We spoke with Ed Heacox and Casey Miller of Chint Power Systems to discuss the adoption of 3-phase string inverter architecture in North America, and what Chint offers in this space.

Sponsored by: 

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Intensium Home 10 M is a 10 kWh/ 10 kW battery designed specifically for high-end residential and small commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) installations.

Saft is at Intersolar Europe to launch its Intensium Home 10 M lithium-ion (Li-ion) energy storage system that offers high performance intended for high-end residential and small commercial solar PV installations. The new system has been developed to complement Saft’s established range of Li-ion energy storage systems.  In a partnership with KACO new energy, Saft is offering the Intensium Home 10 M developed alongside KACO’s new three-phase inverter.

The Intensium Home 10 M 240 V system comprises five Li-ion modules to provide both high power capability, rated at 10 kW, with 10 kWh energy storage for home and commercial installations. This  system is ideally suited to work in partnership with KACO new energy’s blueplanet gridsave 14.0 TL3 inverter in installations up to 30 kW. This combination will help domestic and small company users boost self-consumption of their own clean energy. Producers and consumers will be able to follow their system’s performance on their smartphone.

“Together [Saft and KACO new energy] form a strong partnership that provides customers with a total package solution validated by testing in real homes. This approach smoothes the way to delivering an effective, fast-track energy storage and management solution,” said Volker Dietrich, Director of Energy Systems Technology Division, KACO new energy. “The partnership will enable Saft and KACO new energy to undertake common promotion and training, transfer of expertise and co-use of existing sales channels.”

The combination of Saft and KACO new energy’s products offers advanced energy management with the capability to operate as part of swarm-type schemes. These swarms offer the possibility of aggregating several decentralized energy storage installations to improve grid stability by helping balance supply and demand, as well as offering financially attractive ancillary services to grid operators such as frequency control. The smart energy management system enables remote control of the storage device via Internet or other communication interfaces, for example to switch from self-consumption to frequency regulation.

Swarm applications together with self-consumption, are set to play a key role in Germany’s energy transition – the “Energiewende.” Self-consumption, rather than feeding excess solar energy into the grid, is particularly attractive to the growing number of producers and consumers who are keen to take an active role in managing their energy production and usage.

In Germany in particular, the outlook for self-consumption is bright. In 2020, 29 percent of residential electricity demand and 18 percent of commercial electricity demand could be met by self-produced photovoltaic power (according to GTAI Germany Trade & Invest).

Visitors to the Saft booth at Intersolar Europe are invited to ask Saft’s experts about their growing portfolio of ‘”behind the meter” energy storage solutions ranging from the individual dwelling level with Intensium Home 4 M (4 kWh/ 7 kW) to tertiary and agricultural buildings with Intensium Smart (50 kWh/ 100 kW). They will also see megawatt solutions for diesel hybrid and large PV plants based on the containerized Intensium Max systems.

To read more about the Intensium Home 10 M system, visit Saft’s web site.

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Demand for shares in a Spokane community solar installation was so strong, sponsoring utility Inland Power and Light boosted capacity with a second array. The project’s second phase, completed in late March, added a 20 kW ground-mount array outside the utility’s main office off Interstate 90 in eastern Washington. It joins a 30 kW array that went into service last fall. The arrays include all certified “Made In Washington” solar equipment, including modules by itek Energy of Bellingham, microinverters by Blue Frog/APS of Poulsbo, and racking by SunModo of Vancouver, WA. Installation was by Brimma Solar of Seattle.

“Inland Power was great to work with for the entire project,” said John Harley, Brimma vice president.

A member-owned utility, Inland Power made units in the solar installation available to its ratepayers through a lottery.

“The project sold out immediately,” said John Francisco, chief of energy resources for Inland Power.

Unit holders will get credit for their portion of the array’s power production, along with a pro rata rebate from the state under Washington’s Renewable Energy Cost Recovery program.

Inland Power and Light serves about 39,000 residential and commercial customers in 13 counties in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Founded in 1937, it is the largest electric cooperative in Washington.

