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First Word
Made-in-America, finally!
My favorite thing about RE+ — besides the chit chatting and happy hours — is getting to see new products up close. And we’ll be seeing so many Made-in-America products this year, it’s incredible. That domestic manufacturing renaissance that has long been anticipated for the solar industry is finally here.
And yes, seeing products at a tradeshow is great, but nothing beats going to the factory and seeing how things are made for yourself. I visited SEG Solar’s expansive new solar panel factory this summer, and the scale is tremendous. The company is anticipating a 2-GW annual capacity once lines get going and wants to expand even further. SEG has primarily worked in the United States as a sales hub for its Southeast-Asian produced panels, but founder and COO Jun Zhuge said that the company has always wanted to bring manufacturing to America. Although the lines in Houston are completely automated, SEG Solar said it would be hiring at least 500 workers at the new site. It's great to see people excited about careers in solar manufacturing again. That was also on full display when I stopped by Sirius PV’s solar panel factory outside Houston. That company’s 1-GW line is working at full-speed, and so much support has been given to the employees at each
station. There are many temperaturecontrolled areas, additional air filtration efforts, automated and sealed potting stations — and this is just a module assembly plant, not a cell manufacturing outfit. When Hurricane Beryl hit Houston this summer, Sirius PV had backup power on-site and opened its doors to community members in need of a safe place to recharge or just rest. The company is taking care of its own and ensuring that careers in solar panel manufacturing are well-respected and desired. Oh, and Sirius PV makes really nice solar panels too — the backsheet on the bifacial module is a must-see.
It's not a factory tour, but walking the show floor at RE+ is the next best thing. We have an exhibitor preview in the back-half of this issue with some of the products we’ll be checking out. Make sure to say hi when you see the SPW team at the show, and tell us what you’ve found most interesting. I’ll be seeking out those American flag stickers! SPW
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U.S. Senators seek to block IRA dollars from Chinese companies
WASHINGTON, D.C.
A group of bipartisan U.S. senators introduced legislation that would block taxpayer money in the IRA from going to Chinese solar and clean energy companies. The bill is supported by First Solar, which has manufacturing locations in two of the cosponsors’ represented states — Ohio and Louisiana.
New law says HOAs can’t prohibit solar installs in Michigan
LANSING, MICHIGAN
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill that invalidates certain provisions in homeowner association agreements that prohibit installing solar panels on residences. HOAs often have language in their bylaws that prevents homeowners from adding solar panels to visible portions of their rooftops.
Advocates file injunction to halt new California battery installer requirements
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
A California coalition filed a motion on July 25 seeking a preliminary injunction to halt enforcement of a new rule that would restrict solar contractors from installing and servicing battery storage systems. The groups, including CALSSA and the Center for Biological Diversity, seek to stop the rule from going into effect on October 1.
A new Michigan law gives members of homeowner associations the freedom to install solar, even if the bylaws previously prohibited it. Michigan Solar Solutions
New Mexico accepting applications for solar tax credits for those previously denied
SANTE FE, NEW MEXICO
New Mexico’s energy department is now accepting applications for its Supplemental New Solar Market Development Tax Credit program, providing an incentive to taxpayers who were denied between 2020 and 2023 due to insufficient government funding. Customers are eligible for a tax credit up to 10% on solar costs.
Bipartisan senators introduce Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C.
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (I-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY) have released energy permitting reform legislation that would open federal lands to more energy development, modernize the grid and build out transmission capacity. Solar advocates praised the bill, but environmental organizations warned against the increased fossil fuel development it could trigger.
Final
IRS prevailing wage rules encourage project
labor agreements
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The U.S. Dept. of the Treasury and the IRS released final rules on prevailing wage and registered apprenticeship requirements (PWA) in the Inflation Reduction Act. The final rules include special provisions for project labor agreements, which can help taxpayers comply with the PWA requirements.
Massachusetts legislators fail to enact renewable energy siting and permitting bill
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts legislators failed to enact an omnibus bill that would have introduced time limits for project permitting, as well as established a 5-GWh energy storage requirement. Clean energy advocates expressed disappointment at the bill’s detour after months of work by a diverse group of stakeholders.
Biden-Harris Administration taps AmeriCorps for energy community green jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Biden-Harris Administration has started a new project called Energy Communities AmeriCorps with a goal to increase clean energy and climate resilience jobs in previously underserved communities. The project will start with 150 full-time workers in nine federally designated energy communities.
DOE to study public attitudes toward siting large-scale solar projects
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The U.S. Dept. of Energy invested $9.5 million in four new projects supporting social science research that examines how project siting practices can influence public attitudes toward permitting of large-scale solar facilities. The DOE hopes these research projects will help communities and solar developers find solutions that benefit everyone.
NYSERDA offering $5 million for agrivoltaic demo projects
ALBANY, NEW YORK
NYSERDA is making $5 million available for demonstration projects that co-locate solar projects and agricultural operations. The state group is accepting proposals that support agrivoltaic projects integrating both new or retrofitted solar and farm operations, such as those with cattle grazing, forage or specialty crop production.
Solar advocacy group asks Gov. Hochul to double distributed solar goal
ALBANY, NEW YORK
The New York Solar Energy Industries Association has called on New York state lawmakers, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, to raise the state’s distributed solar goal to 20 GW by 2035. NYSEIA believes this growth can happen with smart state-level policies and the federal incentives available through the IRA.
Rhode Island governor signs bill to create new incentives for energy storage
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee signed a bill that will create the financial framework for incentivizing energy storage development in the state. The 2024 Energy Storage Systems Act also sets a goal of deploying 90 MW of energy storage by 2026.
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U.S. solar output is growing astronomically, and while it is leading the charge to electrify the American grid with renewable energy, the technology isn’t built to last forever. There is current demand for solar panel recycling services, and a few standout companies have already established factories in the United States to process tens of thousands of damaged or otherwise unusable modules.
That demand will undoubtedly grow over the next decade as projects built during the late aughts start to reach the end of their operating lifespan, and because installations have only increased since then, so too will the number of disposed solar panels.
“Unfortunately, I think a large percentage of panels in the United States are still being landfilled,” said Steven Turk, CFO of
SolarPanelRecycling.com. “But more and more companies, due to their ESG goals and other reasons, are starting to recycle.”
Even when damaged or at the end of life, there are materials inside solar modules that can be fed back into the supply chain. But getting to the point of properly extracting them has taken some time and ingenuity from the recyclers creating this market.
Formalizing solar panel recycling
Three years ago, Suvi Sharma left his role with solar panel manufacturer Solaria to study circular supply chains and economies. After researching recycling across industries, he directed his attention back toward solar and co-founded SolarCycle, a crystalline silicon solar module recycler with two
operational facilities in Odessa, Texas, and Mesa, Arizona, and a third on the way in Cedartown, Georgia.
“We had made phenomenal strides in making solar panels more efficient, cheaper, doing more PV systems and financing them, but had not yet figured out how to recycle these panels that were reaching the end of life, and creating a circular supply chain,” Sharma said. “When I started looking at why that is, it’s because we needed to develop the technology to do this at scale. When you go to a solar panel manufacturing facility, you’ll see equipment process materials you won’t see anywhere else, because it’s highly specialized. We need to do the same thing for recycling solar — for ‘demanufacturing’ these panels.”
Since its founding, SolarCycle has processed modules from all 50 states and other territories across North
SolarPanelRecycling.com (SPR) is a subsidiary of longtime electronics recycler Powerhouse Recycling. Powerhouse started recycling PV after a utility customer came to the company with a decommissioned large-scale solar project. After establishing solar recycling measures in house, SPR was founded almost 18 months ago.
With backing from Powerhouse, SPR has four processing plants — two in Salisbury, North Carolina, a glass processor outside of Atlanta, Georgia, and a fourth facility in Breckenridge, Texas, that is opening shortly.
Solar contractors, developers, equipment distributors or any other entity with a load of panels in need of disposal hire recyclers to handle the logistics and haul the panels to a regional processing plant. Solar recycling customers are typically national companies with large installation footprints and big stockpiles needing recycled instead of smaller individual residential contractors.
Recyclers are building processing plants in regions where there is demand for end-of-life solar panel offtake. SolarCycle has deliberately located its processing plants in southern states because of their proximity to most major solar installations. SPR will even open a new plant next to a large-enough decommissioning or repowering project if necessary.
“To solar asset owners that are concerned about capacity, in my view, it’s not really a huge issue, because if someone were to come to us and say, ‘we have this large facility that needs repowering or had a weather event, and we have hundreds of thousands of panels there,’ well, it would be economical at that point for us to just build a facility near them,” Turk said.
Being nearby significantly reduces hauling costs and reduces the chances someone will decide to send modules to the landfill instead.
Avoiding the landfill
Despite being inherently green in operation, certain types of solar modules can be considered solid or hazardous waste for the presence of lead and cadmium telluride, and several states have barred the technology from entering their landfills. Disposing of solar modules in any capacity comes at a cost, and while not on par with the cost of landfilling quite yet, solar panel recycling services have both an environmental and economic benefit.
For one, these panels aren’t sitting indefinitely in landfills. Most of the materials extracted can be fed back into the supply chain. Each brand and model of solar panel will have slight differences in componentry, but they are largely the same, being composed mostly of glass, a metal frame (often aluminum), silicon, copper and silver.
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"The difficulty there is we can't just throw a full solar panel into a shredder and get a usable product, whereas with printers and other devices you could," Turk said. "So, the real difficulty in solar recycling is to somehow eliminate the challenge of this contamination that occurs within the encapsulant."
Encapsulant bonds the interior elements of a solar panel together, but if improperly removed, it can contaminate those surrounding components. Recycling solar panels starts with removing the junction box and metal frame, then shaving off the glass so the encapsulant doesn’t taint the silicon solar cells. Next, the rest of the panel is crushed and shredded, and the precious metals contained within are extracted. The materials run through filtration and pass through air density and electrostatic separation chambers for cleaning.
