Solar Power World

Technology Development Installation
January 2015
www.solarpowerworldonline.com
ONLINE NOW
GALA OVERVIEW:
PODCAST:
TOP PRODUCTS:
2014 Top Solar

Contractors Gala
Overview Video
SunLink VP discusses
ground mount
products, the market
and supply chains
The solar industry has

continued to see strong
growth in 2014
http://dwo.me/1DoMjMY
Solar Power World executive

editor Lee Teschler discusses
the durability of SolarWorld
panels with Sebastian Hopfe,
quality engineer at the
company. Hopfe discusses
the construction of the panels
and other technical details.
Normally you shouldnt ride a
bike on them, Hopfe said.
Yury Reznikov, vice president

of product management at
SunLink, a solar mounting
systems provider, discusses
trends in the solar groundmount market, including key
product differentiators and
supply chain best practices.
+
top100
PRODUCTS OF
2014
Much of this expansion is

fueled by innovative products
that show increasingly
improved reliability and
performance. Better
products are the basis for
more efficient and profitable
projects, which contribute to
solar becoming a grater part
of the U.S. energy mix.
L E A D E R S H I P
I N
S O L A R
I S S U E
pages 55 - 117
January 2015
Developments
IN SOLAR
MODULES
ALSO INSIDE
Removing snow
Blogging for business
Experiencing a fire test
OUR WIDE VARIETY

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ALL THAT GOES
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THE FIRST WORD

Editorial
Advisory
Board
Natalie Holtgrefe
Solectria Renewables
Jose Gomez
Ingeteam
Steve Hogan
Spire
Devon Cichoski
SolarWorld
Marcelo Gomez
Unirac
Justin Barnes
North Carolina (State
University) Solar
Center
Scott Wiater
Standard Solar
WHAT DO
YOU THINK?
Were focused on you

Happy new year! Have you made resolutions for 2015? Maybe youll anchor
yourself every time you work on a roof. Maybe youll commit to more frequent
Facebook updates (pictures, please). At Solar Power World, we have steered
our ship toward one goal. Simply, we want to help you do your job better,
starting today. With that mission in mind, we will continue to deliver the most
useful information about solar technology, development and installation, while
expanding our regular coverage to include software and solar services.
But to begin, our first issue of the year includes a special focus on modules.
Leading companies share the latest on frameless modules, cell efficiencies,
solar shingles and integrated modules. Future special sections will focus on
racking and mounting (March), inverters and storage (August) and financing and
insurance (November).
While modules, inverters and mounting comprise a bulk of the solar
industry, as well as our coverage, there is much more to the business.
Software, for instance, is increasingly a game-changer. Financing software
helps businesses obtain funding. Design software assists with complex layout
decisions. Sales software helps sell solar faster. Our first article discusses how
manufacturers use software to help customersand themselves.
While software deals with intangibles, sometimes a successful business just
needs help mowing the grass. Our new section on solar services helps you find
the help you need to improve your business, from O&M to engineering services.
Our first section is a duo of articles featuring snow-removal service Solar Maid and
several metal forming companies that manufacture custom solutions.
Finally, with our revised Projects Spotlight section, we
aim to share stories from the field and what technology
is used to make projects successful. All of this is in
addition to our insightful marketing, finance and
installation columns, features and other unique, highvalue content. Enjoy 2015, and good luck making the
most of your solar business. Well be here to help you
along the way! SPW
Connect and discuss this and

other solar issues with thousands
of professionals online
@Solar2Steven
@SolarPowerWorld
Associate Editor Steven Bushong

sbushong@wtwhmedia.com
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
Follow the whole team on Twitter @SolarPowerWorld
E D I T O R I A L
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor
Kathie Zipp
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SOLAR POWER WORLD
CONTENTS
10
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
SPECIAL SECTION:
Developments In Solar Modules
Find out about frameless designs,
the benefits of integrated modules,
whats new with solar shingles
Ja n ua r y 2015 vol 5
n o 1
w w w. so l ar p o w e r w o rl do nl in e .co m
32 34 40 118
22 INVERTER INSIDER
28 RACKING & MOUNTING
Earth screws, tracking and elevated systems
32 BATTERIES, STORAGE & OFF-GRID

Microgrid charter school retrofit
34 SERVICES
Snow removal and custom manufacturing
and the importance of miniscule

differences in panel efficiencies.
SOLAR LEADERSHIP
Hybrids in the U.S.
38 SOFTWARE
FIRST WORD
MARKETING
INSTALLATION PRACTICES
FINANCING
118
122
124
126
40 ARRAY AFLAME:
Viewing a PV system fire test at
Underwriters Laboratories
Associate editor Steven Bushong
witnessed a panel fire test at UL
headquarters and brings us a detailed
behind-the-scenes look.
50 TRANSFORMER TRANSFORMATION:
Your next solar inverter could be a
distribution transformer
Web-based tools
01
04
06
08
page 55-117
PROJECTS
CONTRACTORS CORNER
SOLAR SNAPSHOT
PRODUCTS SPOTLIGHT
Distribution transformers that feed

power from utility lines to homes and
businesses could soon change into
devices that double as inverters.
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
[MARKETING]
New England Clean Energy

shares tips on blogging for new business
SPW: Do you talk generically about
the industry or specifically about your
business?
NECE: The Energy Miser is not a stream of
Content marketing has become an
important tool in business marketing efforts,
Heather Centorbi
Heather Centorbi is a Marketing

Coordinator at WTWH Media, the
publisher of Solar Power World.
For more marketing advice, go to
marketing.wtwhmedia.com.
and solar companies are embracing it with blog

initiatives. REC Solar, Run on Sun and SolarCity
each have popularized their blogs. And perhaps
youve encountered The Energy Miser from Mark
Durrenberger, president of Massachusetts-based solar
installation company New England Clean Energy.
We asked the companys marketing director, Susan
Boucher, to share some thoughts on the aim and
production of The Energy Miser.
Solar Power World: Why do you think its

important to blog?
New England Clean Energy: Its important to blog
simply for SEO. Relevant content brings people in
and introduces them to our business. In the past 30
days, The Energy Miser has had nearly 1,000 hits. For a
small, local installer, we see that as a huge success.
In addition, weve always been a company that
focuses on education. An educated consumer is our
best customer. The blog is a perfect forum for digging
into solar issues and developments in more detail than
Facebook, Twitter and our e-newsletter allow.
Site stats suggest people are reading full articles.
They spend much more time on our blog pages than
our website pages (or maybe theyre just going to get
a cup of coffee while the blog is up on their monitor).
SPW: What are some of the key blogwriting guidelines you follow?
NECE: We try to stick to 300 to 500 words and
include at least one visual to spice it up. We love data
and charts. Content-wise, we shoot for conversational
and educational with a touch of humor.
SPW: How frequently do you blog?

NECE: The goal is to blog at least monthly. It usually
ends up being slightly less due to lack of time.
Because our blog has in-depth articles rather than a
daily diary approach, this frequency seems to work.
4
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
consciousness blog where Mark says what he

had for breakfast or reports a funny comment
he heard at the bank. We use Twitter and
Facebook for brief observations or quips.
While his personality comes through on The
Energy Miser, its not about him. Its about
solar. We focus on in-depth analysis of solar
industry issues seen through the lens of
our own experience. Mark interprets issues,
technologies or trends, and brings them to
life with his own analysis or anecdotes.
SPW: How do you make sure people

find your blog?
NECE: We use our social media outlets
Facebook, Twitter and LinkedInto drive
people to The Energy Miser, and we often link
to the blog in our e-newsletter. Recently, we
added the blog URL to our business cards.
SPW: Whats been your most popular

blog so far?
NECE: Our most popular post is, Tree Math:
Solar Panels vs. Trees, Whats the Carbon
Trade-off? It was published two years ago
and is still, consistently, our most popular
post, even though some of the links have
long since disappeared. Our readers find the
content still relevant though. Plus, we actively
refer people to that post who are debating
taking down trees to make solar work.
SPW: Have you ever encountered

challenges or complaints about your
blog and how did you deal with it?
NECE: One time a customer thought
they were portrayed negatively in an
example, though no name was given. We
didnt agreewe would never try to cast
a customer in a negative light. We were
happy to respond by simply removing that
reference from the post. SPW
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[INSTALLATION PRACTICES]
Three quick tips for solar mounting

Removing nails
Nail removal is necessary on most flashings to
position the upper edge of the flashing up into the
third course of shingles. To remove a nail, use a
roofing bar or flat bar and follow these steps:
Jeff Spies
Solar Power World Contributor
Jeff Spies is senior director of

policy for Quick Mount PV and
Secretary of NABCEP.
See these and other tips

performed on video at the Quick
Mount PV website,
www.quickmountpv.com.
1. Break the shingle seal in the proper location.

Be careful not to damage the shingles. A key
consideration is making sure you are at the seal
strip area and not separating laminated layers of
the shingles.
2. Using a roofing bar, separate the lower shingle
from the upper shingle while feeling for the nail
locations.
3. Use the wedge tip of the tool to pry the nail up
and remove the nail from between the shingles
on the course above. You will need to break the
seal in the next course upward to remove the nail.
A hole will remain where the nail once was. While
flashing will cover the hole, its good practice to
apply a small amount of sealant to the puncture,
completely filling it, but not too much or you could
blister the shingle.
Installing wood blocks

Sometimes its not possible to mount directly
to a rafter. When the mount
falls between two rafters, it is
required that you install wood
blocks between rafters. Wood
blocking allows installers to
place the mount anywhere,
without concern for rafter
locations.
Wood blocking can be done
with two-by-fours, two-by-sixes
or four-by-fours. Quick Mount
PV recommends a four-by-four
as it offers the largest mounting
surface and full lag screw
engagement with the rafter.
Follow these steps:
2. Inside the attic, measure the distance

between rafters where the hole is drilled.
3. Measure and cut the wood block to that
length.
4. Insert the block between rafters centered
under the holes for each mount.
5. Use screws or nails to secure the wood
block to the rafters.
Cutting tile for hooks

Often, installers choose to use tile hooks
to save time because they dont require
a top flashing. To begin, remove the tiles
under which you will work.
For curved tiles, make sure your hook
is positioned at the side of the valley of
the tile. That minimizes the amount of tile
lugthe thicker part of the tile near the
edgethat you will have to cut, but make
sure you have sufficient clearance under
the hook so it will not strike the top of the
tile under compression loading. With your
tile hook securely installed, position the
tile over the tile hook and mark the tile
lug on both sides of the tile hook. A tuckpointing blade is best for cutting off this
section of the tile lugs. A conventional
Wood blocking allows installers to place the mount

anywhere, without concern for rafter locations.
1. Drill a hole where the mount

will be positioned.
6
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
[INSTALLATION PRACTICES]
diamond blade is best
for cutting holes. Safety
glasses and a dusk mask
are musts for cutting tile.
Rest the tile on
a sturdy surface and
hold the saw firmly to
avoid injury. Use the
tuck pointing blade to
remove just enough
lug to allow the tile
to sit back in place
comfortably over the
hook. If the tile does not
sit back down properly,
you need to remove
more of the lug, or
sometimes a bit of the
tile further up that might
interfere with the upper
part of the hook. SPW
How Much Uncertainty

Can You Afford?
The "fuel" of a solar project is the most critical factor driving its
commercial success or failure. Where is irradiance strongest. How
much year-to-year power variability is expected? What are the
exceedance values at the site? Without answers to these questions,
it is impossible to assess a project's feasibility or manage your
exposure to risk. Vaisala accurately answers these questions
anywhere on Earth. We provide a systematic progression of
services to help you manage the risk of solar resource variability.
Visit our website to learn more
www.vaisala.com/renewable
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
[FINANCING]
Appealing to investors:
Tips for a great data room
Haresh Patel
Special To Solar Power World
Haresh Patel is the CEO and cofounder of Mercatus, a provider

of cloud-based software
solutions that simplify renewable
energy investment.
Building strong relationships with energy

investors is crucial for solar developers who
want to receive financing for projects. One
powerful way to speed up project finance, while
also building strong partnerships, is to focus on
presenting projects in a way that is appealing to
investors.
If investors do not provide specific
guidelines on how they want to receive
information about a project, developers
should focus on building a great data room, a
place online where companies share business
documents. These are my top three rules for a
great data room:
Transparency
Transparency
Transparency
Here are my best practices to effectively
achieve transparency:
Include an executive summary

An up-to-date executive summary saves
investors time. This will be the first document
reviewed before logging into your data room. A
great executive summary should be three pages
at most and communicate the following:

What is your ask?

Project size (DC and AC)
Estimated total project cost
Annual production (kWhr or MWhr)
Project location
Project merits
Developers history and experience
Third parties involved. Mention if a third party
can be substituted. Investors value flexibility
and may prefer their own EPC and O&M
partners.
Timeline of target dates for key milestones
(site control, key permits, power
purchase agreements, interconnection,
commencement of construction, commercial
operation date, etc.)
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
Key document summariesa brief

paragraph summarizing the status of key
documents. For example, you may write,
Interconnection Agreement is expected in
December 2015. Facilities Study received
in July 2015. Estimated interconnection
upgrade cost of $350,000, in which
$100,000 due at execution of the
Interconnection Agreement and the
balance, $250,000, due at commercial
operation.
Financial summaryas an initial litmus
test investors typically look at unlevered
pre-tax and after-tax IRRs. Developers can
prevent unnecessary back and forth with
investors by having a simple, but accurate
unlevered pro-forma available.
Note: This is also applicable for a
portfolio of projects.
Present an up-to-date and relevant

data room
Spending hours or days reviewing a data
room in detail and then receiving an
email with 30 additional documents that
should have been there in the first place is
extremely frustrating. At the same time, dont
dump every project document you have into
the data room. Be comprehensive, but no
investor needs to review version 2 of 8 of a
Site Lease Agreement.
Create a folder nomenclature

Investors greatly appreciate being able to
easily navigate a data room. A simple folder
hierarchy for a renewable energy project
should include the following categories: Site
Control, Environmental, Permits, Production,
Interconnection, Off-take, EPC, Project
Company, O&M, Financials.
Have a document nomenclature

Similarly, a simple document naming
methodology simplifies the experience for an
[FINANCING]
investor. Answer the following questions:

1) What is this document? 2) What version
is it? 3) What is the date? 4) Is it executed?
An example of an executed Power
Purchase Agreement would look like this:
PPA_Final_081413_FullyExecuted.
Dont hide skeletons

Developers are often reluctant to share
any potentially detrimental information
about a project. Nevertheless, hiding
information that will eventually be
uncovered during the due diligence
process destroys credibility and
jeopardizes the entire project. Be
upfront with potential project risks

and communicate the actions in
place to resolve them.
Much of this may seem
like common sense, yet we see
insufficient organization and
transparency every day. At Mercatus,
we have appraised over 22 GW of
renewable energy assets. Ideally,
developers could solicit projects with
a score recognized industry-wide, but
until that is established transparency
is required by developers to unlock
capital and get lots of projects across
the finish line. SPW
GreenFasten Solar Roof Mount

for Composition Shingles.
Patented, watertight, compression--t seal

The strongest and least expensive bracket system available
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Easy to install
IAPMO Certiied
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WHAT DO
YOU THINK?

SPECIAL SECTION
GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES
on
Shedding
Solar Shingles
MICHELLE DIFRANGIA
ASSISTANT EDITOR
10
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
Apollo solar shingles

and tiles are made up of
crystalline silicon solar
cells and can withstand
winds up to 110 mph.
BIPV
is a quickly growing sector

of the global solar market.
Transparency Market Research
expects this area to grow by
18.7% by 2019, reaching 1.15 GW.
One BIPV product picking up
popularity is the solar shingle.
By nature of their design, solar
shingles are primarily geared for the
residential market, said Josh Wimble,
communications manager at Dow
Solar, manufacturer of the Powerhouse
Solar Shingle. This is because sloped
shingle and tile rooftops are most often
found on single-family homes.
Solar shingles not only look
aesthetically pleasing, they also serve
a function outside powering the house.
Apollo, a solar shingle developed by building
products manufacturer CertainTeed, is
designed with waterproofing capabilities.
Solar shingles increase the integrity

of the roof over conventional panels by
having 10 times fewer roof penetrations
and greatly reducing wind uplift concerns.
The Apollo panels generate electricity from the
PV cells and also function as the roof itself by shedding
water just like the surrounding shingles or tiles, so you
dont have to install a roof underneath it, said Mark
Stancroff, director at CertainTeed.
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
11
SPECIAL SECTION
Solar shingles increase the

integrity of the roof over conventional
panels by having 10 times fewer roof
penetrations and greatly reducing wind
uplift concerns, added Wimble.
Perhaps the biggest news in solar
shingle technology is the ability to
integrate with a wider variety of roofing
materials. Initially, solar shingles could
only integrate with standard asphalt
shingles. But now, Dow has developed
its shingles to integrate with cedar
shake, concrete and clay tile, polymer
and traditional slate.
Another added benefit is that solar
shingles dont use traditional rack
mounts, thus are free from configuring
balance-of-system technologies
into the installation. CertainTeeds
SINGLE SOURCE RACKING SOLUTIONS

LET US TALK ABOUT YOUR NEXT PROJECT
DESIGN
ENGINEERING
MANUFACTURING
INSTALLATION
RBI Solar Inc.| 513.242.2051 | info@rbisolar.com | www.rbisolar.com
12
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
Optimize performance
for your application with
@ Heli-Cal.com
Simplify assembly
Accommodate shaft misalignments
Materials for harsh environments
Reliable and accurate performance
Outstanding quality/Made in the USA
For more information on Custom Couplings,
go to Heli-Cal.com or call (877) 435-4225
2014 Helical Products Company, Inc. | www.heli-cal.com
SPECIAL SECTION
polymeric frame allows the shingle to

seamlessly integrate with the roof and
provides hassle-free roof replacement.
With standard rack and panel,
the entire system needs to be pulled
off and reinstalled when replacing
the roof. But with solar shingles, the
system can stay in place and the new
roof can be installed around it, said
Stancroff.
Although solar shingles are a viable
option when retrofitting existing roofs,
Chris Jones, commercial director at
Dow Solar, said homeowners receive
the greatest financial return when
shingles are installed when building
new or re-roofing existing homes.
crew can be trained to install

the solar shingles and do the
installation in only a little more
time than it takes to re-roof with
ordinary shingles.
An array of 350 shingles could
reduce one's electric bill by 40
to 60%, but it costs upward of
$20,000. However, in addition to
federal, state and local incentives,
companies like Dow Solar and
CertainTeed are finding their

own ways to drive costs down
and make solar shingles pricecompetitive with rooftop solar. For
Dow, customer savings start by
working closely with builders and
roofers, selling kitted systems with
all the necessary parts rather than
pricing individual components, and
giving region-based quotes that
include local labor costs. SPW
With standard
rack and panel,
the entire system
needs to be pulled
off and reinstalled
when replacing the
roof. But with solar
shingles, the system
can stay in place and
the new roof can be
installed around it.
Powerhouse
shingles,
made of CIGS
thin-film
solar cells,
are certified
to resist up
to 150-mph
winds, hail up
to 1.25 in. in
diameter and
heavy rain.
It allows a homeowner or
homebuilder to install a solar array
with the same roofing labor, while
saving money by off-setting reroofing material costs, said Wimble.
With increasing simplicity, a roofing
14
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
Sapa Extrusions North America
SHAPING A
GREENER FUTURE
A wide array of aluminum extrusion solutions for solar and wind

Global solutions for renewable energy often require a global
approach to products and supply. When an international Sapa
customer expanded their solar business into North America, they
found Sapa Extrusions was already here and ready to support them.
With 23 locations across North and South America, the Sapa
team was able to coordinate with global colleagues to quickly
transfer the tools, data, and knowledge required to rapidly begin
www.sapagroup.com/NA
producing material. Thanks to Sapa, our customer soon had locally

produced material in hand across multiple regions, faster than
dealing with multiple extrusion companies.
From cost-effective regional production of materials, to global
transfer of information between facilities, working with Sapa
Extrusions offers customers the very best in aluminum extrusion
design and production.
For more about Sapa and renewable energy: NorthAmerica.Sales@sapagroup.com (877) 710-7272
SPECIAL SECTION
Integrated
solar modules
COME WITH
KATHIE ZIPP
MANAGING EDITOR
Power optimizer and microinverter

companies are joining with module
manufacturers to offer more integrated
solutions to the solar market. But what is the
difference between these systems and what
advantages do they offer solar contractors?
The microinverter is converting DC
into AC, while a power optimizer performs
DC to DC conversion, and therefore an
inverter (to convert DC to AC) is needed
in a grid-connected system, said Juan
Carlos Gonzalez, senior technical manager
at Jinko Solar. Also, optimizers tend to be
more efficient, while microinverters tend to
have more flexibility.
Gonzalez added that buying
a solar module with an integrated
Some integrated solar module

partnerships:
Andalay and Enphase
Axitec and Tigo Energy
Canadian Solar
ET Solar and SolarBridge
JA Solar and Tigo Energy or SolarEdge
Jinko Solar and Tigo Energy
Mage Solar and SolarBridge
Trina Solar and Tigo Energy
Upsolar and Tigo Energy
Yingli and Tigo Energy
16
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
electronic offers
some advantages
for installers rather
than buying them
separately.
From a logistics
point of view, there
are no extra boxes,
shipping, warehousing
or extra part numbers
needed, he said.
Brian Cox of Axitec Solar added that
from a construction standpoint, there
is no additional hardware required, no
pre-configurations and no additional
communication connections required
during the installation with integrated
modules.
Less wiring and avoiding having to
install the electronics separately makes
installation easier, he said.
Don Hammond, vice president of
sales and marketing at Mage Solar, also
sees the advantages integrated modules
offer solar installers.
Installers love that integrated panels
just plug in to each other without any
high voltage DC. This makes installation
much safer and panels can be shut down
individually if needed, he said. Because
of their plug-and-play technology,
integrated systems can be expanded
without problems. This usually eliminates
any initial consumer hesitations

because the systems can be scaled to
accommodate any budget.
Usually, integrated modules
offer the same warranty conditions
as a traditional PV module, about 25
years, said ET Solar product manager
Zhaoyang Zhang. However, the price
can run a bit higher.
Still, while the initial hard costs
might be higher in some cases,
Hammond says they can be quickly
recouped after considering the saved
installation labor and time.
Its really hard to think of an
actual disadvantage these modules
might present, Hammond said. Its
a relatively young technology and so
maybe one of the challenges for the
industry is to create more awareness
and provide better information about
the ease of use and installation for
integrated modules. SPW
SPECIAL SECTION
Why news OF
IN
efficiency are important

STEVEN BUSHONG
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Solar panel manufacturers produce

a steady stream of news about
advancements made in labs. Often, news
heralds a higher efficiency solar cell
usually a few tenths of a percent at a time.
Any corporation out there, from
Apple to Ford, wants to show theyre
continuing to innovate and answering
the needs of their customers, said
Daniel Chang, product manager at
Trina Solar. Theyre saying, Were
walking the walk.
Sounds good. But, from a technical
standpoint, is a few tenths of a percent
really that important?
long-term success of solar technology.

A one-point rise in module
efficiency (e.g. 16% to 17%) is worth
about 1.5 to 3 cents per watt in
installation cost savings, said Lyle
Rawlings, president and CEO of
Advanced Solar Products. In any spaceconstrained project, it can make the
difference between a sale and no sale.
In the 1980s, solar modules
sold for $100/watt. Improvements in
manufacturing, such as the way a cell is
doped or cut from raw material, have cut
manufacturing costs to about $.50/watt.
Every time our industry doubles
data sheets, installation manuals, collateral,

sample modules and certifications, Chang
said. All of those little parts need to be
taken care of before we can sell.
Chang said most reported
efficiency improvements eventually
make it into manufacturing, especially
as the go-to-market process in the
solar industry matures. But companies
must also consider their manufacturing
capacity and the stomach of customers.
If we were to ask our production
team to make something thats not going
to sell, its cannibalizing on what we can
currently produce, Chang said. Were
A one-point rise in module efficiency (e.g. 16% to 17%) is worth

about 1.5 to 3 cents per watt in installation cost savings.
People seem to think of this like
test scoresa 100% versus a 99.5%,
said Tom Thompson, key account
manager at JA Solar. They think,
whats the big deal? But it is a big deal.
These small improvements have
at least two important consequences,
according to experts. First, even a
small efficiency increase can make a
remarkable reduction in installed cost.
And second, they contribute to the
18
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
production, costs drop by about 20%,

Thompson said.
For solar installers to benefit from
increased solar cell efficiencies, R&D
needs to make it into a companys
manufacturing line, and at a price
consumers are willing to pay.
A typical module can take three
months to two years to complete the
whole process, experts said.
The go-to-market process includes
constantly listening to our customers.

As the industry matures, it appears
customers continue to demand higher
efficiencies at lower cost, and module
companies are happy to report on their
progress, which comes with one more
benefit: Higher efficiency modules mean
fewer are needed for a target output,
and solar can reduce the ecological
footprint of energy production even
more. SPW
SPECIAL SECTION
THE
ON
frameless
modules
KELLY PICKEREL
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The frameless crystalline solar

module is gaining traction in the
industry. Some customers prefer the
way they look and how they perform.
But even with their benefits over their
framed cousins, frameless modules
haven't picked up much steam in
the installation department. Here's a
quick summary of what's out there
and what's holding them back.
worried about potential induced

degradation (PID). Electrical current
cant leak out of a frame that isnt
there, so modules are more efficient.
If its a dual-glass module, it has a
stronger fire safety rating because
theres no backsheet. Frameless
modules also provide a unique
aesthetic value for customers who
want to blend their solar systems into
roofs.
Types
A frameless module has a pretty
obvious definitiontheres no frame.
A dual glass (AKA glass-on-glass or
glass-glass, among other names) is
also pretty self-explanatorysolar
cells are sandwiched between
two pieces of glass. Keep in mind
that frameless is not a synonym
for glass-on-glass. SolarWorlds
glass-glass module (the Sunmodule
Protect) has an aluminum frame.
On the other end, Solarias range
of frameless crystalline solar panels
have a backsheet instead of two glass
pieces. So make sure you're dealing
with a true frameless module.
Benefits
The most notable benefit is no need
for grounding. Without a metal
frame, frameless modules are less
likely to shock workers. Frameless
modules are also great for those
20
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
Detriments
Why arent more frameless modules
installed in the field? The main holdup is the lack of compatible mounting
systems. A number of mounting
companies cater to specific types of
frameless modulesincluding Array
Technologies trackers and Schletters
Eco Series laminate clampsbut
theyre almost entirely for thin-film
frameless modules. A few companies,
such as Lumos Solar, manufacture
both the modules and the racking
systems and have carved out a nice
niche for themselves. Lumoss LSX
frameless modules mount with their
own racking solution, providing
customers a one-stop shop.
Outlook
Most companies seem to be dabbling
in the frameless pool but are not
diving head-first. Trina Solars PDG5/

Duo Max dual glass module has been on the North

America market for more than a year. Canadian Solar
will release its double-glass Diamond Module sometime
in 2015. But as more and more module manufacturers
announce their own frameless models, the need for
mounting is necessary for market growth.
Lumos Solar has been in a class of its own for a
whileoffering both the module and the racking. It's
interesting to us to see big guys now offering frameless
modules, says Scott Franklin, president and CEO of
Lumos Solar. I think they've all realized a few things
there's no PID, there's no corrosion of the frames, there
are a lot of durability benefits. I think they're just trying to
find other niches and areas to push into.
"I suspect you'll see a lot more frameless modules
being used in utility-scale installations and larger
installations, because they're looking for a lower cost
wherever they can. If they can find a smart mounting
solution, then they can eliminate the cost of frames.
There's definitely an opportunity." SPW
WHAT DO
YOU THINK?
Connect and discuss this and other solar
issues with thousands of professionals online
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
21
INVERTER INSIDER
KATHIE ZIPP
MANAGING EDITOR
How are
inverters used in solar projects?