Blue Frog Solar manufactures advanced microinverters under license from APS, a global leader in solar technology. Blue Frog was recently honored by Seattle Business magazine as a top emerging manufacturer in the 2015 Washington Manufacturing Awards.

Inland Power & Light community solar, phases 1+2

Designer/Installer: Brimma Solar
Owner: Inland Power and Light (member-owned utility)
Location: Spokane, WA
Installation date: August 2014/March 2015
Capacity: 50 kW
Module type: itek 265 W and 280 W modules
No. of modules: 184
Microinverters: Blue Frog/APS YC500 MIW
No. of microinverters: 92
Racking: SunModo

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Amazon Web Services Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com company, announced it has teamed with Community Energy Inc. to support the construction and operation of an 80-MW solar farm in Accomack County, Virginia, called Amazon Solar Farm US East. This new solar farm is expected to start generating approximately 170,000 MWh of solar power annually as early as October 2016. Amazon Solar Farm US East will be the largest solar farm in the state of Virginia, with all energy generated delivered into the electrical grids that supply both current and future AWS Cloud datacenters.

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Taiyoko Sadewic, co-founder of Positive Energy Solar, and Marlene Brown, former New Mexico Solar Energy Association president, taught a group of students the intricacies of photovoltaic solar systems

New Mexico solar industry pioneers trained eager students with hands-on workshops sponsored by Solarize NM at the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice. Now, the Center is celebrating its expansion from one kilowatt (kW) to a full three kilowatts of solar energy with a sustainability reception on Friday, June 12. The public is invited to attend the celebration at the Center’s 202 Harvard Drive SE location from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Taiyoko Sadewic, co-founder of Positive Energy Solar, and Marlene Brown, former New Mexico Solar Energy Association president, have conducted a series of workshops designed to introduce students to the basics of installing photovoltaic solar systems. At the end of the series, students assisted in the 2kW expansion onsite at the Center for Peace and Justice, effectively upgrading the same system that Brown installed ten years before.

“This upgrade will cover an additional 35 percent of the Center’s energy usage,” said Sadewic. “Positive Energy Solar was able to give the equipment and permitting fees at cost to the Center, which has been an exemplary community organizer for peace since 1983. Positive Energy Solar is proud to support their mission.”

Annually, Positive Energy Solar commits more than $30,000 in labor and in-kind assistance to New Mexico non-profit organizations whose core values support environmental and social change for good. Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice secured the solar equipment and permits at cost from Positive Energy Solar after receiving a $5,000 Reduce Your Use grant from PNM. Additional technical advice and labor from Positive Energy Solar employees was “key in significantly reducing the Center’s carbon footprint” according to Brown, the project coordinator.

Solarize NM students, Positive Energy Solar employees and PNM will join the staff at the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice for the sustainability reception on Friday. Students will present their experience of installing the solar system through a short video and will be on hand for questions.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our team involved in an upgrade like this,” said Regina Wheeler, Positive Energy Solar CEO. “We want to make this happen for every non-profit organization in New Mexico who wants to reduce their carbon footprint and conduct their work supported by an environmentally friendly infrastructure.”

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KACO new energy and Ampt have partnered to offer KACO’s blueplanet 50 TL3 inverter with an option to pair with Ampt’s string optimizers. This is in an effort to increase energy production and lower costs in commercial solar projects. We spoke with Mark Kanjorski of Ampt, and Bill Reaugh of KACO new energy to find out more.

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AES Distributed Energy, a subsidiary of The AES Corporation, has announced the commissioning of a 4 megawatt (MW) solar PV project located in the town of Dublin, in the County of Laurens, Georgia. This system is the first of two solar PV projects being developed by AES Distributed Energy and its partners, collectively expected to supply 20 MW to the Georgia Power utility grid. The second, 16 MW project, is under development and is expected to be operational in the first half of 2016.

Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, will purchase 100% of the energy production from both projects from AES Distributed Energy pursuant to 20-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). These projects will be among the first utility-scale solar installations for Georgia Power.  Their development rights were awarded as part of the 2013 Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative (GPASI) solicitation for 60 MW of utility-scale solar generation.