Those cleaned and separated elements are returned to the supply chain and sold to various vendors. Recycled glass is often repurposed into fiberglass insulation, and SolarCycle will soon make new glass for solar panels using recycled materials processed at
its Georgia facility. Metals have high recyclability and are reused in many different products.
Industry analysts expect solar panel manufacturing to command one-fifth of the global silver supply by 2030, so Sharma believes some of the silver being recycled today is ending up back in solar panels. For materials like silicon, recyclers hope to eventually feed that back to PV manufacturers to create a fully recycled, domestic solar module.
“If we do this right, the way we’re trying to, we can make solar the most circular industry in the world,” Sharma said. “The solar panel product itself, the fact that it’s mostly glass and metals, and the fact that these large solar companies, most of them are very forward-thinking and progressive and really looking at how to create a sustainable industry long term.”
How are panels damaged?
Despite having operating lifespans of around three decades, solar panels aren’t invincible. They are primarily made of fragile glass.
There are several reasons why solar panels are sent to recyclers:
• Manufacturing defects
• Installation, construction or shipping damage
• Operations and maintenance losses (warranty issues)
• Weather damage
• Repowering projects
• Decommissioning projects
The recycling companies reported that among this group, decommissioning is the smallest contributor, but Sharma said he expects project decommissioning to eventually match installation numbers as more big solar projects reach the end of their lifespans. Right now, both SolarCycle
Left: Palletized solar modules await recycling in a SolarCycle warehouse.
Right: Stripped solar cells sit coiled and await further processing at a SolarCycle facility.
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Operations
Solar panels are fed into a processing machine at a SolarPanelRecycling.com facility. The materials extracted from solar modules are sold to willing vendors and returned to the supply chain.
and SPR’s largest pool of recycled panels originates from construction breaks, followed by weather damage.
“I think the reason for that is there are so many being installed currently,” Turk said. “Even if the percentage being damaged during installation is small, you’re still talking about hundreds of millions of panels going in, so it becomes a large part of the stream.”
Weather damage is another source of broken panels for the recyclers, because the frequency of severe climate events has increased. In 2024 alone, there have been 15 reported weather events causing more than $1 billion in damages in the United States.
Drawing a circular supply chain
There is still plenty to accomplish in solar panel recycling. SolarCycle recently built a 500-kW solar project composed entirely of decommissioned solar panels that is powering 50% of its Odessa, Texas, plant. The company is researching how to recycle cadmium telluride panels primarily manufactured by First Solar and ways to remelt and repurpose recycled glass for use in new products.
“There are no crystalline silicon module solar glass factories for us to send it to in the U.S., so we’re doing it ourselves and vertically integrating downstream in the materials manufacturing,” Sharma said. “That’s
a heavy lift from an operation and capital intensity standpoint, so that’s a big focus for us in really closing the loop and creating that circular supply chain for solar.”
And SolarPanelRecycling.com is preparing to open its latest facility in Texas, plans to have another open within a year and is waiting at the ready to start new regional facilities throughout the United States as demand requires.
As their services expand, solar recyclers hope they can match and eventually beat the price of disposing in landfills. That way, they can be one step closer to making this technology as green as it can be. SPW
INTERNATIONAL
Installation
Making the future home with traditional materials
Thomas Rettenwender, founder and principal of Ecologic Architects, a former educator and current board member for Rancho Cielo, had heard about the decathlon and pitched the idea of the school entering the competition.
“The timing was good, because we were coming out of the pandemic and there was this thirst for a restart,” he said. “We had all this pent-up energy to get caught up, to make a difference.”
Decathlon competitors were tasked with building homes powered by solar that would be both environmentally friendly and provide solutions to California’s housing crisis. Each entry was judged in 10 different criteria covering construction, design, sustainability and overall messaging.
Rettenwender designed a modular two-story home meant to host solar panels, energy storage and many other sustainable implements, like air filtration units. CSDA students were familiar with building smaller projects, like portable toilets and tractor sheds, but they hadn’t tackled a construction project with the scope of Nexus 01.
“These are kids from the streets, and when we started the project, some of them didn’t know how to pick up a hammer — literally,” said Pete Scudder, president of Scudder Solar Energy Systems and Scudder Roofing, who oversaw roofing and solar installation on the project.
Scudder said it took some time for the kids to get comfortable with building a project of this scale. They were divided into groups and assigned
Nexus 01 was initially constructed back at Rancho Cielo’s campus in Salinas, California, and was shipped to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa where it was rebuilt. The project features a 7.4-kW rooftop solar array with battery backup. OCSD
"When we started the project, some of them didn't know how to pick up a hammer — literally."
Installation
to a respective trade to handle electrical and solar installation, roofing, plumbing, carpentry, tilework, as well as managing roles.
“We sat down, and we said we’re going to build a house out of the traditional materials that our students need to understand how to assemble to get a job in today’s market,” said Bill Hayward, CEO of Hayward Lumber and construction advisor on Nexus 01. “We thought through these things in a way that we thought the industry could replicate tomorrow, because we need affordable housing tomorrow.”
The frame of this 850-ft2 house is Douglas fir lumber, and the exterior is wrapped in fire-resistant cork, which negates the need for insulation and siding. Its envelope is designed to be airtight and uses filtration units to cycle fresh air into the building every two hours. Solar powers all electric appliances and utilities.
The house is designed to optimize solar generation by departing from a traditional gabled profile, instead placing both sections of the roof on a single pitch facing south. A 7.4kW solar array is powered by Maxeon 3 panels with Enphase IQ8A microinverters charging two Enphase Encharge 10 batteries, donated by Scudder Solar.
“If you retrofit solar on a house, the roof isn’t optimal. You just have to work with what you have,” Rettenwender said. “But if you design a house for solar exposure, then you have more opportunities.”
Students built the house over the course of a year on-site at Rancho Cielo. When fall 2023 approached, the building was disassembled and prepared to be rebuilt at OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, a five-hour drive south from Salinas.
Competition time
Nexus 01 was hauled to the fairgrounds on four semitrucks. Once unloaded, Rancho Cielo had two weeks to reassemble the building and ensure everything was functioning correctly inside and out. They were the first of 14 competitors to arrive and needed every minute to rebuild. Scudder was on the phone with Enphase trying to commission the system, completing it as the OCSD judges walked up to the building.
As judging commenced and results were released, the students realized Nexus 01 was a contender. Their building placed in eight of 10 categories, with five first-place wins and the designation of overall winner of the competition. They later presented Nexus 01 in an auditorium to a crowd of 200 people.
Rancho Cielo placed in eight out of 10 judged categories in the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon. OCSD
“These kids wouldn’t even look me in the eye in the beginning two years ago. Now they’re standing up straight up there,” Scudder said. “It transformed their self-esteem and how they felt about themselves and how they felt about others, and they realized they can compete in the world market.”
Nexus 01 was a proof of concept. It proved that it was possible to build a sustainable home without needing space-age technology or nontraditional materials. Rancho Cielo and Ecologic Architects are now kickstarting Nexus Housing, an organization that will continue to build homes in the style of the Nexus 01 prototype with the continued help of students and advisors.
The project also proved the capability of young minds when given the resources they need. From this experience, Scudder hired five of the students who worked on the Nexus 01 project.
The house will soon be rebuilt back at Rancho Cielo as a permanent fixture. People visiting the school will have the chance to see the programs at work, eat a meal at the Drummond Culinary Academy and stay overnight in a sustainable home.
“When builders say it’s too hard to do, it’s like, really? Because high school kids can do it,” Hayward said. SPW
"These kids wouldn’t even look me in the eye in the beginning two years ago. Now they’re standing up straight up there. It transformed their self-esteem and how they felt about themselves and how they felt about others, and they realized they can compete in the world market."
Nexus 01 spurred the creation of a sustainable housing organization and program at Rancho Cielo that will engage students and school advisors to build more homes like this prototype. Rancho Cielo
Kelsey Misbrener • Managing Editor
IRA
CLEAN ENERGY
Illustration by Allison Washko, WTWH Media
TheBiden administration unleashed a flurry of renewable energy activity since taking office in 2021, with official commitments to build more clean energy paired with massive incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act. Biden has taken more climate actions than any president before him, according to an analysis by more than 20 climate groups, including the youth-led Sunrise Movement.
“He signed into law landmark actions bringing jobs back to the U.S. and revitalizing communities, while cutting a billion tons of carbon pollution,” said Lori Lodes, Climate Power’s executive director, in a press statement.
Now with Biden out of the race and the next presidential election just months away, many are wondering if the administration's incentives that are starting to ramp domestic solar manufacturing and development are at risk.
The answer is a bit complicated. A few potential scenarios could yield very different results — including whether Democrats maintain control of the White House and a majority in the Senate, Republicans take over both, one or neither.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris was obviously supportive of the IRA in her role as vice president, but some think she may push the lever even further for green energy as the head of her own administration.
"She was born and bred in California, where the clean energy revolution, in some ways, has started," said Jillian Blanchard, director of the Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program for the legal advocacy organization Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG). "I think she sees not only the need to protect our planet, but also the benefits in terms of workforce development [and] job opportunities. I think she's also dedicated to the cause of environmental justice, which is a big piece of Biden's platform that I think she will continue and hopefully expand upon."
As a U.S. senator, Harris introduced the Climate Equity Act and Clean School Bus Act, and co-sponsored the Green New Deal to transition the country to 100% clean energy.
"Vice President Harris has been integral to the Biden administration’s most important
climate accomplishments and has a long track record as an impactful climate champion," said Lena Moffitt, executive director of nonprofit climate group Evergreen Action in a press statement. "We are confident that she is ready to carry forward President Biden’s historic legacy and set a new high bar for climate ambition in America.”
