerings across the energy spectrum.”

The project has been made possible in part by New York’s solar policies, which have supported rapid development through incentives, supportive permitting procedures and other programs to get more solar deployed. This past spring, the State’s NY-Sun initiative awarded $46 million for large-scale solar energy projects through the NY-Sun Competitive PV Program administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Houghton College continues to remain committed to environmental conservation through both institutional application and through education. The college recently hosted lectures by Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, one of the nation’s foremost climate experts who was named one of Time Magazine’s 2014 One Hundred Most Influential People in the World.

Solar Power World

Folsom Labs, the San Francisco-based developer of HelioScope, has raised a $1MM round of funding from leading industry executives. The capital will be used to expand HelioScope to become a full end-to-end solar software solution, from initial customer lead to final close.

“HelioScope is already a phenomenal PV design tool, and we have the opportunity to extend it further, from refining residential functionality to generating permitting documents – and all steps in between. Even though we are profitable and growing rapidly, our customers are ready for that complete solution,” said Paul Gibbs, CEO of Folsom Labs. “This group of highly strategic investors will really help accelerate that vision.”

The round was led by Sheldon Kimber, Principal at Kokosing Capital, and formerly the COO of Recurrent Energy. It includes a number of solar industry veterans, including Tim Ball (founder of REC Solar and board member of SunRun), and Fred Kittler of Firelake Capital.

“The solar industry doesn’t need a new semiconductor technology – it needs tools like HelioScope that help installers design, deploy and finance projects more efficiently. Few understand this as well as the Folsom Labs team,” said Kimber. “Folsom Labs started by attacking the most valuable problem – system design and energy calculations – and are now uniquely position to become a true end-to-end solution for solar developers.”

“By raising when we didn’t need the money, we were able to be very selective about the investors we wanted to work with – and ended up with a group of investors that include the most experienced executives in the solar industry,” said Paul Grana, co-founder of Folsom Labs and Head of Sales & Marketing. “Our investors make sure we are tuned in with where the industry is going on a 5- to 15-year horizon, and help us manage our growth opportunities effectively.”

HelioScope has gained widespread adoption across residential and commercial solar developers and EPCs. Customers include REC Solar, SunEdison, NRG, Rosendin Electric, GE Power & Water, and Borrego Solar – plus hundreds of small and medium-sized developers and installers.

“HelioScope has become essential to the way we run our business,” said Jay Miller, Director of Engineering at groSolar. “The software has transformed our pre-sales process, helping us cut our customer turnaround time in half. It then enables me to do powerful value-engineering – and then integrates seamlessly with the rest of our processes.”

Chris Anderson, CTO of Borrego Solar summarized the value of an expanded offering from Folsom Labs: “We’ve already adopted HelioScope across the prospecting stage of our business, dramatically reducing our turnaround time,” said Chris, “with this expanded offering, we will be able to adopt HelioScope throughout our end-to-end process, enabling us to leverage the labor savings even further.

“The Folsom Labs team has a proven track record of being responsive to customers and delivering improvements that really make a difference,” Anderson added. “We couldn’t be happier to be a HelioScope customer, and can’t wait to see what is in store next.”

Solar Power World

When Acushnet Alternative Heating, a Massachusetts-based provider of solar solutions, was seeking a more practical, cost-effective option for mounting solar panels, owner and founder Luke Niemic decided to give Roof Tech a try. Niemic takes great pride in his work: he has a staff of 11 yet he still personally oversees every phase of each project. “I am always looking for newer, better products,” explained Niemic. “I have never liked rails because they are so bulky and time-consuming to work with.” After trying nearly every other rail-less product on the market, Niemic found RT-[E] Mount AIR and gave Roof Tech a call.

Forty panels on an 11.2kw job: Installed in half the time with RT-[E] Mount AIR.

RT-[E] Mount AIR is Roof Tech’s all-in-one rail-less mounting system that provides three inches of clearance above the roof surface. Acushnet installed its first job using RT-[E] Mount AIR in January 2015 in the midst of winter storm Juno, during one of the coldest winters in Massachusetts history. “The job went so fast with RT-[E] Mount AIR,” said Niemic. “With just two installers on the roof, we completed a 40-panel, 11.2kw job in a single day. That’s half the time the same job would have taken using rails.” Niemic was impressed by the ease of use and quick results of RT-[E] Mount AIR. “Instead of lifting every shingle to slip the flashing underneath, you simply grab the sheathing to attach the bracket,” he said. Niemic noted that other rail-less products have fasteners on one side only, while RT-[E] Mount AIR has fasteners on both sides to produce a lock-tight, weatherproof seal.

Easier on the roof and easier on the eyes: A winning combination.