“We are thrilled to have commissioned one of the first projects under Georgia Power’s ambitious solar energy initiative,” said Rob Masinter, COO of AES Distributed Energy.  “We are committed to providing safe, clean, reliable solar power to the Georgia Power electric grid for at least the next 20 years.”

AES Distributed Energy co-developed the projects with Inovateus Solar and MS Solar Solutions Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.  MS Solar Solutions is providing construction capital and long-term equity financing, while AES Distributed Energy will be the long-term owner and operator of both solar PV facilities.

“Georgia Power is pleased to see this solar farm coming online as part of our Advanced Solar Initiative. Here in Georgia, through a constructive regulatory approach, and strong working relationships with solar developers, one of the fastest growing and most competitive solar markets in the nation is bringing more solar to customers, without an impact on rates.” Said Ervan Hancock, Georgia Power Renewable Implementation Manager.

Gregory Electric Company is serving as primary Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor for the two projects, collectively designed with 26 MW PV capacity utilizing SolarWorld panels mounted on Array Technologies single-axis trackers.  Schneider Electric central inverters deliver the rated 20 MW power.

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An aerial photo of the Rock Solid installation in Howell Township.

Pro-Tech Energy Solutions recently completed a 9.9 MW solar installation in Howell Township, New Jersey for NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV), a subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), a Fortune 1000 company that provides natural gas and clean energy services. Converting approximately 45 acres of abandoned property into a solar power station, Pro-Tech was responsible for the design, engineering, procurement and construction of the project. The power generated by the 33,000 solar panels installed by Pro-Tech provides enough electricity to power more than 1,400 area homes.

“Pro-Tech teamed with NJR Clean Energy Ventures to convert unused land into a powerful source of electricity,” said Rich Cooper, president of Pro-Tech Energy Solutions. “Using the latest technologies, while being mindful of conservation easements and civil engineering challenges, we were able to design, engineer and build a commercial solar energy system that minimized environmental impacts and now delivers clean, affordable energy to thousands of New Jersey homes.”

Pro-Tech installed four arrays, each utilizing an Advanced Energy 2 MW Powerstation mounted on helical screws rather than a poured concrete foundation. Using an innovative steel screw-in piling and ground anchoring system, Pro-Tech was able to construct the inverter foundations quickly and efficiently, saving installation time and cost while providing additional flexibility in the field for product maintenance and updates.

Installation of the arrays also required a substantial civil engineering effort, which included significant site grading, removal of 77,000 square feet of asphalt, management of conservation easements for local wetlands and boring under NJ Transit tracks adjacent to the property to bring power from the arrays to Jersey Central Power & Light’s point of interconnection. Pro-Tech was also responsible for site restoration and beautification efforts, which included the installation of a mix of vinyl, split rail and chain link fencing, as well as the construction of 1,200 feet of new planting berms covered with a mixture of evergreens, trees and plants.

“With the Rock Solid commercial solar installation, NJR Clean Energy Ventures now has more than 100 MW of installed capacity in New Jersey, or enough clean energy to power nearly 10,500 houses annually,” said Mark Valori, director – project and asset management, NJR Clean Energy Ventures. “This project continues our track record of providing low carbon solutions to New Jersey residents.”

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Just a few years ago, critics said a lack of viable storage options hindered the expansion of solar. But a number of clever startups, innovative storage companies and battery manufacturers have offered new storage options, with impressive products hitting the market almost every week. Solar storage is plugging PV into the future.

In fact, GTM Research and the Energy Storage Association’s (ESA) U.S. Energy Storage Monitor confirms that storage technology vendors are growing their businesses and, furthermore, the downstream value chain (such as inverter manufacturers and storage system developers) is growing faster than ever. The energy storage market was worth $128 million in 2014.

In all, 61.9 MW of storage was installed in the U.S. last year, 40% more than 2013, according to the Monitor. The vast majority of these projects (90%) were in front of the meter (utility installations). The remainder were mainly on “non-residential” commercial, education, military or non-profit projects, while only 1% were on residential installations. However, storage use in all projects dramatically increased at the end of last year, which makes the Monitor’s experts note the market’s maturity and they expect it to break out in 2015.