IRA outlook if Republicans win
While the IRA would be preserved under a Harris presidency, Republican nominee Donald Trump called Biden's agenda a "Green New Scam" and said during the 2024 Republican National Convention that he would redirect climate-related funding, according to The Hill But it may not be that simple to execute, even if Trump does take the presidency.
"It would take a substantial or definitive [Republican] victory with margin to effectuate a meaningful change in the IRA," said Matt Breidert, senior portfolio manager at renewable energy investment firm Ecofin. "In absence of a sweep of the House, the Senate and the presidency, it will be difficult to materially change the IRA."
If a Republican sweep does happen, some elements of the IRA are likely to be safer from slashes than others. Breidert said domestic renewable energy manufacturing credits would be difficult for Republicans to axe.
Many of the new solar manufacturing announcements to come out of the IRA are benefitting red states, with investments by NorSun in Oklahoma, PV Hardware in Texas and ReCreate in Tennessee, as just a few examples.
"The Republican Party is very keen to do more and more reshoring," Breidert said.
SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper has been spending lots of time on Capitol Hill ensuring legislators understand the impact of these credits in their states and districts. She's also been addressing their concerns about Chinese imports by pointing to the manufacturing progress made stateside thanks to the IRA.
"If we want to address the Chinese influence on the solar and storage industry, we have to provide support to domestic manufacturing, and that comes through this tax credit," Hopper said.
On top of the hometown benefits and independence from China, domestic manufacturing credits were determined to be a
relatively low-cost budget appropriation when scored by the Congressional Budget Office.
"If you look at the cost of the manufacturing tax credits, they're actually very low, relative to the whole funding size of the IRA. So our view is that we don't think the manufacturing tax credits, manufacturing solar or wind equipment, would be highly at risk," Breidert said.
Numerous manufacturers across the solar supply chain — including those making modules, inverters, racking and more — have cited the IRA as the reason they're moving manufacturing operations to the United States. They very likely would not have been able to make the move without the tax credits.
"We need investors who are willing to say, 'Yeah, I am going to take
a gamble on this, because I know I can get a return,'" said Leslie Chang, director of strategy and policy for U.S. perovskite startup Caelux, which has opened a 100-MW factory outside of Los Angeles. "These manufacturing tax credits have just significantly de-risked the markets such that we can get that level of investment."
ITC and PTC could be at risk
While the manufacturing tax credit is likely the safest IRA incentive in Republican hands, both Breidert and Hopper agree the ITC and PTC may be more at risk.
"The manufacturing tax credit, I would say, has the most durability. The pots of money that are sitting around and unspent have the least durability," Hopper said.
"These manufacturing tax credits have just significantly de-risked the markets such that we can get that level of investment."
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Breidert said reallocating the money set aside for the ITC and PTC would help Republicans extend the tax credits they passed in 2017 that are set to expire at the end of 2025, including personal estate tax exemptions and corporate income tax exemptions.
Still, even if the Republicans do have the power to cut the ITC and PTC, Breidert believes they wouldn't immediately stop the program, but instead shorten
"We don't think there's a lot of risk that they abruptly end credits for wind and solar. They're very popular, they're widely realized and enjoyed on a bipartisan basis," he said. "A lot of rural economic
Hopper and SEIA are working hard to keep that
"The manufacturing tax credit, I would say, has the most durability."
"It was not that long ago that there was consensus among Republicans and Democrats that this was a job creator," she said. "If you look at the amount of private investment that comes from the ITC, it's staggering numbers. It has an incredible multiplier effect."
Legal advocacy group L4GG has helped many cities use the ITC through the new direct pay provision, and sees how popular it is with all demographics.
"I'm working with cities across the country in red and blue and very red states who are taking advantage of tax credits — in Ohio, in Missouri, in Indiana," L4GG's Blanchard said. "I don't think these cities would be very happy to have these things pulled away."
Regardless of what happens with the IRA, Breidert believes renewable energy will still flourish as the country moves quickly toward clean electrification. If the incentive time limit is shortened, jobs will just get fast-tracked.
"We can see that the uncertainty is difficult," he said. "If, in fact, there were to be a change in the IRA in a shortening of the tax credit period … you would obviously then see a lot of pull forward and a lot of activity. People would race to try to get a lot of projects done quickly. So, ironically, it could lead to a bit of a boom, in the short run, as we've seen in other cycles where ITCs and PTCs are expiring." SPW
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Enphase
Inverter Technology
As homes become increasingly electrified and utilities respond to higher demand with new and complex rate structures, solar + storage projects have to find more creative ways to improve homeowner ROI.
The two largest residential solar inverter manufacturers have been adding new components to their offerings for the past few years. SolarEdge released its Energy Bank residential battery in the United States in 2021, added bidirectional EV chargers to its fleet in late 2023, and acquired EV charging software startup Wevo in April 2024. Enphase has been building its portfolio too, releasing a new LFP battery in May 2023, an EV charger in October 2023 and new power control software in April 2024.
The primarily inverter manufacturers argue that the sophisticated level of system visibility and intelligence required to get the most value out of systems is only possible when using key ancillary components from the same maker.
Installers find other benefits to these exclusive pairings too.
New Mexico contractor Solar Works Energy used numerous brand pairings for the past six years but found it difficult to troubleshoot problems with multiple manufacturers.
"One might say, ‘Well, it might be a battery setting,’ and other ones say, ‘It might be an inverter setting,’" said Solar Works' operations manager Chris Hilkert.
To solve that frustration, Solar Works has switched to SolarEdge for both inverters and batteries on most gridconnected systems.
"When we're dealing with SolarEdge, and we have their whole ecosystem, it makes it really easy. There's only one point if you need support," Hilkert said.
Iowa installer ECG Solar experienced the same customer service struggle in the past when mixing and matching inverter and storage brands. The company liked the reliability and streamlined service available for Enphase products, so it now primarily installs those inverter and battery combinations as an Enphase Gold Installer.
"Having it be an ensemble, meaning specifically designed to work together with all the Enphase product line, one single interface — it's just a one-call type situation," said Jason Gideon, president of ECG Solar.
Sticking with one brand for these main components is also helpful to the installers and electricians putting in these systems. Instead of trying to learn the basics of a plethora of products, they can become experts in a single brand.
"Asking a crew and an electrician to be a master of everything — that's a tough ask. I've talked to other installers who kind of do everything and they never really
Inverter Technology
simpl
ECG Solar uses Enphase inverters and batteries to give customers a single interface for their solar + storage systems.
know how to do anything very well, to be honest," Hilkert said.
Whole-home energy systems
Both SolarEdge and Enphase said this exclusivity trend is inevitable as systems evolve from standalone solar to "home energy management systems," including solar and storage, along with ancillary products like EV chargers, load control panels and more.
"There are really strong technical reasons why you want them both to come from the same vendor," said Chris Thompson, VP of product and technical marketing at SolarEdge.
SolarEdge and other manufacturers use AI and machine learning to create digital twins of systems, predicting the best times to charge and discharge batteries, charge EVs and turn energy loads on and off.
"If you just have a discrete battery, that battery doesn't know enough to make those decisions. So we're increasingly getting to systems where, if you have a common platform, it makes better decisions, it generates more money [and] generates more savings by leveraging the synergy," Thompson said.
While perhaps the most important work these systems do to help customers save money happens in the background, choosing one vendor for these key products also means more streamlined visibility and management for the homeowner. It's the difference between having one app to view all the pieces and parts or multiple apps to try to understand a home's solar and storage consumption.
"It could be really complicated in the cloud, but for the homeowner, it's just going to be ‘set it and forget it,’ and it makes all the decisions for them," Thompson said.
Adapting to a changing grid
California's NEM 3.0 shook up the industry in many ways, setting forth a complex matrix to determine ratepayer compensation for energy exported to the grid at certain times based on demand. To get the most value out of new California solar systems, homeowners need solar + storage software and hardware that's intelligent enough to follow each utility's unique plan.
"We have a very complicated solution in the sense of the complexity of the engineering. We're running all these prediction models," Thompson said. "You need a Ph.D. in math to figure this out, partly because the utilities are still figuring it out themselves."
California is one of the first states to shift rate structures based on dynamic market variables, but it's not far-fetched to expect other states to follow its lead as solar penetration increases and strain on the electrical grid grows.
Solar Works Energy relies on SolarEdge inverters and batteries for most of its gridtied residential solar projects to simplify service and give customers the smartest systems possible.
Inverter Technology
After about two decades of electric demand remaining flat in the United States, it has spiked due to the boom in data centers and EVs, according to The New York Times. A Q2 2024 report by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center found that after a recent lull in policy actions, four states have initiated formal studies to inform net-metering successor programs and calculate the value of solar. Customers with smart, grid-responsive renewable energy systems will be the ones to benefit most as rate structures change with the times.
"When you have complex hardware and software now driving this energy system, mixing and matching becomes really problematic, because now you want to build this energy system. And it has got to operate as designed for 25 years, it has to adapt itself over time, because energy needs
change and the usage profiles change," said Raghu Belur, co-founder and chief products officer at Enphase.
Deep visibility into the home energy system paired with intelligent software is the only way to ensure customers are receiving the savings promised in the initial proposal, according to Belur. This starts with topdown system design.
"We use massive amounts of data to build our training models. And we use that same engine in the design and simulation tool. Then when we actually operate it, the two match," Belur
said. "Solar, battery, EV charger, heat pump, utility rates, VPP grid services — everything is incorporated into the design simulation engine."