A hybrid inverter system in a residential installation. Hybrid inverters work with batteries
to store power.-OutBack Power.
Hybrid inverters are commonly used

in the developing world, but they are
starting to make their way into daily use
in certain areas of the U.S due to their
ability to stabilize energy availability.
A solar inverters main job is to

convert DC power generated from the
array into usable AC power. Hybrid
inverters go a step further and work
with batteries to store excess power
as well. This type of system solves
22
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
issues renewable energy variability and

unreliable grid structures.
Inverters for grid-tied applications
can only provide power based on what
the array can immediately generate from
the sun, explained Bryan Whitton, product
manager at Darfon. Hybrid inverters can
store power in batteries and then drawn
upon it as needed for energy stabilization.
Hybrid inverters can vary in size,
performance and features. But Mara
White, product manager for OutBack
Power, said most models usually

operate bi-directionally, meaning they
can convert DC power from modules
to usable AC power and then convert
stored AC from the batteries to power
loads when needed. Hybrids can also
remain grid-connected and use a mix of
renewable and non-renewable energy to
charge batteries and offset loads, White
added.
Some contractors have used
hybrid inverters in the residential,
remote home applications for the past
decade or two. But Allan Gregg, VP of
applications engineering at GreatWall
which manufactures Satcon inverters
said the range of applications has
expanded over the past few years to
include large capacity microgrids as
well as grid-connected systems.
Historically, hybrid inverters
have been used more frequently in
developing countries that do not have
access to a reliable power grid.
In North America and Europe,
hybrid inverter-based systems are
usually elective, White explained. Users
choose to use them for storing energy
for self-consumption or provide backup power during emergencies. But in
the developing world, hybrids are more
of a necessity to compensate for weak
or intermittent grids or a lack of grid
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INVERTER INSIDER
Grid or Gen
Solar Array
Load
Energy Storage
Hybrid Inverter
An example of power flow in a hybrid inverter system.
The inverter can direct power to a load or the grid if
needed, or store it in batteries if not. It can also use
power from the grid if needed. -GreatWall
electricity all together. Microgrids in

places such as India, Asia and Africa are
also driving hybrid inverter adaptation.
Still, Whitton said hybrid models are
beginning to be used on a more daily
basis in areas of the U.S. where the grid
is unpredictable, such as Hawaii, or in
states where net-metering has been
widely supported. Applications with less
than ideal solar characteristic are also
good for hybrid-based systems because
they can store power and redistribute it
during peak times, improving payback,
he added. Basically, if the site has the
potential for losing the grid frequently,
you should consider a hybrid for offgrid operation.
Having the flexibility of a hybrid
system can add initial cost to a project,
though experts say this can be offset by
the ability to self-consume all of ones
available PV electricity.
There are also important design
considerations when using hybrid
inverters. For example, Gregg warned
that the battery bank voltage should
be compatible with the DC input
requirements of the inverter, and there
should be enough solar capacity to
supply the load as well as charge the
batteries.
Wiring can also be more complex
when using hybrid inverters, especially
when panels are dedicated for critical
24
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
backed-up loads. And as with any

device that does several jobs at once,
a hybrid inverter is usually slightly less
efficient, White added, although,
improvements in other balance-ofsystem components can compensate for
Another breed of hybrids

Another segment of hybrid inverters
includes inverters that can use two
energy sources. For example, Ginlong
offers a PV / wind hybrid inverter that
has inputs for both sources, instead
of having to use two inverters. In
much of the United States, wind
speeds are low in the summer when
the sun shines brightest and longest.
The wind is strong in the winter when
less sunlight is available. Therefore,
because the peak operating times
for wind and solar systems occur
at different times of the day and
year, such hybrid systems have the
potential to produce power when its
needed, and reach a higher return on
investment.
that slight loss easily.

There are also specific electrical
safety issues with any type of energy
storage, so White recommended getting
specialized training in energy storage
techniques and design. Most available
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rooftop kit, commercial projects get done faster than ever before. It
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INVERTER INSIDER
training is focused on simple grid-tied

systems because they have been the
majority of U.S. solar installations until
now, she said. But with incentives
changing and the surge in energy
storage interest and applications, its
important to get ahead of the curve and
get advanced training quickly.
Andrew McCalla of Austin,
Texas-based Meridian Solar, a Solar
Power World top contractor, said he
commonly used hybrids in the mid
to late '90s when the now standard
grid-tie inverter sector was just a
glimmer. I can imagine that, when
regulatory hurdles are fabricated to
limit the consumer and societal benefits
of bi-directional power flow from
distributed generation, these batterybased platforms will become far more
common. What is old is new again! SPW
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RACKING & MOUNTING
STEVEN BUSHONG
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Mounting Systems tackles a
project with earth screws
Earth screws are a

fast and easy way to
install a foundation
for a ground mount.
The Desert Research Institute,

the environmental research arm of the
Nevada System of Higher Education,
has installed a number of solar arrays to
demonstrate what can be accomplished
with renewable energy.
One installation, however, proved
to be particularly challenging. A facility
located outside Reno, Nevada, had plenty
of electric demand but limited space to
build. An uneven and rocky hillside was the
only viable location for its 1-MW array.
Contractor Hamilton Solar needed
adjustability, strength and a fast install from
its mounting. Solar mounting provider
Mounting Systems was able to use a
combination of its versatile Sigma II system
along with earth screws to provide a
28
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
product that met these expectations.

With the rocky terrain, piles were not
a feasible solution, said Justin Upchurch,
business development manager at
Mounting Systems. Earth screws are a fast
and easy way to install a foundation for a
ground mount system.
Earth screws use a pull-test similar to
whats used with piles. Rocky terrain may
call for pre-drilling, but ground screws
are typically much faster than installing in
concrete, Upchurch said.
The MSI Sigma II system includes
legs that attach to concrete, piles or
earth screws. Some projects call for a
combination of foundation types on
one table. Mounting Systems has also
developed adapters that speed up the
racking-to-screw attachment. When

properly installed, earth screws allow
for vertical adjustment, which can be
helpful on uneven terrain.
One of the inherent challenges
at the Desert Research Institute
project was the variety of tables and
the intricacies of managing different
table sizes. Mounting Systems
tackled the challenge through
constant communication with
Hamilton Solar and the adjustability
offered by earth screws.
As long as a certain percentage
of the earth screw was in the ground,
you could modify the height to
match Sigma II legs perfectly,
Upchurch said. SPW
RACKING & MOUNTING
with Mechatron, manufacturer

of large solar trackers
Mechatron Solar, headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., is an international manufacturer of large photovoltaic trackers. The
companys single-axis, dual-axis and CPV trackers are designed to maximize performance in any climate and terrain condition.
Mechatrons trackers incorporate patented hydraulic motion mechanisms that offer high rotation accuracy, and the astronomical
algorithm of its software platform offers an accurate daily tracking function. We asked Mechatron CEO Michael Fakukakis a few
questions about the companys trackers.
Solar Power World: Mechatron is

relatively new to the United States,
but the company has more than 3,500
solar trackers operating in Europe.
Why did the company decide to bring
its technology to the U.S. now?
Michael Fakukakis: We analyzed the U.S.

market potential and decided that our
product innovation, project development
experience and track record in Europe
were unique and decisive factors for the
company to expand its footprint in the
U.S. marketplace. In the beginning of
2014, we established a legal entity and
commenced technical assessment trials
at the PV USA facility in Davis, Calif., run
by PV Evolution Labs. As of September
2014, we have officially started sales
and marketing activities and building the
assembly facility necessary to develop
products for U.S. customers.
SPW: We know trackers deliver

up to 40% increased performance
over fixed-mount systems. Beyond
that, what is the key benefit of
Mechatrons solar trackers?
MF: Mechatron has developed a unique
technology for its rotation mechanism,
which is protected by international patent.
It incorporates zero backlash capability,
SPW: What interest has Mechatron

received from the U.S. solar market?
auto-protection slippage in extreme

torque situations, auto-stow and returnto-tracking software routines under windy
conditions or power outages. The ideal
combination of mechanics and software
algorithms guarantees uninterrupted
operations that are immune to external
conditions, minimizing downtime
and maintenance requirements and
maximizing electricity production for the
duration of PPA contracts.
Also, our tracking mechanics,
which use quadruple optical conductors
and position-based tracer, offer the
highest accuracy. Our standard PV dualaxis tracker, D170, was measured by
PV Evolution Labs at 1 of a degree for
both azimuthal and zenith movements
while our CPV tracker was measured at
0.1 of a degree accuracy, making the
C140 the most accurate tracker in the
CPV marketplace.
MF: Mechatron has enjoyed a great

positive reaction from developers,
EPCs and solar investors in the
California and Arizona areas. We have
signed agreements with regional solar
developers and have started developing
technical studies for a number of medium
size projects in excess of 15 MW capacity.
SPW: In Europe, where do you

typically see Mechatron trackers?
MF: Mechatrons majority of installations
are in utility projects with the offtaker being the state-owned electric
company. Because the concept of net
metering was not incorporated in the
EU countries, almost all on-grid solar
farms deployed with Mechatron trackers
were selling their electricity production
to local utilities. The recent introduction
of net metering will enrich the
opportunities to implement Mechatrons
trackers in large commercial and
agricultural installations.
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
29
RACKING & MOUNTING

SPW: A Mechatron tracker is a very
large piece of equipment. The dualaxis machine spans 55 feet. What
considerations regarding labor and
cost must be made when a developer
is looking at this technology?
MF: Mechatron is transferring its long
projects management and deployment
experience from Europe to the U.S. market
by training the technical teams of its
customers to optimize the installation time
per tracker in the field. Average installation
time per dual-axis tracker, including panel
installation and cabling, is less than one
day with four technicians. In addition to
labor costs savings, if the terrain requires
earth-moving and flattening, Mechatrons
trackers are immune and indifferent to
land conditions due to their ballasted-base
small footprint.
SPW: What kind of regular

maintenance is required?
MF: The unique technical characteristics
of our trackers with rock-solid rotation
mechanism, zero backlash capabilities
and slippage protection are the reasons
Mechatrons tracker require minimum to
almost zero maintenance efforts.
SPW: Finally, we come to money.

What is the average installed cost
per watt for a Mechatron tracker?
MF: The cost in terms of $/W of the
trackers depend greatly on the wattage
installed on the trackers and can vary
from $0.49/watt to as low as $0.42/
watt. The higher the DC power installed
on the trackers, the lower the purchase
cost for both the azimuthal (single-axis)
and dual-axis models. The retail price for
the D170 is $14,700 and $10,700 for the
azimuthal S140. Evaluating the total cost
in $/W of a solar system incorporating the
D170 and comparing it with an equivalent
using fixed-tilt mounting system, the
additional cost in capital expense is less
than $0.30/W. The additional capex is
amortized within three years depending
on the tariff schedule the project operates,
while it produces additional revenues,
higher return on investment or IRR (12 to
45%) and dropping the Levelized Cost of
Electricity (LCOE) to as low as 6.6 c/W. SPW
11-14 DPW-SPW
30
SOLAR POWER WORLD
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RACKING & MOUNTING
SunModo system goes

it all
An installer in Hawaii used the
SunBeam system to hover over a
multitude of air conditioning units on
the Kauhale Makei Condominiums.
Rare is the flat and unadorned rooftop. Solar

companies often face roofs resembling an obstacle
course made of vents, pipes and uneven surfaces. Whats
a solar contractor to do?
Mounting company SunModo listened to clients asking
for a strong system capable of bridging obstructions and
putting modules on a single plane, which eliminates shading.
SunModo developed the EZHelio SunBeam commercial
rooftop mounting system to fill this need.
Our customers were struggling to find a good racking
solution that could be elevated, said SunModo account
executive Brandon Gwinner. We engineered a solution to
meet this basic need, and it turned out to be a huge success.
By spanning over obstacles, SunBeam takes full
advantage of roof space to maximize system size,
increasing ROI. Its aluminum construction reduces stress
on the building structure while withstanding wind loads
and salty air. A heavy duty beam allows longer spans,
which reduces the number of posts.
Posts require cutting into the roofing material to the
substructure and attaching. Gwinner recommends using
the original roofer to apply flashing and boots around the
penetration to keep the roof warranty intact.
A California-based contractor used SunBeam on a
commercial roof complicated by an air conditioning unit and
multiple skylights. The roof pitch was also asymmetrical.
The SunBeam system made for a smooth and straightforward installation, said David Brown, solar consultant
at Southwestern Solar Systems. We were able to easily
customize and adjust the racking leg lengths to account for
multiple roof pitches on the site.
Designing a SunBeam system is often a collaboration
between installer and the SunModo team. While the
components are standard, the number of posts will
change due to wind load, snow load, height, tilt degree
and obstructions. There is some customization that goes
into each project.
Preferably, a customer will start by sending us a roof
diagram with modules, Gwinner said. Sometimes they will give
me a roof diagram and ask, How many modules can you fit?
A 20 tilt will often lead to a layout with modules three, four or five
high. A no-tilt system, such as the one at Kauhale Makei Condominiums
in Hawaii, can have unlimited modules on a single plane.
Contractors may worry about the effect of putting modules above
vents, especially if theyre from a kitchen. Cliff Schrock, solar engineering
consultant at SunModo, says 24 in. will probably be enough room for
wind to disperse heat. Most vents have deflectors, too. SPW
WHAT DO
YOU THINK?
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
31
BAT TERIES,STORAGE & OFF-GRID
Remote Charter School Gets A Renewable
STAR Schools retrofit started in September 2013 and finished in August 2014.
A rural Arizona school near Navajo Nation gets a new solar

and wind microgrid to power its growing demand.
Issues with getting power to areas out of utility reach

in third-world countries are commonly discussed. But
people dont always realize many areas within the United
States also face this problem. Off-grid solar has become a
popular solution to provide power in these zones.
This is the case for STAR School, a pre-K through 8th grade
charter school located in a rural desert-area 25 miles outside of
Flagstaff, Ariz. It is out of reach for connecting with utility lines,
and installing them would be an expensive project. Yet, the site
was the perfect location for the school because of its proximity
to a Navajo reservation where many of its students live.
The Navajos and surrounding community value
sustainable living and self-reliance. To solve its power needs,
the school installed a solar system and seven wind turbines
32
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
over 15 years. But three wind turbines were destroyed by

cyclonic winds and the solar array wasnt performing as
planned. The school was forced to pay as much as $5,000 a
month to run a 30-kW propane generator.
After receiving a Native American Preference Grant,
the school decided to invest in its power system and
turned to Mark Snyder Electric (MSE) and Elsa Johnson,
director of IINA Solutions, for help. Snyders Southern
California-based full-service electrical contracting and
alternative energy business came out to examine the
project. At first look, founder Mark Snyder was taken
aback by how poorly the existing system was installed.
This was one of the worst systems Ive seen, Snyder
remembered. I was shocked to find residential solar
equipment where commercial should have been used. The
system was cobbled together and wind turbines destroyed.
BAT TERIES, STORAGE & OFF-GRID
Solar panels were too close to the roof

and each other, and the batteries were on
the verge of failing because of insufficient
charging performance.
After the atrocious assessment,
Snyder formulated a retrofit plan with four
key improvements. He planned to set up
a microgrid with AC coupling, convert the
system to high-voltage strings, recondition
the existing batteries and convert the
system from single phase power to a
balanced three-phase system while
keeping the remaining four turbines.
Making the school a microgrid

Creating a robust microgrid for STAR
School meant integrating several
sources of power. The coordination of
all power sources is handled by SMAs
Sunny Island battery-based inverter,
which can be programmed to operate in
several different modes, in this case offgrid. The Sunny Island and Sunny Boy
inverters can communicate with SMAs
monitoring system, which allows Snyder
to manage the system remotely over the
internet and make sure its performing
properly, even though the site is hard to
visit regularly. Students enjoy how the
SMA system records how much CO2 the
system has saved the planet.
Snyder also installed 245 Kyocera,
Sharp and Schott solar panels on the
ground and the roof. Many of the panels
and Unirac, Prosolar and other racking
systems used were donated.
Benefits of AC coupling
MSE used an AC coupling method to
optimize output. Traditionally grid-tied
inverters that are programmed for off-grid
applications or microgrids must convert
electricity into usable AC power. In AC
coupling, loads and energy sources are
directly connected to a conducting AC bus
bar, so additional DC to AC conversion is
not required, increasing system efficiency.
AC coupling also reduces battery usage
and strain because it converts DC to
AC power directly, rather than sending
electricity into a battery and drawing it out
again. This approach minimizes highcurrent, low-voltage DC connections and
reduces installation costs and complexity.
Results of the retrofit
Snyder also converted the system

to three-phase power to allow the
use of higher-efficiency motors for air
conditioning and submersible pumps,
and to provide for the schools rapidly
growing power demands.
By retrofitting the schools array, MSE was

able to increase the systems output by 70%,
saving the school thousands in propane costs.
Solar power is the primary source of energy
during the day, while wind turbines generate
power at night and during storms when the
solar panels may not. The nearly 450 kW on
average generated every day by the solar
and wind systems runs all computers, lights,
kitchen appliances and even the well and
pump that bring water into the school.
Its a mini power plant, said the schools
co-founder and director Dr. Mark Sorenson in
a student-made documentary.
Snyder said MSE, working with Elsa
Johnsons non-profit IINA Solutions, trained
local Native Americans to work on the project
and other nearby installations. We arent just
creating green power, Snyder said. Were
creating green jobs.
Snyder said this retrofit approach can
work in many systems. If your solar array
was installed before 2005, expect a nearly
50% greater output when upgrading to a
high-voltage microgrid at a fraction of the
cost of additional solar panels.
Sorenson expressed in the student
documentary how the successful microgrid
could work for any school.
If we can set up our school to be powered
on solar, and we arent rich and we dont have
a whole lot of resources, then I think other
schools can too, he said. SPW
Converting to higher voltage

MSE replaced the schools 80-V
installation with a 600-V system.
Because power consumed by wires
increases with current, upgrading to
a higher voltage reduces current and
transmission losses while increasing the
systems efficiency. The extra voltage
helps provide 25% to 50% more power
on cloudy and extremely hot days,
compared with the old system.
Bringing batteries back to ife

Part of the microgrid system also
involves battery backup, but first Snyder
had to decide what to do with the
existing batteries. After poor test results
I really wanted to replace them, he
said, but it wasnt in the budget.
Snyder was forced to turn to plan
B, which was working with engineers
on an equalization protocol to bring
the batteries back to life. This involved
measuring specific gravity, charting the
batteries cell by cell and then replacing
water. The team charged and discharged
batteries for two months on a high
equalization level to burn off built-up
sulfation. This rehabilitation and the
AC coupling will help prolong existing
battery life, but once more money is
available, MSE plans to completely
replace the batteries with Crown Battery
models, which Snyder says have tested
well in similar environments.
Power generated from the solar
and wind system is either directly
used during the day or stored in
battery banks and drawn as needed,
such as on days with little wind
or sun. If there are consecutive
days where the renewables cant
generate enough power and the
battery backup power doesnt fulfill
the schools power needs, Snyder
installed a propane generator for
emergency backup power.
The project won a

Governors Award For
Excellence in 2001 for
being the first off-grid
charter school in the U.S.
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
33
SERVICES
KELLY PICKEREL
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Look Out
Safety is a top concern when removing snow from solar panels.
Removing snow from solar panels has been a regular

debate for the last decade. Various studies claim only a small
percentage of production is lost from snowfall. Is it really worth
tacking on snow removal O&M costs?
Janitorial solar O&M companies, like Solar Maid, say yes,
but not for production claims. Safety concerns are becoming
louder in the solar industry. While experts (and Solar Maid)
suggest giving Mother Nature time to melt snow off tilted
panels, that falling snow can be problematic, especially on
public solar arrays like carports.
Its becoming a pretty big issue now, said Jay Welsh,
general manager of Solar Maid. Weve really seen a spike this
year in business.
Founded in 2003, Solar Maid specializes in janitorial solar
O&Mpanel cleaning, landscaping, pest abatementand is
headquartered in Pittsburgh but has affiliates in nearly every major
34
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
market in North America. Snow removal from a safety standpoint

is more prevalent on residential and commercial projects. Utilityscale solar arrays turn to Solar Maid in the winter specifically
because of production losses.
Some of those bigger sites lose $80,000 a day when
those things arent producing, he said. Theyll pay us $5,000 or
$10,000its certainly a cost benefit.
Solar Maid uses its own snow rakes to push and pull snow
off arrays. Pricing is based on type of snowwet, heavy snow is
more expensive than light, powdery snow just because of time
involved to remove it.
Carports are easier. You just pull the snow off, then we use
a plow and push it out of the way of the parking lot, Welsh said.
Our rooftop commercial jobs are a bit of a challenge because
you have a lot of wires and cabling between the panels, so
theres really no place to put the snow. Well set up tarps, push
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SERVICES
WTWH_Axitec_Layout 1 09.12.14 16:36 Seite 1
snow
on the
tarps and then
drag the tarps to the
edge of the roof and then
dump them. Every site is going to
present some challenges.
Solar Maid has been installing more snow
guards on its residential arrays to prevent
snow and ice from falling off the roof.
Typically, snow falls and then the sun
comes out and warms up and that bottom
layer of snow starts to melt, Welsh said.
It may not melt enough to push the snow
off, but then it freezes again. Then you
have a sheet of ice, and it snows on top of
it. Its likely not going to stay in one place.
If the panels happen to be on the front of
your house, if you slam your front door
shut, the snow avalanches.
Block guards are randomly placed
and clamped to the edge of panels to stop
ice sheets, while the typical snow guard
acts as a lip, attaching to the end of panels
to hold back snow.
Solar mounting manufacturer
EcoFasten Solar and its sister company
Alpine SnowGuards offer a snow
management system for solar panelsSolar
SnowMax. Made of aircraft-grade aluminum
fabrication, its strong and rugged and
clamps directly to the solar panel frame.
This snow management system was
designed to impede a sudden avalanche
of snow, said Brian Stearns, president and
founder of EcoFasten Solar and Alpine
SnowGuards. Snow will still crest, rise up
and over the top of the snow management
system and fall to the ground in a controlled
manner. Solar SnowMax allows smaller,
managed amounts of snow to drop to the
ground slowly, without that massive rush
of snow shooting off the roof that you
sometimes see in the phenomena of a roof
avalanche, especially on frictionless surfaces,
such as solar panels or metal roofs.
So while production losses on small
residential and mid-size commercial
projects arent worrisome when snow
falls, its wise to keep in mind all safety
concerns. Find a snow-specific O&M
company in your area, buy your own
snow removal gear or install snow guards
to gain some peace of mind. SPW
36
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
STEVEN BUSHONG
SERVICES
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Contractors can
with metal fabricators on custom jobs

Custom mounting solutions can
save developers and contractors money,
especially those working on large utilityscale projects. But money isnt always the
chief concern. Sometimes the aesthetic
value of a project takes priority. Other
times, environmental and geographical
factors require a unique mounting design.
Whatever the case, contractors and
developers can approach metal formers
with their needs. Companies offer a
variety of services. Some provide basic
manufacturing only, while others tackle
design, testing, project management and
fabrication.
For utility scale developers, a custom
solutionone that solves logistical
challenges and comes together faster
could save a developer labor and material
costs, said Jason Weber, director of
business development at SAPA North
America, a global aluminum manufacturer.
However, a custom system is just an
option. Many times off-the-shelf solutions
work well, Weber said.
There is no hard and fast rule that
says if youre going to buy 2 million pounds
of material, it will be worth your while to
have a custom system, Weber said.
Alexandria Industries, a Minnesotabased provider of aluminum extrusions,
provided custom mounting for the Nevada
Solar One site, a 64-MW concentrated
solar power plant. The site required 8
million pounds of aluminum product,
fabricated over nine months and shipped
to the desert.
The developer had a solution he
was not happy with, said Mark Turley,
renewable energy market leader at
Alexandria Industries. A company
DPW Solar
manufactured this
custom solution
for a mountain-top
repeater station.
developed another system, but they had

no manufacturer. Thats where we stepped
in. We took it from the drawing board to
manufacturability.
Steel fabrication, completed by
feeding material through a series of rollers
that bend it to a specified shape, can be
an expensive process. A set of rollers often
costs between $80,000 and $200,000.
Manufacturers can construct systems with
steel from standard pipe to avoid the cost.
Aluminum extrusion requires a die
that costs about $500. For contractors
looking for an entirely custom solution
at a small scale, such as an installation at
a sports stadium, for example, aluminum
is a good option. It wont necessarily
drive down cost, said Turley, but it could
complement certain architectural desires.
Both the contractors and extruder benefit
from such projects.
It might only be a thousand pounds
of aluminum, but its a high-profile
situation, Turley said. And extruder can
put their name on it and they were a part
of the project.
DPW Solar, a New Mexico-based
subsidiary of Performed Line Products and
manufacturer of mounting solutions, also
provides custom manufacturing, often for
the off-grid market.
A common installation for DPW
Solar might be a mountain-top
telecommunications site with harsh
snow and wind loads. In these cases,
the company often uses its off-the-shelf
Top-of-Pole mount, but then fabricates
a custom sub-structure with galvanized
pipe, said Jeff Randall, vice president of
engineering at DPW Solar.
Everybody is concentrating on the
grid-tie market, where there is a lot of product

and standardization, but in off-grid you have
challenges like severe weather or solid rock, or a
remote location where its difficult to deliver large
components, Randall said.
The company also creates custom
enclosures for batteries and invertersboxes
that will be the right size for the technology
and appropriately designed for the climate,
Randall said.
Whatever type of system a contractor is
looking for, metal formerswho work with both
contractors and mounting companiesrequest
that clients dont present samples of another
system and ask a duplication.
Number one, youre taking another
companys intellectual property, said SAPA's
Weber. The other thing is, a lot of people dont
understand all the engineering work that goes into
a system. There are tolerances and specifications,
such as alloys and tempers. You cant just copy a
system. It probably wouldnt work.
The question of who takes liability for a
custom system is also important. Often, its the
engineering firm that designed the system, not
the company that manufactured it. SPW
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
37
STEVEN BUSHONG
S O F T WA R E
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Manufacturers use
software to help customers and themselves