IHS also released data in its Energy Storage in PV Report – 2014. Sam Wilkinson, research manager for solar and energy storage for IHS Technology, noted the commercial PV energy storage market in the United States has gained huge momentum in recent months. “Commercial buildings are subject to peak demand charges, which are based on the maximum power drawn from the grid during the billing period,” he said in the report’s press release. “These charges can make up a significant portion of a business’s electricity bill. However, using a battery and PV to reduce peaks in grid power consumption can reduce these costs significantly.”

It takes the right policy, regulations and whole markets to make storage viable, so the U.S. storage market is highly geographically concentrated. Residential storage has worked best in California, while utility storage has been successful in the PJM interconnection territory (which encompasses Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and parts of surrounding states). After Superstorm Sandy, the PJM region heightened its focus on energy response storage to make systems more resilient.

“I think there is just a general sense of concern when it comes to the grid, especially after Sandy,” said Josh Ross of Ross Solar Group in Connecticut. “But storage systems can be expensive. It requires a very customized approach and good talent to assess needs versus costs for each project. If costs were to decrease and technology advances, I believe more folks would opt to have a battery back-up installed.”

However, Wilkinson said incentives like the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) offered in California are making the economics of storage systems extremely attractive. The SGIP provides rebates for qualifying distributed energy systems installed on the customer’s side of the utility meter. “But there is no guarantee that electricity tariff structures won’t be adjusted, which could affect the economics of existing systems,” he added.

The Monitor also reports new opportunities are coming to light for both residential and utility storage in other states such as Oregon, Texas and New Jersey.

GTM and ESA predict that 2015 is expected to be the biggest year for storage yet, as experts anticipate 220 MW of storage deployment, more than the previous two years combined.

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Clean Solar, a Bay Area’s solar installer, has announced the expansion of its commercial solar division by expanding the service area and hiring a new Commercial Business Development Manager.

Ken Stout joins the Clean Solar Team in this new role bringing nearly a decade of solar expertise, specifically in the commercial division. As the Commercial Business Development Manager, Stout will help execute the company’s long-term growth strategy by increasing its regional installations. “It is an honor to join Clean Solar’s Commercial Division and build upon the impressive growth this company has seen in the residential solar marketplace,” stated Stout.

Clean Solar also expanded their commercial solar service area from the Bay Area residential service area (50 miles from their San Jose corporate office) further North to include the cities of Benicia, Cordelia, Rockville, Green Valley, Fairfield, Suisun City and Vacaville, California. Clean Solar already has a presence in Vallejo as they have installed commercially for the city. Stout is a native of Solano County and very familiar with the solar market in this region, “This is a great opportunity for Clean Solar to expand its commercial solar presence.”

“Providing solar for commercial businesses and non-profit organizations is going to be the norm for the solar industry well into the future, these businesses and non-profits are investing in renewable solar power for their communities. The solar ROI can be cash flow positive, with or without the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit, currently available through 2016,” assured Stout.  Clean Solar commercial installations are comprised of a variety of industries including businesses, non-profits, and government/city buildings including the Vallejo Transit Center (City of Vallejo) and the Palega Playground and Recreation Center (San Francisco).

Solar Power World

OutBack Power Technologies announced recently that it received “Washington State’s Certificate of Manufacture” for OutBack Power’s GS8048A and GS4048A inverter/chargers, verifying the company’s products as made in Washington for installers and renewable system owners that wish to qualify for state incentives. With the updated certification, OutBack Power also unveiled its partnership with itek Energy to provide complete photovoltaic (PV) systems with end-to-end, Washington-made certification.

As federal policies help reduce the cost of renewable energy systems, state-level incentives carry much of the weight for consumers’ final buying decisions. Washington solar installations are projected to triple in 2015, with residential installed system prices falling 8%, according to a recent report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

“OutBack Power’s Washington certification is the latest in the company’s long history of homegrown energy initiatives, including offering training for local installers and contractors to develop their solar skills and partnering with neighboring companies for strategic projects,” said Brandon Provalenko, director of North American sales at OutBack Power. “While the affordability of PV systems has piqued the nation’s interest, our customers’ state-level incentives can play the most important role in decisions to install solar. Through our partnership with itek, we can ensure Washington solar customers have access to every state and federal advantage.”