Stand-alone residential solar systems are giving way to whole-home energy systems including batteries, electric cars, load controllers and other tools to help homeowners become active managers of their own energy instead of passive utility customers. Orchestrating the smartest system possible is the challenge manufacturers are trying to solve by expanding to sell all the products these systems need. SPW
Solar Measurement and Monitoring Technology
our brands Kipp & Zonen and Lufft,
Kelly Pickerel • Editor in Chief
Residential installers adapt large-format solar panels to roofs
Residential solar installers have always had to deal with slight size variances among solar panel brands. Even when the industry was generally working within the same 60-cell footprint, one brand’s bordering white space on a solar panel may be larger than another’s, but only slightly. Today’s competing wafer camps (M10’s 182-mm wafer vs. G12’s 210-mm wafer) provide a wider pool of differing panel sizes for installers to sift through. When the end goal is generating the most energy in the smallest area, installers today have more options than ever for best-fit arrays.
Qcells, the most popular residential solar panel brand among the 2024 Top Solar Contractors class, has designed its current residential module based on
energy production, BOS and racking compatibility and logistical efficiency instead of conforming to the previously established 60-cell standard. This has led the company to default to 54-cell designs for the residential market using the larger M10 wafer. The company’s latest Q.TRON BLK M-G2+ panel is 4 in. wider than the older 60-cell panel.
Comparatively, popular residential brand REC has transitioned to the G12 wafer and only uses 44 full-sized cells in its residential line. The REC Alpha Pure-RX panel is 6.5 in. wider than the company’s last 60-cell design.
Those extra inches on each module means installers have to be more creative with designs to optimize roof space. Matt Wrightsman,
customer training manager for design platform Aurora Solar, said local safety requirements shouldn’t be overlooked when layouts are creeping closer to the edge.
“With modules getting larger on roofs, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to fire code setbacks and fire pathway requirements,” he said.
Robert Santoleri, president of Pennsylvania installer TerraSol Energies, said larger panels are making it more difficult to meet setbacks while maximizing space, but his company has found success with specific brands.
“I like the REC [line of panels] because they are actually shorter and wider, closer to square,” he said. “While this is still to be determined if it is
REC’s Alpha Pure-RX panels are about 6.5 in. wider than older, 60-cell designs. This new size leads to creative layouts on residential roofs. Sunpath Services
Solar Spotlight: Playing the long game in domestic solar panel manufacturing
Trina Solar US, the domestic arm of the global PV module manufacturer, is ramping up production in the United States. On this episode of Solar Spotlight, Adam Macaluso, national accounts manager for U.S. channel business at Trina Solar, shares an update on Trina’s U.S. manufacturing footprint, as well as the company’s near-future plans.
A written portion of this podcast is below but be sure to listen to the full episode on your preferred podcast service.
What is new with Trina Solar US? We have been around for 27 years, which I believe makes us the oldest and largest manufacturer out there. Last year, when we tallied it all up, it puts us at 205-GW module shipments shipped around the world for various branches. We've been in the U.S. since about 2009 and we have over 100 employees today when we started off with probably about a dozen or so, and we have just been growing and achieving so much. We have all these fantastic new team members. Things have been going very, very well for us as of late — a lot of new growth, a lot of new friendly faces here in the United States. Specifically, the biggest thing that we have going is our new factory. It's in Wilmer, Texas. It is a 5-GW facility that will produce our new 210-mm n-type TOPCon modules, that will handle our utility modules, our commercial modules and our residential modules all at the same time. It's about 1.35 million ft2 — huge facility, 24 football fields large — and that is going to supply all of our modules to the U.S. market starting next year, and should create, when it's running up at full tilt, about 1,500 direct full-time jobs.
What’s in Trina Solar’s plan for next year and beyond?
What we're looking at is the n-type TOPCon module — our new bread and butter moving forward. The short version is it’s the entire wattage in the same size
footprint to what folks are used to. It'll be a monofacial panel, U.S.-made, of course, and we'll have a higher wind load rating — 6,000 psi front side, 5,400 psi backside — stronger frames, and it's still going be the same weight, so it’s still under the 50lb limit. A lot of incredibly smart folks that we work with have been putting in a lot of hours to make this product coming out of the Wilmer facility, basically the cream of the crop.
How does Trina match up to other manufacturers?
We have a really good blend of what I would call a “cost-to-quality” ratio. We have a lot of dedicated R&D around the planet, our own R&D facilities, and we put a lot of time and effort into making the best quality panel. I think that's the thing that separate us: how much time and effort we put into what we do, our price, cost-to-quality ratio, along with manufacturing.
What is Trina’s focus in the residential market?
We always try to think about our product with the installer in mind, and the homeowner. How is this going to look and
function on somebody's roof at the end of the day? And we think about that not only from the physical installation aspect of it, like the aesthetics, the weight, those kinds of things, but also the long term. What are those people going to need in terms of support for the next 25 years? Are they going to need a U.S.-based warranty team? Yes, of course we have that. Are they going to need local sales and support staff? Yes, we have that. And then what other value-added services do we have to offer as well? Looking into the future, U.S.-made panels, additional capacity is coming online in the future, always trying to innovate and find ways that will benefit our partners moving forward for the next 27 years. SPW
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Panel Technology
ergonomic for installers to handle a 48-in. wide panel, it is better for design. We can maximize southern roof exposures with more panels in portrait.”
Even though large-format panels are also larger energy producers — both the Qcells and REC updated modules produce 100 W more than their older 60-cell variants — customers aren’t necessarily choosing fewer panels to more easily meet certain system sizes. TerraSol has found that it’s all about maximizing roof space. Last year’s average system size for the installer was 11.6 kW, while the average is pushing 12.5 kW in 2024.
“For most homeowners, if they have more space available on their roof, they are taking more panels,” Santoleri said. “Most homeowners are either planning on electrical upgrades to their house or are aspirationally looking at an EV purchase in the next year or so. They want to plan ahead for more electric usage.”
For customers wanting to expand existing arrays or replace outdated panels, a formerly simple swap-out can
The new large-format panel from Qcells is 4 in. wider than the older 60-cell design for the residential market.
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be difficult now with panel manufacturers focusing only on their large-format designs. Qcells said retrofitting an old 60-cell module-equipped residential array is not ideal with the company’s current module offerings, as “there are both physical and electrical factors that deem this both uneconomical and inefficient.” The easiest route is replacing the old system with a whole new array or updating a small section, said Michael Jimenez, technical sales and warranty claims manager with REC Americas.
“This can be a bit tricky, but there are suitable solutions when this scenario is encountered,” he said. “Typically, the newer modules are added to either a new sub-array or at the end of the existing array. This depends on the existing racking type and availability of roof space, among other sitespecific attributes. In some instances, homeowners opt to replace an entire string to either accommodate a traditional
string inverter or for aesthetic reasons. Regardless of the need to retrofit existing arrays, there are solutions available.”
Santoleri has concerns about the wide range of panel sizes now used in the residential market. Designing an array is one thing — especially as design programs like Aurora continue to input the latest models into its platform — but installing bigger, bulkier panels every day could eventually impact worker retention and safety in general.
“We do the best we can with tie-offs and ergonomic tools to handle larger and larger panels, but there are limits,” he said. “It is my job as an owner that cares about my employees and clients to try and advocate for change. It’s up to installers to choose manufacturers that at least may be able to change in the future. I like high-performing companies [that also] seem to have limits when it comes to panel size.” SPW
An installation using REC Alpha Pure-RX panels.
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Billy Ludt • Senior Editor
Why solar racking is chasing UL 3741 compliance
Since it was published by the Underwriters Laboratories in 2020, solar racking producers have been putting their structures through a gamut of testing to be compliant with UL 3741: Standard for Safety for Photovoltaic Hazard Control, one of the routes for making rooftop solar projects meet fire safety requirements.
The first few companies to achieve it primarily worked in the flat-roof, commercial solar market, but in the last year, several residential racking manufacturers have achieved UL 3741 compliance.
“Change takes time,” said John de Papp, senior VP of product management and marketing at PanelClaw. “There
are a lot of AHJs that still today are just getting up to speed on 3741 and a year ago, they would have said, ‘What is this standard?’”
So, what is UL 3741?
The National Electrical Code dictates industry standards like rapid shutdown requirements, a safety measure for ceasing electrical activity within solar arrays to reduce electrical shock risk. There are three methods for meeting rapid shutdown requirements on solar projects.
The first is using a system that doesn’t require grounding, like buildingintegrated photovoltaics, because there are no metals present in them. The
second is installing a rapid shutdown device on an array. The third is UL 3741, and this standard tests the safety of an entire system instead of just individual components.
"We're going back to how we built projects before all the module-level power electronics (MLPE) came on the scene, which works great," said Elie Rothschild, CEO of Sollega.
Certifying that a rooftop solar array is UL 3741-compliant hinges on how the system's racking and electrical components interact.
First, the array must be capable of rapid shutdown. Cutting power to projects with MLPE on every panel requires turning off every single MLPE.
PanelClaw’s clawFR flat roof solar racking is UL 3741 compliant. The company was early to adopt these safety measures for its racking.
baȷa’s Plate2Plate Solar Support offers an optimum design advantages and flexibility available in both the TEE Post and the Semi/Full Cantilever. Solar Support Structures allows for a clear and unobstructed space with no supporting columns or posts intruding the parking area. The improved functionality provides a more open space concept for parking and versatility with the added value of having ample clearance for door openings.
This robust design utilizes larger foundation and framing members G90 galvanized cold formed steel members, for flexibility, maximized space spans and added durability rust free with minor maintenance.
The Plate2Plate design allows for fast and ease of installation utilizing only four bolted assembly main beam to column connection without the need to perform field welding, additional multi bolted assembly and plates, any special testing equipment, third-party testing lab, and special inspections. This versatile design is a cost-effective money saving and time alternate solution than traditional installation and design methods.
UL 3741 instead recommends using string inverters capable of turning off the entire array from a single location. Using a string inverter over MLPE might mean sacrificing power optimization and monitoring for individual panels, however, optimizing power through MLPE is better suited for roofs with potential shading, and that happens more often on smaller residential roofs than taller commercial buildings.
