An artist’s rendering of SURE HOUSE, a design that will merge inherently efficient indoor/outdoor rooms and an open floor plan of the quintessential 60’s style modern beach cottage with state of the art building science, the latest renewable energy technologies, and fiber-composite materials repurposed from the boat building industry.

Moxa will sponsor Stevens Institute of Technology as it competes in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2015, an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive.

Moxa will provide its industrial hardened networking equipment to Stevens Institute of Technology students as they build their entry, SURE HOUSE, a sustainable, resilient house for coastal communities engineered in response to the 2012 Hurricane Sandy tragedy that took the lives of 158 people and caused more than $65 billion in damage. For example, SURE HOUSE will sit on a bed of pilotis (ground-level supporting columns) to slightly elevate it out of reach of flooding, plus have durable flood-shielding incorporated into the outer layers of the house to create a waterproof shell.

Jim Toepper, Moxa’s Business Development Manager for the Power Market, commented, “We are excited to lend Moxa expertise to this critically important project. We recognize SURE HOUSE is not just a contest entry for Stevens students but a demonstration showing future generations of innovators how to build in a world affected by a changing climate, and a chance for them to do their part to help the New Jersey Shore bounce back from the damaging effects of Hurricane Sandy.”

AJ Elliott, graduate student in the Product Architecture Engineering program at Stevens said, “We have a computer science senior design team designing a very in-depth home monitoring system using Moxa equipment. With this system we are monitoring our branch circuit power consumption and numerous indoor and outdoor environmental data points. This data is critical to verifying our home’s performance as well as measuring how the house holds up during weather events and power outages. We wanted the system to be as low-power consumption as possible since for the Solar Decathlon competition there are rigorous energy limitations. Given the large scope of what we are doing compared to a conventional home monitoring system, we really needed to turn to Moxa products engineered for use in the industrial controls world.”

Once built, SURE HOUSE will merge inherently efficient indoor/outdoor rooms and an open floor plan of the quintessential 60’s style modern beach cottage with state of the art building science, the latest renewable energy technologies, and fiber-composite materials repurposed from the boat building industry. The result is a home armored against extreme weather that uses 90% less energy than its conventional cousins, powers itself through clean solar energy, and in the aftermath of a storm becomes a hub for emergency power to the neighborhood.

As part of its sponsorship, Moxa contributed critical elements that will assist the project in achieving its goals of being fully solar powered and storm resistant. A Moxa UC-8100 wireless computer with LTE module and an EDS series network switch provide a low-power solution for cellular network connectivity, datalogger queries, database logging, and HTML page hosting. The UC-8100 is Verizon LTE-certified and is currently available for purchase and testing through a starter kit program.

Solar Power World

An artist’s rendering of SURE HOUSE, a design that will merge inherently efficient indoor/outdoor rooms and an open floor plan of the quintessential 60’s style modern beach cottage with state of the art building science, the latest renewable energy technologies, and fiber-composite materials repurposed from the boat building industry.

NRG Home Solar has joined forces  with Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey to support the production of its U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon entry, the Sure House.

NRG joins Moxa in its support of the students at Stevens.

The Sure House will be a home designed to use 90% less energy than similar homes available on the market. It is powered by solar energy, and in the aftermath of a storm becomes a hub for emergency power to the neighborhood with uniquely designed branch power circuits that transfer to standby circuits in the event of a grid outage. The Sure House will also incorporate design details allowing it to withstand temporary flooding up to 6 feet, plus storm shutters that provide protection during extreme storms.

“The inspiring and progressive work these students are doing on the Sure House made it an easy decision to get involved in this competition,” said Kelcy Pegler Jr., President of NRG Home Solar. “Many employees at NRG Home Solar live and work in areas hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, so it’s fantastic to see the Stevens students tackle an incredible project that could better prepare us for the ever-changing climate.”

The competition entry was inspired by the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, which directly impacted many students involved in the project. The Stevens team is designing the Sure House to optimize energy efficiency through use of solar and smart energy technologies. The home is also configured specifically to protect against flooding and natural disasters.

The Sure House is being developed by a team of 40 students – led by faculty – that includes undergraduates and graduates from a range of disciplines. NRG Home Solar is providing the photovoltaic solar panels to be used in the home’s solar array.