Clean technology, with an emphasis on solar power, is one of seven key areas for action outlined in Gov. Jay Inslee’s Executive Order 14-04 to reduce carbon pollution and improve energy independence using clean energy in Washington State. In April, Inslee acknowledged the initiatives of local governments, utilities and solar industry stakeholders from Washington and Oregon to decrease the cost of solar for homeowners and increase residential installations by nearly 200 percent since 2013. OutBack Power and itek Energy’s partnership to offer Washington-certified systems supports the state’s commitment to decrease greenhouse gas emissions while helping residents reduce their power bills.

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San Antonio-based OCI Solar Power LLC is announcing the start of construction on the 110-MW Alamo 6 solar plant located in Pecos County, Texas. Once constructed, this will be the largest solar plant in Texas and one of the largest dual-axis solar projects in the world.

The Alamo 6 plant, located on approximately 1,200 acres of private land, is part of a 400-MW project OCI Solar Power is constructing for CPS Energy, Greater San Antonio’s energy company. As part of the agreement with CPS Energy, OCI Solar Power has committed to bring over 800 long-term jobs to the San Antonio area.

“The Alamo 6 project will be built using components that are made exclusively in San Antonio,” says SH Yoon, President and CEO of OCI Solar Power. “Our agreement with CPS Energy demonstrates the economic development capacity that we bring to the communities we serve. We are excited to begin construction on what will be the largest solar plant in Texas.”

The plant will be developed, owned and operated by OCI Solar Power and will feature San Antonio-made products from the company’s affiliates, including a dual-axis tracker system from Sun Action Trackers and solar modules from Mission Solar Energy. Inverters will be supplied by KACO new energy, also located in San Antonio. OCI Solar Power has contracted with Mortenson Construction to construct the project.

“The size of these farms symbolize our commitment to solar power and renewable energy development,” says Cris Eugster, Group Executive Vice President and Chief Generation & Strategy Officer of CPS Energy. “More importantly, they highlight the innovation and technology of our New Energy Economy partners and how we work together to bring jobs and economic development to a community.”

An estimated 250 temporary jobs will be brought to the Pecos County area during the construction phase of this project. In total, there are seven worksites associated with the overall 400 MW Alamo project, with the largest being Alamo 6:

Plant Name, Capacity (MWac), Location, Status

1. Alamo 1 39.18 MW San Antonio, TX Operational
2. Alamo 2 4.4 MW Converse, TX Operational
3. Alamo 3 5.5 MW Converse, TX Operational
4. Alamo 4 37.62 MW Bracketville, TX Operational
5. Alamo 5 95 MW Uvalde, TX Under Construction
6. Alamo 6 110.2 MW Bakersfield, TX Under Construction
7. Alamo 7 106.4 MW Haskell, TX Under Development

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After a historic vote last Monday, the city of Cologne signed a contract to power up to 100% of its city facilities’ energy needs from Community Solar. The energy will be generated by over 2,700 solar panels in SunShare’s solar gardens currently under development through the Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards Community program. This is enough energy to power about 140 homes for 25 years.

The decision by the City of Cologne marks the culmination of their public process lasting about two months, including a presentation by SunShare, public meetings, and a several hour discussion among City Council members.

Not only an environmental choice but also an economic one, the City of Cologne will fix the city’s energy costs at today’s levels, protecting the city from volatile fossil fuel prices. Meanwhile, the city is promoting innovation and leadership as part of a broader goal to attract new businesses and young professionals to the community, according to Jesse Dickson, City Administrator.

“This decision creates a win-win for our community members and the City,” said Dickson. “By joining SunShare’s Solar project, the City is both doing the right thing environmentally and cutting down on our electricity costs, our taxpayer dollars can more efficiently be used for additional projects and infrastructure. Whatever we save can be put back toward the community.”