Solar manufacturers, especially
those selling inverter and mounting
products, have added web-based tools
to their websites that help contractors
design and buy systems.
The tools benefit contractors and
manufacturers alike. Contractors can use
them to ensure theyre buying the right
product; and as a result, manufacturers
are less likely to sell the wrong one. Selling
the wrong product could, at best, mean a
time-consuming exchange or, at worst, a
fault on a rooftop.
Having an installer pick the right
components and do the installation
the right way helps all parties, said
Michael Rogerson, marketing manager at
SolarEdge. The homeowner, installer and
service team all have a good experience.
For its part, SolarEdge offers Site
Designer, a tool that recommends the
number of strings for an array as well
as each strings length. It also suggests
needs to be an on-ramp.
IronRidge also has an online tool,
Design Assistant. Users input array
dimensions and the program compiles a
Bill-of-Materials and provides engineering
values, such as the loads and forces a solar
array can be expected to endure.
At SolarEdge, theyre talking about
electrical characteristics, said David
Briggs, marketing director at IronRidge.
With us, were interested in the
mechanical dimensionssuch as how
much surface area there is, how thick the
frame is.
Briggs said Design Assistant gives
contractors all the information they
need to procure a system, at least one
from IronRidge. The information lets
contractors quickly quote a customer
and start a project faster.
Another benefit, Briggs said,
is the tool provides enough
engineering information for
Having an installer pick the right components and

do the installation the right way helps all parties.
inverter and power optimizer selections
based on site size and module selection.
After a customer finishes the process, he
can print a Bill-of-Materials for the design.
Rogerson said SolarEdge has long
been an engineering-focused company,
steeped in technical detail.
Its somewhat daunting if youre new
to the technology, Rogerson said. There
38
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
contractors to tweak variables and try

their hand at design optimization.
We were the first to come out
with a tool in 2009, Briggs said.
Customers thought IronRidge was so
easy, why would they use other stuff?
And over the last five years, weve seen
more companies come out with similar
products.
Another
manufacturer to
develop software is Solmetric. The
company sells the Suneye, a tool that
uses a fisheye lens to map the sunpath
at any location and determine how
much sunlight or shade the location will
receive throughout the year.
Accurate on-site shade analysis
allows system designers to optimally
place arrays, as well as make more
informed selections of module, inverter
and BOS components. Using shade
data from the SunEye as a graphical
gradient overlaid onto proposed CAD
roof sections, the companys software,
S O F T WA R E
PV Designer, provides an intuitive

interface to select components and
place arrays with real-time yield
estimation updates.
PV Designer is not necessarily
associated with the hardware
productyou can use it without the
hardwarebut its a natural progression
of taking shading data and using it in
a convenient way, said Kevin Myers,
applications engineer at Solmetric.
As the future unwinds,
manufacturers say the goal of software
will be to reduce soft costs and go
from sale to install quicker. Part of the
process will be the adoption of more
mobile software tools.
Mobile is a big part of what were
doing, Briggs said. You can do a lot
with a smartphone app. Instead of
someone downloading Site Designer
for their PC, maybe they have it in their
hand, on the field, checking the order
as it comes. SPW
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1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
39
STEVEN BUSHONG
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Viewing a PV system fire test at Underwriters Laboratories

If a roof with installed PV modules
is exposed to a fire, will the solar array help
or hinder the flames?
Until now, solar installers were left
with less-than-perfect answers for this
question. They could talk about how well a
solar module responded to fire. They could
talk about the flame-resistant properties
of a mounting system. But none could
cite laboratory tests for how a combined
systempanels and mounting together
might respond to a building fire. The
subject has received attention recently due
to a few high-profile fires involving solar.
4 0 SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
Solar mounting systems are diverse in material

and structure. They can change the way a rooftop
fire burns. Research by UL, in collaboration with
the Solar ABCs, confirmed the fire performance of
a module alone is not a good indicator of the fire
performance of a whole system.
According to new language in the 2012
International Building Code, a solar PV system
must be fire-rated at the same level or better
than what is required for the building. So if a
building is required to have a roofing system
rated Class A for fire, then the solar system
modules and mounting rack togethershould
have the same certification.
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
41
Underwriters Laboratories technician Demetrius Preston, senior project engineer Nathan

Wang and business development manager Scott Jezwinksi (listed left to right) observe a
system fire test from the control room, a precaution taken due to the inherently dangerous
nature of fire testing, as well as fires vulnerability to small environmental changes, such as a
laboratory door opening and closing. A clock on the wall behind Preston shows how long the
test has been in progress.
As a result, experts developed new

tests to determine fire classifications
for rooftop PV systemsthose installed
on flat roofs with symmetrical or
asymmetrical configurations, as well as
installations on steep sloped roofs with
asymmetric mounting. When tested,
systems can achieve an A, B or C PV
System Fire Classification rating.
While solar manufacturers look
to the future to comply with 2016 IBC
requirements that will be progressively
adopted across jurisdictions, some key

jurisdictions are moving more quickly.
In these places, the authorities having
jurisdiction, or AHJsthe local officials
who permit and approve projectswill be
enforcing new requirements sooner.
In fact, California started requiring
Class A fire ratings for all systems
on January 1, 2014. By February of
that year, however, it became clear
the solar industry wasnt prepared to
deliver enough tested systems to cover
demand, and the state suspended the
Because UL technicians cant safely
observe the underside of a roof deck
during testing, a video camera is mounted
beneath it, monitoring whether fire has
breached the roof decking material. This
television is mounted in the control room.
requirements for Class A and B systems

until January 1, 2015. For buildings in
California requiring only Class C roofs,
the PV module-only rating of Class C
will be accepted until October 25, 2016.
42
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
Since then, mounting

manufacturersespecially those in the
California market, which has the most
Class A and B requirementshave been
busy buying time in testing laboratories
and getting products certified.
Recently, I traveled to Underwriters
Laboratoriesthe global company
behind the ubiquitous UL-in-a-circle
logo that not only tests more than
20,000 products but also works with
industries to develop the standards that
make them safeto see a PV system
fire test first-hand. UL is one of about
a dozen companies capable of testing
solar equipment. Others include TV
Rheinland, DNV GL and Intertek.
Visiting UL
The Underwriters Laboratories
headquarters is located on a 100acre campus in Northbrook, Ill., just
north of Chicago. The main building
holds corporate offices as well as
chemical and electrical labs. Other
buildings dot the campus, including
Calibrated brands are used in the

burning brand test. Pictured are the
A (12 x 12), B (6 x 6) and C (1 1/2 x 1
1/2) brands. Brand selection for testing
depends on the desired system rating.
The brands are stored in a cabinet with
controlled temperature and humidity.
Humidity has a significant impact on how
a brand will burn. To the right, UL consumer safety director John Drengenberg
holds an A brand.
one boxy structure that measures

electromagnetic radiation from
electrical devices and another with
rooms large enough to hold two fullsize houses. In fact, it has, and then
they were burned down, room by room,
in the name of science. I was told by
more than one person at UL that fire is

capricious, and the company studies
it extensively using computer modeling
and highly monitored real-life tests,
such as the one I came to witness.
A marketing specialist took me to
a building in the back corner of the
campus where they do much of the fire

testing on commercial and industrial
products, including bank safes, flooring,
steel beams, doors and, yes, solar PV
modules and systems.
On the outside, the building has
large air-evacuation tubes, running
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1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
43
from the rooftops, down the side of the

building into a central area where dirty
air is cleaned before it is released. UL is
active in environmental safety, as well,
noted because they burn a wide variety
of toxic objects.
Equipped with goggles and a
hard hat, I followed my guide down
hallways and passed a room resembling
a lumberyard where they build dozens
of slabs of roof decking to precise
specifications. I heard a lot about
precision and calibration during
the tour. Officials at UL show careful
attention to detail to ensure that every
test is identical. Calibration is in our
DNA, one said.
We ended up inside the large
building where UL does the majority of
its fire testing.
Testing in process
The firing rooms are constantly occupied.
Later, as I was leaving, representatives
from a well-known panel manufacturer
were about to set fire to a whole pallet
of systems, one by one. They were
scheduled to work until midnight.
The testing area is dark and grungy.
Ash coats everything. The room smells
like a campfire. Apparently, people have
commented on its rough appearance
because UL consumer safety director
John Drengenberg chimed in before I
said anything.
This is a working lab, he said.
A piece of machinery, black like
its surroundings, looking a bit like a
commercial oven, will spit fire where
you might slide in a pizza. Attached
was one of those roof decks I saw piled
high a few hallways ago, angled at 22.5
(a steep slope test, compared to 2.4
for a low slope test). Typically, Im
told, three deck pieces are burned to
establish controlmore calibration.
As the calibration test began, fire
crept over a hinge from a gas burner. At
first, the asphalt shingles held up well.
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But about six minutes into the test, they

started combusting. One by one, the
shingles caught fire, and flames crept
up the roof.
The test finished in 10 minutes. The
technician extinguished the fire. The
roof decking was lowered to the ground,
and the burn marks were measured. If
everything was consistent with previous
tests, the next roof section acquainted
with the burner would have a solar
system attached to it.
Why 10 minutes? I asked.
UL standards are written by
large groups of stakeholders. Tests,
of five years of deliberation and more

than 100 experimental tests. The realworld answer to the question, however,
is the balance of interests believed fire
fighters would arrive to most scenes
within 10 minutes.
Senior project engineer Nathan
Wang and other technicians installed
the next roof deck, which included a
solar PV system, mounted just the way
it would be in the field. They placed the
system at the prescribed distance from
the edge of the roof deck. The system
used rail-less mounting and a multicrystalline panel.
reasons PV system fire testing is important

Fire safety is nothing to take lightly, as solar mounting manufacturer SolarDock explains in the list below, which
originally appeared on the companys blog, available at www.solardock.com.
Avoid costly delays by

installing code compliant
systems
California Building Code.

International Building Code. National
Electrical Code. Each of these have
strengthened their requirements for what
is required of PV systems. Some states
have already adopted the changes, and
some will in the coming years. A system
that doesnt comply with code runs the
risk of not being permitted or passing
inspection, leading to costly delays.
Sell more systems by

putting customer safety
first
Whether you are selling to a
family or a big corporation, you can't go
wrong by showing them you've put their
safety first. Educating them about the fire
testing and rating of a system will alleviate
concerns about fire safety.
such as the ones I saw at UL, are

prescribed with exact detail, such as
what type of wire will hold a burning
brand in place. Involved parties for
developing PV tests include solar PV
and mounting manufacturers, roofing
industry experts, fire fighters, building
inspectors, permitting authorities
and insurance companies, the latter
of which has become increasingly
sophisticated about solar technology.
The menagerie of inputs is described
as a balance of interests.
Details such as test length,
mounting angle and offset are the result
1 2015
Reduce your risk if

something goes wrong
When an accident or disaster
strikes, people will always start
looking for the cause, assigning blame,
pointing fingers. Fires are no exception.
PV systems are incredibly safe, and it is
unlikely they will be the cause of a fire.
That, however, doesn't mean that you
should neglect to give fire safety the
attention it deserves.
Make it easier and

cheaper to finance the
system
PV finance companies have
a long term interest in the safe and
reliable operation of the systems in their
portfolio. Solar equipment that has been
fire tested helps finance companies
reduce their risks and increases the
bankablility of the solar array.
Keep PV system insurance

rates low
Upfront financing costs
aren't the only concern.
You also need to worry about keeping
Operations and Maintenance costs low,
and insurance is part of that equation.
Insurance companies are becoming
increasingly aware and concerned
about the fire rating of the systems
they insure.
WHAT DO
YOU THINK?

The fire started again, burning at

1,400F. A 12-mph wind fanned the
flames.
The system showed no sign of
damage until two minutes passed,
when the module frame began to
gather soot, and parts of the white
backsheet turned brown. Five minutes
in, fire touched the panel.
The question being answered was,
Does the solar array aid the fire? In a
nearby control room, with windows to
watch the test, a technician carefully
monitored the time and spread of
flame, often referred to as SOF. Video
cameras captured everything on film.
The construction of an array is
important because seemingly minor
details can change the course and
intensity of flames, which are powered,
in part, by the 12-mph breeze. If
a mounting system and panel, in
conjunction, channel flames in just the
right wayor, more accurately, the
wrong waythe fire could blast its way
up to the top of the roof. A PV system
can restrict the flow of hot gases and
confine flames close to the roof, not
allowing them to dissipate as they
would if there were no PV system.
Thats why significant changes in the
design of a product require re-testing.
In the case of this system, the
flames inched up the shingles just the
way they did during the calibration test.
Eventually, much of the panel backsheet
burned and dissolved into ash. Overall,
however, the panel and system stayed
intact, did not contribute to the spread
of flame and earned a Class A rating.
Burning brand
A brand is essentially many dried,
rectangular pieces of wood, nailed
together to make a porous block. Three
sizes of brand are available: A, B and C.
The fire rating being sought determines
which size brand is used in a test.
Technicians used a Class A brand
the biggest one, at 12 by 12 inchesin
the demonstration I saw. The brand was
set afire on all sides with

a device that looked like a
backyard grill before being
placed on top of the PV
system, where it will burn
for 10 minutes.
A brand simulates
burning debris, such as
what a PV array could
encounter if it were near a
wildfire. The test addresses
whether a system contributes to a
brand penetrating a fire-rated roof and
igniting construction materials in an
attic, which are often highly flammable.
The question is, what is the
reaction of the system to the fire?
The brand on top of the module
turned the silicon cells a glowing orange,
eventually melting the glass encasing
and burning a smoldering hole through
the panel. The brand dropped through
the hole and onto the roof surface.
A video camera placed under
the roof deck captured the following
TOP: During a burning brand test, the brand

often burns through the module and ignites roof
decking. Performance of the module and roof
deck together is evaluated. The critical criteria is
whether the flame permeates the roof into the
underlying construction.
BOTTOM: UL technician Demetrius Preston
ensures that the placement of an A-class brand is
in accordance with UL1703. Preston used a small
grill to set the brand on fire. Holding the brand with
tongs, he rotated it on the grill a specified number
of times, exposing each side to flame until the
brand met requirements. A soft iron wire is hung
across the module to keep the brand in place.
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
47
Photo courtesy of UL
Steep Slope Flame Spread Test
PV Module
Baseline Avg. - 12
T
TES
Class A Composition
Shingle Roofing System
22.5
LAM
TF
TES
DEC
FLAME TEST
APPARATUS
The UL1703 steep slope flame spread test

configuration is pictured and diagrammed here. The
system edge is placed away from the test flame at
a position known as the baseline average minus 12
inches. A baseline average is determined by burning
three test decks and averaging the distances the flames
spread. The edge of the systemincluding a deflector,
if the system has oneis placed 12 inches below that
average. Calibration, an important aspect of any type of
testing, accounts for variability in roofing materials.
Diagram courtesy of solarabcs.org
What is required in
California now?
For areas of California that require
Class A or B fire performance, PV
modules will need to be installed
as a part of a Class A or B fire rated
mounting system using the new
UL1703 requirements.
For areas requiring Class C fire
rated roofing, existing Class C PV
modules could be installed.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal
in California has published a new
informational bulletin outlining how
to enforce the requirements that are
now effective in 2015. This can be
accessed at http://osfm.fire.ca.gov.
Source: www.solarabcs.org
1 2015
moments. If flames appeared,

the test would be a failure. In the
demonstration, the brand did not burn
through the Class-A rated deck.
A second burning brand test put
the fiery block under the panel, directly
on top of the roof deck. This simulates
ignited debris, which is a danger for roofmounted arrays. To a casual observer, it
may seem like this test is more about the
roofing system than the solar array, but
the altered air flow could impact the fire,
adding energy, and flames could appear
beneath the roof material.
Again, this combination of panel
and mounting passed the test.
tests are done to exact specifications,

which have been deliberately written to
address an obvious problemthe lack of
system-level fire tests.
Will a specific solar system help
or hinder the resistance of a roof to
fire? Installers now have a way to
answer this question, and the answer
should be no. SPW
WHAT DO
YOU THINK?
Not that complicated

While making sense of local building
codes and how a solar system fits into
them can be complicated, the science of
fire and research has been translated into
a straightforward test methodology. The

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YOUR
NEXT
SOLAR INVERTER
could be a
distribution
TRANSFORMER
THE DEVICE SITTING ATOP THE UTILITY POLE OUTSIDE
YOUR HOUSE COULD BEGIN TO LOOK MORE LIKE A
SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY THAN A TRANSFORMER IN
YEARS TO COME. THE RESULT WOULD BE BIG CHANGES IN
HOW RESIDENTIAL SOLAR PANELS AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE
CHARGERS HOOK INTO THE UTILITY GRID.
E S C H LE R
L E L A N DE ETD ITO R
E X E C U T IV
50
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
THE
Is this where future

solar inverters will
sit? Indications are
that todays poletop distribution
transformers will start
to be replaced by
solid-state equivalents
that double as inverters
for solar arrays and
charging circuits for
electric vehicles. One
indication of the trend:
A Duke Energy pilot
project includes Grid
Energy Routers from
Grid Bridge (inset)
which are transformer/
solid-state hybrids.
distribution transformers that

feed power from utility lines
to homes and businesses are
soon going to change. Their replacements are
solid-state devices that could double as inverters
for solar panels and as chargers for electric vehicles,
eliminating the need for separate devices providing
these functions.
Todays distribution transformers do little more
than convert kilovolt-level power to a low voltage,
useful for powering buildings. The solid-state
transformers (SSTs) that replace them are likely to be
adept at sending power back to utilities from residential
solar panels and other sources of distributed energy.
SSTs wont just route energy back and forth.
Once decentralized solar PV generation becomes
commonplace, the highly erratic nature of PV power
could compromise grid stability. SSTs will play a role
in regulating grid voltage and stabilizing operations in
this scenario. Protoype SSTs on the drawing board also
have a simple DC interface to integrate energy storage
devices that will be useful for smoothing the PV output.
To manage all these tasks, tomorrows power distribution
devices will effectively serve as local power grid managers, able
to adjust the power factor of the buildings they serve, as well as
managing the loads and distributed power sources in ways that
prevent difficulties for utility substations.
For a glimpse of what tomorrows SSTs could look like, consider
the work going on at the FREEDM (Future Renewable Electric Energy
Delivery and Management) Systems Center associated with NC
State University. Working under a grant from the National Science
Foundation, the center has developed electronics aimed at handling
bidirectional power flows as would arise in communities with a high
concentration of renewable energy sources.
The core of the research has been to develop an SST as a key
enabling technology for the utility architecture of the future, said Alex
Huang, NC State distinguished professor and the centers founder.
The work at FREEDM depends heavily on its research to develop
SiC semiconductors able to operate at high voltages. Present-day SiC
devices can handle up to 1.2-kV applications and Huang expects NC
State researchers will be able to devise SiC circuits handling up to 30 kV.
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
51
TRANSFORMER
TRANSFORMATION
A Breakthrough in
PV Mounting Technology
The Revolutionary
S-5-PV Kit
Non-penetrating DirectAttach
PV mounting solution for
standing seam metal roofs.
Fits the majority of solar panels
on the market.
Standard grab ts eld
conditions; new EdgeGrab
further simplies end conditions.
S-5! attachment clamps and
brackets t almost all rails
and metal roof proles on the
market, including trapezoidal.
SST mounting disk is ETL-1703
and UL-2703 listed for
module-to-module conductivity.
Huangs group is approaching SST

designs as special-cases of switchmode power supply topologies. In that
regard, they are devising pulse-widthmodulation control schemes operating at
frequencies in the range of 30 to 50 kHz.
The attraction of SiC
semiconductors is that they make
possible switching power supply
topologies that are simpler and
more efficient than those built with
conventional silicon power devices.
Still, there are a lot of technical
challenges to fielding a pure SST able
to replace the devices now sitting atop
utility poles outside most houses. I
think it will take some time before a
medium-voltage version of an SST will
come to market, said Huang.
Some of the challenges of
commercializing SiC SSTs are at the
circuit level. Because medium-voltage
SiC power circuits are relatively new,
there are still lessons to be learned
about handling sharp current and
voltage spikes and how to mitigate the
resulting electromagnetic interference.
The high isolation voltages involved
can also be challenging. Here we have
some good solutions. We can take
isolation voltage up to 20 or 30 kV, but
this also drives up costs, Huang said.
Reduces cost by eliminating the

need for inter-module copper
wires and lug bonding.
Savings in time and materials
is often sufcient to pay for the
entire attachment system.
Connect with us!

@S5_TheRightWay
/S5TheRightWay
Under development at NC State's

FREEDM Center is the A 7.2 kV/25 kVA
SST prototype modeled here.
To nd out more, visit

www.S-5-Solar.com/SPW
or call 888-825-3432.
52
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
INSIDE A SOLID-STATE DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER
Designs for SSTs combine the functions of a conventional

transformer with those of a solar inverter and a charging station
for electric vehicles, as is evident in this design conceived at
NC States FREEDM Systems Center. Sources of distributed
power generation, such as solar modules, connect directly to
the SST without the need for an intervening inverter. A DC/DC
stage provides both galvanic isolation and voltage step up/step
down. A detail of the SiC H-bridge rectifier circuit reveals the
configuration of the13-kV SiC MOSFETs and junction-barrier
Schottky diodes that FREEDM researchers used in their SST
prototype. Also evident is an LCL ac filter circuit necessary to
attenuate switching frequency harmonics to meet grid codes.
One lesson to come out of SST

development efforts is that the industry
may have to rethink expectations
about the lifespan of such equipment.
Technology is changing so fast that a 10year lifespan might be enough rather than
the 30-year life of todays transformers,
said Huang.
And though prototype SSTs have
been described at technical conferences,
their design details are far from being set
in stone. Many of the SST circuits weve
demonstrated use well-understood
circuit topologies, said Huang. For SiC
semiconductors, those topologies might
have to change significantly to make the
best use of these devices.
Though SSTs are still a research
topic, the first steps toward their
commercialization are already in place.
Electric utility Duke Energy, for example,
is now testing advanced electrical

distribution devices that approximate
many of the features of solid-state
distribution transformers. Some of
the devices in the Duke pilot project
are made by a firm called GridBridge,
a 2012 spin-out from the NC State
labs. Huang, who is also a GridBridge
cofounder, said the firms version of an
SST isnt as technologically aggressive
as the SiC prototypes coming out of
the FREEDM Lab. GridBridges devices,
dubbed grid energy routers, capture
many of the functions of an SST without
replacing the transformer itself with
solid-state electronics.
In field tests with Duke, GridBridge
grid energy routers will demonstrate
grid management techniques
that include conservation voltage
reduction (basically managing voltage
back to the substation to maximize

efficiency)andvolt/VAR optimization
(basically managing line voltage and
inserting either capacitive or inductive
reactive power to optimize efficiency).
These adjustments can take place either
to meet conditions programmed into
each grid energy router or in response
to commands coming from the utility.
The GridBridge equipment will also help
manage power line quality by canceling
out harmonics and damping transients.
We want to create reliability so
buildings or residences getting power
from a substation arent affected by
events upstream, said GridBridge
CEO Chad Eckhardt. He also says that
GridBridge has a product roadmap for
how its grid energy routers will evolve
as technology advances.
One thing is for sure: Theres a big
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
53
TRANSFORMER
TRANSFORMATION
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kipp.usa@kippzonen.com www.kippzonen.com
In the SST test environment at N.C. State's FREEDM

Center, the prototype SST sits on a table in the background.
The big step-up transformer next to it serves as a way of
generating grid-level voltages for testing the SST.
market for the kind of smart transformers companies like

GridBridge are making. Weve seen a strong response from
utilities, said Eckhardt. An average utility might buy 20,000
distribution transformers annually and we think some of
these will start to be energy router-type devices in the
relatively near future.
But much remains to be done before energy routers
can be deployed widely. Equipment standards, for
example, will need to evolve so they can be applied to
solid-state transformers hooked up to the grid. Today, one
of the principle standards for distribution transformers
is IEEE C57.12.20-2011, but it is meant to cover only
mineral-oil-immersed transformers, not the type of solidstate hybrids created by companies such as GridBridge.
Moreover, standards organizations are only now
beginning to think about modernizing some of the
applicable requirements for grid-connected gear. In
the case of solid-state distribution transformers, Matt
Wilkowski, chair of the IEEE Power Electronics Societys
standards committee, has been dormant. We are trying to
reactivate the committee now. The initial steps will be to
create a forum of experts from utilities and energy router
technologists who will determine what standards should
apply and what specifics are needed.
Wilkowski said there are many similarities between
grid energy routers and electric vehicle chargers, at least in
terms of requirements. So these similarities might serve as a
starting point for new standards. SPW
1 2015
[L EADERSHIP
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SOL AR
E NE R GY ]
Nominate the company you think has provided leadership in the solar industry.
Did you know that the U.S. installs
another solar project every 2.5
minutes? The industry just wrapped
up another record year, in fact the
best year for U.S. solar to date with
7.4 GW installed in 2014.
This level of success wouldnt be
possible without the innovation,
ingenuity and determination of the
people who drive it: leaders. These
individuals and companies are
working for the growth of the entire
solar industry.
VOTE
The future of the industry will build

on the foundation of todays efforts.
Solar Power World would like to
acknowledge such achievements
on the following pages. These
accomplishments in racking-andmounting, inverters, modules and
more are what drive those gigawatts
and create jobs.
We think they deserve recognition
from you, too. Vote online for one
or more of the companies listed
through October.
ONLINE
solarpowerworldonline.com/leadership
Nominate the company you think has
provided leadership in the solar industry.
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
55
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Affordable Solar Distribution located in

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, designs
and distributes renewable energy systems
for residential and commercial use through
its distribution locations across the country.
Affordable Solar is committed to helping
Why we are a leader:
installers grow their business by offering

innovative financing and credit solutions,
In a competitive industry, Affordable Solar Distribution does more for the same dollar. Our
goal is to offer the most cost effective and valuable solution for our installers.
providing the best value on the highest quality

solar energy system components, and creating
We make it easy for installers to do business with us. Installers to upload simple job
information like roof layout, and electrical characteristics into an online application. We do
the rest. This includes designing a bill of materials (BOM) and allocating material so that it is
available when installers need it. We automate most of the procurement and logistics process
to drive down installation costs further. We plan and coordinate logistics well before the job
needs to ship in order to prevent shortages and delivery problems
business solutions that enable installers to

increase their local market share. We empower
individuals, businesses, and communities with
opportunities to contribute to a sustainable
future and clean energy economy.
Our leadership team is made up of industry professionals who have grown both residential
and commercial installation companies. Our solar industry experience allows helping
installers grow their business to be a key part of our business strategy. Affordable Solar has
innovative credit plans that improve liquidity for installers and allow them invest money into
growth rather than inventory. We also offer sales and product training to help struggling or
inexperienced sales teams reach their peak performance.
After 16 years in business, Affordable Solar understands what it takes to run a successful
installation company better than any other distributor. We have successfully grown
several smaller installers into market leaders. Affordable Solar is more than a distributor,
we are a business partner.
Affordable Solar Distribution
4840 Pan American East Fwy NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109-2220
Toll Free 1.800.810.9939
Domestic 505.244.1154
International +1-505.244.1154
Fax 505.244.9222
www.affordable-solar.com
VOTE
56
ONLINE
Voting for this company will identify it as
a leader in the solar power industry.
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
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Founded in 2001, the Company is a

designer and manufacturer of integrated
solar power systems. The Company has
been a pioneer in the concept of integrating
the racking, wiring and grounding directly
into a solar panel. The companys Instant
Connect solar panel reduces the number of
components for a rooftop solar installation
by approximately 80% and lowers labor costs
by approximately 50%. This Instant Connect
panel, which won the 2009 Popular
Mechanics Breakthrough Award, has become
the industrys most widely installed Instant
Connect solar panel. The Company currently
sells its new generation Instant Connect
products which provide the best combination
of safety, performance and reliability.
With Andalay as your solar system

provider, you are assured a hassle-free
installation. The precise alignment resulting
from the integrated racking and splice
system enables electrical wiring to be
automated using plug & play connections
that are formed as panels are mechanically
interlocked. This unique capability is
available only from Andalay Solar. By
integrating racking directly into the
panel, you no longer need to procure and
assemble separate rack systems which are
unsightly and time consuming to construct.
The Instant Connect is the industrys
firs UL-approved solar panel with a
grooved frame that integrates racking,
wiring, and grounding for a quicker,
hassle- free installation.
Andalay Solar, Inc.