“The Sure House is a groundbreaking new direction in storm resilient coastal housing and we are thrilled to have NRG Home Solar’s support and dedication to help bring it to fruition,” said Michael Bruno, Feiler Chair Professor and Dean, School of Engineering and Science. “The dedicated students on this team are working incredibly hard to produce a winning design for the Solar Decathlon competition, a design that can also translate into a working home that will save lives.”

The Solar Decathlon will take place in October 8-18, 2015 in Irvine, California.

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Ginlong Technologies, a leading string inverter specialist, will be presenting exciting inverter innovations at Intersolar North America on July 14-16, 2015 in San Francisco, Moscone Center.

The Solis inverter represents a well-respected, value priced brand from Ginlong Technologies founded in 2005. Since achieving UK G83 certificate in 2006, Ginlong Technologies has led the inverter innovations for next generation.

Ginlong Technologies will be presenting the industry first four (4) MPPT 30kW and 36kW Solis Three Phase Inverter products, which optimizes the power production at each MPPT level, thus maximizing the energy output. They are ideal for large complex solar installations such as different roof sizes and pitches, solar module orientations, mismatched solar module strings and shading conditions.

Ginlong Technologies is the first Asian inverter manufacturer which achieved UL 1741 certification in 2009. In 2015, The Solis inverter became the first batch of inverters which are 3rd party tested and qualified by DNV GL, the world leading technical advisory service firm. DNV GL goes beyond the laboratory qualifications with its field testing and it also includes the industry first inverter reliability testing to help minimize project risk. “Testing can provide confidence that the inverters you’re using have the functionality you expect. We view that as beneficial to the financial and technical success of solar power plants.” Said Ray Hudson, solar service leader at DNV GL.

AEE Solar is a leading solar distributor in the US and has provided top quality products and technical assistance to the solar industry for more than 35 years. As part of the collaboration, AEE Solar will add Ginlong Technologies’ Solis single phase inverter line to expand the grid-tied inverter options for PV customers. “AEE’s mission is to help our customers create a planet run by the sun. Ginlong Technologies’ innovative, high-quality, yet affordable, Solis inverters help us to further drive down installation costs and thereby grow the available market for large and small solar installers alike,” said Antonio Cintra, President of AEE Solar.

The Solis Three Phase String Inverter has achieved UL 1741 certification and is CEC listed. Ginlong Solis three phase PV inverter is compact and light weight (less than70 lbs). It boasts high peak efficiency (over98.2%), ultra-wide input voltage range (200V-800V).

The key features of the Solis Inverter are; Supervisor Reliability, Outstands Energy Yields and Excellent Design Flexibility. The Solis inverter has proven track record of high reliability in the field with over 10 years operating even in harsh environment. The Solis inverter has outstanding energy yields thanks to its high efficiency and outstanding low irradiation performance for long working hours. Its ultra-low DC startup voltage and unique string mismatch features give engineers design flexibility. The Solis inverter is compact and light enough for one-person to install. With NEMA 4X / IP65 enclosure that is hose-down and salt spray tested for outdoor installations, Solis inverters can operate reliably at virtually any site. The Solis inverter comes with remote data monitoring solutions for any project size. Ginlong Solis inverter is proud of being installed on Eiffel Tower in Paris on February, 2015.

You are welcome to attend our press release conference on July 14th 10:00am-10:30am and learn more about the Solis Inverter innovations at Ginlong Technologies booth 8433.

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Here’s a great infographic and some additional facts from Pennsylvania contractor JK Mechanical.

Facts and Stats to Share:

• Most Expensive Solar System
  • According to NREL, a $152,200,000 solar energy system was built in October 2009 in Florida
• Oldest Solar System
  • NREL dates some of the oldest solar systems in the United States being installed in 1983 in Florida and Idaho
• The earth is hit with 8.2 million quads of solar energy each year
• Average payback period on a residential solar installation: 9 years (payback period for commercial solar is significantly less)
• It costs less than $3.00/W to install a residential solar roof mount

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Often the lines between operations and maintenance (O&M) and asset management (AM) are blurred. Operations is engrained in O&M, but it’s also a large focus for AM providers. So what really is the difference between the two service areas?

AM is often looked at as the larger umbrella under which O&M is found. Chad Sachs, CEO of AM company RadianGEN, said asset managers “provide comprehensive services to owners to help them run their plants optimally, technically and financially.”