To date, the City of Cologne is the first city in the state of Minnesota to choose to source 100% its energy needs from Community Solar. About a year earlier, SunShare enrolled the first city in the nation- the City of Manitou Springs, Colorado- to power 100 percent of its city facilities with Community Solar.

In 2013 the Minnesota State legislature passed the Solar Energy Jobs Act, allowing Community Solar to be possible. Community Solar was designed to broaden citizen and community access to locally generated solar energy. Residents living in apartments, small businesses and homeowners that couldn’t afford their own systems, or large organizations without the proper roof space now have the option to choose.

“The City of Cologne has set an example for communities across Minnesota that renewable energy is a serious priority for cities,” said Ken Bradley, Director of Business Development at SunShare. “Leadership from the City of Cologne and the hundreds of citizens choosing Community Solar will drive greater adoption of renewable energy in communities in Minnesota and across the nation,” Bradley added.

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NextEra Energy Resources and Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) announced the completion of a 2.6 MW solar system on the main college campus in Dryden, New York. The system, installed on approximately 10 acres, is expected to meet 90% of the college’s electricity needs.

“We’re proud to support TC3’s goals to be more energy efficient and to save money that can be applied to programs for students,” said Matt Handel, vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources. “By putting a piece of their underutilized land to work generating clean solar energy, TC3 will receive competitively priced electricity at no up-front cost.”

The ground-mounted fixed-array system is composed of 8,676 solar modules. TC3 will purchase the electricity from the solar project over the term of a 25-year power purchase agreement. The project, which is owned and operated by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, began generating electricity in May 2015. TC3 projections anticipate first-year savings of approximately $30,000, with potential further savings through the years if traditional utility rates increase.

“We’re happy to be able to meet such a large percentage of our energy needs through this solar project,” said James Turner, director of facilities for TC3. “As a college we are committed to doing what we can to help the environment, both by our teaching and by our actions. This project, along with other energy-saving and environment-improving efforts already underway on campus, is a significant step both for the college and the entire community.”

Support for this project came from Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun initiative, which is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). NY-Sun is a $1 billion initiative to advance the scale-up of solar and move the state closer to having a sustainable, self-sufficient solar industry.

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In an effort to lead by example and further educate residential solar consumers across America, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is launching the first “SEIA Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power.”

Available online, the free guide offers those interested in solar power a one-stop shop to better understand the basics of solar energy and ownership options, and includes key questions to ask solar installers before entering a transaction. The guide is a result of a joint effort of the leading companies across the solar industry and complements SEIAs existing Code of Ethics by which all SEIA members abide.

“The ‘SEIA Residential Consumer Guide’ to Solar Power is a must read. It’s a step-by-step checklist that will help consumers seamlessly transition to clean, affordable solar energy,” said SEIA president and CEO Rhone Resch. “Consumer protection is an issue of highest priority and is vital to solar’s future growth across America.”

Today, the residential solar market is growing at a record-breaking pace. According to the newly-released U.S. Solar Market Insight report Q1 2015, the market segment increased 76% from this time last year. By 2016, industry projections forecast enough clean solar energy in the U.S. to power 8 million homes.

“Solar power provides significant benefits to you and to the environment, but make sure you do your homework before you sign up.  A little research upfront can help you get the most out of your investment over time, and the ‘SEIA Residential Consumer Guide’ to Solar Power is a simple but valuable resource to help homeowners in asking the right questions,” Vivint Solar CEO Greg Butterfield said.

One of the components of the consumer guide is a section entitled “Working out Differences” that’s devoted solely to potential problem resolution.

“The solar industry is committed to consumer protection and transparency,” said Nick Mack, general counsel at Clean Power Finance. “Solar companies rely on referrals and consistent payments for financed solar systems, so it is in our own best interest to protect consumers and provide them with a positive experience.”

The guide is only the first release in a series of efforts by SEIA, and the industry, to promote increased consumer protection across the entire solar marketplace.  In addition to the guide, free digital access is available to NREL-SEIA standardized solar contracts along with the SEIA Code of Ethics.