2071 Ringwood Ave., Unit C
San Jose, CA 95131
408-402-9400
For an AC system, each of Andalays panels

includes a built-in microinverter and
T-cable that eliminates trunk cable and
bulk wire management issues. Andalays
partnership with Enphase, the industrys
leading manufacturer in microinverters,
resulted in streamlining the installation
process by having microinverters installed
directly in the back of the

panel. With these inverters, the
Instant Connect panel is able
to generate solar energy at a
more efficient rate than most
competitors. Shading, debris,
or snow lines on any one panel
does not disproportionately
reduce the output of the
entire grid. Simplicity in design,
streamlined wire management,
and ease of use are factors
introduced with the Instant
Connect solar panel.
Andalay Solar has a rich
company history that
highlights its extensive
experience in the solar
industry. The Company
now has over 25 issued and
pending patents. Over the
years, the Company has
received broad industry
acclaim for pioneering
integrated racking, wiring,
and grounding directly into
the solar panel. Since its
creation, it has generated
over $100 million in sales.
Andalay Solar products can
be found at Amazon.com,
Lowes.com, and at
www.andalaysolar.com.
www.andalaysolar.com
Steven Chan CEO
schan@andalaysolar.com
VOTE
ONLINE
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
57
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Technology doesnt stand still.

Neither do we.
APS is a worldwide leader in the

development, manufacturing and marketing
of microinverters based on our proprietary,
leading-edge solar technology. Representing
APS was founded in Silicon Valley, USA, in order to bring the most advanced
microinverter technology to the solar PV market.
APS in the US market, APS America is based

near Seattle.
A global leader in renewable energy solutions, APS ranked No. 2 among

top microinverter suppliers worldwide by shipments in 2013 (source: GTM
Research). APS remains committed to innovation, keeping microinverter
technology at the forefront of the industry and putting more power and
efficiency into your solar array.
Two years ago, APS introduced the industrys only dual-module microinverter, the
APS YC500, offering outstanding power output while lowering balance of system
costs. Its now our flagship product, the microinverter of choice for reliability and
ease of installation.
This year APS rolled out another industry first, the YC1000, a native 277/460, 3-phase
microinverter that handles an unprecedented four modules per unit. Its specifically
designed for demanding large-scale applications, bringing all the advantages of
microinverter technology for the first time to the commercial segment.
APSs advanced microinverter products have earned recognition in leading journals
like Solar Power World. APS installations, as well. And with distribution through
leading U.S. and international
channels, APS microinverters are
available on three continents.
What comes next? You wont have to
wait long to find out. With more than
half our employees engaged in R&D
engineering, were more invested
than ever in innovation making
tomorrows solar microinverter
technology available today.
APS America
1015 Hostmark St. Suite 104
Poulsbo, WA 98370
APS knows what the future looks like.

We design it.
P: 844.666.7035
www.apsamerica.com
VOTE
58
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SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
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Array Technologies, Inc.

is a solar industry pioneer and one of the leading
manufacturers of innovative, cost- effective,
reliable and robust solar tracking and racking
systems. Our customers include utilities,
corporations, small businesses, and homeowners.
Headquartered in Albuquerque, NM for over
20 years with more than 2 GW delivered, Array
Technologies provides its customers with
unequaled solar tracking expertise. Our ground
mount solutions are manufactured in the USA and
shipped worldwide.
Experience Drives Innovation

Theres a reason Array Technologies, Inc. (ATI) is a global leader: proven
experience that comes from more than two decades of deploying tracking
and racking systems, from residential neighborhoods to utility-scale power
plants. With more than 2 gigawatts of product shipped and installed in over 250
projects to date, ATI offers its customers unmatched experience and reliability.
How do you capitalize on this experience in order to provide the solar industry
with the highest quality tracking systems year after year, project after project?
Innovation. Array Technologies will release a newly designed version of our
best-selling DuraTrack HZ single-axis solar tracking system this year, as we
once again set the industry standard for solar tracking systems.
Evolving the Industry Standard
The newly designed DuraTrackTM HZ v3 is not just an evolution of our
innovative single- axis horizontal solar tracker, but incorporates revolutionary
new features found nowhere else in the industry. These optimized design
features will deliver the lowest LCOE PV tracker on the market today, providing
our customers with a clear competitive advantage.
From Concept to Construction
Array Technologies, Inc.

3901 Midway Place NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
Phone: 505.881.7567
Fax: 505.881.7572
info@arraytechinc.com
arraytechinc.com
VOTE
We help you customize, install and complete each large-scale solar project
successfully with included engineering and project management services.
Engineering support features customized solutions, site-specific calculations,
and wet-stamped drawings. You will also have an experienced project manager
dedicated to training, logistics, and installation assistance working with you
every step of the way. The result of integrated services is successful project
completion and long term reliability.
Array Technologies ground mount tracking and racking systems optimally
balance performance with high durability, long-term reliability and minimal
operation and maintenance, to maximize the ROI for competitive solar projects
around the world.
ONLINE
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
59
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Aurora Bearing Company

was founded in 1971 and
manufactures the worlds
most complete range of
rod end and spherical
bearings. Configurations
range from 2-piece economy commercial and
molded race construction through 3-piece
precision designs.
Aurora also produces a full line of military
Aurora Bearing Cos new LCOM Spherical Bearings outperform LS bearings

Like all Aurora Bearing spherical bearings, the LCOM series features a one piece steel
raceway, swaged around the ball for a smooth, precise, close tolerance fit, along with the
benefit of the strength and vibration resistance of steel. In addition, this series is optionally
available with Auroras proprietary AT series PTFE liner, for a zero clearance, self lubricating fit.
spec rod ends,spherical bearings, and journal

bushings. Custom designed rod ends, spherical
bearings, and linkages are a specialty.
Aurora LCOM Spherical Bearings were designed to offer a higher level of performance with
dimensional interchangeability for the LS spherical bearing category; a market segment
which has remained largely unchanged since the 1950s. LS bearings are characterized by
being of 3 or 4 piece construction, with an inner ball, an outer ring, and a one or two piece
brass, bronze, or copper alloy race between. Since the early 1950s users of these bearings,
which are also marketed with a FLBG, RS, or VBC prefix, have had to accept the low
strength and poor vibration resistance of these bearings do to the low strength race material.
Auroras LCOM bearings incorporate superior materials and manufacturing processes to
overcome the performance deficiencies associated with LS bearings.
COM-M Bearings are stronger choice for DIN ISO 12240-1 applications
Metric spherical plain bearings built to DIN ISO 12240-1 (formerly DIN 648) schedule K often
are made with inner races or rings made of brass, bronze or copper. For many low demand
applications these bearings have proven to give satisfactory service. However, in applications
with high loads and/or high vibration levels, they can quickly develop excess clearance do to
the deformation of the relatively soft race material.

901 Aucutt Rd.
Montgomery, IL 60538
Phone: 630-859-2030
This weakness is addressed in the Aurora Bearing Companys COM-M series spherical
bearings. Like all Aurora inch dimension spherical bearings, these metric bearings all feature
a 1 piece steel race way, cold formed around a chrome plated, alloy steel ball for strength,
precision and structural integrity. Aurora COM-M series bearings are available in sizes from
3mm to 30mm., and follow the dimensions of DIN 648 schedule K. Bearings are optionally
available with Auroras self lubricating AT series ptfe liner, for a smooth, zero clearance fit that
is self lubricating and maintenance free..
Fax: 630-859-0971
www.aurorabearing.com
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SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
Maintenance free & corrosion resistant rod ends from Aurora The Aurora CM/CW-ET series
rod ends offer a combination of features unique in the rod end industry. Instead of the low
strength steels typically found in stainless rod ends, the ET series features bodies made from
heat treated 17-4PH material. Not only do they offer excellent corrosion resistance compared
to conventional rod ends, they provide greater load capacity, strength and durability as well.
The ET series comes standard with Auroras exclusive AT2100 PTFE liner. This, combined
with a heat treated 440C stainless ball, gives a durable, zero clearance, self lubricating,
maintenance free bearing interface to go with the benefits of the heat treated body. Their
two piece design allows these high performance features to be exploited at an economical
price. The Aurora ET series bearings can be used to enhance the performance of equipment
in wash down, marine, and other environments that require extra corrosion resistance.
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Headquartered in Germany, AXITEC has

been one of the qualitatively leading global
manufacturers of solar panels since its
establishment in 2001. German experience
met U.S. dynamic in 2012 when AXITEC USA
was established. The core competence of both
companies comprises the complete process
chain for solar modules from development
and manufacturing through quality assurance
to sales and service. With 14 years of
manufacturing experience, AXITEC has proven
itself to succeed while withstanding many
changes throughout the global PV market.
E NE RGY]
High Quality German Engineering

AXITEC uses the highest quality German
engineering while manufacturing solar
panels. With industry leading testing results
and certifications, AXITEC tirelessly looks to
improve all aspects of engineering.
Innovative New Technology
AXITEC recently partnered with SolarEdge
to manufacture the AXIplus module, which
includes a built in SolarEdge DC optimizer in
the junction box.
Product Versatility
Our polycrystalline and monocrystalline
modules come in multiple different sizes and
designs. From black frame to silver frame,
we have the most cost efficient module to
benefit any size installation.
Great Partners
AXITEC partners with some of the leading
global distributors in the solar industry.
Through these distribution channels AXITEC
is able to reach any level of installation
providing a seamless transition to the
completed project.
AXITEC, LLC
75 Twinbridge Drive, Suite E
Pennsauken, NJ 08110
Phone 856-813-9386
or 856-701-2187
info@axitecsolar.com
http://www.axitecsolar.us
VOTE
With headquarters in Germany, AXITEC had

the advantage to first hand be a part of the
exponential growth in solar for the European
market in recent years. As the industry
evolves, and different parts of the globe begin
to benefit more and more from solar, AXITEC
uses their vast experience and knowledge
to contribute throughout the world. This
strong foundation is what sets Axitec apart as
a top solar panel provider as the US Market
continues to flourish.
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Optimizing design solutions that work for the industry.

After 31 years in business Baja Construction has
perfected the craft of optimizing the process of Design
to Implementation. Bajas All In or Turnkey Approach
to Implementing Renewable Energy projects have led
solar the industry for a decade.
Facilitating opportunities with existing customers as well
as creating new relationships are the motivating factors
in Bajas continued success.
As the Industry strives to create new opportunities and
open the door for increased capacity, the demand
for experienced implementation is essential. Baja
Construction is dedicated to supporting the industry and
welcomes the opportunity to lead the industry in setting
the standard. Baja is focused on the future of sustainable
energy and will continue to pave the way for success.
Baja Construction Inc.
Matthew R. Harrison
Corporate Headquarters:
Eastern Region Direction of Operations
223 Foster Street
631.750.9258 (Work)
Martinez, CA 94553
631.352.9214 (Mobile)
T: 1-800-366-9600
mharrison@bajacarports.com
F: 1-925-229-0161
1744 Church St.
www.bajacarports.com
Holbrook, NY 11741
Baja Construction Co. Inc | is a California Corporation established in 1981 and

serving the entire United States, Canada, Mexico as well as Puerto Rico and all of the
Caribbean Island region. Our professional staff provides Design, Engineering and
Turnkey Construction services for Solar Support Structures to a wide range of public
and private clients on both engineering and building projects.
The Company was created out of the desire to better serve the Client by being a
project advocate acting in ways, which are ultimately in the Clients best interest.
We are committed to quality and have incorporated it into our core principles. We
are proud of our service and performance for our clients. Our repeat selections
and contract extensions attest to our ability, our commitment to provide quality
construction related services and products, our understanding and command of
the nature of work to be performed, and our desire to be responsive to all task
assignments related to our scope of work.
The Mission of Baja Construction Co. Inc | is to provide the highest quality
construction services and products to all Clients including Municipalities, Agencies,
Developers, Designers, and Contractors. In other words...all Project Shareholders.
We want to help achieve their goals related to the project in an ethical, creative, and
cost-efficient manner by applying effective construction management and sustainable
construction techniques to the planning, design, engineering and construction of a
project from inception to completion for the purposes of controlling time, cost, and
quality while enhancing the quality of life and the environment.
www.bajacarports.com
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Building on decades of experience, Campbell

Scientific has developed increasingly powerful
dataloggers that have achieved worldwide
use in environmental, research, and industrial
markets for diverse applications. Over the
years, Campbell Scientific has also established
itself as a reputable manufacturer of numerous
related product lines for the measurement
field, including a wide variety of sensors, as
well as devices for the collection, storage,
communication, and retrieval of data.
Systems for Site Assessment, Performance

Monitoring, and Advanced Solar Monitoring
Campbell Scientific offers automated data-acquisition systems
specifically designed for solar monitoring applications.
Preconfigured systems, designed to meet CAISO standards for
solar telemetry, are available for photovoltaic and concentrated
solar technology projects of all sizes. Our engineers work
closely with the customer to design highly customized stations,
advanced research and development stations, and custom
application programming interfaces (API) for data collection.
Campbell Scientific, Inc.

815 West 1800 North
Logan, Utah 84321-1784
USA
435.227.9000
435.227.9001 (fax)
Email: info@campbellsci.com
Website: www.campbellsci.com
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Canadian Solar is a
leader for the following
10 reasons:
Canadian Solar Inc

Founded in 2001 inOntario, Canada,Canadian
Solaris one of the worlds largest and
foremost solar power companies. As a leading
10) Canadian Solar has established itself as a

global, bankable brand.
manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules

and provider of solar energy solutions,Canadian
9) Canadian Solar has dedicated customer support teams staffed by

experienced technical support engineers and customer service
representatives. With over 150 professional solar experts who speak
a combined total of 10 languages, Canadian Solar is always ready to
meet your needs.
Solarhas a geographically diversified pipeline

of utility-scale solar power projects, as well as
a track record of successful solar deployment
boasting over 7 GW of premium quality
modules installed in over 70 countries.Canadian
Solaris committed to providing high-quality
solar products and solar energy solutions
8) Canadian Solars modules are backed by a world-wide, 25-year linear

power performance warranty.
7) Canadian Solar has a No. 1 PTC rating among 12,472 pieces of
Polycrystalline modules: 91.96% on their 60-cell modules and
91.94% on their 72-cell modules.
to customers around the world. For more

information about our company, products and
6) Compared to other panel manufacturers, Canadian Solars PV

modules perform at a 6.4% higher performance ratio by PVSYST.
projects please visit www.canadiansolar.com.
5) Canadian Solar manufactures products that are of the highest

quality, ensuring customers ROI. Our products are internationally
certified by 3rd party institutions such CSA, VDE, PVEL, TUV,
Intertek, and INMETRO.
4) Canadian Solars products pass stringent quality control and testing,
such as ISO14001 and ISO16949.
3) Canadian Solar is committed to developing efficient and innovative
products. Not only do our Quartech modules have proprietary
4busbar cells, the poly 72 cell module has power output up to 310W.
Canadian Solar (USA) Inc.
2) Canadian Solar has been publically traded on NASDAQ since

2006 (CSIQ).
Audrey Lin
Marketing Specialist, Canadian Solar
1) Led by Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar,

our company has an experienced multinational executive
team with a proven track record of successful operations and
strategic leadership.
Audrey.Lin@canadiansolar.com
(888) 998-7739, x4842
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Inverter Leadership - Lowering Your Costs
Leadership Value.
Reducing the cost of solar is what we do. Generating
Performance and innovation that will

surprise you. Did you know we have
been developing inverters in America,
in Texas, since 2009? Our 1000Vdc,
23 and 28kW models have 98% CEC
and 98.5% peak efficiencies, and our
1-phase residential line has dual MPPT
for 3,4,5 and 6kW power levels. Can
anyone beat our 14kW 208Vac 3-phase
string platform for power density and
convenience? The 20kW 3-phase string
model has Photon Labs A,A ratings
one of the best models ever tested.
Value. is what you can expect from CPS America, part

of the $5 billion dollar Chint Group. With solar inverters
installed in 23 countries and over 1GW of production
including residential, commercial and utility scale
applications Chint has the scale to drive costs down
leading the industry to new inverter cost benchmarks.
Inverter Leadership - High Performance
And, just when you recover from amazement about
cost savings, you will see that the CPS products also
lead the industry in high performance and design
flexibility. Feature-rich standard models, with dual
MPPTs, integrated switches, fusing, wire-box, ARC- fault
protection and efficiencies as high as 98.5%.
Chint Power Systems America

7060 Koll Center Parkway #318
Pleasanton, CA 94566
AmericaSales@ChintPower.com
HOTLINE: 855-584-7168
Cost. No one has a better combination

of $5B scale and supply chain efficiency
to yield the best blend of features
and low cost. Our supplier proximity
and co-location of manufacturing
and development in Shanghai saves
logistics costs and improves speed
to save money. Equally, Chint Group
vertical integration means than many
components are developed and
manufactured within the company.
And, our strategy of feature rich, flexible
products means you lower overall
installed BoS costs beyond the inverter
as well.
Bankability you can count on... our
$5 Billion scale and business diversity
protects us, and you, from the bumpy
solar road. Just ask a top financier such
as Wells Fargo or independent experts
such as Photon Labs or BEW about CPS.
Then, give us a call because we are here
to support you!
www.ChintPower.com/na
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SOL AR
DPW Solar, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico,

is a wholly owned subsidiary of Preformed Line
Products (PLP). We are a major manufacturer of
innovative and reliable PV mounting hardware
PV Mounting
Solutions for
any Application
solutions since 1993.

DPW Solar, and The POWERFAB brand of racking systems
offer provides superior strength,
longer life and lower installation
costs. We design and manufacture
field proven solutions for securing
most PV solar modules in a
variety of applications for utility
scale, commercial, residential,
government and industrial markets. Installers from coast to coast rely on the strength and
easy to install assembly of our PV mounting structures, plus the added value our customers
receive through engineering expertise and unparalleled customer support. Our 20 years of
PV solar industry experience coupled with lean manufacturing capabilities allow for a quick,
precise response to customer needs.
DPW Solar
4000 Vassar Dr. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Phone: 505-889-3585
Roof Mount Systems include:
Power Rail Residential and Commercial

POWER XPRESSTM
Ballasted Power Rail
Power Rail KTS Side Tilt
Ground and Pole Mount Systems include:
Power Peak Utility Scale

Multi-Pole Mounts (MPM-G2)
Large Ground Mounts
Top-of-Pole Mounts
Side-of-Pole Mounts
Email: info@power-fab.com
www.DPWSolar.com
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You can always Count on the reliability of our USA manufactured products, and the dedicated
service of DPW Solars people day in and day out, year after year.
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The global quality and value leader in fractional

horsepower motion control is the result of
combining precise German engineering and
award-winning design with a highly skilled
Black Forest workforce and state-of-the-art
automated production.
Dunkermotor is the North American sales, technical

support and logistics subsidiary of Dunkermotoren
GmbH, now part of AMETEK Precision Motion
Control. For over 60 years, Dunkermotoren
is the world market leader in customized,
congurable sole-source motion control solutions
composed of long-life brushed motor products
and the industrys largest portfolio of integrated
intelligence brushless motor+controller solutions
with connectivity to CANopen, Probus, Pronet
and Ethercat eldbuses, as well as linear motors,
AC electric motors, planetary and worm gearheads,
controls, encoders and brakes.
Headquartered in Bonndorf, Germany with
production and/or logistics facilities in Europe,
Asia and Mount Prospect, Illinois, Dunkermotoren
employs 1000 globally and produces over 3
million motors annually for the automation,
packaging, medical, solar, and agricultural/mass
transportation industries.
Dunkermotoren USA Inc.

1500 Bishop Court
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
Phone (773) 289-5555
info@dunkermotor.com
www.dunkermotor.com
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Dunkermotor is a global manufacturer of

Brushed DC motors, Brushless DC motors
and gear motors with output power
ranging from 1-550 Watts (over 2/3 hp). For
over 60 years, the German based company
has been on the leading edge of technology
and innovation not only in terms of
product design, but also automated
production. This has led to success as the
largest supplier of fractional horsepower
motion control products in Europe, with
rapid growth in the US and Asian markets.
The award-winning German engineering
rm is recognized for its high quality,
long-life brushed motor product line, and
its portfolio of highly integrated brushless
motor/controller solutions. In addition to
being the world market leader in supplying
gearmotors to the entryway access and
sun management markets, Dunkermotor
also successfully serves the factory and
commercial automation, medical and
laboratory equipment, agricultural and mass
transportation, solar PV and power, and
packaging and food processing machinery
markets.
THE REASONS FOR SUCCESS:
Through the years, Dunkermotor has
developed components based on a
modular approach that
includes brushed DC, brushless DC and AC
motors, planetary and worm gearboxes,
magnetic, incremental and absolute
encoders, power-on and
power-off brakes, and a
variety of integral as well
as separate electronic drives
and controllers.
This innovative congurable
modular component approach creates
thousands of motion solution possibilities
providing ne-tuned answers to unique
challenges using readily available, eldproven components either in a standard or
customized conguration.
In addition to manufacturing excellence,
Dunkermotor provides extensive technical
and application support, recognized by
customers as an extension of their own
engineering or R&D teams. As a result,
customers shorten project development
time, reduce their list of components and
vendors and realize sizable cost saving
on not only components and integration

but also assembly and inventory. Being
an innovative, all-in-one technical and
commercial partner, Dunkermotor is
committed to developing strong, longlasting relationships with its customers.
OVER A DECADE OF INTEGRATED

INTELLIGENCE MOTOR INNOVATION:
Dunkermotor has accelerated the
development of the truly all-in-one
concept of intelligent brushless DC motors.
Signicant investment in research and
development, extensive testing, validations,
and unique new production tools were
required to achieve todays technologically
advanced integrated brushless product line
that presents a best value solution for OEMs.
The result is a BLDC motor, drive, controller,
feedback device, bus protocols, gearbox,
and brake in one compact package. The
Original iBLDC !
Dunkermotor introduced their new
Brushless DC product line with Probus
interface to complement its CANopen
portfolio and then expanded further
with a newly introduced range of
solutions with Ethercat eldbus. Recently,
Dunkermotor introduced its new line of
high performance linear motors, actuators
and modules to the U.S. market.
A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE:
There is nothing more important to
Dunkermotor than to solve the problems
of its OEMs and to help them be more
successful, whether by providing them
with strong application engineering, out
of the box thinking, prompt delivery of
prototypes, on-site assistance or global
footprint logistics and manufacturing
solutions. OEMs want speed and precision;
Dunkermotor delivers both every day. The
latest addition to their Mount Prospect, IL
facility is a Same-day shipping service for
most of Dunkermotors Stock-Program,
featuring 1000+ of their most popular
motion solutions. Customers can also
conveniently buy directly from
the manufacturers online
DunkermotorExpress,
or contact a local
distributor.
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EagleView Technologies offers Pictometry Intelligent Images and

analytical tools for accurate pre-contract assessment. The high-resolution
images provide top-down, north, south, east and west views to easily identify
shading and roof obstructions. With image libraries covering the U.S. and
Canada, neighborhoods in any geographical area can be evaluated right from
the desktop. After the sale, EagleView Solar Roof Reports use patented, 3D
technology to deliver detailed measurements including orientation, tilt and
total square footage and provide CAD files that can be imported into existing
workflows for precise solar design and installation.
Solar solutions for contractors from

prospecting to system design
EagleView Technologies is the leading provider of powerful technological solutions in
the GIS, measurement and analytical space and has specialized in automating manual
processes through SaaS technology solutions for over five years. The company has more
than 50 patented technologies to provide scalable, efficient and highly accurate analytical
solutions that are critical for success in the solar market.
EagleView Technologies
3700 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 200
Bothell, WA 98021
866-659-8439
www.eagleview.com
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After a 2013 merger with Pictometry International, the company that invented the
technology behind aerial oblique image capture, EagleView now offers a vast library
of high-resolution, Pictometry orthogonal and oblique imagery that is georeferenced,
allowing for the extraction of data and measurements, a must have for prequalifying
solar projects. With 90% of the populated areas in the U.S. captured and a broad reach
into Canada, solar contractors can evaluate and assess a property from anywhere using
powerful, cloud-based tools or take advantage of the many available integrations. New
images are captured on an ongoing basis and the technology continues to advance,
offering unsurpassed image quality as well as mobile solutions for optimum efficiency.
EagleView invented patented software that produces 3D models resulting in aerial roof
and wall measurement reports that are extremely accurate and detailed. The Solar Roof
Reports deliver all measurements needed for any solar job, including azimuth, square
footage, line lengths and a CAD file of the property. As the market leader in both the
construction and solar markets, EagleView continues to introduce innovations that allow
contractors to operate more efficiently, increase profitability and grow their businesses.
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Industry leader EcoFasten Solar works

closely with the top solar developers, racking
system providers, roofing manufacturers
and commercial installation companies to
develop breakthrough mounting solutions
that are watertight, versatile, simple, and
secure. All of the products in the EcoFasten
line are manufactured in-house in Morrisville,
Vermont, which allows complete control
over the product design, development and
manufacturing phases. Comprised of a team
rich with talent and ability, EcoFasten Solar
produces reliable systems that do what they
say theyll do.
Committed to the connection

We all know that to mount a solar panel to a roof, you need to know as much about the
roof construction as you do about the panel function. In fact, you need to know more.
Founded by a former roofer with decades of hands-on experience, EcoFasten Solar is
the company that was born to bridge the gap between the people who design the solar
arrays and the people who install them.
EcoFasten Solar roof mounts and components utilize the same patented watertight
compression technology that has been used by its Sister company in the rooftop mounted
snow retention industry since the mid-1990s. This simple, yet secure technology creates
an impermeable moisture barrier under even the most extreme conditions.
EcoFasten Solar
All EcoFasten Solar products are rugged by design, employing fabrication and quality
manufacturing principles that maintain the integrity of the roof without voiding roofing
manufacturers warranties. Every EcoFasten product meets or exceeds roofing industry
best practices, as well as International and State Building Codes.
289 Harrel Street
Theres a reason the top 3 installers in the U.S. rely on EcoFasten Solar:
Morrisville, VT 05661
Phone: 877.859.3947
Fax: 888.766.9994
Fastest, easiest, most straightforward installs in the industry