“AM is the broader term. It really includes everything at the operation level all the way to the financial and investment level,” he said. “Traditionally the O&M has been more boots on the ground—people doing preventative, corrective maintenance. When the inverter goes out, an O&M provider is usually the one who is called on to fix it. AM is really managing on behalf of the owner to get the best result for the project. They would be overseeing O&M, making sure the O&M provider got out there in time, is fulfilling their performance guarantees and didn’t overcharge for corrective maintenance because they didn’t do sufficient preventative maintenance.”

O&M has received the bulk of industry focus lately, and Sachs said equal attention should be paid to AM.

“You build the project, you expect it to run exactly as planned. That’s a naiveté,” Sachs said. “O&M has got an increased emphasis because people realize you need to take care of [systems]. With proactive asset management, you can avoid underperformance and really help the asset improve. That’s where a lot of people don’t give AM as much credit.”

Edmee Kelsey, CEO of solar asset management software provider 3megawatt, sees O&M and AM as needing each other equally to function properly.

“There are a lot of areas where the asset manager works very closely with the O&M guys to figure out the best action,” Kelsey said. “Sometimes you find that [a broken] panel has to be transported from China and shipping costs are not included. The decommissioning and reinstallation costs are not included. Who are you going to have do that? Is somebody a few days quicker but more expensive? These are all financial decisions that somebody who manages the accounts of the projects can determine to generate as much cash out of the solar project as possible.”

Everyone is looking to cut costs, and O&M is the latest area to be picked apart. Before, someone might hire an O&M to do everything—vegetation management, washing, preventative and corrective maintenance, etc. But now they may feel comfortable hiring a separate vegetation manager and a more efficient washer. How will all these separate services be managed?

“They split out the responsibilities to bring costs down,” Sachs said. “That means, they’ve added complexity and a need for managing those assets. What asset managers can do is help with that management at an affordable price in a way that really gives you the best of both worlds.”

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S-Energy Co. has reached an agreement to provide 25 MW of solar modules to juwi Inc. S-Energy’s modules will be utilized to two utility-scale projects in New Mexico to serve Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), the largest electricity provider in New Mexico.

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SolarWorld, the largest U.S. crystalline-silicon solar manufacturer for 40 years, announced a partnership with Bank of the West to finance commercial-scale solar systems, rounding out the solar producer’s financing options in its SolarWorld Financial Solutions Program.  In many cases, customers will enjoy the financial and environmental benefits of a solar power system without initial capital investment.

Under the partnership, qualified SolarWorld customers will be eligible to finance their commercial solar systems through Bank of the West using highly competitive solutions that include loans, operating leases, capital leases and, for qualified state and municipal government entities, tax-exempt municipal leases.

“Our primary goal is to help our customers grow their businesses,” said Ardes Johnson, U.S. vice president for sales and marketing for SolarWorld.  “Many installation firms find they have the technical capability but not the financing support they need to drive business in the commercial segment.  This new partnership will provide the boost they need.”

The partnership with Bank of the West – a San Francisco-based financial services holding company with more than 10,000 employees staffing 600 retail, wealth, commercial and corporate banking offices – adds to the SolarWorld Financial Solutions suite of financing options.  The program is dedicated to helping SolarWorld customers close more business in systems exceeding 50 kilowatts by acting as consultant and intermediary among various funding sources.

“Bank of the West has a strong commitment to enhancing energy efficiency,” said James Elwood, managing director of Bank of the West’s Vendor Finance Group.  “SolarWorld commercial customers will benefit from this initiative with very attractive financing and leasing options.   We’re excited to be in a partnership that helps our businesses community and the region as a whole.”

SolarWorld Financial Solutions applies its expertise to offer the most appropriate and competitive services, including financial analysis and presentation materials.  It also consults with customers to determine the best financial products for projects, including operating leases, capital leases, municipal leases, as well as PACE, PPA and loan financing.

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A completed playhouse at an event in November 2014.

Selected Central Massachusetts military veterans and their families will continue receiving playhouses with solar energy systems through a recently extended partnership of New England Clean Energy, Canadian Solar and Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester. The three companies initiated a six-month pilot in November 2014, to test the installation of Canadian Solar’s Maple Solar Systems on the children’s playhouses, which are constructed by local businesses and donated to military veterans through Habitat’s Project Playhouse program.