Since that first job, Acushnet has used RT-[E] Mount AIR on more than 40 residential projects. In a geographic market where severe winter weather can wreak havoc on rooftop solar panel installations, Niemic found RT-[E] Mount AIR to be a perfect fit. “With railed systems, installers can easily hit a rafter with a lag bolt and cause a split that compromises the integrity of the roof,” he explained. “But RT-[E] Mount AIR locks down tight on all sides. And its lightweight design makes it ideal for our region where winter snow and ice can add so much extra weight to the roof.” Niemic is particularly pleased with the esthetics of RT-[E] Mount AIR. “Our customers absolutely love it,” he said. “The look is so streamlined and clean, without the unsightly bolts and rails of traditional mounting systems.”

With a 39% increase in electrical costs in a single year, a market poised to go solar.

Niemic’s customers are understandably eager to convert to solar. He noted that in 2014, there was a 39 percent increase in electrical costs for the national grid, and a 37 percent increase in electrical costs in Massachusetts alone. “Costs are skyrocketing, so solar has really taken off in our market,” said Niemic. “We anticipate installing 2 megawatts of just residential by the end of 2015, and are moving toward our goal of completing 30 installs a month.”

Superior customer service makes Roof Tech a standout in the solar industry.

After more than 10 years working with other solar providers, Niemic was impressed by Roof Tech’s responsive customer service. “I can call Roof Tech any time and they pick up the phone personally,” he said. “I’ve never had that level of access with any other company. Instead of being put on hold, I get the answers I need immediately from people who know their products inside and out, so I can move forward with my jobs.” Niemic understands that people can be reluctant to try out such an innovative new product, but as he said, “Once you see and use RT-[E] Mount AIR for yourself, you’ll be sold.”

Solar Power World

Around the world, researchers are busy working on ways to improve the efficiency of silicon solar cells. Their latest trick? “Pimp” the glass plate that protects the solar cell with a thin-film solar cell made of perovskite. As a result, they expect to achieve an efficiency of 30%.

Silicon solar cells are just too good

For years, two technologies have existed next to each other: silicon solar cells (Si) and thin-film solar cells such as CIGS, CdTe and perovskites (a calcium titanium oxide mineral). Si-cells have the advantage of higher efficiency, while thin-film cells are less expensive. Although not an issue at module level, the lower efficiency of thin-film technology is still problematic at a system level. It was expected that thin-film solar cells would eventually catch up to their silicon counterparts through lower cost per unit of energy generated. However, it now seems that for the next decade at least, this is likely to be limited to a few specific markets. Silicon solar cells are just too good—they are achieving ever higher efficiencies and costs are getting lower because of the large factories where they are produced. This does not mean that thin-film solar cells will not be important in the future. They are, for example, ideally suited for use in building components such as windows, railings, roof tiles, etc. These building integrated PV (BIPV) applications promise to be the best way to achieve climate-neutral buildings.

Figure 1: The efficiency of silicon solar cells can be increased by adding a thin-film solar cell on top. This stack only makes sense when using thin-film solar cells with a high open circuit voltage.

And thin-film solar cells are also going to cause another disruption, namely by giving silicon solar cells an extra boost in conversion efficiency.

From 27% to 30% conversion efficiency

The maximum conversion efficiency of silicon solar cells is estimated to be 26 to 27%. Combining a silicon solar cell with a thin-film solar cell can increase this to 30%. The idea is to stack the two solar cells—the thin-film solar cell sits on top and uses all light except red and infrared light. The latter frequencies are used by the underlying silicon solar cell (Figure 1). If a thin-film solar cell is used with a higher open circuit voltage than Silicon (more than 760 mV (millivolts)) the stacked solar cell will have a higher efficiency than the silicon solar cell alone.

Figure 2: Thin-film solar cells and silicon solar cells can be stacked in two ways. In the “4-terminal stacked” concept, the thin-film solar cell is grown on a glass plate which is then inversely glued to the silicon solar cell. In the “2-terminal tandem” concept, the thin-film solar cell is grown on top of the silicon solar cell.

Researchers from imec have developed two ways to stack the solar cells (Figure 2). The first concept is the “4-terminal stacked” solar cell. This approach relies very strongly on the way silicon solar cells are made today: a glass plate is bonded to the silicon cell with adhesive. Only this time, it is not an ordinary glass sheet but is instead coated with a thin-film solar cell. As both solar cells are electrically isolated from each other, four contacts are therefore required.

The second concept is the “2-terminal tandem” concept. Here, the thin-film solar cell is directly grown on the Si solar cell. They thus form a single structure through which the charge flows.

A 4- terminal stacked solar cell with perovskite and silicon cells

Thin-film solar cells based on perovskites are a logical choice to test the two stacked concepts. Perovskite solar cells not only promise a high efficiency, but their open circuit voltage can go above 1 volt.

The imec researchers’ initial results are very promising. Although they only started working with perovskite solar cells relatively recently, they have already gained a lot of expertise in stacking cells and creating highly efficient silicon solar cells.