“Many of [our commercial customers] are not sold on this idea that using MLPEs and having module-level rapid shutdown is inherently safer,” de Papp said. “In fact, a lot of them conclude the opposite is the case, because you’re adding many, many more active devices to the system and you have a lot more interconnects.”
The second consideration for UL 3741 is wire management. Array wiring must be secured using UL-rated equipment, and wires must not be exposed to the elements or resting on any metal surface. Certain manufacturers have designed their racking with channels to conceal wires and provide space for cable runs, and if it’s necessary to run wire between module bays, it must be covered in protective conduit.
“They have all these layers of protection that you have to meet to separate conductors from the actual metal,” said
Nicolas Martinez, senior product manager at Unirac. “You have to protect the wire when you’re going from row to row, and make sure that you’re not going over a sharp corner or anything like that. That has to be fully supported along the side of the modules.”
While the requirements above apply for both commercial and residential rooftop solar arrays, the regulation’s inverter placement rules are more challenging for small, pitchedroof projects to satisfy. The code requires that an inverter be placed within 1 ft of the array boundary, which isn't common practice for residential arrays. The workaround for that is using a string isolation device to separate the rapid shutdown function from the inverter. By installing a string isolation device on the roof, the inverter can be placed elsewhere, like inside the garage, while the project stays code-compliant.
"One of the big challenges that the industry saw with residential implementation of 3741 is nobody wants a big inverter on their roof, and a lot of the residential inverters aren't necessarily rated to be installed up on your roof, on a pitched system," Martinez said.
Motivations for being UL 3741-compliant
At a base level, UL 3741's primary concern is protecting first
Mounting Technology
responders and requires that complete solar arrays undergo a series of tests to ensure a firefighter doesn’t get electrocuted. These tests are simulating scenarios where a firefighter in full protective gear could encounter a shock hazard on the array, like kneeling or falling onto the system, or even dropping an axe through it — including panels and racking.
“The racking is holding everything together, so in a way it does make sense," de Papp said. "If you're thinking about firefighter safety, the racking is central to that, and certainly inside the array field, all of the wire management is happening, typically, either through conductors that are directly attached to the racking using wire management that's provided by the racking vendor or off-the-shelf components."
Beyond reducing shock hazards, UL 3741 can also reduce solar project equipment costs and labor time. Not installing MLPE means saving that much per component based on how many modules are on an array. It also means installers won’t have to spend time attaching them to every module.
UL 3741 is a living safety measure and is expected to receive continual
updates. For contractors considering building a UL 3741-compliant solar array, consult manufacturers to determine what inverter and racking combinations qualify.
"There's still a lot of contentiousness around this standard,” said Yann Schwarz, VP of systems engineering and compliance at Enstall. “Obviously, there's concern about the clarity of the certification,
both from the manufacturer's manuals and from the [Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory]. I think in many cases that's very much justified, because it's not always clear, and as an industry we need to do better, because it needs to be clear what the rules are of how to build these systems and what really encompasses a thorough certification.” SPW
Unirac’s entire portfolio of flat roof racking is UL 3741 compliant.
Sollega FastRack is a flat roof racking system made of non-conductive polymer, lending itself to meeting shock hazard standards in UL 3741.
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Storage Technology
Kelly Pickerel • Editor in Chief
California solar installers get wellacquainted with batteries in NEM 3.0 era
California is regularly seen as a leader in clean energy, and no area of the country has more solar or energy storage deployments. Remarkably though, the attachment of batteries to residential solar installations has been low — until recently, only 10% of home solar systems in California also had batteries. New net-metering rules in the state are dramatically changing the solar + storage landscape though, and solar installers are keeping busy with the new normal.
In 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission enacted an overhaul of the state’s net-metering program. Since April 15, 2023, any new solar installation feeding energy onto the grid is now compensated for that power through a net-billing tariff. This new structure, known as NEM 3.0, significantly reduces the compensation for behind-the-meter solar systems —
by as much as 75%, when compared to systems operating under the NEM 1.0 and NEM 2.0 structures.
Under NEM 3.0, homeowners are encouraged to consume their own solar-generated power instead of pushing it back to the grid, which ultimately requires an energy storage system. While residential batteries had previously been marketed primarily for emergency backup during utility outages, now batteries are being used to help homeowners consume their own power during high utility rate periods. A brief from Berkeley Lab found that more batteries are being installed in California during this new era — there’s now a 60% battery attachment rate to residential solar projects, compared to only 10% before 2023.
When Hawaii switched to a similar net-billing tariff almost 10 years ago, solar customers were also encouraged
to add storage in order for projects to make financial sense. The island state now has a 90% battery attachment rate on new solar projects, a goal battery companies would love to see repeated in California.
Many California solar installers are already self-reporting 90% attachment rates on residential solar projects. Jeremy Pearl, residential sales manager of Sandbar Solar & Electric in Santa Cruz, said the company has been installing solar in central California for 20 years and had almost no battery installs until the late 2010s.
“Around 2020 to 2022, we were seeing about a 30% attachment rate for new projects. Maybe 150 residential projects a year, mostly new, with a 30% battery attachment rate,” he said.
Storage Technology
“Once we hit NEM 3.0, I thought it was going to be an 80% attachment rate, but it turns out to be more like 90%. The phone did definitely start ringing.”
Similarly, Sun Light & Power of Berkeley has seen a jump in battery installs.
“Since the introduction of NEM 3.0, we've observed a significant uptick in interest for battery add-ons among residential solar customers, with a 95% attachment rate,” said Chris Mink, sales and marketing manager. “The changes under NEM 3.0 prompted homeowners to seek greater energy independence. Many homeowners feel more in control of their energy usage and costs [with a battery].”
Choosing the best residential battery
With so many customers now needing batteries throughout California, installers are narrowing their product choices to those that are reliable and easy to install. Sun Light & Power installs the Tesla Powerwall and FranklinWH system for these reasons.
“By selecting Tesla Powerwall and FranklinWH batteries, we ensure that our customers receive high-quality, reliable battery storage solutions optimized for their specific energy needs,” Mink said. “Tesla’s DC- or AC-coupled design allows for flexible installation in both new and existing solar setups. FranklinWH's AC-coupled systems are particularly advantageous for retrofits due to their ease of installation and scalability.”
Vincent Ambrose, CCO of FranklinWH, said it’s “gratifying” to hear that many installers in California are turning to FranklinWH for the battery system’s reliability, which has recorded a postinstallation servicing rate of only 0.2%. The company has seen an increase in sales throughout the state.
“Storage attachment rate has definitely skyrocketed in California in the NEM 3.0 era,” he said. “New solar customers must have batteries to realize savings. For existing NEM customers looking to add solar and keep their original NEM agreements, batteries are necessary to maximize value of that new non-exporting PV.”
Storage Technology
Battery retrofits for existing netmetering customers
There are more than 1 million solarized homes in California that don’t yet have a battery, and they can keep their NEM 1.0 and NEM 2.0 compensation rates while enjoying the functionality of energy storage through battery retrofits. Solar contractors have a backlog of battery retrofit projects from the rush to get solar systems completed before the April 2023 NEM 2.0 cutoff. Many installers, Sandbar Solar included, told homeowners to get their solar installed quickly sans battery to secure better net-metering compensation.
“We were telling people, ‘Get your solar now and don’t worry about the complexity or cost of batteries. Call us next year and we’ll add on the batteries,’” Pearl said. “It’s allowable to retrofit a NEM 1.0 or NEM 2.0 system with batteries without losing your grandfathering.”
But a new state licensing rule could prevent Sandbar Solar from accessing that cultivated customer list.
The California Contractors State License Board recently approved a rule that prohibits licensed solar contractors from retrofitting batteries to existing solar systems or performing maintenance on previously installed batteries. The state instead requires a
California solar installers cite reliability and installation ease as the top characteristics they look for in battery partners. FranklinWH
Storage Technology
licensed electrician to complete the task. Solar contractors can still pair batteries with solar at the initial install, but putting in the battery after solar is commissioned would be prohibited. Consumer protection groups are appealing the rule, which could take effect on Oct. 1, 2024.
Battery retrofits are not difficult for solar installers. Especially with the ease of AC-coupled setups, there is no difference in installing a battery at the same time as solar compared to after solar is commissioned, said FranklinWH’s Ambrose. The new electrician licensing rule may actually make things more complicated and expensive for the homeowner.
“Everyone’s waiting for battery prices to come down. What I like to point out to consumers — what’s happening with inflation in our country, the cost of labor and the way California rules are starting to change that require a highercaliber electrician for battery jobs, I do not expect prices to come down much in the near-term,” said Pearl of Sandbar
Solar. “When you do a Phase 1 solar and a Phase 2 [battery install], you’re spending maybe $5,000 in additional costs. That’s the interconnection, the permit, redrawing it and engineering and setting that final inspection, mobilizing the crew. I think that people should understand you’re going to save a significant amount of money if you do it all at once.”
While California solar installers are experts in solar design, the state doesn’t consider them capable enough to hook up a battery, even though they’re doing just that on nearly every residential solar project now under NEM 3.0 rules. The electrician licensing requirement may change, but one thing is sure — residential solar installers in California will be installing more batteries from now on.
“We are witnessing the rise of virtual power plants and demand response programs nationwide,” Ambrose said. “With more and more utilities changing or eliminating net metering, the conversation around storage is strengthening.” SPW
Adding batteries after a solar project has been commissioned is not difficult for solar installers to accomplish, especially with AC-coupled setups. FranklinWH
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Solar Spotlight: Using energy load management to avoid service upgrades
The American power grid is electrifying through renewable energy proliferation, and homeowners are following suit by replacing gas powered vehicles and appliances with electric-powered options. However, certain homes are encountering the conundrum of having too high of an electrical load and not enough electrical service to back it. Savant is a recognized leader in both smart home and smart power solutions, developing solutions for balancing electrical loads in the age of in-home solar and storage. Ian Roberts, VP of sales excellence at Savant, is on this episode of Solar Spotlight to discuss the viability of energy load management.