During the pilot program, 11 playhouses were built with Maple Solar Systems and given to Massachusetts families in Ashburnham, Auburn, Barre, Holden, Leominster, North Grafton, Orange, Spencer, Ware, and Worcester. Canadian Solar donated the systems and New England Clean Energy donated the installation and related equipment.

The playhouses are constructed within a day, occasionally at large events where multiple groups come together to create several houses. Companies that have participated include AstraZeneca, Bay State Savings Bank, SanDisk, Deloitte Consulting, EMC, National Grid, and Re/Max Vision.

“The interest level by corporations continues to grow for this incredibly generous and heartfelt event,” said Grace Warwick, development coordinator of Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester.

“Our playhouses are personally designed and decorated with incredible toys and fixtures, but the solar panels are always the most impressive part. The lights themselves add a finished touch that parents and kids appreciate. But the fact that these lights are powered with green energy becomes a moment of pride for everyone involved,” Warwick said. She recalled one instance when a child receiving a playhouse “demanded to hold one of the lights on the ride home. With a huge smile on his face, he rode home playing with the light.”

Mark Durrenberger, president of New England Clean Energy, said, “We’re excited to continue supporting Habitat for Humanity on this important program. In addition to contributing to the local community, our involvement with Project Playhouse fits with our desire at New England Clean Energy to educate the public about solar energy. Getting people excited about renewable energy, especially at a young age, is very important to the future of our planet.”

Project Playhouse is a volunteer/fundraising program for groups and corporations wanting to make a difference in their communities. Volunteers build, design and decorate children’s playhouses, which are then donated to local veteran’s families with children. Habitat’s MetroWest/Greater Worcester chapter began offering the program in July 2014. For more information, visit www.habitatmwgw.org/builds/project-playhouse/

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Coronal Group LLC and Panasonic Eco Solutions announced the completion of the 220-acre Coronal Lost Hills Solar Project, which generates enough emission-free solar energy to power approximately 5,200 Southern California homes through a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE).

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Ecolibrium Solar’s EcoX rail-less racking system

Ecolibrium Solar, a leading supplier of solar racking systems for commercial and residential applications, has announced the launch of the new EcoX rail-less racking system.

With an organized approach to installation, the EcoX system helps streamline the residential installation process. The system offers adjustability in all directions, and its universal design is compatible with industry standard framed modules ranging from 33-50mm thick. The rail-less concept eliminates large, bulky components, improving shipping costs and on-site logistics. And with pre-assembled components and a low part count, EcoX is a flexible, simple product that helps installers finish each project faster.

Over the past 18 months, Ecolibrium has supplied and supported over 150 MW of residential projects with an early design. To develop the new EcoX product, the Ecolibrium engineering team gathered feedback and lessons learned from customers and installations. The resulting system maintains the same installation process, and adds additional features in module positioning and adjustability.

“We gained significant experience working with our customers over the past year, and that really helped us create a product with a great set of features” said Sam Veague, General Manager, Residential at Ecolibrium Solar. “By prioritizing installer feedback while refining the design, our engineering team has delivered a product that is optimized for a fast residential install process, while lowering the overall cost of the system.”

To support new and existing customers, the Ecolibrium Solar Field Support team, made up of experienced installers, is dedicated to customer support and on-site training. The team typically works with a new customer on their first few installations to ensure they transition to the rail-less installation process. They are then available for ongoing training and support.

To validate the product, the engineering team conducted extensive testing on the design before launching in the market to ensure the system would last the life of a project. Internal testing was conducted at the Ecolibrium Solar R&D Center in Boulder, CO. Then, final 3rd party validation was completed the Nationally Recognized Test Lab TUV Rheinland PTL, in Tempe, AZ.

EcoX successfully received the full UL2703 certification. This comprehensive certification includes both grounding and bonding as well as mechanical load testing with top module manufacturers. In addition, the system has successfully been certified to the UL2703/1703 Fire Certification, receiving a Class A designation for both Type 1 and Type 2 modules. Finally, the system also successfully passed the ICC-ES AC286/UL441 Rain Test for Roof Flashing, which verifies a waterproof seal at roof attachment points.

The new EcoX system will be on display at Intersolar North America Booth #9445 in San Francisco, CA July 14-16, 2015.