Most cost-effective solutions available
info@ecofastensolar.com
www.ecofastensolar.com
Versatile designs for all roof types new or retrofit

Patented, watertight compression technology
Made in the USA using recycled materials
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Enphase Energy is the worlds leading

microinverter company, delivering
microinverter technology for the solar industry
that increases energy production, simplifies
design and installation, improves system
uptime and reliability, reduces fire safety risk
and provides a platform for intelligent energy
management. Our semiconductor-based
microinverter system converts energy at the
Leader in Solar Technology Innovation
individual solar module level and brings a

systems-based, high technology approach to
solar energy generation. Enphase has shipped
over six million microinverters across the
world and expanded its global footprint with
offices in North America, Europe and Australia.
Revolutionizing solar power generation, Enphase Energy introduced the solar

industrys first commercially distributed microinverter in 2008. Four generations
later, Enphase announced its commitment to the commercial market with
the C250 Microinverter and O&M services. A few short months later, Enphase
unveiled a new energy management system designed to intelligently integrate the
critical technologies needed to solve solar energy challenges at scale: smart grid
intelligence, communications, big data analytics, and storage. The Enphase Energy
Management System is built on the foundation of solars first-ever bi-directional
power flow microinverterEnphase S275 Microinverterwhich allowed for the
development of Enphases ground-breaking AC Battery.
Enphases explosive financial growth has positioned the company as a Deloitte
Technology Fast 500 winner two consecutive years. Enphase was also named the
#1 residential inverter supplier in the Americas for 2013 by share of revenue by IHS
Research, as well as the #1 power electronics monitoring provider in the world for
2013 by number of new sites, according to GTM Research.
Enphase is transforming the global energy landscape and bringing quantifiable
benefits to society and the environment. Enphase technology has offset over 1.7
million tons of carbon emissions and contributed to the addition of 1.4GW (DC) of
solar across the world. Through Enphases web-based software platform, Enlighten,
Enphase receives real-time field performance verification from over 200,000 solar
systems around the world.
Enphase Energy
1420 N. McDowell Blvd
Petaluma, CA 94954
P: (877) 797-4743
www.enphase.com
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Envect provides a unique venture consulting

offering to help product and service
providers launch new businesses and
operations in the North American Solar
markets. We engage on a long term basis as
embedded team members who share the risk
and reward of success.
Envect Inc.
906 Harriman Rd
Bend, Oregon 97701
www.envect.com
info@envect.com
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ET Solar is a global provider of smart solar
Since 2005, ET Solar products have

been constantly contributing clean
energy to our planet. As a recognized
innovator, our success in production,
technological development, quality
control, and product performance
distinguishes us as one of the most
reliable solar companies in the world.
With more than 3.5GW of shipments,
ET Solar modules are proven to belong
to one of the world most reliable
brands and are best choices in terms of
high quality, excellent performance. ET
Solar modules have been consistently
ranked in the top five by PHOTON. All
ET Solar products are fully approved
and certified by recognized global
standards and laboratories.
energy solutions devoted to meeting

customer needs. Our knowledge, experience,
and continual innovation have lead to highly
successful gigawatt solar system installations
and hundreds of turnkey megawatt power
plants worldwide. By integrating research
and development, manufacturing, and
commercial expertise across the entire solar
value chain, ET Solar provides industryleading solar energy solutions that not only
include components manufacturing, but
also package services throughout the entire
life cycle of solar power plants, from project
ET solar believes the intangible power

hidden in technological innovations can
generate unlimited value for customers.
This is why we commit to leading change
in the industry through innovation.
design, financing, engineering, procurement,

and construction management through
operations and maintenance services.
ET Solar is not purely a module

manufacturer; we also provide energy
solution to customers around the
world. ET Solar delivers leading smart
solar energy solutions with proven
success references from more than
300MW of installations around
the world. As one of the globally
recognized solar module suppliers
and an end-to-end lifecycle solar
power plant services provider with
more than 3.5GW of experience, ET
Solar delivers superior system-level
results over competitors. With German
quality and expertise across the entire
solar energy supply chain, we deliver
more predictable and bankable PV
energy solutions that increase energy
yield, reduce LCOE, and provide stable
grid integration, resulting in system
solutions that maximize value and
minimize risk for our customers.
ET Solar Inc.
4900 Hopyard Road #310
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Tel. +1 925 460 9898 x 202
Fax: +1 925 460 9929
Email: sales@etsolar.us
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Exosun
Founded in 2007, Exosun is an expert in solar
tracking for utility-scale solar plants.
Global leader, Exosun designs, develops
and supplies highly reliable and robust solar
tracking systems, named Exotrack, with
the lowest life-cycle cost on the market.
Exosun accompanies its clients and partners
by providing a full range of tailored product
associated engineering services.
The companys mission is to drive down the
cost of the solar kWh and help customers
achieve the best LCOE.
French pioneer, Exosun has a subsidiary in the
US (San Francisco) and in South Africa (Cape
Town), and representation offices in Mexico
and Portugal.
French pioneer with expanding

international presence and expertise
Exosun has supplied more than 150 MW
of solar trackers for utility-scale PV plants
worldwide and has designed more than 2
GWp of pre project studies.
Simple yet innovative design for
reduced CAPEX and OPEX expenditures
Exosuns team is made up of highly
qualified professionals motivated by a
common industrial vision which is to
drive down the cost of the solar kWh
and to achieve the best LCOE for its
customers.
Our tracking systems have been designed
for fast and simple installation, as well
as for minimal preventive operation and
maintenance actions.
Exosun Inc.
395 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 307
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Furthermore, Exosuns engineering team

optimizes plant design by finding the
perfect balance between upfront costs,
plant configuration, and energy yield.
Highly reliable and bankable

Exosuns long term reliability and
durability have been confirmed by
technical due diligences from references
such as Black & Veatch, and through
extensive testing of our solar trackers by
independent third parties.
Our flagship product, the Exotrack HZ
horizontal single-axis tracker, was the
first solar tracker worldwide to earn UL
3703 compliancy.
Partnering with our customers to
accelerate their ROI
In addition to building world-class
tracking technology, Exosun offers its
clients customized support services
covering the complete life cycle of a
solar plant, from project development up
to tracker commissioning and O&M.
Phone: 415-422-9625
contact.usa@exosun.net
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Festo is a leading global manufacturer of

pneumatic and electromechanical systems,
components and controls for process control
and factory automation solutions, with more
than 55 national headquarters serving more
than 180 countries. With over 40 years of
innovation in the United States and over 80
years globally, Festo has continuously elevated
the state of manufacturing with innovations and
optimized motion control solutions that deliver
We are the Engineers of Productivity!

Festo is globally recognized as a symbol of expertise in factory automation
and process control. We can help decrease process costs by engaging
Festo as an extended workbench and benefitting from our expertise with
regard to preassembled pneumatics, customized product designs, and
system solutions.
higher performing, more profitable automated

manufacturing and processing equipment. Our
dedication to the advancement of automation
extends beyond technology to the education
of current and future automation and robotic
Festo enables its partners to obtain more intelligent automation solutions

from a single source. In addition to tried and tested pneumatic drive units,
Festo also provides both servo-pneumatic and electric drive units.
designers with simulation tools, teaching

programs, and on-site services.
Our intelligent systems for status monitoring and machine diagnosis

(condition monitoring solutions) are made up of sensors, software,
controllers, and visualization. These solutions can greatly
reduce maintenance and servicing costs.
With a comprehensive line of automation
components, custom components
and complete electromechanical
and pneumatic motion
controlled multi-axis
systems
Festo
Festo can support your

most complex automation
requirements.
Phone:: 800.99.FESTO
Fax: 800.96.FESTO
E-mail: customer.service@us.festo.com
www.festo.com/us
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Folsom Labs:
Leading the Way in
Reducing Soft Costs
Folsom Labs develops HelioScope, cloudbased design software for solar PV systems.
HelioScope combines easy-to-use design
tools with bankable mathematics, allowing
system engineers to quickly design and
evaluate potential projects. HelioScope is
robust enough to be trusted by the most
sophisticated engineering firms, who report
that the software makes them 2x-5x faster in
designing and modeling a solar array. Yet it
HelioScope helps solar developers

dramatically improve their operations
in deploying high-quality PV systems.
By combining CAD functionality
and energy simulation, HelioScope
reduces the time it takes to design a
solar project, while still providing rigorous results, with a 1% bill of materials
tolerance to AutoCAD, and a 1% energy yield tolerance to PVsyst.
is also intuitive enough to be used by frontline sales teams to quickly and effectively
generate bankable designs and performance
estimates. For more information, visit www.
folsomlabs.com.
HelioScope automates many of the steps that engineers take to design a

solar array: setting building takeoffs based on applicable codes, calculating
row spacing automatically based on the locations sun angles, and showing
voltage drop in real-time based on the conductor sizes and distances.
Furthermore, HelioScopes ease of use also enables a broader set of
individuals to design solar arrays. This enables non-engineers (sales,
operations, development, etc.) to take on the system design and modeling
tasks that could previously only have been done by engineering. The
sales team is more effective because they can now generate their own
commercial proposals, while the engineering team is more effective
because they can focus on projects under contract.
Finally, HelioScope enables advanced system optimization and value
engineering. By combining the physical layout with the energy yield
calculations, the software can automatically calculate tradeoffs between
the physical array design and the resulting energy yield, helping engineers
determine the lowest-cost approach for constructing an array. In
recognition of the impact this optimization can have on system costs,
Folsom Labs has been awarded a grant under the SunShot program to
accelerate the development of optimization tools.
Folsom Labs
HelioScope helps installers build better systems, improve their productivity,

and close more sales.
info@folsomlabs.com
www.folsomlabs.com
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Fronius USA is headquartered in Portage, Indiana

and is a leader in solar inverter technology in
the United States. Fronius has a long tradition
of technological innovation, founded in 1945 in
Austria. In addition to technological innovation,
the family-owned tradition of Fronius is highly
value-driven and quality focused. Fronius USA has
three divisions: Perfect Welding, Solar Energy and
Perfect Charging and one goal which is to shift
the limits of what is possible. Through innovation
Fronius USA has become a resource for quality
service, products and data communications to
the growing solar industry. For more information,
visit www.fronius-usa.com.
Fronius USA opened its doors to solar in the United States in 2002 in Brighton, MI and in 2013
moved to a 400,000 square foot facility in Portage, Indiana to better serve all its growing
divisions and manufacturing needs. The facility houses Fronius USAs over 100 employees and
has recently installed a rooftop array. The large array not only serves the large facilitys energy
demands, but assists in the companys product research and development in the US.
Fronius USA is the leader the inverter industry, with a full product line that compliments
the needs of all aspects of solar: from the small family home to the largest of commercial
facility or solar farm. The Fronius SnapINverter line up features string inverters from 1.5
kW to 24 kW and the key differentiating design of the hinge mounting capability. This
allows for these lightweight units to be mounted in less than fifteen minutes as well as
several mounting options available.
Fronius USA recently developed a new technology in the industry that features the strength
of the string inverter integrated with the module-level monitoring technology seen in many
smart solar systems. The Fronius FE Inverter Line allows for design flexibility, shade mitigation
and module-level monitoring on the ground and works seamlessly with optimizers or Tigos
Tier 1 smart module manufacturers.
Fronius USA also offers free lifetime monitoring for its products, typically unseen from other
inverter manufacturers. The inverters communicate wirelessly with Fronius Solar.web and
other third party protocols, securing accurate data measuring and monitoring.
Fronius USA LLC

6797 Fronius Drive
Portage, IN 46368/ USA
Main: +1 (219) 734-5500
Direct: +1 (219) 734-5601
www.fronius.com
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Positively Bankable for

the Next 25 Years and Beyond
25 years is a really long time. Many solar
companies are offering promises they dont
know if they can keep. Many havent even
existed for 25 years. Hanwha has. With a 60
year history over many different industries,
Hanwha is equipped with the necessary
experience to last over the long term. Industry
standard warranties are all 25 years now; who
are you going to trust to remain standing at
the end to honor those warranties?
Geographic Diversity
There have been so many twists and turns in the solar trade case that even seasoned
trade attorneys are dizzy. Why deal with a module manufacturer who has all its
capacity in China--all its eggs in one basket! A knockout tariff from the Department
of Commerce might leave you, the customer of a Chinese made panel, with a
worthless warranty, or worse, an unfulfilled order. Hanwha, with the new merger of its
SolarOne and Q CELLS entities, will have module capacity spread throughout China,
Korea, Malaysia, Germany, Poland, and Canada. Thats true flexibility.
New Corporate Headquarters

With the new HQ in South Korea and the technology HQ in Germany, we are
pairing strategic decision making with world class technology. This is an unbeatable
combination. Ask us how we can help you grow your business.
Hanwha SolarOne USA

2424 Walsh Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95051
us.sales@hanwha-solarone.com
714-689-6868
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Helical Products Company, Inc

Manufacturer of flexible couplings, u-joints, and
the HELI-CAL Machine Spring. The HELICAL
Flexure makes bar stock flexible. The flexure
can be manufactured from materials such as
stainless steels, aluminums, Delrin to titanium.
Helical Products is the originator of the HELICAL Flexure, a coil pattern that can be
Leading the way in

customer service
designed to meet the specific performance

requirements of a customers application.
Using a proprietary process to vary the coil
At Helical Products Company Inc. superior

leadership qualities are demonstrated
every day by our entire team of application
engineers. Their engineering support of our
customers is unparalleled and exemplified by
our tagline Engineering Expertise.
characteristics, coupling ratings such as

torque capacity, torsional stiffness, angular
misalignment, parallel offset and axial
movement can be optimized. With the HELICAL Machined Spring this proprietary process
Like most engineering departments,

application engineers must perform many
functions to solve customer problems,
including other departments within
our own company. We ensure that all
employees understand our technical
products. The task of educating our sales
staff falls to our application engineering
team. They often hold two and three day
seminars for groups of 10-20 salesmen.
They will also accompany the sales staff
on calls and use those opportunities for
additional training. On the shop floor, our
team assists with line set-up, educates
operators on engineering drawings or
clarifies quality control questions.
enables specific compression/extension

axial spring rate and/or torsional spring rate.
Applications range from industrial motion
control to medical devices and aerospace
components requiring precision elasticity.
Whether used in a baseball pitching machine,
a surgical robot or a critical component on
the Mars Curiosity Rover, Helicals 8,000+
successful designs and 35,000 satisfied
customers prove its ability to service a wide
range of challenging applications & industries.
Our team is also expert at managing multiple

projects in various stages of development.
We use a CRM system to record the progress
of all projects. If a project lead engineer is
away from the office, another engineer can
use this system to continue it or handle a
customer problem or question.
Our staff is always available for customer
calls, and the engineers are expert at asking
customers questions to determine the
correct solutions and help lead them to
its resolution. Every detail is important. In
addition to inquiring about loads and speeds,
our team will also ask about environment,
goals, and integration needs.
With customer service as a priority, our
company has grown to 120 employees.
And our product line has grown too. If we
dont have the exact product a customer
needs, we often have a suitable alternative.
Our application engineering team uses
parametric searches based on physical
dimensions and performance criteria to find
the appropriate solution.
Customers may reach our staff by phone
or email: 877-435-4225; engineering@
heli-cal.com.
Helical Products Company, Inc
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901 West McCoy Lane

Santa Maria, California 93455
Phone: 877-435-4225
Email: engineering@heli-cal.com
www.heli-cal.com
www.MachinedSprings.com

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About IronRidge
IronRidge Design Assistant

automatically generates codecompliant engineering calculations and
a complete bill of materials based on
basic design information. These outputs
are complemented with pre-stamped
engineering letters to facilitate permitting.
IronRidge designs and manufactures mounting

hardware for residential and commercial solar
systems. For more than 15 years, IronRidge has
worked closely with installers and integrators to
build products that are simple, reliable and help
minimize the total cost of installation.
Hardware Trusted by Solar Professionals

Solar professionals across the country
know the quality and durability of
IronRidge products.
Since 1996, IronRidge has focused on
engineering products that increase the
structural strength of solar arrays while also
minimizing the total cost of installation. This
focus has resulted in new features, such
as integrated grounding, as well as new
products, such as an All-in-One flashing,
anchor and stand-off.
Most recently, IronRidge expanded its XR Rail
Family to include three rail sizes, all featuring
the companys signature curved profile. The
new offering empowers solar designers to
increase the strength of mounting systems
while reducing cost by as much as 15-20%.
Software that Tackles Soft Costs
IronRidge was the first mounting company
to offer software that streamlines the design
and permitting process.
IronRidge Inc.
1495 Zephyr Avenue
IronRidge has continued advancing Design

Assistant with new features that make it
easier to toggle between multiple whatif scenarios, in order to help minimize
materials cost, reduce weight on the roof, or
optimize system layout.
This integration of software and hardware
empowers installation companies to
increase project profitably while delivering
better value to customers.
Experts in Customer Success
IronRidges experienced Sales and Service
teams provide a range of technical support
and engineering services to help customers
in all facets of their business.
Whether preparing a permit package,
planning a construction schedule, or
responding to an inspector, customers
trust IronRidge to partner with them in
achieving success.
As well, IronRidge has built a robust network
of regional and national distribution partners
to make products readily available, whenever
and wherever solar is being installed.
Hayward, CA 94544
800.227.9523
www.ironridge.com
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Some key advantages of working with JA Solar:
JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO)

is a world-leading manufacturer of high-
Scale & Ownership: JA has over 3 GW of solar cell and solar module manufacturing
capacity at our seven (7) manufacturing locations. JA uses no 3rd party manufacturers.
We make all of our own solar products. Our industry leading financial strength, corporate
reliability, customer care and warranty support ensures bankability.
performance solar power products that convert

sunlight into electricity. Founded in 2005, JASO
was listed on the NASDAQ in February 2007.
Global Brand: Over 3 GW of shipments in 2014 & over 11 GW of cumulative shipments;

bankable, rated Tier 1 by all major analysts and financial entities.
JA Solar has been the worlds leading solar cell

producer since 2010 and is a firmly established,
Tier 1 module supplier for residential, commercial
and utility-scale power applications. Capitalizing
on our superior solar cell technology and in
Quality-Focused: JA continued to expand investments in solar cell R&D, factory

automation, QA/QC Systems & continuous performance improvement processes in 2014.
This will continue as our products become more efficient and cost effective.
Competitive Pricing: JA combines the best of large-scale, automated, semi-conductor
manufacturing processes with high efficiency solar cell technology to allow for continued
cost reductions across the value chain.
combination with our commitment to R&D as

well as continuous performance improvement
JA modules deliver unparalleled conversion
Financial Strength: The JA Board of Directors takes their fiduciary responsibilities seriously
as evidenced by our significant cash reserves and the lowest debt levels in the industry
making JA one of the healthiest among Tier 1 Chinese manufacturers.
efficiency, power production and reliability.
Reliable Supply for North America: The US Market is important to JA Solar. Regardless of
the tariff resolution, JA remains committed to the North America market and will utilize
its global, manufacturing capacity to assure a continued supply of high quality, costcompetitive JA solar modules.
People: The JASO team is global and local and it is comprised of committed, solar
professionals. We are here for you.
Bankable & Transparent Partner: JAs factories and processes have been thoroughly
vetted and evaluated by the worlds leading independent engineering and financial
advisory organizations. Our doors are open. Come to Shanghai. Visit our factories and
see for yourself! You are welcome most any time!
JA Solar USA. Inc.

2570 North First Street Suite 360,
Headquartered in Shanghai, China, JA Solar is an international company with a global sales

and marketing network including the companys American headquarters in Californias Silicon
Valley, the European office in Munich, German and the Japan office in Tokyo.
San Jose, CA 95131.

Tel: +1 408 586 0000
Fax: +1 408 956 9505
Email: info.us@jasolar.com
www.jasolar.com
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JinkoSolar Co., Ltd.

Established 2006 in China and publicly listed
E NE RGY]
JinkoSolar, Leading the industry

today and tomorrow
on the NYSE in 2010, JinkoSolar Co., Ltd.

is a rapidly growing solar PV manufacturer
with 14 full-service regional offices, sales in
38 countries, and over 10,000 employees.
JinkoSolar has built a vertically integrated
solar product value chain, with an integrated
annual capacity of 2.3 GW for silicon ingots
and wafers, 1.8 GW for solar cells, and 2.8
GW for solar modules, as of September 30,
2014. JinkoSolar sells electricity in China and
distributes its solar products to a diversified
customer base in the global PV market.
JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc.

595 Market Street
Suite 2200
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel:+1 415 402 0502
JinkoSolar Co., Ltd has a proven track

record of being a best-in-class solar
panel manufacturing company with the
most competitive cost structure and
highest quality products. With over $1
Billion in annual revenue, JinkoSolar
is recognized as one of the most
bankable manufacturers in the solar
industry, financed by many substantial
renewable investors in the United States.
Subsequently JinkoSolars U.S subsidiary,
JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc., is now currently
the fastest growing PV supplier in North
America, quadrupling sales from 2012 to
2013 and again from 2013 to 2014.
Fax:+1 415 402 0703
KEY FACTS
Listed on NYSE: May 2010 (NYSE:JKS)
#1 Industry leader in cost structure,
profitability, and investor returns
Over $1 Billion (USD) in annual revenue
Tier 1 Bankability Financed by many of the
top renewable investors in the US
2nd in Photon Outdoor Module
Tests since 2012
4th in PWCs PV Sustainable Growth Index
4th Largest global PV module manufacturer
Quality and endurance validated by
third-party laboratories
us@jinkosolar.com
http://www.jinkosolar.com
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KACO new energy is amongst the worlds
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KACO new energy is a partner in San Antonios seven

phase, 400 megawatt solar project, Alamo, which will
be powered exclusively by KACO inverters. KACO new
energy has delivered 40mW, twenty KACO 2.0mW
Integrated Power Stations, to Alamo Five, the fifth part
of the solar project, by June 2015, all 100mW of IPS
units will be delivered. Once the entire Alamo project
is complete, KACO inverters will be providing energy
for 10% of all San Antonio homes, around 70,000
residential dwellings
largest manufacturers of solar inverters. With

850 employees and offices in 16 countries,
the company offers inverters for every array
size from the smallest homes to the largest
solar farms of hundreds of Megawatts.
KACO new energys US headquarters is
based in San Antonio, TX and the production
KACO new energys new product line includes the

Ultraverter, blueplanet TL3, and blueplanet TL1.
The Ultraverter, combines the best of string and
micro inverters by conditioning and inverting at
low voltage on the PV module, then managing the
grid and all communications in a single, outdoorrated, light-weight, wall-mounted Flexgate. The
blueplanet TL3 offers all-in-one features like an
integrated AFCI detector, multiple MPPT channels,
AC and DC overcurrent protection, and an AC and
DC disconnection means with lock-out-tag safety;
representing a range of installer time saving features
never before seen from a leading global inverter
manufacturer. With five different feature packages,
customers can get exactly the right inverter for
your project. KACO new energys blueplanet TL1 is
a transformerless, single phase, residential inverter
whose compact design and entire composite
enclosure will completely eliminate the need for
equipment ground connections thus saving the
installer on time and cost.
facilities there, in Germany and Asia have

supplied nearly 7 Gigawatts of inverters since
1999. The company was the first inverter
manufacturer to achieve fully carbon-neutral
production and is rapidly heading towards
power self-sufficiency.
KACO new energy

Headquarters, North America
4036 Binz-Engleman Road, Suite 208
San Antonio, TX 78219
USA
Phone- +1 210 446-4238
Fax- +1 210 437-3452
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Kipp & Zonen provides class-leading

instruments for measuring solar radiation
and atmospheric properties in Meteorology,
Climatology, Hydrology, Industry, Renewable
Energy, Agriculture and Public Health.
Kipp & Zonen is the specialist in the
measurement of solar and sky radiation, from
the ultraviolet to the far infrared. We offer a
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Organisation
Kipp & Zonen is an independent organisation
with its head office in Delft, The Netherlands.
This is where the heart lies of our passion for
the profession with the following specialised
departments:
Research & Development of products,
technology and software
Marketing & Sales
complete range of high quality instrumentation
Service & Calibration
and accessories, from reliable cost-effective
Manufacture & Quality Control
products to the best performance available.
Logistics, Purchase & Finance
Our pyranometers, for example, are used in
World wide network

To support the countless and various Kipp
& Zonen customers around the world, we
have offices in:
meteorological networks around the world.

Furthermore, our expertise and close links with
France
the scientific community have led to high-end
The United States of America
solutions for the measurement of atmospheric
Singapore
properties such as stratospheric Ozone, UV
Our international network of distributors

provides local sales and service in over 40
countries.
Spectra and evapo-transpiration.
SMP10 Pyranometer
Kipp & Zonen USA Inc.
The SMP10 is a secondary standard

pyranometer that combines the sensor
technology from the CMP 11, the Smart
interface from the SMP11 and the low
maintenance from the CMP10.
125 Wilbur Place

Bohemia, NY 11716 USA
T: +1 631 589 2065
F: +1 631 589 2068
kipp.usa@kippzonen.com
www.kippzonen.com
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The SMP10 has an internal drying cartridge

that will last for at least 10 years if the
housing is not opened. This minimizes
maintenance significantly.
The interval for dome cleaning can be
extended, and the quality of measurements
maximized, by fitting SMP10 with the CVF4
ventilation unit.
The SMP10 has Modbus interface,
amplified analogue output, improved
response time and temperature corrected
measurement data. The wide and low
power supply range from 5 to 30 VDC
makes integration in meteorological and
solar energy stations easy. The SMP10 is
protected against over voltage, reversed
polarity and short circuiting.
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G. LUFFT Mess- und Regeltechnik has been in the

production of climatological measuring equipment
since its foundation by Gotthilf Lufft in 1881.
The precision workmanship of highly skilled
specialists has enabled the LUFFT brand to be
recognized and the products to be purchased
worldwide. The LUFFT products and equipment
are to be found wherever atmospheric pressure,
temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation,
precipitation and other environmental factors
require to be measured, recorded, and monitored.
To keep in pace with the market and the modern
technologies, electronic devices have been
developed parallel to the mechanical products
according to the basic principle Tradition and
LUFFT WS Family weather stations fill critical requirements for

commercial, industrial, and utility scale solar projects. This is important
to project owners, operations and maintenance, installers, electrical
contractors and systems integrators. No matter where you are in the world, accurate weather
data reporting is critical for solar projects. Weather data is necessary in order to monitor
project performance and protect the solar farm investment. Project owners also require
weather data alongside electrical production data in order to assure panel efficiency and
predict project performance. A grid operator needs information of the panel performance with
weather information to know how much energy a project will produce, thereby protecting
and regulating the electric grid. Integration of weather measurement used to be a bothersome
requirement to complete a solar project. Now with LUFFTs all-in-one weather sensors,
weather data is easy to install and integrate into any SCADA or datalogger system package.
Lufft USA Inc.