“Today, demand for solar is stronger than ever because consumers are realizing significant savings while promoting the use of clean, renewable power in their communities,” said SunPower CEO Tom Werner. “My best advice to those considering solar is to insist on high performance solar technology that provides a great return on your investment, and find an experienced, knowledgeable dealer to install it.”

The “SEIA Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power” will be periodically updated and complemented with additional tools as the U.S. market grows and matures, so consumers can stay informed with the latest information. To access the guide and other related consumer protection resources visit: seia.org/policy/consumer-protection.

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As much as 78% of the solar rooftop market is stymied by shading, architectural problems or lack of ownership, as is the case with people who want to go solar but live in apartment buildings. Community solar is a development concept that could solve the problem, and experts say the concept is poised to take off.

NREL says a community solar system is one that, through a voluntary program, provides power or financial benefits to, or is owned by, multiple community members.

Clean Energy Collective led the development of this 496-kW community solar array in Boulder, Colorado.

For example, an electric cooperative in Michigan built a 20.9-kW solar array and offered 20-year panel leases to residents at $425 per panel. Residents will receive a bill credit of 8.2 cents for every kWh their panel produces. They also receive the knowledge that they’re helping produce clean energy, which, for many residents, is as valuable as cash.

“Community solar is exploding,” said Todd Davidson, director of marketing at Clean Energy Collective, a leading community solar developer. The Colorado-based company has 24 MW of projects up-and-running with three times that under development. “It is a miraculous solution because of the accessibility. Anybody with an electric bill can participate.”

“Anybody,” as long as the local legislation allows it. Seven states have active community or shared solar programs, most being in New England, according to Vote Solar. Another 10 states have proposals that include shared solar in front of legislators that are stand-alone or part of larger energy packages.

Virtual net metering, a contentious subject among utilities and legislators, is an essential component of community solar, as it allows electric users who do not live on the property where the array is installed to benefit from the system.

Further signaling community solar’s market legitimacy, mega-developer First Solar recently took interest in community solar, acquiring a part of Clean Energy Collective.

“Distributed generation in the form of community solar expands the addressable market dramatically beyond the traditional residential or commercial sectors, and CEC has led the way in making that happen,” said First Solar CEO Jim Hughes in a statement.

The move was an integral part of First Solar’s distributed generation strategy, substantially strengthening the company’s entry as a solutions provider in the residential and business solar markets.

Davidson said the biggest hurdle for community solar is consumer education. With estimates of about 55 projects complete so far, it’s still a new concept. Most people don’t understand how a solar array down the street could potentially benefit them.

“It’s getting out in the market place and helping them understand that in most instances they’re going to buy panels in a community solar array—not on their roof—and they’ll receive credits on their bill,” Davidson said.

Legislative hurdles, he said, are simply “opportunities.”

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The SunSpec Alliance, along with its official media sponsor Solar Power World, has announced the lineup for the PV Finance Conference and Solar Asset Symposium, which will take place at Intersolar July 13 and 14 at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco.

Now in its fifth year, the expanded SunSpec Solar Finance Conference and Asset Management Symposium brings together expert speakers from banking, market researchers, national laboratories, leading developers, originators, financiers and standards bodies to discuss the cutting-edge topics in solar financing and storage. A mix of keynotes and panel discussions will bring together companies that are shaping commercial and industrial financing today to answer key questions: How can you be well positioned for next year’s growth and what does a next-generation energy company look like?

“Fast and disruptive growth, changing regulatory and business models, grid technology, storage and the shift of focus from Capex to Opex are shaping today’s Distributed Energy industry,” said TJ Keating, SunSpec’s Director of Development. “SunSpec has expanded its partnership with Intersolar and brought on SEFA, the Solar Energy Finance Association, to host this unique cross-cutting forum addressing PV technology, asset and finance topics to gain fresh insights needed to tackle next year’s opportunities beyond policy and securitization to increase liquidity, reduce Opex, manage the 20GW installed base and bring even more solar online.”