Figure 3: The benefit of perovskite solar cells is that you can tune the bandgap by adjusting the amount of bromine. In this way, you can make a solar cell with a bandgap of around 1.8 eV, which, according to calculations, gives the best combination with a silicon solar cell (if you want to achieve an efficiency higher than that of the silicon solar cell alone).

The researchers calculated that the stacked solar cell would perform best if the thin-film solar cell would have a bandgap of about 1.8 eV (electron volt). The advantage of perovskite solar cells is that the bandgap can be tuned by adjusting the amount of bromine in the material. This allows the bandgap to be varied between 1.55 eV and 2.3 eV (Figure 3).

A perovskite cell was thus made with a bandgap of 1.8 eV. The efficiency of this cell is 9%. Further improvements are still needed to increase efficiency to 16%. This would be necessary to create a stack with 27.5% conversion efficiency. The contact materials also need to be further optimized to increase the efficiency of the stacked solar cell. But everything indicates that this is the way to give silicon solar cells the extra boost that our planet needs.

This article was written by David Cheyns, principal scientist of thin-film solar cells at imec.

Solar Power World

On Earth Day, SolarCity announced that it has activated a fund including an investment from Credit Suisse that is expected to finance more than $1 billion in commercial solar energy systems—including battery storage systems—for businesses, schools and government organizations across the United States.

SolarCity and Credit Suisse finalized the deal in February and began funding the first projects in late March. The fund—believed to be the largest of its kind—is expected to finance more than 300 megawatts of new commercial solar projects over the next two years. It is the latest in a series of collaborations between SolarCity and Credit Suisse—the financial services leader has previously acted as structuring agent and bookrunner for SolarCity’s industry-first securitization transactions, and also as structuring agent and administrative agent for the facility to finance the purchase of solar energy systems through SolarCity’s new MyPower loan program.

“We’re thrilled to support SolarCity’s mission to bring clean, affordable solar energy to businesses across the United States,” said Jerry Smith, a Managing Director at Credit Suisse. “The fund will help more businesses, schools and government organizations save money and help the environment – it’s a win-win scenario. We’re proud to support this progress with our investment.”

The fund was created to finance projects that utilize new SolarCity technologies that make it possible for more businesses and non-profit organizations to pay less for solar electricity than they pay for utility power. These include ZS Peak, a mounting system that can allow SolarCity to reduce commercial project build time from multiple weeks to just a few days, and DemandLogic, an intelligent battery storage system that allows businesses to further reduce energy costs by using stored electricity to reduce peak demand and associated utility demand charges.

“Continuing technology improvements, cost reductions and strong financing support from partners like Credit Suisse are making solar economically attractive to a growing number of businesses across the U.S.,” said Brad Buss, SolarCity’s Chief Financial Officer. “SolarCity has installed more than 1,800 commercial solar projects in 21 states—and we’ve barely scratched the surface of the addressable market.”

SolarCity installed more commercial solar capacity in the U.S. than any other provider in 2014, according to GTM Research’s most recent U.S. PV Leaderboard.

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Photo: Baja Construction

The Washington Post raved about the benefits of solar carports earlier this year. It said aesthetics, environmental benefits and ability to use a paved area – rather than green land – to create energy are reasons why the carport market is increasing in size, despite added costs.

The annual installed capacity of carports tripled from just shy of 50 MW in 2010 to 157 MW in 2013, according to GTM Research, and is expected to hit 318 MW in 2016. The growth is in line with the rest of the solar industry. And while solar canopies and carports are more expensive – the increased material, engineering and labor adding to the bottom line – they possess a distinct advantage over rooftop systems that drives their success: people can see them.

“Solar carports scream, ‘We’re green!’” said Mike Stevens, a sales executive with Ohio-based Dovetail Solar and Wind. The company is finishing a 335-kW solar canopy on a car dealership along a main road in Cleveland. More than 100 cars will fit under the canopy, protected from summer sun and winter snow, letting people can shop comfortably under an alluring and brightly lit green-energy canopy.

“Public perception aids tremendously to the sale of solar carports,” said John Sarantakes, executive vice president of business development at Texas-based Meridian Solar. “Positive public perception is a draw proving demand is there, justifying the investment.”

The carport market resides largely in the commercial, government and educational spaces. School parking lots outfitted with solar carports proved to be a boon for the business in 2012, providing nearly half of the projects, and in 2013, contributing 39%, according to GTM. California has been the main state for carport installations, followed by New Jersey and Arizona.

As for how contractors could best take part in the market, coordinating with construction companies early on in the process is one way.

“There are considerable cost savings when carport foundations and electrical raceways are installed during the process of constructing new buildings,” said Bennett Ford, senior engineer at Meridian Solar. “As developers and architects become familiar with PV energy systems, they are increasingly engaging with PV design professionals early enough in the development process to incur those savings.”

