Enable Energy, a technology, product development and business strategy consulting firm, offers its new Solanté, a commercial solar racking system that reduces the complexity and time required to install roof-mounted solar modules. Enable Energy says Solanté overcomes the limitations of existing penetrating and ballasted commercial rooftop systems to dramatically expand the market for commercial rooftop solar. The company intends to license the technology to solar module and racking manufacturers.
The system features robust, yet lightweight, construction and a patent-pending roof attachment plate that does not require roof excavation, welding, or identification of a truss, thereby protecting roof warranties and significantly shortening the installation process. In addition, support for variable tilt angles up to 20 degrees and the ability to absorb pitch changes in excess of six degrees in all directions combine to enable use on a wide range of rooftops that up to now were not able to host solar arrays.
“Other racking technologies can be heavy and/or inflexible, and the installation process can be slow and tedious,” said Eric Hafter, Enable Energy Principal. “Reflecting our commitment to delivering great technology that transforms the industry, our design was done in collaboration with some of the industry’s largest contractors to ensure that the end product provides a superior construction solution with a great economic value.”
Solanté’s patent-pending Cam and Slot Locking System is a revolutionary attachment method for commercial solar. The module slides in place and is firmly attached with minimal effort. Once locked, the module is grounded and the cam lock will not disengage under load, ensuring a permanent attachment with no concern for torque settings or installation errors. Assembly of the entire array can occur before securing the system to the roof avoiding construction errors and allowing a wide variety of design options. Angled support components serve as wind deflectors to maximize system wind tolerance, ensuring the system can be built on even the most challenging roof.
With these advantages, Solanté has received enthusiastic reviews from major solar installers both in the U.S. and Europe. “Tecta America has installed commercial PV solar projects for many years, so we’ve seen a wide range of products. Without qualification, I can tell you the very best system we’ve used is Solanté,” said Michael McClain, President of Tecta America.