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HellermannTyton a provider of identification and cable management solutions, announces the newest addition to its innovative line of identification solutions for the solar industry, the first product of its kind in the industry – Metal Solar Placards.

Metal Solar Placards offer maximum durability and ease in code compliance. Originally developed for military and naval applications, a special process seals metallic particles under a clear anodized layer, which results in markings that have been tested and rated to last up to 25 years in outdoor use, even in direct sunlight. Metal Solar Placards are designed to meet the latest National Electrical Code (NEC 2014), with pre-printed warning, caution and variable data messaging that conforms to Article 690, as well as ANSI guidelines. Metal Solar Placards offer a pre-printed marking option that may be more acceptable to some local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), who may have a preference for placard-style identification.

Metal Solar Placards are offered in pre-printed and variable data placards for displaying installation-specific information like voltage ratings. Variable data placards are offered in both hand-writable and engravable options, to suit installer needs and preferences. Hand-writable placards can be filled in with an industrial paint pen. Engravable placards have a dark area that can be engraved using standard engraving equipment. Optional Paint Shields provide protection against accidental “paint-overs” and graffiti.

Features and Benefits

• Tested and rated to last up to 25 years in outdoor use
• Designed for easy and efficient PV identification
• Meets or exceeds PV labeling codes and standards
• Conveniently offered in packs of 5, with retail header cards
• Optional Paint Shields protect placards from accidental paint-over and graffiti

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Fronius SnapINverter on display at Intersolar

Fronius USA is pleased to announce its sponsorship and exhibition return to the 2015 Solar Power International tradeshow in Anaheim, California September 14th through the 17th.

Fronius USA is a quality leader in the solar industry and will showcase this with the full line of Fronius SnapINverters on display, as well as recent developments in solar technology that all tie into the Fronius vision of 24 Hours of Sun. Fronius USA has been leading in product development with a whole new innovative product group with the slogan, “Solutions built to last”. The completely field serviceable SnapINverter line offers the consumer with a sustainable solution while the technology boasts the ability to change for future codes, standards and innovations.

Residential inverters
Fronius SnapINverters for the residential market, from 1.5 to 15 kW, will be on display as well as Fronius’ Rapid Shutdown Box. The Fronius Rapid Shutdown Box pairs efficiently with the residential SnapINverters for a turn-key solution to NEC 2014 690.12 code. Another highlight that will be featured is the Fronius storage solution including the Tesla Powerwall. A global partnership between Fronius and Tesla was announced recently.

The solar inverter manufacturer also recently announced its production of the Fronius Primo SnapINverter in the United States and plans to celebrate this at Solar Power International 2015 as well. “Fronius and our products are an even stronger player in the solar industry here in the United States now that our Fronius Primo is produced here and continues to represent Fronius quality worldwide,” said Wolfgang Niedrist, President and CEO of Fronius USA. “Fronius is here to stay in the United States and plans on continuing the growth and innovation we are known for.”

Commercial inverters
The Fronius Symo, 10-24kW, is the commercial line of the SnapINverters and will be present in Fronius USA’s booth as well this year. The Fronius Symo is a clear commercial choice with its design and flexibility. The Fronius Symo also offers developers a NEC 2014 compliant inverter that can be mounted in any direction or on a pole

Fronius will be both inside the convention center at Booth 3700 as well as outside offering demonstrations, games, drinks, and much more. Fronius USA is also a Gigawatt Sponsor of the event.

The Fronius SnapINverter series are now fully available for order.

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Tesla Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer JB Straubel will deliver the keynote address at the Opening Ceremony for Intersolar North America, the most-attended solar industry exhibition and conference dedicated to the North American market. One of the Intersolar North America’s most popular events, the Opening Ceremony will be held on Monday, July 13 at 5:30 P.M., in the Grand Ballroom at the InterContinental Hotel. The official opening ceremony will kick off the eighth annual solar trade show in San Francisco.

At the keynote, JB Straubel will introduce Tesla Energy, which provides battery solutions for homes, business and utilities to store solar energy. He’ll discuss how energy storage is critical to widespread adoption of solar energy and will ultimately enable a renewable energy economy. His remarks reflect the growing focus on solar-plus-storage solutions at Intersolar. At this year’s event, storage is featured in five conference sessions and four technical workshops at the InterContinental Hotel / Moscone Center plus a three-day free program at the ees Stage (Moscone West, Level 2, Alcove 2).