A written portion of this podcast is below but be sure to listen to the full episode on your preferred podcast service.
SPW: For our listeners unfamiliar with your company, can you tell us a little bit about Savant and what you do?
Savant is a smart home brand that's been around for about 20 years. We started in 2005 really looking to create an intuitive experience for every homeowner for all their technology within the home. Our background comes from telecom and revolutionizing soft switching in that industry. Our expertise lent to standardizing the practices in that space and becoming the leader in things like smart lighting, entertainment and other technologies in the home. More recently, we've applied that to the power in the
house, pulling together all the technology that we see popping up in the market now today.
What products do you offer solar companies and homeowners looking to harness the power of the sun?
We have a full suite of power solutions. At its heart is our Power Storage 20, an energy storage system that scales to any size home. The key difference with other solutions that solar contractors may be using today is it's something that can address the full home’s load to essentially back up the entire house. So, if there's a homeowner who wants to have a seamless operation of everything that's powered in the home, we can deliver that. We can, of course, fill a partial backup solution as well.
It turns out that many solar owners also drive EVs. However, not every homeowner can install a charger. Why is that?
If you think about the standard home that's built however long ago, the electrical service that was put into that home was really designed around everything in the house when it was built. As you fast forward, new technologies come into the place. People are looking at new energy efficient heating systems or adding that new electric vehicle, which just didn't exist when the home was built. They just don't have that overhead in their electrical service to power these new
things over and above their existing home appliances and everything else that's been built into their electrical panel.
How many homes are we talking about? What are the barriers and options for those homeowners?
Our research shows that over 50 million homes out there have less than a 200A electrical service, and so this is a challenge for the many people who are looking to upgrade appliances or pull a new EV into their driveway but have the best experience by being able to charge at home. It's for those 50 million homes, but this is really a technology for anybody with an electrical service that is maxed out.
The traditional solution would be to pursue a costly electrical service upgrade with the utility, which could be in the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars and take significant time to execute.
So, what is Savant doing differently to help avoid service upgrades?
We are using our load management technology that we've had in the market for several years now in a new, unique way that we call Savant Smart Budget. It allows a homeowner to use their existing electrical service but decide what elements of the home they're powering at any given time. We know that the homeowner might not need everything powered around the clock, and this is what makes room for them to add that EV charger and be able to direct their available power where they need it most.
Savant’s Smart Budget feature prioritizes how power is used in the home by monitoring live consumption, shedding unnecessary loads, and balancing usage within a limited electrical service. This powerful solution starts at a modest $1,499 and can scale to monitor and manage any or all circuits in the home. Savant will be at RE+ at Booth 63069 where you can learn more about Smart Budget and the entire Savant Power System. SPW
Ian Roberts VP of sales excellence Savant
This podcast is sponsored by
NOVEMBER 14-15, 2024
ORLANDO, FL
Join conversations with industry buyers, suppliers, distributors, consultants, and more to explore solutions, exchange ideas, and discover new technologies within the industry.
Guide to
The U.S. solar industry’s biggest tradeshow has grown by thousands of attendees in the last decade. This year’s sprawling show floor in Anaheim will feature all the newest products to transform homes, businesses and massive stretches of land into clean energy power plants. In this special section, we have a preview of the products companies are bringing to the Anaheim Convention Center in 2024.
SPW editors will be reporting on the most exciting solar tech at the show on September 10 and 11, so follow along on solarpowerworldonline.com and social media, whether you’re at the show or your desk!
Affordable Wire Management: Cable Management System
Booth L3-1509
Affordable Wire Management (AWM) delivers innovative, precision-engineered solar cable management systems (CMS) to the nation’s top-ranked EPCs, with over 10 GW installed to date. AWM solutions include Arden Messenger Cable Hangers, Bonsai Module Cable Hangers, and Solar LOTO; hardware offerings include the PHOTON Kit and the HELIOS Beam Rod.
APA Solar Racking: A-Frame 2.0
Booth 46027
APA’s A-Frame 2.0 is a tracker interface for SAT sites with challenging soils utilizing ground screws or helicals. The 2.0 is tooled up for high volume production at a costeffective price point and integrates seamlessly with top SAT manufacturers. The A-Frame mitigates foundation risk and frost heave concerns.
APsystems: APstorage ESS
Booth 43039
APstorage offers seamless integration with APsystems' solar solutions, versatile modes for customized energy savings, and unbeatable value in energy storage. Maximize energy efficiency with cutting-edge technology and exceptional performance, and experience the incredible flexibility a batteryagnostic inverter can bring to your product offering.
Array Technologies: Array DuraTrack with SkyLink Control System
Booth 44001
The Array SkyLink Control System enhances the performance and efficiency of our DuraTrack and OmniTrack utility-scale solar trackers. This innovative solution includes an eightlinked-row architecture with passive wind mitigation, PV string powered brushless DC motor, Zigbee wireless communication and a suite of SmarTrack features.
HELLO GOODBYE
Boviet Solar: Greenville, North Carolina, Manufacturing
Booth 34001
Boviet Solar has selected North Carolina for its first North American PV cell and module production facility. Stop by the booth to learn more.
Briggs & Stratton Energy Solutions: SimpliPHI Battery Backup Packages
Booth 52025
Briggs & Stratton’s new Battery Backup Packages provide an easy way to meet customers’ backup power needs with Essential, Managed and Whole Home power options. Packages feature the SimpliPHI 6.6 wire-free, stackable batteries and Sol-Ark inverters. Stop by the booth for a demonstration.
CPS America: 250 kW-600 V string inverter
Booth 28038
CPS is launching the new DC Enhanced 250 kW-600 V string inverter designed for ground-mount applications with 600-VAC system interconnections. The 250 kW-600 V inverter will feature distributed and centralized wire-box options, integrated AC and DC disconnect switches, and a separable wire-box design for ease of installation and serviceability.
Eaton: Smart Breakers Gen 2
Booth 32011
Eaton’s next-generation smart breakers provide energy monitoring and load control — optimizing backup power and energy use, while helping prevent battery failure during grid outages. Leveraging industry-first technology, the breakers simplify renewable and energy storage integrations. With 2 pole, 15-60A GFCI protection and open APIs, they’re designed for interoperability and cybersecurity.
Power Up Your Solar Game
PV Solar Testing Solutions
PV Current-Voltage Analyzer
"Best for high voltage"
Measures and displays current voltage curves up to 1500V and 30A
Automates data management, analysis, and reporting
Model: PVA-1500 HE2
Solar Irradiance Meter
Scan to view our Fluke solar selection
“Best for PV site survey”
Simplify installation, and troubleshooting of PV arrays
Measures irradiance, temperature, inclination and direction of the solar array
Model: IRR1-SOL
Solar Clamp Meter
"Best for solar high voltage" AC/DC 999.9 Amps CAT III 1500 V rated Thin jaw for access to cables in crowded boxes IP54 outdoor rated
Model: 393FC
EG4 Electronics: 12kPV All-In-One Hybrid Inverter
Booth L3-1113
The 12kPV, EG4’s latest 48-V split-phase hybrid inverter/ charger, supports 12 kW of solar input, powering up to 8 kW of loads while charging your batteries. Capable of starting a 5-ton AC, it features a 120/240 split-phase design. Manage your system remotely with EG4 software for convenience and efficiency.
Enact Systems: Affordable & Accurate 3D Software Designs in Seconds
Booth 10044
Boost residential and commercial sales with the Enact Allin-One Solar Design Software. Design solar energy systems remotely using satellite imaging. Updated design features include 3D designs using DSM HD images, modeling flush/east-west/table-frame roof layouts, displaying selfconsumption/TOU storage to offset utility bills, customizable proposals and open APIs that connect to IT systems.
Energy Toolbase: ETB Consulting
Booth 34039
ETB Consulting is a pay-as-you-go application offering users a comprehensive economic analysis completed by our team of experts for solar and storage projects. We conduct thorough evaluations across all facets of your project. By outsourcing to our experts, clients receive a precise analysis, enhancing project efficiency and maximizing payback.
Enphase Energy: IQ8 Series Microinverters
Grand Plaza – G10
Enphase Energy will be displaying its IQ8 Series Microinverters, including the new U.S.-made residential and commercial microinverters that can help projects qualify for the domestic content bonus tax credit. Stop by the Enphase Training Van to see the products and a fully functioning Enphase Energy System.
EPC Power: M10 System
Grand Plaza – G5
EPC Power’s new M System integrates up to 12 modular 500-kW inverters, offering the benefits of both string and central inverters for any PV or energy storage application. The inverter system offers best-in-class performance, availability, and domestic content to maximize project revenue.
FabTech Solar Solutions: Solar Panel Recycling & Reuse Solutions
Booth 46082
Get your free “Endof-Life Solar Planning Resources” eBook and find out how you can save money recycling your solar panels. Fabtech provides both refurbishing and recycling solutions. Refurbishing options offset recycling/freight costs and give others the opportunity to buy used. With recycling facilities nationwide, it is more accessible to all.
Growatt: MIN 3-11.4kTL-XH2-US
Booth 50050
Discover the advanced parallel system solutions from Growatt: the MIN 3-11.4kTL-XH2-US, SYN 200E-23-US, and the APX HV US Battery System. Building on the success of the first generation, our new system offers seamless 16-ms on/offgrid transitions, generator connectivity, and smart load control. Experience robust performance with an impressive output power of up to 45.6 kW.
HellermannTyton: Solar Golden Row Kit
Booth 26020
Our newly revamped Golden Row Kit for Nextracker and bifacial modules features two all-new parts: our Nextracker Ratchet O-Clamp for rapid, tailor-made bundling and our Solar I-Beam Clip that simplifies pulling long cable runs. Get your very own Golden Row sample kit at the booth.