820 E Mason, Unit A
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
www.lufft.com
888.519.8443
ONLINE
Lufft_Solar_SPW15_FinalFINAL.indd 84
1 2015
In 2009 LUFFTs innovative WS Family of weather sensors

entered the Global Solar Industry. The introduction of the WS501,
WS503,WS301 and WS303 with integrated Kipp and Zonen CMP3
pyranometer created a high level of interest being the only integrated
weather station with high end pyranometer available on the
market. As of March 2015 the WS510 has become available adding
a Secondary Standard pyranometer option to the Lufft WS line of
products. The new LUFFT solar instrument along with seven other
WS Family members has created an overwhelmingly positive industry
response. Currently there are hundreds of weather stations installed
in the field with thousands on the order books for 2015. The WS
Family of sensors have no moving parts, reduces the need for yearly
calibrations and require little-to-no maintenance. An embedded
aspirator fan and a wind quality channel used for remote sensor
monitoring are part of the standard sensor offering. LUFFT provides
a standard two year warranty and in-house calibration lab with DKD
certified temperature/humidity chamber and two fully automated
wind tunnels. This year 2015 Lufft will be offering a field calibration
check service as an option to customers. These benefits and superior
customer service make LUFFT an industry stand out.
Customers share their needs and LUFFT acts. Features like integrated
external temperature sensors with adhesive for measuring panel
temperature (WT1 sensor), RS-485 MODBUS-RTU communication
(along with 4 other available protocols) and an optional external rain
gauge add to the flexibility of LUFFTs WS Family weather stations.
New sensors such as the WS700, with a silicon based pyranometer,
precipitation, temperature, humidity, pressure, and ultrasonic wind
speed & direction enhance the offering to provide customers with a
true all-inclusive sensor offering.
Innovation.
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PV Panel soiling in dusty environments is not a new issue, but as people begin to realize the
extreme effects a dusty panel can have on a panels performance, it is no longer something
that can be ignored. Lufft offers within its weather station portfolio an all in one with unique
integrated rain gauge or Doppler radar precipitation sensor. Measuring the rainfall at a project
location may be a way to know just how often a panel will need to be cleaned. This could save
on project maintenance costs.
To keep in pace with the market and the modern technologies, electronic devices have been
developed parallel to the mechanical products according to the basic principle Tradition and
Innovation. Meaningful contributions to the Solar Industry are very important to LUFFT as a
company. Listening to customers, executing new ideas and having the technical ability to meet
the demand of a growing industry help LUFFT keep up with customer needs and wants. This is
the goal of LUFFT and what makes LUFFT a leader in the Solar Industry.
3/9/15 3:14 PM
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Magerack designs and manufactures

solar mounting products for solar system
installations. Its Magerack Solar Mounting
System is turn-key solar mounting solution
including all components from rail and
clamps to roof attachments. It is reliable,
easy-to-install and cost-effective used by
major solar installers in California. The system
is UL 2703 Listed and has Class A file rating
with integrated bonding and grounding.
In particular, its patented innovative L-foot
with flashing is easy to install and absolutely
waterproof at very competitive price. Magerack
has become one of the leading solar mounting
manufacturers. It continues to innovate and
provide exciting new mounting products.
Magerack Corporation
4453 Enterprise Street
Fremont, CA 94538
Jason Xie founded Magerack Corporation and has been president of the company.
Under his leadership, Magerack has become one of the leading solar mounting
system manufacturers and its Magerack Solar Mounting System has been used by
major solar installers in California.
Jason is the inventor of the innovative L-foot flashing, which significantly reduces
installation time and cost. Magerack L-foot with flashing is the most cost-effective
L-foot with flashing available. Since the flashing is one piece of aluminum without any
holes on the surface where water runs off, it is absolutely waterproof. After L-foot is
aligned and attached to rafter, the flashing can be installed by simply inserting under
upper roofing materials and then attached to the L-foot with a provided bolt. It is so
easy and straight forward to install that it is almost impossible for installers to make
mistakes and install it incorrectly.
Jason also participated in the design of the Magerack Solar Mounting System for
pitched-roof solar system installation. The system is UL 2703 Listed and has Class
A file rating. The components have integrated bonding capability so the system is
bonded and grounded without using any WEEB or bonding jumper. It helps installers
significantly reduce installation time and cost. The pricing is very competitive and the
overall cost for solar mounting is one of the lowest in solar installation industry.
Phone: 510-656-6661
Jason pioneers direct sales

strategy and has established
close relationships with
contractors and installers,
who have provided invaluable
feedbacks and help Magerack
continue to innovate and grow.
Fax: 510-656-6664
info@magerack.com
www.magerack.com
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About Megger
Established in the late 1800s, Megger has been the
premier provider of electric test equipment and
measuring instruments for electrical power applications.
The trademark was first registered in May 1903 and is
guarded by the company. Although were best known
for our world famous range of insulation testers,
Megger provides a full service solution to meet your
electrical test and measurement needs. Manufacturing
insulation testers is where Megger started; the Megger
brand name is so well known today that maintenance
professionals often incorrectly use it as a verb when
they refer to doing an insulation test on wiring. This
famous name dates back to 1889, when the first
portable insulation tester was introduced with the
MEGGER brand name on it.
Megger MIT400 Series, 1-kV

Insulation Testers
The MIT400 Series of insulation
and continuity testers have been
designed for electrical testing
by power utilities, industrials,
telecommunication companies,
commercial/domestic electricians
and anyone with unique test
voltage requirements. The wide
range of features also makes
the units ideal for maintenance
technicians and engineers.
Model MIT430
One of the units in the Series, the model MIT430, is ideal for testing insulation
resistance in PV systems, giving you the confidence that DC or AC currents
are not finding destructive paths to ground. Used in the commissioning and
maintenance process, the MIT430 is a workhorse for making sure PV systems are
functioning properly.
Features, Advantages, and Benefits
Adjustable insulation test voltages provide 250 V to 1000 V or 50 V to 1000 V.
Dual digital display readout allows display of complimentary test information
simultaneously.
Exceptional measurement range from 20 G-ohm to 200 G-ohm is the highest
insulation test range available on the market.
Choice of 20 mA or 200 mA continuity testing allows user to select lower
continuity range, increasing battery life considerably.
Valley Forge Corporate Centre
Continuity auto-test capability enables two-handed operation without the

need to press the test button.
2621 Van Buren Avenue

Norristown, PA 19403 USA
Adjustable continuity limit alarm allows pass/fail limits to be sent to speed

testing.
T: 1-866-254-0962
F: 1-610-676-8610
Allows the user to automatically perform PI and DAR tests.
www.megger.com
True RMS voltage measurement allows accurate voltage

measurement on noisy lines.
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Auto ranging voltage measurement automatically

adjusts range from millivolts to 600 V AC or DC,
eliminating the need to keep changing range.
Live circuit warning automatically warns of contact to
a live circuit, voltage is displayed and testing is inhibited.
Auto fuse warning alerts of fuse failure automatically. No
need to test the fuse manually.

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Mounting Systems
Founded in 1993, Mounting Systems is a
global leader in the design, engineering and
manufacture of sophisticated support structures
for photovoltaic and solar thermal systems
for customers around the world. With over
twenty-one years of experience, Mounting
Systems GmbH in Rangsdorf, Germany (just
south of Berlin) and Mounting Systems, Inc., in
West Sacramento, California have developed
extensive experience and capabilities in
providing highly cost-effective systems for a
wide array of applications and markets.
Why is Mounting Systems a leader in solar?

Systems for any application: Mounting Systems product portfolio includes PV
mounting systems with unique features and advanced capabilities for applications
ranging from residential roofs of virtually any type and covering, innovative ballasted
and standard racking systems for flat roofs and a wide selection of ground mount
systems for PV arrays of a few kilowatts through multi-megawatt, utility-scale systems
Sophisticated Engineering: Our Engineering team strives to continuously improve
our products and produce the highest quality mounting systems on the market. One
of Mounting Systems key design philosophies is the extensive use of pre-assembled
components. Pre-assembly substitutes our more efficient, lower-cost production
for more expensive, on-site labor which is usually performed under less than ideal
conditions. The recently introduced Lambda Light East-West+ flat roof system, with
its unique assembly techniques is an example of the innovative product solutions
Mounting Systems has been known for.
Mounting Systems, Inc.

820 Riverside Parkway
West Sacramento, CA 95605
Toll free +1 855 731 9996
Fax +1 916 287 2269
Info-us@mounting-systems.com
www.mounting-systems.us
Service: With office locations in Germany, the USA, the UK, France and Japan, Mounting
Systems strives to be sensitive to our customers needs, responsive to their requests and
to be a responsible, long-term partner for both current and future endeavors
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Experience: With over 21 years of experience Mounting Systems is a strong business

partner offering an uncompromising level of quality, service, years of experience
and an in-depth understanding of the customers needs. As a dynamic, international
company with product installed in over 40 countries around the world, we offer
quality, service and delivery reliability. Our goal is to develop, produce and deliver
innovative products, system solutions and services for our customers.
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SOLAR FASTENER EXPERT.COM was created

to provide a site where Installers, Integrators,
Manufacturers and Maintenance contractors
could easily obtain all the Stainless Steel Fasteners
needed in their projects at a single source.
4 decades of experience in fastener distribution
means customers benefit from the long-term
relationships developed with the best fastener
E NE RGY]
Mudge Fasteners, family owned and operated

since 1975, has been providing a large selection
of fasteners, fastener tools and adhesives to
customers in a broad range of industries for almost
forty years. As the demand for solar-specific
fasteners grew, Mudge realized the need for solar
installers to have an easy to use central location
to purchase all of their solar fastener parts, and
therefore created SolarFastenerExpert.com.
SalesFastenerExpert.com is designed with the solar
installer in mind, providing quick and easy access
to the information and parts they need.
Since its launch, Solar Fastener Expert has
utilized its strong manufacturer relationships
to provide its customers with the leading solar
fastener products from some of the most wellknown and respected industry leaders, including
EJOT, HellermannTyton, and ELCO.
SolarFastenerExpert.coms product offering reads
like a spec sheet, including solar flashing kits, clips,
ties, labels, self-drilling screws, lag bolts, hex bolts,
hex nuts, security screws and more.
manufacturers in the world.

Guaranteed quality products at factorydirect pricing is what customers find at
SolarFastenerExpert.com
SolarFastenerExpert.com is committed to
be the best source for Solar specific fasteners
and accessories including Fall Protection
In addition to the SolarFastenerExpert.com website,

Solar Fastener Expert products are now available
through various online retailers, including WalMart,
Sears, Amazon and Menards.
Gear, Mounting Systems, Wire Management,

and Sealants.
Respected among its consumers,

SolarFastenerExpert.coms commitment to
customer service, on-time delivery, competitive
pricing and quality products has allowed it to
grow and become the fastener source for small
businesses to large corporations, nationally and
internationally.
Mudge Fasteners
sales@mudgefasteners.com
www.mudgefasteners.com
www.solarfastenerexpert.com
(800) 634-0406
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Hanwha Q CELLS is the largest European

photovoltaics provider, known for solar
modules, systems and complete power plants
of superior quality Engineered in Germany.
The company also offers long-term financial
stability as part of Hanwha Group a Top-Ten
South Korean conglomerate and a FORTUNE
Global 500 company. At its headquarters
in Germany, Hanwha develops its own solar
cells as well as leading quality products, which
are then manufactured in Germany, Malaysia,
Europe and Asia. Thanks to its truly international
setup, high quality products and financial
stability, Hanwha Q CELLS is THE reliable
partner for PV customers around the globe.
The Q stands for Quality.

Since founding the Q CELLS brand in 1999, the company has become the innovation
leader in the PV industry, while offering sophisticated premium products and systems at
the best price-performance ratio. At its R&D center in Talheim, Germany, more than 200
engineers research, develop and test the ideas of tomorrow. Our engineers developed
the 6-inch solar cell and the full-square monocrystalline solar cell, to name a few. We
strive to constantly improve the efficiency of our solar cells and manufacturing processes,
which results in numerous world records: in 2013, our Q.PRO-G2 module came out as
the best polycrystalline module in the year-long, in-field yield test by prestigious journal
PHOTON. The Q.ANTUM technology set a new world record, with a 19.5% efficiency for a
polycrystalline cell and 18.5% efficiency on a 60-cell polycrystalline module.
But our modules offer much more than that. Over the years, we have developed proprietary
technology that ensures a full set of Q CELLS quality features, such as guaranteed anti-PID
technology, Hot-Spot Protect, traceable quality and outstanding low-light performance.
We design our modules to generate more power in real-world conditions, and we back this
up by one of the best warranty in the industry, with a 12-year workmanship warranty and
minimum 83% power output after 25 years.
Backed by the strength of parent company Hanwha Group, a top-ten South Korean
conglomerate and FORTUNE Global 500 company, Hanwha Q CELLS will continue to
develop cutting-edge technology, and be at the forefront of the photovoltaics industry.
Hanwha Q CELLS
Katie Kim
8001 Irvine Center Drive, suite 1250
Irvine CA 92618
Tel: +1 949 748 5996
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SolarRoofHook.com is a division of Quickscrews

International Corporation. Established over 28 years ago,
the company is best known for innovation and creativity
in bringing solutions to the Furniture Manufacturers,
Cabinetmakers, and Woodworking industries. After the
recession, Quickscrews set out to find a new industry it could
enter, and it found the solar industry. Its first customer helped
the company develop a flat tile roof hook that could be used
without drilling any holes in the tiles. Today, SolarRoofHook.
com has a wide range of innovative products for mounting
solar panels onto residential roofs. Products are stocked in
Livermore, CA and Rock Hill, SC, so that SolarRoofHook.com
can meet the needs of any company nationwide.
5830 Las Positas Road

Livermore, CA 94551
Phone: 844-671-6045
Fax: 800-689-7975
E-mail: jwiener@quickscrews.com
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The formula Quickscrews used for

success was easy - find out what
the customer is using, learn what
they do not like (find the pain) and
develop a new product that fixes
the problems. SolarRoofHook.
com has set out to repeat those
steps to make installing solar
panels easier. SolarRoofHook.
com has the most innovative roof
mounts for solar installation on
residential roofs. They stock hooks
and mounts for flat tile, curved tile,
asphalt shingle & stone coat steel
rooftops. SolarRoofHook.com has
a wide range of products, including
many adjustable hooks to make
the installation process easier for
the user. The All Tile Hook, which
works on both flat and Spanish
tile and with or without batons, is
just one example of the adjustable
hooks. They have the best options

for stone coat steel (calpac), with
five different hooks, including two
adjustable ones. SolarRoofHook.
coms asphalt shingle solutions
include a flashed l-foot system
and the patented QuickBOLT
system, which are less hassle,
extremely easy to install and very
competitively priced. The company
now stocks flashing for its widebased hooks on curved tile roofs,
for installers in counties where
flashing is required. Solarroofhook.
com can produce custom products
from start to finish in 60 days
and are continually working with
installers to deliver the exact
products needed for any type of
roof. SolarRoofHook.com will pay
the freight on orders over $100 on
its online store.
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Radian Generation is a dedicated asset manager

for solar projects. The company provides
a comprehensive solution for owners and
investors that covers financial management,
contract compliance, monitoring, and
operations management.
Given the management teams significant
development, financing and operating
experience, RadianGEN offers numerous
services that aid developers, owners and
investors in acquiring, developing, operating
or selling projects successfully and setting up
the right systems to run them well. RadianGEN
also performs additional audit services to
evaluate the technical aspects of an operating
solar project recommending optimization of
O&M practices so that a project produces the
expected amount of energy.
RadianGEN knows
what it takes to
develop, finance,
build and manage
a successful,
profitable portfolio of
projects. As owners
and operators the
team managed
operations and
financial compliance
activities for 42 MW
of solar projects in nine
states, which all exceeded
their benchmarks. They have
closed over $1.1 billion of capital
(tax equity and debt) for solar PV
assets from institutional investors. The
RadianGEN team has over 50 years of collective
technical & solar asset management experience and was founded in January 2013 by
a group of former project developers/asset owners from SunEdison, FRV, and MMA
Renewable Ventures.
RadianGENs mission is to deliver predictable, long-term results for their customers
as the industry leading solar asset manager. Their effective solar asset management
focus reduces project complexity, corrects underperformance issues, increases energy
production, decreases operational costs, and provides leadership, accountability and
transparency. RadianGEN reduces risk for solar project owners, investors and developers
and is more cost-effective than an in-house team.
222 Columbus Avenue, Suite 420
RadianGEN uses a proprietary

asset management database
technology and process
(RadianCOR) to track KPIs,
fulfill compliance obligations,
and generate reporting. They
also have a strong internal
engineering team to help with
optimization, technical issues,
production monitoring, etc.
Radian currently manages
180MW of commercial and utility
projects located in both the US
and Canada. The company is
backed by Quietstream Financial,
which is a well-capitalized
platform of specialized asset
managers.

Main Phone: 415-901-3430
info@radiangen.com
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Vote for RBI Solar- 2015

RBI Solar, Inc. is the leading turnkey solution provider for solar mounting systems. RBI
takes single-point responsibility for the entire project including complete structural &
foundation design, engineering, manufacturing, nationwide installation, and technical
support. The company has in-house engineers registered in all 50 states and nationwide
contractors license. RBI Solar engineers incorporate and analyze data from available
certified geotechnical reports, on-site pile testing, wind tunnel testing, and all applicable
codes and loading considerations, when designing the most cost-effective structure
for you. RBI Solar is one of the few racking companies in the industry which offer all the
possible foundation solutions to meet your project needs. Three of RBI solar mounting
systems are ETL classified to UL subject 2703.
As an integrated structural specialist in ground mount, roof mount, carports, landfill and
specialty structures; RBI focuses on providing best-in-class solar mounting systems and
project management capabilities to serve its customers
Corporate Headquarters
5513 Vine Street
Cincinnati OH 45217
Starting January 2015, RBI Solar is adding a new manufacturing facility in Temecula,
California and extending its Ohio operation by adding 65,000 sq-ft more space close to the
head-office. These new facilities will increase production and reduce shipping costs. RBI
Solar is also offering improved and more competitive ballasted landfill solutions. Leveraging
more than eight decades of experience in the commercial design-build specialty structures
market, RBI Solar works with clients to identify the most economical, low maintenance, and
robust solar mounting structures. RBI solar mounting systems continue to be the best choice
for highly engineered and robust structural design which is backed by excellent end-toend technical support and a 20-year product warranty. RBI Solar is committed to offering a
durable, functional, and cost-effective solar racking solution.
Telephone: 513-242-2051
Fax: 513-242-0816
E-mail: info@rbisolar.com
Web: www.rbisolar.com
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About ReneSola
Founded in 2005, and listed on the New York
Stock Exchange in 2008, ReneSola (NYSE:SOL)
is an international leading brand and technology
provider of green energy products. ReneSola
currently has 42 warehouses, and 27 offices
around the world which offer local sales,
warehouses, technical, and logistics services for
the commercial, utility and residential sectors.
E NE RGY]
A Total Solutions
Provider with a Global
Presence:
ReneSola America is among the top
renewable energy product suppliers to the
USA, deploying over 324 MW in 2013. The
Company maintains an industry-leading
logistics platform, allowing for quick and
easy delivery to anywhere in the United
States. Choosing ReneSola as a partner
means robust support from 80+ local
employees, equipped with the expertise to
optimize customer experience.
ReneSola OEM Capacity= Customer
Savings and Flexibility
ReneSola boasts an OEM module capacity
of over 1 GW, allowing production
capability in countries such as South
Korea, India and Turkey. ReneSola
OEM partnerships are built to ensure
universal and consistent levels of product
quality and performance while allowing
customers products which comply with
local government trade rules.
Total Solutions
Naveed Hasan
Marketing Manager, ReneSola America
415 852 7428
marketing.us@renesola.com
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ReneSolas renewable energy product

bundled packages consist of industryleading modules, inverters, and racking
and LED lighting solutions, making
installing reliable residential systems fast
and easy. The full line of PV products
are available for financing through the
companys recently launched residential
financing program
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Put your trust in the

mounting solution
innovators.
Over 45 years of innovation and 400,000

installed projects stand behind Roof Tech,
the first U.S. subsidiary of Yanegiken, Japans
leading developer of roofing technologies.
Since 1968, Yanegiken has designed roofing
Innovative products that embody the elegance of

Japanese design. Lightweight, compact mounting
solutions. Watertight performance in the most
extreme weather. These are just some of the qualities
that make Roof Tech the new leader in PV mounting
solutions. Consider our three signature products:
solutions and solar panel fittings to withstand

the most extreme weather conditions. Now
Roof Tech products are available for the
U.S. market, all based on Yanegikens own
development and manufacturing capabilities.
All the parts for a 2kW system? Its in the bag! RT-[E] Mount brackets
are compact by design. All the parts for an entire 2kW system fit in a single,
lightweight bag. Its easy to carry and simple to install. And thanks to butyl rubber
flashing, RT-[E] Mount delivers watertight performance that stands the test of time.
With headquarters in Novato, California, Roof

Tech now has a sales team ready to provide
unique PV mounting solutions to distributors,
All-in-one. Rail-less. Perfect for microinverter installations. RT-[E] Mount AIR

provides three inches of clearance from the roofing surface to promote efficient
cooling in warm climates. The RT-[E] Mount AIR can be shipped with its own
microinverter mounting bracket, a microinverter wire harness mounting bracket,
and an array skirt.
installers and solar panel manufacturers

throughout the U.S.
The patented PV frame thats poised for partnership. U set Solar is designed for
efficient installation with fewer parts to save time and reduce shipping costs. We are
now offering exclusive partnerships to PV manufacturers who wish to adapt their
products to the U set Solar design.
Roof Tech Inc
Takashi Chiyoda
Smarter PV mounting solutions
General Manager
from top of roof to bottom line
taka.c@roof-tech.us
92 Hamilton Drive, Suite A
Milton Nogueira Jr.
Novato, CA 94949
Manager
(415) 382-1036
milton.n@roof-tech.us.
www.roof-tech.us
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All Roof Tech products are 100%

code compliant and have earned
PE reports from 25 states with more
to come. Our sales team is ready to
provide distributors, installers and
solar panel manufacturers with the
ideal PV mounting solutions and
superior service that make Roof
Tech a true industry leader.
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For decades, S-5! has produced innovative attachment

solutions that make metal roofing the most cost-effective
platform for rooftop ancillary attachment.
S-5! has achieved international notoriety by designing
easy-to-use products that outlast the roofs to which they
are mounted, providing durable, trouble-free service.
Manufactured in the U.S. to the highest quality standards
at the lowest possible cost, S-5! clamps are made of
compact, lightweight aluminum that is compatible with
todays Al-Zn coated sheet used for roofing. S-5!, with its
unique innovations, tested holding strength, metallurgical
compatibility, and do-no-harm attachment philosophy is
the most trusted name in metal roofing attachment.
Why S-5! Is the Leader in Solar

Since S-5! innovated the first non-penetrating roof clamp more than two
decades ago, it has been trusted on over 1.5 million roofs and is recognized as
the international authority on ancillary attachment in the metal roofing industry.
Founder and CEO, Rob Haddock, is universally recognized as one of the
top metal roofing experts in the world. Frustrated with rooftop ancillary
attachments that were difficult to install and performed poorly over time,
Haddock transformed the industry with the innovative clamps that employ
round-point setscrews that compress the seam material against the
opposite wall of the clamp creating a mechanical interlock that protects
the roofing material rather than penetrating or damaging it.
S-5! is now known as the
metal roofing industrys
leading evangelist for the
proven advantages of
mounting solar panels onto
metal roofs. Factors such
as compatible service life,
durability, and efficiency
all contribute to making
standing seam roofing and
PV a perfect marriage.
Solar integrators around the
globe trust S-5! clamps for
permanent attachment of
solar panels to metal roofs.
More megawatts have been
mounted with S-5! than any
other attachment product in
the metal roofing industry.
S-5! Attachment Solutions

8655 Table Butte Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80908
(888) 825-3432
(719) 495-0045 (fax)
info@s-5.com
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The S-5-PV Kit is the easiest,

most cost-effective way to
install solar panels directly to
standing seam metal roofs,
automatically providing
a grounding path for the
module frame. With no lugs
or wiring required except
to connect one string of
modules to another and
to ground the system, the
S-5-PV Kit provides savings
in labor and materials
sufficient to pay for the entire
attachment system.
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SAB North America is the North American
(PVC, Polyurethane, Thermoplastic Elastomer

(TPE), Silicon, Polypropylene, FEP, ETFE, XLPE)
and any combination of components such as
power, control, signal, communication, and
coax. Additionally adding pneumatic, hydraulic
or air hoses are a possibility to make any cable
perfect for your specific requirements. We have
designed more than 2,000 specialty cables in the
past year with great success in an assortment
of diverse functionalities. SABs long history
of flexible cable manufacturing enables us to
provide cables for almost any application.
sales, distribution, and service center of SAB

Brckskes located in Viersen, Germany- the
leading manufacturer and distributor of cables
worldwide since 1947. We house a wide-ranging
line of European and Domestic products in stock
for immediate delivery and have the shortest
manufacturing lead times in the industry.
For over 60 years SAB has not only provided
our customers with a wide array of wire, cable,
& accessories but also impeccable, unmatched
service. Call one of our representatives or visit
our website to experience our commitment to
solving your problems faster than you think.
SAB North America is known in more
than 40 countries and often specified
by name. SABs adherence to product
quality has proven itself in thousands
of the worlds most demanding
applications.
Our products are produced at our facility
in Viersen, Germany ensuring a strictly
controlled manufacturing environment
producing consistently high quality
products. They have been intensively
tested for over 60 years and have proven
to have a longer service life and are of
an overall better quality than similar
products on the market.
SAB North America

344 Kaplan Drive Fairfield NJ 07004
Tel: 973-276-0500
Fax: 973-276-1515
SPECIALTY: The strength of SAB lies in

the development and manufacturing
of special products that meet and
exceed our customers exacting
specifications. Many capabilities can
be achieved by selecting different
combinations of jacketing, shielding,
conductor, and insulation materials.
Our competences are extensive
including various jacketing materials
Toll Free: 866-722-2974

Email: info@sabcable.com
www.sabcable.com
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STANDARD: At SAB North America, we stock

a wide ranging line of European and Domestic
wire, cable, and cable accessory products
available for immediate delivery from our location
in Fairfield, NJ. Our catalog contains a line of
cables ranging from Flexible Control Cables
and Continuous Flex Cables to Tray Cables and
Halogen-Free Cables to name a few. SAB is
pleased to offer worldwide approvals including
UL, CSA, CE, and VDE Certifications to most of
the product line.
ACCESSORIES: SAB also offers an extensive
inventory and product line of high-quality cable
accessories. The variety of polyamide and nickel
plated brass Cord Grips, EMC Cable Glands,
and other accessories complement our flexible
control and automation cables perfectly.
SERVICE: With unmatched levels of customer
service and an extensive in-stock inventory, SAB
North America offers immediate off-the-shelf
delivery on most of its cables. Specialty cables
can be designed, manufactured, and delivered in
just a few weeks.
For clarifications, details or explanations about
any of our products and how they can be used
in your specific applications, give one of our
experienced Sales Staff a call.
Visit our website, www.sabcable.com, to
experience our commitment to solving your
problems faster than you think possible.
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Sabre Building Systems by CellXion is

one of the largest shelter manufacturers
in the United States. We offer a full line of
concrete, structural steel, and aluminum
shelters including Envolock Building
Systems. Our wide range of shelters and
building systems provide virtually limitless
applications and solutions.
Sabre Building Systems by CellXion, Sabre Industries buildings division, is located in

Bossier City, Louisiana. Our facilities are spread out over 60 acres, and include a 250,000
sq. ft. state-of-the-art shelter manufacturing plant, a fully-equipped 60,000 sq. ft. steel
fabrication facility, and an 80,000 sq. ft. equipment installation facility. We have the ability
to design and manufacture customer-specific shelters with unique loading, physical plant
and aesthetic requirements.
Sabre Building Systems by CellXion

5031 Hazel Jones Road
Bossier City, LA 71111
Phone: 318-213-2900
Toll-Free: 877-213-2900
Fax: 318-213-2919
www.sabrebuildingsystems.com
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As one of the largest shelter manufacturers in the United States, Sabre Building Systems by
CellXion offers a wide range of shelters and building systems providing virtually limitless
applications and solutions. Available in concrete, steel or aluminum, our buildings are
designed to provide critical equipment with durable, maintenance-free protection. We
manufacture concrete buildings that can be custom designed to include intrusion, ballistic
and fire resistance ratings. Our structural steel and aluminum shelters provide secure,
durable options when site accessibility is the governing factor. The pre-eminent alternative
to conventional wood or steel stud framing, the Envolock Building System, provides a
sturdy and flexible system built in-house or delivered in kit form ready to assemble on-site.
Sabre Building Systems engineering team supports customers requirements, while
providing value-engineering and seamless integration of our products into their
projects. Engineering documents are produced utilizing the latest CAD systems.
Computer modeling allows complete loading analysis, testing of constructability,
and product documentation. Product approval programs are administered by our
engineering department with dedicated staff to focus on regulatory approval and to
support local permitting efforts. Sabre Building Systems is currently approved by all
states with regulatory programs. In addition, our shelters are inspected and labeled
by a third party agency.
Sabre Building Systems by CellXion has established a solid reputation for providing
quality products and services. Our broad range of products allows us to provide
integrated solutions across many industries. Designed to protect critical equipment,
our buildings are perfect for power conversion stations. They are factory assembled
and include customer-furnished power generating equipment, transformers, control
systems and heat management systems. Supplying thousands of stations in the
United States, Sabre has the experience to custom engineer, manufacture and deliver
buildings that meet your specifications.
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What makes
Seaward Group a
Leader?
With over 75 years of experience in all aspects

of electrical safety testing, Seaward Group USA
specializes in the manufacturing of electrical
safety testing and has applied that expertise to
the Solar Photovoltaic field.
Seaward has developed the most

advanced PV Installation Test Kit to
fulfill every installer / commissioning
engineers needs by keeping up
with the electrical safety tests
requirements in many US states.
Leading the way in the development of test

tools for the renewable energy market with
our leading Seaward Solar brand aimed solely
at providing solutions for PV Installers in the
The Solarlink Test Kit meets

all of the commissioning test
requirements of IEC 62446 and
those of local, national and best
practice guidelines such as NABCEP.
It combines the Seaward Solar
PV150 installation tester with the
advanced Solar Survey 200R multifunction irradiance / survey meter; offering
a complete solution to PV installation testing.
USA and Canada.