Straubel will deliver his remarks alongside an all-star line-up of key solar policymakers and advocates, including Bernadette del Chiaro, the executive director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA); New York State Sen. Kevin S. Parker, a champion of solar policy in New York; and Professor Dr. Eicke R. Weber, the director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) / Germany. The Opening Ceremony is free to all pre-registered attendees and exhibitors.

Conference Sessions Explore Mechanisms Behind Record Industry Growth

Intersolar North America will also spotlight innovative policies and business models spurring rapid solar industry growth, such as solar leases, the growing popularity of community solar gardens and the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which is set to expire at the end of 2016. The panel“Global PV Markets: Performance at Its Best – North America” will feature six speakers who will talk about what’s next for the U.S. and Canadian solar markets. The panel will feature market analysts, representatives from research laboratories and policy groups, and solar industry executives.

Conference sessions will also showcase the increasingly large role in the adoption of solar energy in North America. On Monday, July 13, speakers will provide an overview of the policies and market developments in California, Canada and other locations. In the panel “Energy Storage: Policies and Market Prospects,” industry experts and c-level executives will discuss the operational, economical and regulatory challenges facing energy storage deployment. Moderated by James Greenberger, the executive director of NAATBatt International, the session’s speakers include analysts from Greentech Media and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, and representatives from the Rocky Mountain Institute and Fronius International GmbH.

The Future of PV/Executive Panel will offer a high-profile discussion featuring executives from leading companies that represent both the upstream and downstream sectors of the solar PV industry. They will share their assessments of technology and performance trends, as well asstrategies to reduce manufacturing and system costs. Speakers include Howard Wenger, president Business Units, SunPower Corporation; Dr. Stefan Rinck, chief executive officer, Singulus Technologies AG; Dr. Shawn Qu, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Canadian Solar; Al Bucknam, chief executive officer, REC Solar; and Minh Le, director of the solar technologies office of the U.S. Department of Energy, who will moderate the discussion. The panel will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at 11:15 A.M. in the InterContinental Hotel.

Registration information for these panels, as well as detailed information on Intersolar North America’s full conference program, is available online.

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Swiss cleantech city of Moutier partnered with PWRstation solar energy solutions based in Lausanne, Switzerland to put in place innovative preassembled and transportable solar energy solutions to power its electric grid.

Mayor of Moutier Maxime Zuber and his administration are pleased to announce the city’s first PWRstation solar generator (“genset”) activation located at a recreation center at the Chemin de la Piscine. The newly released roof top mounted 3 kW PWRstation Genesis is now effectively contributing electricity to the city’s municipal grid.

The city of Moutier, a municipality of the administrative district of the Jura Bernois in Switzerland’s Canton of Bern, is highly committed to the utilization of environmentally clean, sustainable and renewable energy technologies. It is both a European City of Energy Award-recipient and member of La Société à 2000 Watts, a Swiss energy membership of leading Swiss municipalities dedicated to energy conservation and sustainability.

PWRstations are preassembled, transportable and activation-ready solar gensets for residential, commercial and off-grid use uniquely engineered to remove the complexities, time and costs associated with fixed solar installations, making solar immediately accessible, affordable and hassle free.

PWRstation Genesis models come with 3 and 5 kilowatt (kW) power ratings and are characterized by their proprietary photovoltaic (PV) racking systems which allow them to retract for transport and unfold for active power generation. A 5 kW Genesis can provide the electricity required to power an average household in developed markets. Early next year the company will introduce the PWRstation Oasis with power ratings of 50 kW and100 kW.

“On behalf of the city of Moutier, I am pleased to welcome solar innovations of this kind to our community,” says Mayor Zuber. He adds, “we are proud to showcase PWRstation as an example of Swiss engineering excellence…as well as a solution that offers new ways for delivering clean, renewable power to Moutier’s municipal, residential and commercial energy consumers.”

Headquartered in Lausanne, the central city of the Canton of Vaud since 2014, PWRstation is supported by the Développement Économique Vaudois (DEV) et by the Service de la Promotion Économique et du Commerce (SPECo), two related cantonal governmental entities designed to promote local enterprises.

Francois Cornu, the Director of the Développement Économique Vaudois who has been closely collaborating with PWRstation management says, “It is important for us to promote innovative Swiss companies. We are particularly excited to see the rapid emergence of PWRstation, as it clearly responds to our objectives.”