PARTNER WITH THE BEST FOR SOLAR AND LARGE-SCALE EV CHARGER INSTALLATIONS.
• Comprehensive EPC Solutions: We provide end-to-end services for your renewable and sustainable projects.
• Technologies Offered: Expertise in Photovoltaic (PV) systems, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and Microgrids.
• Cost-Effective Large-scale EV Installations: Offering no-cost EV charging station installations, enhancing property value and sustainability without upfront expenses.
• Full-Service Capabilities:
• Design and Engineering: Custom solutions to fit your specific project needs.
• Permitting: Handling all regulatory and permitting processes seamlessly.
• Utility Interface: Efficiently managing interactions with utility companies.
baker-electric.com/re
LONGEVITY
Baker Electric is firmly established as a national leader in Renewable Energy. With 86+ years of experience, 5.5+ GW of solar installed, and 300+ EV Projects completed, our track record speaks for itself.
IMO Automation: Rapid Shutdown Initiator Switch
Booth 43057
Come see IMO's lockable/ taggable UL508i rated Rapid Shutdown Switch that meets the latest code requirements for systems including ESS aspects. Further enhances IMO's market-leading range of safe, TRUE DC disconnects.
Imperial Star Solar: TOPCon 210R Module
Booth 24101
The TOPCon 210R module offers an increased 630-W power boost at 23.3% efficiency without sacrificing compatibility with existing racking solutions. This 132 half-cut module provides higher output, improved LCOE and reduced line losses. The module’s lightweight construction reduces labor
Infinity Rack: Watertight Solar Carports, Pergolas and Pavilions
Marriott Outdoor Pavilion 2322
Infinity Rack turns solar power generation into beautiful, functional outdoor spaces. Our proprietary watertight BIPV roof enables the creation of outdoor living spaces, pavilions, covered parking and car charging stations that are durable, withstand high winds and snow loads and are quick to install.
Ingeteam: INGECON SUN
3Power U C Series
Booth 52039
Ingeteam’s latest transformerless PV inverter achieves a market-leading power density with up to 5,378 kVA in just one power stack. This inverter features an innovative control unit for efficient and sophisticated inverter control and a liquid-cooled system that offers greater thermal stability and more optimized component usage.
• Largest Soltec’s double-row of up to 410 feet.
• The ultimate slope-adaptative solar tracker: 15% N-S and E-W.
• Smart Power algorithms.
• Direct piling: faster installation and reduced environmental impact.
• Up to 4 days long-life battery with no sunlight.
• 7% more energy with TeamTrack algorithms.
SHOW PREVIEW
IronRidge: Atlas
Booth 50078
Forge a path ahead with Atlas, your comprehensive solar project management solution. Effortlessly create detailed sales proposals, customize interactive presentations and adjust project designs. Instantly generate permit-ready residential solar plan sets and swiftly export ready-to-submit permit packs with Atlas.
JinkoSolar: EAGLE G6X
Booth 50024
JinkoSolar’s EAGLE G6X is the latest hail and extreme weather PV module solution. It combines highefficiency TOPCon cell technology with EAGLE Talon Glass, ensuring superior hail and wind resistance in a lightweight format. The G6X offers best-in-class hail and wind resistance without increasing BOS costs.
Kinematics: Kinematics ONE
Booth 57039
Kinematics ONE is a complete actuation subsystem that combines Kinematics actuators, motors and intelligent controls in an easy-to-integrate and commission package. Kinematics ONE’s motion intelligence is the easiest way for solar structure providers to deliver complete bankable tracker offerings to the market, eliminating the need to be motion control experts.
Lumin: Lumin Smart Panel
Booth 22061
The Lumin Smart Panel delivers the only universally compatible, retrofit-ready load management platform adaptable for any home. It grants comprehensive energy control to all connected circuits and extends battery backup through integrations with major brands. Homeowners can monitor, schedule and optimize energy use through the user-friendly Lumin app.
Meyer Burger: Meyer Burger Panel+ White XL
Booth 28001
Meyer Burger introduces the new 560-W utility module with 144 half-cut cells in M10 format and power classes of up to around 600 Wp in the future. This module will be manufactured at Meyer Burger's new plant in Goodyear, Arizona.
NRG Systems: NRG Soiling Measurement Kit
Booth 33085
The NRG Soiling Measurement Kit provides the critical information needed to accurately and reliably quantify the site-specific impacts of soiling caused by dust, snow and other particles on prospective and operating PV projects. Compliant with IEC 61724 standards, this kit offers unparalleled flexibility to accommodate a range of PV panel types and sizes.
OTT HydroMet: Met Station for Solar PV
Booth 16030
With best-in-class irradiance and weather sensors from Kipp & Zonen and Lufft, our Met Station ensures accurate data collection and resource monitoring. Enhance your PV plant production and reliability with a solution backed by the OEM. Optimize performance and the lifetime of your PV installations with solar irradiance and weather measurement technology.
Panduit: Polymer Trefoil Cable Cleat
Booth 88018
Cable Cleats are the best way to secure and manage large cables at the end of the solar DC distribution chain, to and from inverters and battery storage. Keeps cables contained in the event of a short circuit fault to prevent harm to people and property. Tested to IEC61914, the latest globally recognized standard.
Supplying everything above the roof line — including PV Solar Spotlight:
ABC Supply is a prolific distributor in the North American roofing market and has expanded into solar component distribution as well. James Mason, VP of renewable energies at ABC Supply, is on this episode of Solar Spotlight to discuss the company’s history, motivations for entering the PV market and its ambition to reshape how solar contractors are supplied with solar hardware.
A written portion of this podcast is below but be sure to listen to the full episode on your preferred podcast service.
Can you provide an overview of who ABC Supply is?
ABC supply is North America's largest wholesale distributor of select exterior and interior building products. ABC was founded in 1982 by Ken Hendricks and Diane Hendricks, and it's important to note that Ken was a third-generation roofer. He started this company to support the roofing contractor business, something that’s in his blood, something that he understands, and ABC’s sole focus was to help remove the friction and make it easy for roofing contractors to grow their business.
ABC Supply has a long history in the roofing industry. How does that experience benefit solar contractors? We have a vast distribution channel, a national footprint, connections with national vendor or manufacturing partners,
and we've helped contractors grow and scale their businesses for the last 40+ years. And we're going to be able to bring a lot of those lessons learned and best practices to help solar contractors do the same.
How is ABC Supply redefining renewable energy distribution?
As the renewable segment is expanding and getting more into the mainstream, there's a lot of obstacles and hurdles as this market emerges. And one of the things that we want to do as we redefine energy distribution is making it easy. One of the things that helps is single-source supplying, and what I mean by that is when you're installing solar, for the most part, you're already putting it on top of an existing roof, and most likely, that's a roof that ABC has probably distributed. So, single source supplying is not only now can you get your roofing but you can get your solar panels, you can get your racking, you can get your inverters, your batteries, your BOS, all of those things from one location.
What sets ABC Supply apart from other distribution companies in the industry?
Well, it's going to be our history and how we were built. Our founder started this company to support his roofing contractor business. Back in the day, he was one of the largest roofing contractors in the nation, and he started the roofing distribution side to help support his main
James Mason VP, ABC Supply
business, because it didn’t exist in a way the roofer needed to be supported. And as he redefined that process, he got pretty good at it and focused on the distribution portion of it to help grow all the other roofing contractors. What makes us different is we were set up to support contractors, to remove friction and to make it easy for them to do their business — and not only do business, to grow and to scale their business.
So, you’ve covered the services that ABC offers. But what materials do you have that can assist contractors with building their product knowledge and learning the latest installation techniques? We partner with the top manufacturers, not only in exterior building products, but also in the renewables or the solar segments. It's not uncommon for us to host training events at our branches, at hotels or conference centers, where we bring our vendors together with the latest information; and we have our training and education seminars there; there are the webinars that we do on a monthly or quarterly basis. We really try to keep not only our associates but also our customers that are contractors informed of the latest, best practices, and making sure that the manufacturers have a communication platform where they can connect with the customer. They learn the latest install techniques that are out there. That's just one of the benefits you get by being a customer of ABC Supply. SPW
Pegasus: BondBox
Booth 33073
BondBox, a next-level junction box, eliminates ground lugs and copper wire. Instant bonding. Integrated grounding bus. Handles multiple arrays and mid-wire connections. Rigid attachment for durability. No-slip feet for roof traction. Stackable for easy transport. Form for site data capture. Weep holes for drainage. Your secret agent of system grounding.
Power Factors: Unity Asset Performance Management
Booth 41101
Power Factors' Unity Asset Performance Management (APM) application optimizes asset availability and yield at scale with sophisticated monitoring, analysis, and intuitive workflows. Designed for the renewable energy sector, it offers real-time insights, AI-powered analytics and seamless integration with third-party applications, ensuring efficient management of wind, solar and BESS assets.
Powin: Powin Pod
Booth 62073
Powin Pod sets a new industry standard for utility-scale energy storage projects. It offers higher energy density, superior safety, and enhanced cost savings backed by Powin’s US-made StackOS Control System. With liquid cooling for stability, robust cybersecurity and comprehensive long-term service, the Pod ensures reliable performance and maximized revenue generation.
PVpallet: PVpallet Series M
Booth 19058
PVpallet Series M is the latest addition to our reusable packaging ecosystem. This customizable flat pallet, engineered to spec for solar module manufacturers, ensures an easy transition from wood pallets to reusable packaging. Key benefits include superior durability, weather resistance, banding features and an edge lip to prevent sliding.