Our product range bears all the hallmarks of
our expertise and helps installers to quickly and
easily meet the key requirements of testing
standards such as IEC 62446, as well as many
national (NABCEP) and state requirements.
The Solarlink test kit includes all of the necessary equipment to measure
the electrical safety and performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems as well as
capturing real time irradiance and ambient / panel temperatures through a
wireless RF connection from the SS200R survey meter.
Transforming the way that PV systems are tested, the PV150 replaces the
three separate instruments which are ordinarily used for commissioning tests;
combining ground continuity, insulation resistance, open circuit voltage,
short circuit current, operating current (uses supplied AC/DC current) and DC
operating power test functions into one handheld unit. The kit includes MC4
adaptors (other adaptors available on request) which enable safe and easy
connection of the tester to the installation PV modules, strings or array.
Seaward Group USA
6304 Benjamin Road
Suite 506
Tampa, FL 33634
Tel: 813-886-2775
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SIC USA LLC: From phone support and

diagnostic services to on-site service and
priority parts replacement, SIC USA has a
flexible suite of support services specifically
designed to keep your inverters operating at
maximum performance.
SIC USA offers 11 power ratings of Satcon invertersranging from 30kW to 1MW (UL and Ce Certified)
Help Desk Technical Support
SIC USA LLC

North America Inverter Sales,
Parts and Service, Distributor
780 Montague Expressway #104
San Jose, CA 95131
408-456-6779 or toll free: 1-866-925-6971
www.satcon.com
e-mail: sic.usa@satcon.com
or sic.usa@skwentex.net
Phone support from 08:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST

Diagnostic services
Engineering consultation
Communication support
All Satcon system owners may continue to take
advantage of our one hour free technical phone support
through the end of February 2014. Tiered hourly support
packages are available. Our staff will troubleshoot and
work with you on your inverter issues to assist you to
make the repair yourself or determine when an on-site
technician is needed.
Onsite Service
Technical support and services
Parts replacement
Rapid and cost effective faulty equipment replacement
Commissioning and control servicing
Priority access to Satcon technical resources
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Rapid Response Service

Onsite technical support
Onsite service personnel dispatched within 24 hours
24/7 phone and web-based support
SIC USA LLC www.satcon.com or www.skwentex.net
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SimpleRay: We Simplify Solar

SimpleRay is a one-stop solar distributor.
From the beginning, the company has
partnered with the biggest and most
respected names in the industry, offering
competitive prices on the latest and highestquality technology.
Large and small-scale solar installers, as well
as do-it-yourself enthusiasts looking for
parts, can expect timely and accurate advice,
Superior Industry Experience
project management and engineering

Technical understanding and regulatory know-how to expeditiously meet
clients needs.
services, as well as high-quality after-sales

support. SimpleRay offers:
Best Products
Through a strict selection process, SimpleRay offers an extensive line of the
latest and best solar products to meet the needs of any project.
Unsurpassed Service
Provides any service necessary to obtain solar permits fast, as well as
complementary system quotes.
Project Management Services

SimpleRay, LLC
Complete engineering with customizable permitting packages including

three line and site diagrams.
705 Raymond Ave

Suite 220
Electrical diagrams and structural engineering documents to comply with

local permitting authority requirements.
Saint Paul, MN 55114

Call - 800-952-3235
Fax - 888-265-6375
We are getting better all the time:
Sales Inquiries: sales@simpleray.com
SimpleRay has been ranked No. 318 on the annual Inc. 500|5000 List, an
exclusive ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America.
SimpleRay also ranked No. 12 among the top renewable energy companies,
and fifth among all companies in Minnesota, as measured by Inc. Magazine.
Webmaster: info@simpleray.com
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Geoff Stenrick, founder and CEO, encapsulated the

companys mission: We started in 2007 with the
knowledge that adopting solar for the average
consumer was still a daunting and intimidating
endeavor, and we wanted to make it simple. We
feel the explosive growth over the last several
years at SimpleRay, and the solar industry in
general, supports our belief that now more
than ever people are looking for advice and
guidance on how to offset their utility use with
solar. This is exactly what SimpleRay strives to do
make solar simple.
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SMA America is the U.S.-based subsidiary of

global PV leader SMA Solar Technology AG. SMA
is a power conversion, energy management and
service support provider for residential through
utility-scale photovoltaic systems. Currently, SMA
is the only company that offers off-grid and gridtied solar inverters spanning all power classes
from residential to utility-scaleand all module
types, resulting in the largest solutions portfolio
in the industry.
With more than 30 years of experience and
30 gigawatts of installed capacity, SMA leads
the industry with unmatched technological
innovation and top-ranked service.
E NE RGY]
The same company that introduced the industrys

first mass-produced, grid-tied PV inverter continues
to offer the worlds most popular inverter solutions
and develop new innovations for a dynamic market.
SMAs Sunny Boy TL-US series of transformerless,
residential inverters feature Secure Power Supply. An
industry first, Secure Power Supply allows the inverter
to provide up to 1,500 W of daytime standby power
in the event of a grid outage for charging laptops,
cell phones and more, without batteries. The Sunny
Boy TL-US is available in seven models (from 3,000
to 7,700 watts), including two specially designed for
service-constrained systems, offering installers the
right fit for any residential PV application.
SMA also offers commercial and hybrid solutions, including the recently
released ReadyRack and award-winning Fuel Save Controller. The ReadyRack
is a fully integrated, preassembled and prewired roof-mount racking
solution for decentralized, commercial
rooftop PV that meets UL and NEC 690.12
rapid shutdown requirements. Winner
of the Intersolar Award 2014, the Fuel
Save Controller allows PV to be easily and
efficiently integrated into diesel grids.
SMA America, LLC

6020 West Oaks Blvd.
Rocklin, CA 95765
Tel: 916-625-0870
Fax: 916-625-0871
For utility-scale applications, SMA offers the

new Utility Power System, an integrated,
compact DC-to-AC system solution. Available
in 1,000 VDC and 1,500 VDC models, it delivers
higher energy yields, reduced CAPEX and OPEX
and optimum levelized cost of energy. SMA also
provides developers, EPCs, utilities and investors
with the PV industrys best financial backstop with plant-wide O&M. Also
available for commercial systems, SMA O&M increases performance ratios,
protects power production and simplifies long-term planning for maximum
financial returns.
Toll Free: 1-888-4SMAUSA

www.SMA-America.com
Info@SMA-America.com
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SnapNrack Solar Mounting Solutions offer a Solar module installation solution that
has been developed by veteran solar engineers and installers to lower the total cost of
ownership simply by reducing labor costs. Utilizing unique Snap-In pre-assembled
hardware, only a single tool is needed for installation of the system, removing the need
for cutting or drilling.
The system is designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions and has
achieved the strict UL2703 certification for grounding/bonding and fire, giving installers
and homeowners the satisfaction of knowing their system will last for years to come.
SnapNrack is reducing install times, lowering install costs and doing more with less.
SnapNrack is an industry leader because

we are committed.
Committed to Our Customers
At SnapNrack, we recognize the importance of our customers satisfaction as
vital to our success and the happiness of the homeowner. We work every day to
ensure that we are providing the best possible customer experience along with an
excellent product.
Solar Mounting Solutions

SnapNrack Solar Mounting Solutions
775 Fiero Ln, Suite 200
Committed to Innovation
In an industry focused on continuous reduction in installation costs in order
to reach grid parity and beyond, SnapNracks team believes that the mounting
system is the key to driving down labor time, resulting in quicker and less
expensive installations. SnapNracks team of veteran solar installers and engineers
are committed to providing
innovation while never
sacrificing aesthetics, ease of use
and product quality.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Phone: (877)732.2860
Email: contact@snapnrack.com
www.snapnrack.com
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Committed to Excellence
Our experience of providing more than 350+ MW of racking product for
solar installations in the United States has allowed us to deliver the highest
quality racking product to our customers. We use the most up-to-date
materials and technology to ensure that all our products meet the highest
quality standard available.
Committed to Solar
SnapNracks vision is to make
solar electricity part of the
mainstream energy supply.
We strongly believe that solar
energy can make an important
contribution to a cleaner,
safer, and more sustainable
world. We are passionate
about making that vision
come true, one home and one
installation at a time.
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Solar SpeedRack Inc. is a California

Corporation founded in 2012 and
headquartered in Santa Ana, CA.The Company
is a developer and marketer of innovative
installation products and systems for the solar
industry. Its product lines include the Solar
SpeedMount system for use in residential
applications, Solar GroundMount for use in
utility and medium to large ground installations
and Solar SpeedTrack which we designed
for use with Prism Solars Bi-Facial Frameless
solar panels and various mounting accessories
which can be used with any available roof
mounting system.
Solar SpeedRack Inc.

2615 S Orange Ave
Shane Shamloo
CEO
shane@solarspeedrack.com
Santa Ana, CA, 92707

Local (714) 966-2551
Toll Free: (888) 275-2249
Michael Salvati
Vice President
msalvati@solarspeedrack.com
http://solarspeedrack.com/
Vincent Salvati
CFO
vsalvati@solarspeedrack.com
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Solar SpeedRack Inc. was founded in response to what we saw as a need to

modernize the method by which solar panels are installed. With the price of solar
panels declining, the cost of the racking systems and installation has become a larger
percentage of the project. The industry norm requires the installer to carry multiple
parts and tools up to the rooftop to be able to complete the installation of the solar
project. Solar SpeedRacks response was to develop an innovative fully adjustable
shared rail system which has all of the required installation hardware pre-installed
on the rails, which includes integrated grounding and wire management, thus the
installer need only to bring a 5/16 socket to affix the panels to our racking system.
Our rails can be adjusted at the job site to fit any panel ranging in size from 32 to
50 mm, so ordering is made easier for our customers as we eliminate any concerns
about ordering the right size racking to fit the specific panel being used. Our focus
is to make installation quicker and easier thereby reducing overall project cost. All of
our products are designed with these characteristics and modified based on feedback
from our customers to further improve on the speed of installation. We continue
to innovate and introduce new products, the latest being the Solar SpeedFoot, an
innovative weight distribution block, which reduces the number of roof penetrations
and again adding speed to the installation process.
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Solect Energy Development is a full-service

solar photovoltaic (PV) project developer
based in Massachusetts, delivering smart
solar solutions to help businesses and
organizations reduce energy costs. As an
industry leader in commercial solar energy,
Solect takes a practical approach to the
development, installation and on-going
support of each system. We partner closely
with our customers, providing strong financial
insight and solar technology expertise to
optimize their investment while creating a
positive impact on the environment. Solect
currently has installed 12 MW (megawatts)
Smart Solar. Smart Business.
of commercial PV systems, with a primary

focus on commercial, light industrial and
Solect Energy Development is a leading commercial solar installer in Massachusetts

with over 12 MW of solar energy installed, totaling over 100 projects. Our team
leverages over 75 years of experience in finance, regulatory and policy management,
engineering & operations, and solar technology expertise to deliver smart solar
solutions to help businesses and organizations reduce energy costs.
institutional properties in New England.
Our focus is on establishing meaningful partnerships. Solect owns and operates

several solar PV systems and we understand what its like to go through the financial
and installation process firsthand. This unique perspective allows us to properly assess
a projects feasibility from the customers point of view, ensuring that its in the best
interest of our customers and community. Our collaborative and practical approach of
developing smart solar solutions ensures simplified and reliable results that best fit our
customers needs, and has earned Solect a reputation for integrity and quality.
Solect Energy
Were committed to advancing the solar industry through education. Solar

incentives and regulations are constantly changing and are often complex. Solect
makes the process of installing solar easy to understand, and our customers tell us we
do a great job at simplifying the economics of solar. Our team frequently provides
classroom education at the college and high school levels and hosts webinars to
advance the understanding of the technical and financial aspects of solar PV.
89 Hayden Rowe St,

Hopkinton, MA 01748
(508) 598-3511
www.solect.com
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Community is important to us. Solect donates

solar systems, goods and services to support
several local non-profits and charities. In
addition, were committed to building a culture
of excellence through the development of our
employees and creating a work environment that
inspires innovation and teamwork.
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Solectria Renewables, a wholly-owned

subsidiary of Yaskawa America, Inc., is a
leading U.S.-based grid-tied PV inverter,
combiner & web-based monitoring
manufacturer for residential, commercial &
utility-scale solar projects. Solectrias products
include 3.8 to 750 kW inverters. Solectria is
backed by 100 years of power electronics and
inverter experience. All of Solectrias 3-Phase
commercial & utility-scale inverters are made
in the USA. PV System owners, developers
and EPCs rely on the high performance,
reliability and bankability of Solectria A
Yaskawa Company.
Why were a leader in Solar

Solectria Renewables has been in the power electronics and inverter industries since
1989. The Company is one of the most established and consistent inverter manufacturers
today with greater than 90% CAGR in megawatts delivered over the past 10 years.
Solectria continues to be at the forefront of the solar market in product introductions,
innovations and successes. Since 2009, the Company has grown its employee base and
manufacturing space by more than fifteen times. In July 2014, Solectria was acquired
by Yaskawa Eletric, a $4 Billion company and one of the largest Japanese PV inverter
manufacturers.
Solectria Renewables, LLC

Headquarters
360 Merrimack Street
Lawrence, MA 01843 (USA)
tel (978) 683-9700
fax (978) 683-9702
inverters@solectria.com
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Solectria has always focused on customer needs, increasing system reliability, serviceability
and reducing total installed cost and labor at PV job sites. Solectria is the only company
with a sealed power electronics stage, which is easily swapped in the field. Its inverters have
the highest peak and CEC efficiencies in the industry and are extremely customizable (the
PVI 50-100KW inverters have over 500 ways they may be customized from monitoring to
subcombiners to enclosure and beyond). Solectria inverters integrate some of the most
advanced inverter technologies and offer advanced grid control features demonstrated by
research partnerships with EPRI and the DOE.
Solectria offers one of the most comprehensive product suites today, ranging from 3.8 kW
single-phase inverters through multi-megawatt solar stations with integrated medium
voltage transformers. All of Solectrias three-phase, central inverters are MADE IN THE USA.
Learn more at www.solectria.com.
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Sollega Inc, is a leading solar PV racking

manufacturer specializing in ballasted
commercial flat-roof and ground mount
racking solutions since 2009. As the first
company to introduce polymers to the PV
racking industry in North America, we pride our
selves on innovation. Our mission is to provide
the easiest to install and most cost effective
solar PV mounting solutions available. Our
goal is to enable the installation of solar PV on
every suitable flat surface in the world.
With the introduction of the FastRack510 (FR510), Sollega continues to improve the first
truly universal one-piece ballasted mounting systems for framed PV modules. As with all
Sollega mounting systems, the FR510 is lightweight and stackable, ships efficiently, and is
quick and easy to stage and install. Our combined support systems and ballast pans arrive
on site ready, with no assembly required. All module attachments are top-down and require
just one tool, and UL-467/2703 bonding is integrated into every system. The new FR510 is
injection molded with the advanced material Ultramida glass reinforced nylonand was
designed in partnership with BASF, a world leading plastics manufacturer. The new material
and manufacturing process allow for a stronger system and shorter lead times. The FR510
is capable of mounting framed modules at 5 or 10 with the same intuitive installation
procedure. Built in reference tools ensure perfectly aligned arrays, while improving
installation time and ease. The ability to attach rail internally, provides for increased load
sharing, and, for hybrid systems, flexibility in mechanical anchor installation.
Sollega Inc.
2588 Mission Street, Suite 210
(855) 725-RACK
www.sollega.com
Sollega designs and manufactures mounting systems with direct distribution. We offer
full engineering support services with every project, including layouts, ballast and optional
anchor plans, and detailed calculations, with optional PE wet-stamps. We have atmospheric
boundary layer wind tunnel testing, providing calculations compatible with all current ASCE 7
requirements. Sollega provides an industry leading 25-year warranty.
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Solmetric is the leading test

and measurement company in
the solar industry.
Solmetrics award-winning SunEye has become the

industry standard tool for shade analysis and made
Solmetric the world leader in shade measurements. Our
PV Designer software enables installers to quickly and
easily design residential PV systems. Our PV Analyzer is
the leading US I-V curve tracer used for field verification
applications such as commissioning, auditing, and
troubleshooting of PV arrays. It is recognized as the
fastest and most accurate field testing device on
the market. Solmetrics top-notch engineering and
management team is committed to producing the
highest quality products. Our background includes
extensive experience in the solar installation industry
and in the development of high precision test and
measurement tools.
Solmetric Corporation
117 Morris Street, Suite 100
Sebastopol, CA 95472 USA
Tel: +1 (707) 823-4600
Fax: +1 (707) 823-4620
Toll-free in US: +1 877-263-5026
email: info@solmetric.com
Web: www.solmetric.com
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SPIDER-RAX
As the solar industry continues to grow, so
does the growing demand to provide innovate
ways to compete and provide consumers with
the highest quality products, at a consumer
friendly price point. Spider-Rax is clearly
securing its place in the solar industry, by
providing sound solutions for the installer, the
solar company and the consumer.
Quickly making a name for itself as a

leader in the solar industry, Spider-Rax
innovative and unique product offerings
provide proven time saving capabilities for
installers and cost saving opportunities for
solar companies. Started by solar installers,
Spider-Rax is a solar racking company
that has a passion and a vision to not only
revolutionize the solar mounting industry,
but to simplify solar racking solutions in a
manner that would not only benefit the
installer, but the solar companies and the
customer as well. Providing solutions that
will save solar companies on labor costs,
Spider-Rax delivers a fresh, innovative way
for the solar mounting industry to grab hold
of new technology.
Spider-Rax offers the fastest installations on
the market, as well as a variety of different
mounting systems to fit any roof, such as
Spider-Rax studless and railless system
which has all of the solar racking bases
covered. Spider-Rax approach to the solar
mounting industry, is revolutionary and will
undoubtedly secure its place in the industry
for years to come.
Spider-Rax
www.spiderrax.com
844-773-7729
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To find out more about Spider-Rax

innovative new technology and how it can
save you time and money, visit us online at
www.spiderrax.com.
1 2015
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Stion is a leading U.S.-based manufacturer

of high-efficiency thin-film solar modules
and provider of solar solutions. Stion was
founded in 2006 and is backed by Khosla
Ventures, the largest institutional investor in
clean technology in the U.S. Stions 700,000+
square foot manufacturing plant in Hattiesburg,
Mississippi (MS) is one of the largest and most
advanced solar manufacturing facilities in
the United States. The plant is the first thinfilm solar factory in the Southeast US, and
its first phase includes 150 MW of annual
production capacity. Commercial shipments
began in March 2012, just one year after Stion
began construction. In all, the factory can
accommodate 600+ MW of capacity.
Stion
Josh Moore
jmoore@stion.com
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Stion is advancing the industry by dramatically improving the cost and performance of solar
energy through superior manufacturing and R&D technology. Stions Elevation 4 module
utilizes Stions proprietary Circuit Protection System (CPS)TM which provides significantly
improved moisture resistance and lifetime durability over crystalline silicon modules. This dual
glass frameless module provide exceptional energy yield due to an anti-reflective coated glass
and industry leading temperature coefficient of -0.26%/oC. Stions Elevation Series modules
currently range from 13-14% efficiency (135 150 W). Stions modules have outperformed
both c-Si and CdTe in real world application in terms of kWh by 5-10% on average, directly
improving the Levelized Cost of Energy and IRR for its customers around the world. Many
leading developers, EPCs, and IPPs have
recognized this value and in 2014 Stion,
completed shipments to several MW scale
projects, setting the stage for very rapid
growth in 2015.
Stions unwavering focus on
technological excellence has attracted
a team comprising some of the most
experienced and innovative scientists in
the industry. Stion is a recipient of the
Department of Energys PV Incubator and
Sunshot Initiative to scale-up ultra-high
efficiency thin-film modules based on
proprietary tandem junction technology.
The R&D team has successfully
produced a 23.2% efficient tandem lab
cell, a 20% efficiency 20x20 cm2 device,
and a 16% efficiency full size tandem
module. Stion has filed over 200 patents
and over 75% of their R&D staff has
Ph.D.s. This ongoing investment in R&D
enables Stion to push the boundaries of
todays PV while also creating the next
generation of possibilities.
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Innovative products:
Sungrow is the 2nd largest PV inverter

manufacturer in the world, and also
Sungrow is one of the few remaining

pure-play PV inverter manufacturers. By
not being part of a large conglomerate,
we are not weighed down by
bureaucracy and can both bring new
products to market and change existing
products quickly. This quickness,
combined with our large size, helps
ensure that our products are the
most innovative. Innovation improves
performance and reliability while
lowering costs and keeping up with
constantly changing requirements.
manufactures wind converters and energy

storage equipment. Founded in 1997, Sungrow
employs over 1,100 people globally, of which
over 30% are R&D engineers. Sungrow has over
8,000MW of inverters installed globally in over
50 countries. For the North American market,
Sungrow provides inverters ranging from 30kW
to 2MW. More information can be found at
www.sungrow.ca.
Our industry-leading innovation can be

found in our 56kW (featuring 4 MPPTs)
and 60kW (featuring 99% peak efficiency
& built-in MC4 connectors) string
inverters, which have the highest power
density and are optimized for DG and
utility projects respectively, as well as in
our 1MW central inverter (featuring full
power at 55C and .9 PF).
Sustainability:
Most inverter manufacturers rely on other business units or markets with temporarily
high incentives for profits. Sungrow is perhaps the only one who can sell inverters
profitably in all markets. As margins get even lower, many will drop their inverter
businesses in markets where there are no profits, leaving customers with stranded
inverters. As is said, if you can be profitable in China, you can be profitable
anywhere.
Sungrows leadership in reliability is demonstrated in our vast experience with
centrals (>10,000 deployed) and 3-phase strings (>12,000 deployed). Making
inverters is not difficult, but making high performing ones over the long-term is
something that can only be
learned through experience.
With >8GW deployed over the
last 17 years, weve learned
more than most.
SunGrow
Ben Marcus
510-324-6125
ben.marcus@sungrow.ca
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SunModo Corp., a Washington based solar

panel mounting company, was formed with
the mission of driving down the total cost of
installation through product innovation and
system integration. Founded by highly skilled
engineers, SunModo develops, manufactures
and sells innovative innovative solar panel
mounting solutions (structural BOS) to
residential solar system contractors, commercial
installers, industrial system integrators, and PV
distributors in North America. From its inception,
customers quickly recognized SunModo as a
trusted provider of high quality products and
Product Innovation
services that make installations faster and more
True leaders innovate. Innovation, however, requires a significant commitment of

resources to create the absolute best solutions. At SunModo, we are committed
to designing better, simpler, and more cost-effective mounting systems.
cost-effective. In addition, SunModo prides

itself in offering affordable engineering service
including complete system design, permitting
documents and custom engineering, all with the
intention to make installers job easier.
Our best-selling EZ Roof Mount kit is the perfect example of working closely with
our customers to find the best flashed mount solution for composite shingle
roofs. Because of its innovative and cost-effective design, the product has
become an all-time customer favorite. After many years of extensive research
and development, what began with a clean sheet of paper evolved into the next
generation of full line solar racking solutions, both residential and commercial.
Going the extra mile means leading the way for innovation and setting the
industry standard.
Customer Satisfaction
SunModo
1905 E 5th Street, Suite A,
Vancouver, WA 98661
Tel: +1 (360) 844-0048
Fax: +1 (503) 863-3878
Email: info@sunmodo.com
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SunModo strives for efficiency, quality, and best pricing, along with valuing the
feedback we receive from the boots-on-the-roof professionals. We regularly
survey our customers to determine what we are doing right and what could use
some improvement. By constantly listening to feedback from customers, we are
continually exploring ways to improve our racking products to minimize the total
cost of installation.
Our customers report
that SunModo provides
them the best value
racking solution and
complete customer
satisfaction experience
compared to competing
solutions. By providing
innovative and cost
effective racking
products and value
added service, we are
able to help customers
save the total cost of
racking and increase
profit margin.
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
111
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Sunvelope solar thermal energy collectors

achieve low cost and high efficiency water
heating. Innovative and elegant, the stainless
steel systems self-manage temperature
extremes for less expensive and more reliable
energy collection.
Hot water, Simple.