Solar Power World

Photo: Unirac

One mounting company challenged passers-by at a recent tradeshow: “How fast can you build our racking system?” Other companies built systems for attendees, with speed and determination, on mock rooftops. And time lapse videos, showing a whole array going up before sundown, are almost a booth staple, like free pens and candy.

Come tradeshow season, marketing departments develop many ways to prove, or suggest, that their mounting system installs faster than the rest. The swiftness of mounting installation has been a key selling point for manufacturers for some time.

Of course, it would defy physics if every system was the fastest to install. Yet the stakes have been raised. Pressure from financiers to bring down costs and deliver a project on-time and on-budget is changing how systems are built. Robust systems are simplified for ease of installation as much as cost.

Manufacturers touting systems with “just three components,” or a similar message, are actually commenting on the time it takes to install it.

For a large roof-mount array, logistics (specifically, how many pieces laborers must sift through to build a rack) can be as important as the product itself. One major mounting manufacturer even guarantees the time required to install its flat roof products for all first-time partners.

“It’d be interesting to have a run-off—maybe three racking suppliers building their product out in a field and compare times, which would validate folks’ claims, but I don’t know if that’s something that is achievable,” said Thomas Meola, president and CEO of Solar FlexRack.

Indeed, an authoritative source for how long systems take to build is missing. To fill the gap, some mounting manufacturers have enlisted third-party testing labs, such as DNV GL or Industrial Timestudy Institute, to perform detailed installation analysis, including time-to-completion, of mounting systems.

“Having a clear understanding of time required and cost associated with commercial flat roof installations is vital when it comes to accurate project timing,” said Marcelo Gomez, marketing director at Unirac. “Offering information up front allows people to not inflate numbers, such as lowering total installed cost and erroneously making the project more attractive to developers.”

Inaccuracy in the solar industry is a death knell, and having verified, unbiased information about the installation of a particular system is important. Time studies also offer information to the manufacturer about how a system came together, which can spur product improvements.

But not everyone is sold about the validity of time studies. One manufacturer called time studies simply “marketing.” No two studies are created alike, and conditions at an actual installation site can vary widely.

Solar contractors need to take any information they receive from manufacturers and do their own research to understand how best to use provided data—or whether to use it at all.

Solar Power World

Mississippi Power is partnering with two solar businesses and the U.S. Navy to build utility-scale solar electric generating farms at two different locations in the company’s service territory. With a combined total of approximately 53 MW, together these projects would represent the largest solar installations in Mississippi.

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Applied Energy Technologies (AET) a supplier of commercial and utility-scale racking systems, has received orders for more than 35 MW of its Rayport ECO solar mounting systems in the first quarter of 2015. These orders include both rooftop and ground mount solutions ordered by leading industry EPCs and developers for solar projects in over 15 states.

In addition, AET has expanded its coverage in the U.S. and can now ship a larger percentage of its Rayport-G ECO ground mount system from California. AET also ships systems from Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. Its expansion into California dramatically reduces shipping time and cost for projects located in the West and the Southwest regions of the U.S.

“Our ECO line of racking systems is quickly becoming the preferred solution for EPCs and developers. The activity we are seeing in the first few months of the year is indicative of the industry’s need for high-quality racking solutions at a cost competitive price point,” said Aaron Faust, VP of Business Development at AET. “Many of these orders are from repeat customers that have come to rely on AET’s top quality mounting solutions and installation services to ensure their solar projects are bankable. In order to meet their need, we made the strategic decision to expand into California.”

AET’s Rayport ECO product portfolio includes both rooftop and ground mount solutions. Customers are able to save money and installation time with AET’s ECO line of high quality solar mounting solutions. They are lightweight, durable and cost-effective, and are made of fully galvanized steel.

The Rayport-B ECO roof ballast system has one common bolt for all joints and has panel clamps with integrated grounding. It is wind tunnel tested and UL 2703 listed. The Rayport-B ECO system fits all major solar modules on the market and is available in a variety of panel configurations. The Rayport-B ECO ships folded, significantly increasing packing density and reducing shipping costs.

The Rayport- G ECO ground mount system is strong and durable, having been engineered to withstand the most challenging environmental conditions. It is UL 2703 listed. It is also light and compact, allowing for high shipping density, significantly reducing freight costs and enabling easier handling on the job site. The Rayport-G ECO fits all major solar modules available on the market today and is available in a variety of panel configurations.

AET designs its solar mounting solutions to be functional, lightweight, durable, strong, easy-to-install and cost-effective. AET’s team of engineers is in constant pursuit of delivering innovative, high quality solutions to meet the needs of solar racking customers. AET’s racking products are designed to save valuable installation time, help minimize installation-related maintenance issues and work within developer and EPC budgets.

Solar Power World