ORIGINAL MC4 CONNECTORS
We connect solar power for a sustainable world
Branch Connector MC4-Evo 2
• Plug-and-play: no crimping or torquing necessary
• Versatility and compact dimensions
• Mating compatibility with original MC4 and MC4-Evo 2 cable connectors
• DC 1500 V according to IEC 62852 and UL 6703
QuickBOLT: QB RibRider
Booth 51089
The QB RibRider for trapezoidal ribbed metal roofs is easy to place and quick to lock down with an adjustable base that fits different rib widths and angles. This mount also features a butyl bottom for better weatherproofing. The rotating Lbracket allows for Dual Rail-Mounting at 90° or 180°.
REC Group: REC Alpha Pro M Series
Booth 37039
Based on REC’s advanced heterojunction cell technology (HJT), the new REC Alpha Pro M Series panel boasts an impressive power output, ranging from 610-640 Wp, delivers up to 20.9 W/ft2 and is designed specifically for commercial and industrial rooftop and ground-mount solar PV installations.
Rolls Battery Engineering: Rolls S48-100LFP ESS
Booth 45039
Compatible with standard 19-in. racking systems, Rolls S48100LFP ESS 48-V (51.2-V nominal) 100-Ah ESS is a complete energy storage system. Designed with a fully customized battery management system, each features an integrated screen with controls, SOC indication, external breaker access for added operating protections and inverter connectivity through CAN bus and RS-485.
S-5!: PVKIT HUR
Booth 40052
The S-5! PVKIT HUR is the newest version of the PVKIT solar mounting attachment for metal roofs. It is specifically designed to withstand extremely high wind uplift forces such as hurricane force winds and is the first metal roof PV mounting system certified to FM4478, FM Approvals’ toughest PV Standard.
Scanifly: AI-Enhanced Shade Analysis
Booth 19046
Struggling to model dormant deciduous trees in your PV designs? Scanifly's new AI-enhanced tree reconstruction uses machine-learning to create a more photorealistic 3D scene year-round. With our enhanced virtual Viewshed technology, conduct hyper-accurate, real-time onsite shade analysis in seconds — approved by regulators and lenders. Leave the “lollipop” trees behind!
Schneider: Schneider Home
Booth 25093
Schneider Home is a first-of-its-kind home energy management solution integrating production, monitoring and control into a single app. In contrast to existing options requiring separate apps and disjointed hardware, this awardwinning solution eliminates that complexity, simplifying installation, commissioning, and operation to meet the needs of homeowners and professionals.
SEG Solar: Alpine N Series 720W Modules
Booth 52001
SEG Solar’s U.S.-made Alpine N Series 720Wp modules excel with up to 23.18% efficiency, shining notably in ground-mounted power stations, and have seen extensive adoption in diverse settings. Its popularity surges due to high reliability, efficiency, quality and exceptional performance in challenging environments.
Silfab Solar: Silfab Commercial 570-580 XM+
Booth 28051
Made exclusively in our U.S. facility for your commercial projects: the Silfab Solar Commercial 570/580 Bifacial XM+. 40 years of solar industry experience. Next-generation n-type cell technology. Clean supply chain. Industry-leading 25-year workmanship, 30-year linear performance warranties. Hail impact resistance 1-in. at 51.6 mph. Wind load 2,400 Pa, snow load 5,400 Pa.
SMA America: I-V Curve Tracing with the Sunny Tripower X
Grand Plaza – G1
Intelligent IV Curve Tracing from SMA: Gain insight into energy production like never before. With advanced string-level monitoring, granular power data and optimized performance, access to your system’s health is at your fingertips. Experience unmatched reliability and innovation with the STPX all-in-one solution.
Snake Tray: LV and MV Cable Management Solutions for BESS
Booth 26076
Snake Tray's innovative cable management solutions for utility-scale BESS are tailored to your unique equipment requirements and site-specific considerations. Our plugand-play low-voltage (LV) and medium-voltage (MV) conveyances secure cables against electromotive forces and facilitate better heat dissipation than other solutions. Made in the USA.
SnapNrack: UR-45
Booth 35011
New and Improved Rail Profile: UR-45. SnapNrack designed a more efficient aluminum rail profile with all of the familiar features customers expect from our rails. The open-channel rail provides simple, straightforward wire management, easy installation of accessories and compatibility with our entire Ultra Rail mount portfolio while achieving improved spans installers will love.
Solis: S6-GU(250-350)K-EHV-US
inverter
Booth 47008
Solis' S6-GU(250-350) K-EHV-US inverter maximizes large-scale solar project potential, combining safety, efficiency, intelligence and economy. With up to 16 MPPTs, this 1,500-V PV string inverter ensures unparalleled modularity and performance stability. The Skid Solution offers seamless integration, streamlining installation and simplifying O&M. Remote firmware updates and SolisCloud monitoring ensure optimal performance.
SMA HOME ENERGY SOLUTION
I LOVE THE SUN
And the solar solution that simplifies my
customers’ lives.
Get a first look at the SMA Home Storage and explore the capabilities of the new, larger power classes of the Sunny Boy Smart Energy hybrid inverter. Now is the time to stop by and learn more about the new SMA POWERUP+ Installer Program, designed just for residential installers.
SHOW PREVIEW
Stäubli: BosCon connector
Booth 30059
Stäubli introduces a new product family of large-format PV cable connectors: BosCon, the first to be fully certified to UL 6703. Designed for carrying high current in harsh and outdoor environments in PV and EV industries. The first of three BosCon connectors, the Model OPC16, is now available.
Sungrow Power Supply: SG200HX-US
Booth 30019
The Sungrow SG200HX-US features 99% efficiency, advanced grid support, and multiple MPPTs for higher energy yield. Its robust performance and reliability stand out, while the compact design simplifies installation. Compatible with 600 VAC, it is ideal for smaller distribution generation and the C&I market.
SunModo: NanoRack
Booth 42057
SunModo proudly introduces NanoRack. There isn’t any rail, but it’s unlike any other rail-free system on the market. NanoRack solves the rail-free headaches of precise measuring and complex wire management. Assemble it on the ground, and it aligns itself on the roof. Three-hour install start-to-finish with NanoRack.
Terrasmart: TerraTrak 1P single-axis tracker
Booth 30011
Value-engineered for superior product integration, our product portfolio spans the gamut: from multiple foundation types, ground-mount racking and canopy systems, to project optimization software and eBOS solutions. On display, TerraTrak 1P is built to withstand the toughest terrain and harshest weather with added reliability, speed of installation, and maximized value for every project and land type.
At Unimacts Global, we specialize in manufacturing high-quality products for utility-scale solar projects. Our comprehensive range of precision-engineered components is designed to meet the demanding needs of large-scale installations.
Visit us at RE+ booth N97037 to learn more about how our manufacturing solutions can support your utility-scale projects.
Tigo Energy: Tigo Green Glove Service Program
Booth 22061
The Green Glove service program unites the solar value chain by offering Tigo installers exceptional support through three formal engagements: design reviews before installation, on-call assistance during installation and postinstallation follow-ups. This ensures high-quality training, comprehensive system design and continuous support throughout the entire process.
GridFlex 10 is engineered to protect your assets by minimizing attachments, maximizing module density, streamlining O&M, enhancing system quality and lowering the overall installed cost of your PV system. GFX10 is compatible with diverse module sizes and flat roof types. Gridflex 10 will support your flat-roof solar project every step of the way.
Trina Solar US: Vertex N 710W + more WAGO Corporation: Remote I/O Application
Booth 30039 + Grand Plaza – G4
Visit booth D30039 to see next-gen Vertex N 710W & 22.9%, TrinaTracker Vanguard 1P, and new hail and wind-resistant modules with 3.22-mm glass and backsheet Vertex N 620 W & 23% and All Black Vertex S+ 430 W & 21.5%. Don’t miss the full-size Elementa in the Grand Plaza. Learn about U.S. manufacturing and view a 2,000-V prototype.
Booth 57044
Enhance your automation control with WAGO’s 750/753 Series Remote I/O modules. They offer the most flexible, modular and compact platform for stand-alone or distributed automation with 16 fieldbus options and interoperability with higher level PLCs. Over 500 simple and complex modules allow for easy data acquisition from almost any signal.
Your Foundation for Solar Success
Yaskawa Solectria Solar: Solectria XGI 1500-166 Series, Spare Parts Kit
Booth 30049
The XGI 1500, designed for easy field serviceability, includes a complete Spare Parts Kit with all the field-replaceable components most likely to require replacement. Most replacements take just 10 to 40 minutes, supported by our three-day service training for faster resolution. Technical supportapproved kit parts are replenished under warranty.
Weidmuller USA: Photovoltaic Connector WM4 C
Booth L3-620
The new Photovoltaic Connector WM4 C enables reliable and rapid crimp connectors up to 1,500 V. This innovative PV connector features outstanding quality and ease of handling, along with a twist protection to prevent assembly errors. It’s suitable for automated assembly as well as for manual installation from the field.
The Zilla Double Stud XL features a patented threestep installation process in which the waterproof seal is independent of the attachment. This process ensures the long-term dependability of installations by eliminating the risk of failure due to thermal expansion, contraction, and wind and snow forces
BASE
COMPACTFLAT
THE R_EVOLUTIONARY QUICK-CLICK MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR YOUR COMMERCIAL FLAT ROOF SOLAR PROJECT.
AD INDEX
Ad Index
LEADERSHIP TEAM
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Leadership Team Sales
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SOLAR POWER WORLD - VOLUME 14 ISSUE 2 - (ISSN2164-7135) is published 7 times per year: January, March, May, July, September, November and December by WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Avenue, 26th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, OH and additional mailing offices.
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SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: To order a subscription or change your address, please visit our web site at www.solarpowerworldonline.com SOLAR POWER WORLD - VOLUME 14 ISSUE 5 - (ISSN2164-7135) is published 7 times per year: January, March, May, July, September, November and December by WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Avenue, 26th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, OH and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Solar Power World; 1111 Superior Avenue, 26th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114.