The lineup of over 35 speakers includes important trend setters in today’s solar finance and asset management industries. Speakers will share insight from inside Bloomberg New Energy Finance, NRG Energy, Mercatus, SunEdison, Conergy, SunRun, Vivint Solar, SolarCity, Alectris Asset Mangement, T-Rex Group, 3Megawatt, Mercatus, CentroSolar, NREL, Solichambra, Heliolytics, OneRoof Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratories, SunSpec Alliance, TUV Rheinland, Stanford University, CAL ISO, Olivine, Divident Solar, SEFA, Sungevity and many more.

Solar Power World will have follow-up coverage on key findings from the two days. Kathie Zipp, managing editor of Solar Power World, said she’s excited the magazine could play a part in bringing this important conference to the solar industry.

“SunSpec and Intersolar have assembled a very impressive list of speakers at the two day Finance and Asset Symposium,” said Zipp. “The topics are spot-on in addressing today’s top opportunities for growth. What an amazing way to kick off Intersolar week and cover the complete finance and solar asset topic.”

Day one of the event, the PV Finance Conference, is a four-part treatment of today’s solar business and finance market, with special focus on what SunSpec Alliance dubs “mega-challenges”: fast growth, changing regulatory policy, the end (or not) of tax equity, and changing business models and grid technology. Special attention will be paid to how some in the industry are turning these mega-challenges into mega-opportunities. In its fifth year, the PV Finance Conference will let panelists and participants engage with experts from banking, market research, national laboratories, leading developers, originators, financiers and standards bodies to discuss the current market and new trends in solar finance.

Topics Include:

• Next steps in solar securitizations
• Next solar finance innovations
• The cost and availability of capital and tax equity
• ITC evolution 2015 to 2018
• Emerging standards
• The role of policy and the risk premium for solar PV in major markets comprising residential, commercial and utility scale
• The impact on cost of capital of new to solar funding vehicles such as asset backed securities, Yield Co’s and bond funds
• Business model implications of regulatory policy changes across the nation
• New technology
• New ancillary services and business models enabled by smart grid developments

Day Two, on the other hand, will be a Solar Asset Symposium. The U.S. installed base of solar assets grew beyond 20 GW (SEIA Q1 2015) and much of the solar industry focus is now shifting from the gold rush stage of new assets to the development of strategies to optimize the installed base of solar assets. The Solar Asset Symposium will be a venue for expert keynote speakers from market researchers, national laboratories, world class asset operations and management providers, leading service providers, independent engineers, financiers and standards bodies to engage with panelists and participants to discuss trends shaping the market.

Topics Include:

• Best practices
• Innovations and new skills needed for solar asset management, financial services, and solar operations and management to optimize performance, financial returns, and portfolio valuation of the installed base of solar assets
• Business model implications of secondary asset sales
• New technology
• New ancillary services and business models enabled by smart grid developments and storage

In addition to Solar Power World’s media sponsorship, the conference is also being sponsored by Powerhub, Mercatus, Alectris, Ballard Sparh and Centrosolar America.

This year, SunSpec Alliance has brought on SEFA (the Solar Energy Finance Association) as an associate producer.

Conference attendees will also receive one free pass to the Intersolar exhibition and can attend the Intersolar Opening Ceremony and Evening Networking Reception on July 13. For more information and to register for this event, visit the Intersolar website.

Solar Power World

Live webinar is July 1 at 2 PM Eastern. 

Join solar mounting experts from IronRidge, EcoFasten Solar and SunModo for an hour-long discussion on best practices for mounting solar on sloped metal, asphalt shingle and tile roofs.

Attend this webinar to learn:

• Appropriate mounting methods for various types of metal roofs, including Q deck steel roofs encountered on commercial buildings and metal sheeting commonly found on barns
• How to navigate a variety of underlying structures, including wood trusses, wood skip sheeting and steel trusses
• Mounting limitations presented by different roof types
• What the IBC states about asphalt shingle roofing and how it applies to different roofing manufacturers and flashing products
• How to deal with poorly installed asphalt shingle roofs
• Best practices, code compliance and installer tips for mounting solar on tile roofs

Have your questions ready. The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session.

Register for this free webinar here.

Solar Power World