This year distributed photovoltaic systems (DPV) —i.e., those sized 100 kW or smaller—are expected to account for 49.5 GW, or 30 percent of global installations. The nascent but growing market for solar in Switzerland currently accounts for about 300 MW per year. PWRstation solutions are ideally suited to address growing demand for DPV in the residential, commercial and off-grid sectors in developed and developing markets.

“Our solutions respond very effectively to the energy needs of urban environments, especially regarding flat roof tops,” says Gianfranco Albertella, PWRstation’s Chief Commercial Officer. Today’s typical fixed rooftop solar installations are slated to last 20 to 25 years, whereas flat roof tops require maintenance every 15 to 20 years on average (or sooner in case of leaks). The idea of having to dismantle and re-install a fixed solar installation is discouraging to many property owners, who ultimately choose to forego the benefits of solar because of it.

Moutier’s 3 kW PWRstation rooftop activation took less than 30 minutes. When the city structure where it is currently positioned is knocked down for renovation later this year, the PWRstation will simply be relocated and reactivated at another location, demonstrating the remarkable versatility of these innovative devices.

“The fact that PWRstations are transportable enables us to offer commercial, residential and municipal customers the unprecedented flexibility of short term leasing programs,” says Gianfranco Albertella. “This is made possible through a new partnership with the Raiffeisen Bank in Switzerland.”

PWRstation is an early-stage solar product solutions development company. In addition to its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, the company has offices in Bienne, Switzerland and Miami, Florida.

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APS rides a wave of installer demand into Intersolar North America, July 14-16 in San Francisco. Propelled by overwhelming response to the A+ Rewards program, an industry-best rebate offering that continues through summer, APS affirms its commitment to solar installers looking for superior pricing and quality in solar microinverter solutions.

“Installers across North America have discovered that APS offers a far better value proposition than competing microinverter brands – better price per watt, better quality, better reliability,” said Thomas Nelson, APS America vice president of sales. “The solar market is hungry for innovation and smarter solutions, and that’s exactly what the APS line offers.”

APS will present its advanced microinverter technology at booth 8732 at the Intersolar convention, the USA’s largest gathering of solar professionals.

Visitors to the APS booth can also sign up to win a free iPad Mini 3. Contact the APS team at sales@apsamerica.com to set up a meeting during the show, to learn more about purchase and distribution opportunities.

Leading into the Intersolar event, APS has stepped up its A+ Rewards to an even more aggressive Tiered Rewards Program. APS now offers a rebate of up to $15 per unit for each APS YC500 microninverter purchased through participating distributors through Sept. 30.

First-time APS installers will receive even more: a $250 Visa® Gift Card, and a free ECU (Energy Communication Unit), on top of the tiered rebate. APS also offers free PV system monitoring for the life of the product as a standard feature of its product support.

Information on the APS A+ Rewards program is available at http://summer-promo.aplus-rewards.com , or contact aplus@apsamerica.com.

APS flagship products include the YC500, a powerful dual-module microinverter, and the YC1000 true 3-phase unit, purpose-designed for commercial applications and offering an unprecedented 1:4 microinverter-to-module ratio.
APS was founded in Silicon Valley in 2009, and is now a global leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of microinverters based on their own proven, leading-edge solar technology.

APS ranked No. 2 in global market share among top microinverter suppliers by shipment in 2013 (source: GTM Research).

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Trina Solar  announced the North America launch of Trinaswitch, the next generation of smart solar modules. This module provides innovative new technology built into the junction box, allowing a more seamless integration for safety and compliance.

“Trinaswitch is a continuation of Trina Solar’s product strategy in adding smart functionality to solar photovoltaic modules to reduce the balance of system cost, boost system safety and ultimately reduce costs to end users,” said Jing Tian, Trina Solar’s Head of Global Marketing.

Trinaswitch is the only smart module on the market with upgradeable functionality such as string flexibility and advanced optimization performance features.

Trinaswitch modules are NEC 2014 690.12 compliant. They meet the 2014 NEC Rapid Shutdown safety standards which is now required in more than 24 states. By 2017, nearly all US states will be required to meet this standard.