Sunvelope has done something no other solar thermal company in the world has
done before: made solar hot water simple. Through revolutionary advances in its
solar thermal collector and balance system architecture, Sunvelope has removed
many of the complicated and costly elements enabling an elegant, simplified
water heating solution.
Sunvelopes system is freeze-tolerant, easy to install and integrate with existing
equipment, eliminates the need for glycol and heat exchangers, and significantly
lowers cost for commercial and residential projects alike.
Sunvelope is re-awakening the Solar Thermal market.
Sunvelope Solar Inc.

96 Glen Carran Circle #105
Sparks, Nevada 89431
President, August Lemaire
775-331-2728
www.sunvelope.com
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Swinerton Renewable Energy offers turnkey solar power solutions for utility-scale and
distributed generation projects throughout
North America, specializing in Engineering,
Procurement, Construction, and Operations
and Maintenance. Swinerton provides singlepoint project responsibility from start to finish.
Its team is focused exclusively on building
best-in-class solar systems that are costeffective and will provide reliable, clean power
for many years to come.
Swinerton Renewable Energy

16798 West Bernardo Drive
San Diego, CA 92127
E NE RGY]
Swinerton Renewable Energy

(SRE) offers Engineering,
Procurement, Construction (EPC),
Operations and Maintenance
(O&M) and Supervisory Control
and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
services for solar photovoltaic
plants throughout North America
to a diverse range of clients who
demand exacting performance.
Over 125 years of building
landmark projects, Swinerton has
forged a reputation for unsurpassed safety, workmanship, on-time delivery and
customer satisfaction. Today, our team takes pride in building best-in-class,
cost-effective solar systems that will generate reliable, clean power for many
years to come. SRE has delivered over 400 MW solar projects via turnkey EPC
services and our Technical Services Team manages over 700 MW of PV plants
across the country. On every new project, our engineering approach is informed
by feedback from our frontline construction teams and by real-time analysis of
plant performance on over 20 utility-scale installations. Insight gained from this
robust data-set allows us to optimally balance first-cost, life-cycle maintenance
and energy yield objectives. Our unique perspective across the full project
cycle - from engineering through construction, operations and performance
monitoring enables us to deliver comprehensive, long-term asset optimization.
We have successfully
interconnected solar
systems with multiple
utilities, including:
PG&E, SCE, LADWP,
SDG&E, SMUD,
PacifiCorp, PNM, CPS,
HECO, HONI, JCP&L,
PJM and NIPSCO.
Swinerton Renewable
Energy is a division of
Swinerton Builders,
a 100% employeeowned company.
George Hershman, VP,

Division Manager
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Shoals Technologies Group is a leading manufacturer of balance of systems

(BOS) solutions. Consistently providing customers with innovative designs and
superior quality products has directly contributed to the exponential growth
since its founding in 1996. With over 15 GW+ of balance of system (BOS)
products deployed globally, Shoals maintains a diverse portfolio of PV BOS
products, including, combiner/re-combiner boxes, disconnecting combiner
boxes, custom harnessing solutions, junction boxes, PV wire, in-line fuses,
racking, tracking and PV monitoring solutions. Synapse Wireless, Inc. delivers
proven Internet of Things (IoT) solutions designed to revolutionize business.
The IoT is the interconnection of devices enabling intelligent analytics to be
collected in real-time, resulting in improved efficiencies and better insight into
operational functions. Synapse developed its award-winning SNAP wireless
mesh network operating system which can be deployed an enterprise-class
platforms, distributing intelligence to the edge of its customers networks. .
Why is SNAPshot
a leader?
The 6 year strategic partnership with Shoals and Synapse has resulted in
innovative solutions that provide a holistic active management system for solar
installations. This ecosystem, called SNAPshot, is changing the way solar field
owners and operators manage their installs through increased productivity and
efficiency through a number of methods, including identifying underperforming
components, alerting owners and operators to malfunctioning parts that can be
replaced under warranty, and streamlining ongoing maintenance.
Shoals Technologies Group
1400 Shoals Way, Portland, TN 37148, USA
T: +1 (615) 451-1400 F: +1 (615) 325-5252 shoals.com
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At the heart of the SNAPshot ecosystem is a purpose-built cloud-based

platform that provides anywhere, anytime access to real-time performance
data, providing advanced analytics for enhanced efficiency. Wireless monitoring
further extends the functionality of SNAPshot, helping owners and operators
increase yield through identification of underperforming zones or strings and
proactive repair. The SNAPshot system can be integrated to familiar SCADA
systems or can stand on its own. SNAPshot can also help get new projects up to
speed faster with Velocity Monitoring, which offers precision labor tracking and
performance monitoring through the construction and commissioning process.
The UL listed Wireless Arc Fault Solution is also available with the Shoals Smart
Combiner Box to increase peace of mind and decrease potential liability by
preventing damage and promoting safety.
SNAPshot helps make sure solar field owners and operators are making the
most from their installations. It gives better insight into how much productivity
youre really getting and how to increase efficiency. Its the future for solar field
management, ready today. said Dean Solon, CEO of Shoals Technologies Group.

1 2015
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Trina Solar is a global leader in photovoltaic

(PV) modules, solutions and services.
Founded in 1997 as a PV system integrator,
today Trina Solar drives smart energy together
with installers, distributors, utilities and
developers worldwide. Its line of innovative
solar solutions are lowering the overall
cost of solar, and creating value for Trina
Solar partners. The companys industry
position is based on innovation excellence,
superior product quality, vertically integrated
capabilities and environmental stewardship.
Trina Solar is ready to meet the demands of a
thriving global solar market.
Trina Solar has successfully developed into a leader in the PV industry because of its superior
quality, and reliable modules backed by a strong balance sheet. This has made Trina Solar a
trusted solar partner in North America and globally.
Trina Solar is committed to improving efficiencies and competitiveness, and looks to partner
with downstream solar companies who share those same values. Trina Solar has worked
together with firms across the industry value chain on solutions to lower the overall cost of
solar, and drive further sector development.
The company deploys a vertically integrated business model, producing its own ingots,
wafers, cells and modules in-house. The control and efficiency achieved from this integrated
value chain helps Trina Solar continuously improve the production process as well as ensure
high quality products for its end customers. Trina Solars manufacturing process includes
nearly three dozen in-house reliability tests. The companys commitment to quality allows it
to provide an industry-leading 25-year warranty on the modules it sells.
Trina Solar
100 Century Center Court,
Trina Solars leadership is widely recognized. Trina Solars high-efficiency Honey module
holds a world record on output for a 60-cell module. Trina Solar was the first PV company to
receive Underwriter Laboratories Client Test Data Program Certification. The company has
been at the top of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalitions Solar Scorecard for the past three years,
and Fast Company magazine recognized Trina Solar in their 2013 list of The Worlds Top 10
Most Innovative Companies in China.
Suite 500
San Jose, California 95112
http://www.trinasolar.com
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Trojan Battery Company is the worlds
E NE RGY]
Trojan Battery is a leader in the energy

storage market based on its more than
85 years of battery engineering and
manufacturing expertise, and introduction
of innovative technologies to extend
battery performance. To address the
impact of partial state of charge (PSOC) on
deep-cycle batteries in renewable energy
applications (RE), Trojans engineering
team developed Smart Carbon. As
the first manufacturer to feature a
carbon formulation in deepcycle flooded batteries,
Trojan chose its deep-cycle
flooded line since this
technology is the most used
in these applications, is widely
available around the world, and has a more
economical price point.
leading manufacturer of deep-cycle

batteries, offering a complete portfolio
of technologically advanced deep-cycle
flooded, AGM and gel batteries that provide
maximum long-lasting
performance to meet
the requirements of
todays advancing
renewable energy
systems. Trojan Battery
Company, founded in
1925, is ISO 9001:2008
certified with U.S.-based
operations in California and Georgia.
When purchasing deep-cycle batteries for RE applications,

cycle life is an important feature to consider. However, many find that their batteries never
reach expected cycle life, because the applications often operate at Partial State of Charge
(PSOC), in which batteries are often never fully recharged on a regular basis. This quickly
diminishes the overall life of a battery, resulting in costly battery replacements.
To address the issue of PSOC, Trojan Batterys engineering team conducted extensive
research on technology and methods to extend the life of its deep-cycle batteries designed
for RE, remote telecom and inverter applications. Based on more than five years of R&D,
the team created Smart Carbon, a proprietary formula of carbon additives designed to
enhance life and performance of Trojan Industrial and Premium batteries when they are
operated in PSOC settings.
Corporate Headquarters
Trojan Battery Company
12380 Clark Street
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
800-423-6569
+1-562-236-3000
www.trojanbattery.com/contact-us/
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EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

UNIRAC is the leading manufacturer of PV
mounting systems in North America. Have
confidence with our proven track record
of performance with more than 2.8 GW
of experience since 1998. Altogether we
bring nearly 500,000 installations worth of
knowledge to your project. Unirac is a Hilti
Group company, a worldwide leader in the
construction equipment industry.
We provide the best mounting solutions to our
customers through high quality, competitively
priced products, responsive customer support,
industry leading engineering services and
excellence in supply-chain management.
Unmatched Experience
E NE RGY]
Racking solutions are usually the last thought;
Dont leave your project to chance...Think Unirac first

ROOF MOUNT SYSTEMS
GET OFF THE ROOF FASTER
THAN EVER BEFORE
SOLARMOUNT defined the standard in solar
racking. New enhancements are designed
to get installers off the roof faster than ever
before. Components are pre- assembled
and optimized to reduce installation steps
and save labor time. Our new grounding
& bonding process eliminates copper wire
and grounding straps to reduce costs.
Utilize the microinverter mount with a wire
management clip for an easier installation.
Certified Quality
Engineering Excellence
FASTEST INSTALLATION
12 MODULES / MAN HR
ROOF MOUNT introduces the Power of
Simplicity to the ballasted flat roof solar
industry. The system consists of only two
major components, minimizing preparation
work and installation time. Seamlessly
design around roof obstacles, support most
framed modules and bond the system with
just the turn of a wrench. Industry leading
installation speed metrics have been verified
by a third party, DNV GL.
Bankable Warranty
Design Tools
Permit Documentation
Unirac, Inc.
1411 Broadway Boulevard NE
Albuquerque, NM 87102-1545 USA
Telephone: 505.242.6411
Fax: 505.242.6412
www.unirac.com
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SUPERIOR ARRAY AESTHETICS
GROUND MOUNT SYSTEMS
SUNFRAME is a shared rail system with gapfree rows that boasts a sleek, low profile
design. The superior aesthetics are valued by
homeowners and architects for residential
and light commercial applications.
FOUNDATION FOR
PROFITABLE PERFORMANCE
ONLINE
GROUND FIXED TILT has evolved

from more than 12 years of experience
meeting a variety of project requirements.
A synergy of steel components and
aluminum parts deliver performance
with the lowest system cost. Installation
savings are captured through efficiently
engineered components, pre-assembled
parts and integrated bonding for
optimized construction sequencing.
With more than 1 GW of ground mount
systems installed worldwide, GFT is the
right solution for your project.
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
117
[PROJECTS]
Location:
Racking & Mounting:
Los Angeles County, California
Array Technologies DuraTrack HZ

single-axis
Project Size:
Monitoring:
28.4 MW
Trimark Associates
Modules:
EPC:
Canadian Solar CS6X-P (300/305-W)
White Construction
Inverters:
Developer:
Sungrow SG800MX in 1.6-MW power

stations
Canadian Solar
West Antelope:
One piece of a 12-project partnership
The West Antelope Solar Park, also referred to as the TA
Acacia facility, is located near the outskirts of Lancaster, Calif. Its
one of 12 solar projects that White Construction and Canadian
Solar have partnered on to build during the past two years.
"As the largest project that Canadian Solar has developed,
built and sold in the United States, the West Antelope Solar
Park represents an important milestone for the company," said
inverter, which was released in the United States in late

2013. The inverters were selected for their performance and
grid functionality.
The project also uses Array Technologys DuraTrack
HZ solar tracker, which features a customized 120 range
of motion and rotates roughly 94,340 high-performance
CS6X-P Canadian Solar modules at this site to follow the sun.
The project includes a 20-year power
purchase agreement with PG&E, approved by
the California Public
Utilities Commission,
and was recently sold
to Dominion Virginia
Power. The total
system output will
be enough to power
more than 6,100
homes and offset a
total of 31,500 tons
of carbon dioxide.
The TA Acacia Facility
demonstrates that large scale
solar PV can be a significant,
viable and sustainable
component of Californias
energy mix, Qu said. SPW
As the largest project that Canadian Solar has

developed, built and sold in the United States,
the West Antelope Solar Park represents an
important milestone for the company.
Shawn Qu, chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar. "This project
demonstrates that large-scale solar PV energy systems can be
a significant, viable and sustainable component of California's
energy mix."
Though some are wary of Chinese inverter companies
coming to the United States, this project also stands as one
of the largest installations in the United States and Canada
choosing to use them. The project used Sungrows SG800MX
1 2015
[PROJECTS]
Anti-reflective glass coating

improves output
GeoPeak Energy worked with financing
firm Marina Energy to build a 6-MW
project at global science-based company
DSM's Belvidere, N.J., manufacturing
site. The ReneSola panels were glazed
with DSMs proprietary KhepriCoat anti-
the solar modules and strongly reduces

the reflection of sunlight, increasing the
energy output of modules by up to 4%.
This new solar field and the
electricity it will generate for the plant
stands as a symbol of DSMs commitment
to sustainable
manufacturing,"
said Hugh Welsh,
president of DSM
North America.
"DSM North
America is actively
using renewable
energy sources in
its manufacturing
operations to meet
its own and its customers supply chain
sustainability goals."
The solar array is expected to
This new solar field and the electricity

it will generate for the plant stands
as a symbol of DSMs commitment to
sustainable manufacturing.
reflective glass coating, the companys
flagship product for the solar market. The
coating is applied to cover the glass of
produce about 40% of the

Belvidere plant's electricity
needs. To accommodate the
large array, 100 trees were
moved to another location on
the site.
"The DSM solar project
is one of the largest solar
installations globally at a supply
chain site and is a testament
to supplier sustainability," said
AJ Javan, managing partner of
GeoPeak Energy. "With DSM's
commitment and support, we
developed and delivered this
solar project with safety first
and in record time. We paired
Marina Energy to this project
for financing, as part of our
turnkey offering to DSM." SPW
Location:
Belvidere, New Jersey
Project Size:
6 MW
Modules:
ReneSola JC300M-24 (300-W)
Inverters:
Advanced Energy AE500NX
Racking & Mounting:

RBI Solar ground-mount
Contractor/Developer:
GeoPeak Energy
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
119
[PROJECTS]
Locally sourced solar mounting

for GM installation
A 2.2-MW ground-mount array is now
easily viewed by the 49 million commuters
who traverse the Ohio Turnpike
every year. The installation is at GMs
Lordstown Complex, where the company
manufactures the Chevrolet Cruze.
We applaud General Motors
for setting the pace when it comes
to automotive manufacturing solar
installations and deployment, said
Rhone Resch, president and CEO of
the Solar Energy Industries Association.
The installation, completed in
December, comes a year after a 1.8MW array was commissioned on the
rooftop of GMs Toledo Transmission
facility, also in Ohio. That array is the
largest rooftop array in the state.
Developer Solscient Energy chose

Solar FlexRacks Series G3L ground-mount
for the project. The mounting manufacturer
is based in Youngstown, Ohio, about a halfhour drive from the plant.
You dont often think of the Midwest
when you think of ideal locations for solar,
but reduced costs and increased utility
rates have made sites like Lordstown and
Toledo optimal locations to expand GMs
use of solar power, said Rob Threlkeld,
GM global manager of renewable energy.
With the Lordstown project, GM
remains on track to meet a company goal
of 125 MW of renewable energy deployed
globally by 2015. GMs largest solar facility
is in Zaragoza, Spain, where 85,000 thinfilm panels blanket a plant roof. SPW
Location:
Lordstown, Ohio
Project Size:
2.2 MW
Modules:
ReneSola JC255S-24 (255-W)
Inverters:
Advanced Energy AE23TL
Racking & Mounting:

Solar FlexRack Series G3L
Developer: Solscient Energy
You dont often think of the Midwest when you think of ideal locations for
solar, but reduced costs and increased utility rates have made sites like
Lordstown and Toledo optimal locations to expand GMs use of solar power.
120
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
Resources
I N T E R A C T I V E
Its hard to believe that theres more to our already hefty renewable energy
handbook, but its true! Dont forget to check out our interactive components on
www.solarpowerworldonline.com.
Interactive Solar Project Map

View utility-scale U.S. solar projects state by state with
full details including location, size, type, developer,
owner, power purchaser and more.
Clean Energy Opportunity Map

View state Renewable Portfolio Goals
and monitor each ones progress to
fulfilling these initiatives. Browse by
state to view information including
current renewable capacity, installed
MW of wind, installed MW of solar
and more.
Solar Panel Selector Tool
Browse through U.S. solar panel
models by manufacturer and more to
find the one that best fits your project.
Solar Inverter Selector Tool

View lists of solar inverters offered
in the U.S. Lists are categorized
under Microinverter, String, Central
and Off-Grid models and grouped
by manufacturer. Compare
specifications such as PV array
power range, max input and output
currents, warranty and more.
Top 400 Solar Contractors

Check out Solar Power Worlds
annual list of the top solar contractors
in the North America. Also browse
by residential, commercial and utility
segments and more.
Solar Racking & Mounting Tool
Browse racking and mounting
systems by manufacturer with
information on system and
installation type.
[CONTRACTORS CORNER]
70-Year-Old Business
Shares Keys To Success in Solar
A-C Solar, Bakersfield, California
By Kelly Pickerel, Associate Editor
The only way to survive multiple

decades of business is to evolve with
Katie Van Dyke
Katie Van Dyke is sales and
marketing manager at A-C Solar
Jeff Petrini
Jeff Petrini is energy manager at
A-C Solar
the times. Seventy-year-old A-C Electric

was approached in the early 2000s to assist
contractors on solar projects in California's
Central Valley. Ten years later, its spinoff A-C
Solar functions as its own EPC with a steady
stream of projects out of its Bakersfield, Visalia
and Fresno divisions.
"Getting that early start has been very
helpful," said Jeff Petrini, energy manager. "It
has given us the ability to grow along with the
technology."
A-C installs all types of projects but
primarily focuses on the commercial, industrial
and non-profit segments. The Central Valley
is a hub for agriculture and manufacturing,
so there is an abundance of businesses that
benefit from solar. A-C considers itself a local
SOLAR POWER WORLD
the way we approach our market."

A-C is constantly seeking the best
financing options, monitoring utility and rate
changes and vetting new products to provide
customers with the best overall
experience.
"Our customers know that
they mean more to us than
just a paycheck," Van Dyke
said. "It's not just about making
money at the end of the day.
It's about making and building
communities."
There will be plenty of
future opportunities to install
solar in A-C's community,
Petrini said, even if the ITC is not
renewed.
"The bankability of solar and the reliability
of solar is becoming more and more attractive
to financial institutions, and private business
owners want to invest their money long-term
in something a little bit different," Petrini said. "I
have a feeling we're going to see very lucrative
systems until the end of 2016 because the
utility rates appear to be on a steep curve right
now. Once that ITC drops away, we'll come
Its important to us to give the best

effort that we can because it's more
than just a business relationship. All
of our relationships extend outside
of that into the community.
company and attributes its success to building
relationships with the community and its
customers.
"Its important to us to give the best effort
that we can because it's more than just a
business relationship. All of our relationships
extend outside of that into the community,"
said Katie Van Dyke, sales and marketing
manager. "That has a really profound effect on
122
Valley Baptist Church,

942.5-kW solar carport installation
1 2015
Bakersfield Christian High School,

500-kW solar carport installation
[CONTRACTORS CORNER]
back to where we are at the

moment. The way I see it, the
solar future is bright."
The best way to ensure
solar continues its upward
climb is to be truthful with
customers, Petrini said.
"There is a lot of pride in
knowing that we are providing
a sustainable product and cost
savings for our customers,"
he said. "I've sat in front of
customers and recommended
that it might not be in their
best interest to go with the
project. We are a 70-year-old
company; we need to make
sure we are up-front with our
customers and provide all of
the knowledge that we have
[and] not just trying to sell a
Summer Solar utility-scale project,

16-MW ground-mount solar installation
project. Making sure we provide

the most accurate information is
part of the challenge."
Van Dyke said she's proud of
the work A-C Solar has done.
"With the proper financing,
we can get a large-scale
institution, with zero out of
pocket, saving money from
Day 1," she said. "As a school,
that means more scholarships,
more money in the classroom.
As a business, that means they
can hire that new employee.
For us, it's knowing that
we're giving them something
that is sustainable from an
environmental aspect but
it's also hugely economically
sustainable. We can always feel
proud of that as a company." SPW
MAGERACK SOLAR MOUNTING SYSTEM
$4.50 L-foot & Flashing

Patented unique design
Absolute waterproofing
Easiest to install
Lowest cost
$11.40
Tile Hook
Strongest tile hook
Only 0.25 deflection at 452 lb uplift force
Height adjustable
Optional flashing
Double flashing to meet building code and

roof manufacturer warranty
$0.12/w System
UL 2703 Listed, Class A fire rating

Built-in integrated bonding
No WEEB needed
As low as $0.12 per watt
See us at SPI Booth #2221
Including L-foot and flashing
Strong and reliable

Up to 8 feet rail span
www.lufftsolar.com
510-656-6661 info@magerack.com
www.magerack.com
MAGERACK
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
123
[SOLAR SNAPSHOT]
124
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
[SOLAR SNAPSHOT]
Solar Snapshot provides a glimpse of the solar industry in pictures. If you have
an infographic youd like to see on this page, email it to editor Kathie Zipp at
kzipp@wtwhmedia.com.
According to SEIAs Q3 2014 report, the quarter was

the second largest quarter ever for solar installations in the
U.S With nearly 600,000 solar installations currently installed
in the U.S., the country is on pace to reach its 1 millionth
installation in 2015. Heres a look at what happened in 2014,
as well as how cell efficiency has grown within various types
of solar technology. SPW
WHAT DO
YOU THINK?
Aurora-Where_the_Action_Is:Aurora 11/5/10 1:10 PM Page 1
Rod Ends and Spherical

Bearings designed and
manufactured to Aurora's
exacting standards for quality
and durability.
Smart Solar. Smart Business.

Leaders in Commercial Solar Development, Solect provides full-service, smart
solar solutions to help businesses and organizations reduce energy costs.
Registered and Certified to

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From economy commercial to
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w w w . a u r o r a b e a r i n g . c o m
1 2015
SOLAR POWER WORLD
125
[PRODUCTS SPOTLIGHT]
Transportable power station

deploys equivalent of 340 solar modules
The PWRstation contains ten retractable
10-kW PWRstations built into a standard 40-ft
long container designed for easy transport.
The rugged standalone powerhouse opens
its side panels and deploys the equivalent
of 340 standard-sized solar modules in a
matter of minutes to deliver 100 kW of solar
energy, enough to power a large industrial
mining outpost, refugee camp or small town.
The powerhouse also comes in a canopy
style version providing shaded space under
retractable panels.
We see industrial, military and
humanitarian applications, said Ludovic Roche,
PWRstations co-founder and CEO for the
Americas. The powerhouse is self-contained,
including panels, inverters and wiring.
PWRstations pre-assembled retractable
systems engineered in Switzerland and built
in the U.S. by Schletter. PWRStation will also
eventually offer a 20-ft long, 50-kW version. SPW
Valve for use in

solar hot water
Peter Pauls series 70, model 72 two-way normally
closed valves have ratings that formerly required valves of
a much greater size. These are air, water and other fluidcompatible with standard Buna seals. Hot water, steam,
gasoline and some oils may require special seal materials.
The series
70, model
72 is Peter
Pauls largest
direct acting
(non-piloted)
valve. It
has a large
orifice, high
flow and
will operate
effectively
at very low
pressures or
vacuum. SPW
126
SOLAR POWER WORLD
1 2015
Wire management clip

uses rolled outer edge
Nine Fasteners has added the NFI-1306-V90 to its line-up
of standard wire management offerings. The clip is Nines
90-degree oriented version of the companys DCS-1306. The
clip securely fastens up to two USE-2 diameter (.2 inches, 5.1
mm) wires to the majority of standard module frames. The
NFI-1306-V90 is manufactured in the U.S. using 410 grade
stainless steel. Staying consistent in its goal of delivering the
highest-quality wire protection, Nine Fasteners continues to
use a rolled outer edge on this clip, as is standard across the
entire product line. SPW
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Marshall Matheson
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Technology Development Installation

2014 Top Solar

The solar industry has

Solar Power World executive

Yury Reznikov, vice president

Much of this expansion is

Technology Development Installation

OUR WIDE VARIETY

At SAB , our innovative accessories take the flexibility

344 Kaplan Drive, Fairfield, New Jersey 07004

THE FIRST WORD

Were focused on you

Connect and discuss this and

Associate Editor Steven Bushong

Technology Development Installation

Follow the whole team on Twitter @SolarPowerWorld

Social Media Specialist

Media And Events Coordinator

Director, Creative Services

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Crains Cleveland Business Fast 50 2014

WTWH Media, LLC

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Earth screws, tracking and elevated systems

32 BATTERIES, STORAGE & OFF-GRID

Snow removal and custom manufacturing

and the importance of miniscule

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Distribution transformers that feed

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New England Clean Energy

Heather Centorbi is a Marketing

and solar companies are embracing it with blog

Solar Power World: Why do you think its

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consciousness blog where Mark says what he

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Most Advanced Tracking Solutions

Dedicated to differentiating our customers products

1500 Bishop Ct - Mt Prospect, IL

Three quick tips for solar mounting

Solar Power World Contributor

Jeff Spies is senior director of

See these and other tips

1. Break the shingle seal in the proper location.

Installing wood blocks

2. Inside the attic, measure the distance

Cutting tile for hooks

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1. Drill a hole where the mount

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Haresh Patel is the CEO and cofounder of Mercatus, a provider

Building strong relationships with energy

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