Trinaswitch smart modules are constantly monitoring PV module parameters such as over voltage, over temperature and over current. The smart module will enter PV-Safe mode if a safety hazard is detected and reported to the Cloud Connect. The Cloud Connect will decide whether there is a local threat that can be avoided by shutting down a single module, or if there is a potential system safety hazard and PV-Safe mode is needed for the entire system.

“The gold standard for PV safety is a module-level control device that can detect, interrupt and annunciate faults, and automatically be shut down to a safe level when needed,” said Matthew Paiss, Fire Captain of the San Jose Fire Department.

Solar Power World

Roof Tech, a provider of rail-less mounting solutions for solar PV systems, will showcase its products at Intersolar North America, West Hall, Level 3, Booth 9732, from July 14th to 16th at Moscone Center in San Francisco. Since its introduction to the U.S. market in 2012, Roof Tech, a 2015 finalist for the Intersolar Award, has been making waves in the domestic market with its innovative line of PV mounting solutions:

RT-[E] Mount is a versatile mounting system that attaches anywhere on roof decking with butyl tape flashing, renowned for its weather-tight, leak-proof properties that withstand the most extreme temperatures while retaining elasticity and strength. The result is a visually seamless PV installation that stands the test of time.

RT-[E] Mount AIR is the all-in-one rail-less mounting system that provides three inches of clearance above the roof surface, allowing space for a micro inverter or power optimizer, while providing the same lock-tight, weatherproof seal as RT-[E] Mount.

U set Solar is Roof Tech’s unique patented frame design with incorporated mounting for fast, simple installation and streamlined visual appeal.

Roof Tech at Intersolar:

NABCEP Workshop and The Great Racking Debate

Roof Tech will be part of two key events at Intersolar 2015, both at Moscone West, Level 3:

The Great Racking Debate: Comparison of Racking Products for Homes: Tuesday, July 143:30-4:45 p.m., Room 3011 Roof Tech will participate in this special workshop as part of CALSEIA’s Second Annual Contractor Day. Registration is available through calseia.org.
NABCEP Credit Workshop: Wednesday, July 15, 12:45-1:45 p.m. Attendees will learn how to install the RT-[E] Mount™ Rail-less PV mounting system to meet code. The workshop will also include information on the rigorous testing that led to RT-[E] Mount’s ICC Evaluation report and UL2703 accreditation. Attendees will earn one NABCEP Continuing education credit. To register, visit http://www.intersolar.us/en/program/exhibition-programs/installation-workshops.html

Solar Power World

NEXTracker, designer and manufacturer of single-axis PV trackers, has announced that it will ship its trackers to DEPCOM Power, a utility scale solar EPC provider, for the 42 MW (DC) Paw Paw Solar Facility in central Georgia.

The Paw Paw project, recently acquired by Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power, is part of a 400 MW solar generation portfolio that Georgia Power is developing in the state. This project is coming to fruition thanks to the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative.  Construction on Paw Paw began in June and the plant is due to be completed by the end of 2015.

“DEPCOM is excited to be deploying NEXTracker technology on this Georgia Power solar project. We believe this tracker represents an effective solution for utility-scale arrays, with faster installation speed, and reduced field wiring cost,” said Jim Lamon, CEO, DEPCOM Power.

Global demand for solar trackers continues to expand rapidly as the market has transitioned to higher irradiance locations where trackers deliver outstanding increases in power production. NEXTracker’s technology is proven to be a cost-effective solution to maximize solar project returns.

Solar Power World

In anticipation of the Top 500 Solar Contractors list, Solar Power World is giving all the professionals at Intersolar a chance to become #SPWStars and grab some (OK, a lot of) Starbucks in the process.

We will have a super-sized magazine cover at our booth, No. 8713, featuring two hard-working solar pros with cutout faces. Snap a picture at our booth and share on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #SPWStars, and you’ll be entered to win a daily $50 Starbucks gift card.

The Top 500 Solar Contractors list, to be released in early August, is the most-recognized list of solar contractors and developers in the United States and Canada.

Supporters of the top contractors list and associated gala include Axitec, Baja Construction, DPW Solar, EcoFasten Solar, SEIA, Solectria, S-5!, Phoenix Contact, SolarEdge and Travelers.

For more information, stop by our booth at Intersolar North America from July 14 to 16, 2015. We’re at booth No. 8713, on the second floor of the Moscone Center West Hall, near CALSEIA’s California pavilion.

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Solar Power World