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Solar Operator Fields
Snow-Removal System

According to a Massachusetts solar owner and operator, the one environmental factor that is capable of putting a real damper on the state’s popular solar renewable energy credit market is snow.

“The belief in the industry in Massachusetts was that the snow would simply slide off the modules,” says Dean Iandoli, who owns and operates 4 MW of solar in Barre, Mass. “Last winter, I watched first-hand at our own facilities, and that was definitely not the case.”

During winter 2012-2013, Iandoli says he watched in frustration as the sun rose above his fields while a thick layer of snow covered his panels - reducing daily output to zero kWh. Realizing that manually removing the snow with a few employees and snow brushes would not be cost effective and could damage the face of the modules, he created a machine to remove the snow using a heated air blower.

The resulting machine was capable of removing the snow from a ground-mounted array for about the cost of a day’s electricity production, Iandoli says, adding that since a December 2012 snowstorm took his solar fields out of production for nearly seven days, removing the snow from the modules proved to be an effective return on investment.

Iandoli subsequently began a new company, Maximum Solar LLC, and further refined the system. The company’s SBJ II machine directs slightly warmed, high-velocity air horizontally over the face of solar panels to remove snow. The company currently offers snow-removal services to solar array owners and operators using its machines, in addition to other operations and maintenance services.

Maximum Solar LLC: maximumsolar.com

 

Cogenra Introduces
Concentrating PV System

Cogenra Solar has introduced its T14 ground-mount concentrating photovoltaic power system for large distributed and utility-scale generation.

The Cogenra T14 draws on the company’s experience with solar cogeneration systems to combine silicon PV cells, flat-glass mirrors and single-axis tracking for a low concentration photovoltaic system. The company says the T14 receiver enables the module to achieve $0.50/W.

Washington Gas Energy Systems has signed a deal with Tucson Electric Power to build, own and operate a 1 MW solar energy project in Arizona using the Cogenra array. The project is expected to be complete in April.

Cogenra Solar: cogenra.com

 

Bandgap Boosts
Cell Efficiency

Boston-based Bandgap Engineering Inc. says it has increased the average efficiency of standard, commercial solar cells by 0.4% by replacing the standard surface texture with its nanowire technology on the same production line.

Bandgap’s report comes as the result of a demonstration it conducted with a cell manufacturer. The manufacturer ran 84 multicrystalline wafers through its standard industrial cell process - a standard emitter, standard silicon-nitride and standard screen printing with full back-side Al metal, on standard full-area 156 mm x 156 mm wafers - with half the wafers in the batch using its nanotexture and the other wafers using standard acidic texture.

Bandgap is positioning its nano­wire technology as a drop-in upgrade for crystalline silicon manufacturers using standard processing technologies. In particular, as the technology gives low reflection for all grain orientations, Bandgap says the upgrade is particularly suited for multicrystalline wafers, which have higher reflection.

Bandgap Engineering: bandgap.com

 

Trio Resources Developing
GaAs For Solar Panels

Canada-based Trio Resources Inc. has joined a consortium that is researching ways to take arsenic, a waste product commonly found in mines across Canada, and use it in the production of solar panels. Trio says it will work with scientists in Europe and North America to replace silicon in photovoltaic cells with gallium arsenide (GaAs).

Trio says it will focus its research efforts on developing environmental improvements to capture arsenic from its ore bodies that can be used in the development of GaAs. The company says GaAs solar panels require less voltage to enter saturation, providing better photo response and electron mobility, and generating a wider operating temperature.

Trio Resources: trioresources.com

 

Natcore Uses Lasers
In Cell Production

Natcore Technology is developing laser processing to replace the high-temperature diffusion furnace in the solar cell production process, in an attempt to reduce energy and chemical costs associated with the furnace. The company says it is acquiring a laser to install at its research and development center in Rochester, N.Y.

Laser doping works by firing a focused laser beam on the wafer, the company says. A small amount of dopant is initially sitting on the surface. The laser beam melts the silicon, which then re-solidifies. The microsecond process is enough time to accomplish the doping, Natcore says.

Because the laser delivers energy to a very localized area, it would heat only that portion of the wafer that needs to be heated and can lead to more efficient solar cells, the company says. Furthermore, a laser would reduce the amount of energy required to produce solar cells because it would no longer be necessary to heat the whole cell and the furnace around it.

Natcore Technology: natcoresolar.com

 

Dymax Releases
Spot-Curing System

Dymax is offering its BlueWave LED VisiCure spot-curing system. The unit generates curing energy in a relatively narrow wavelength band centered at 405 nm using high-­intensity LEDs.

This system delivers curing energy through a 5 mm-diameter lightguide, with an output of over 15 W/cm2. Dymax says the design is safer than end-of-wand LEDs and that the relatively narrow frequency band produced by LEDs generates cooler curing temperatures at the substrate level.

The unit also includes an intensity adjustment feature that allows users to adjust and control intensity output to assist with process validation and control. Intensity level measurement is accomplished with a radiometer.

Dymax: dymax.com

 

Geostellar Launches
Solar Marketplace App

Geostellar has introduced its Solar Mojo mobile app that enables U.S. consumers to compare solar installation and financing plans using the company’s online solar marketplace.

Geostellar says its Solar Mojo app provides access to the inventory of solar equipment from distributors and has tools that fit solar panel layouts to individual rooftops; models the energy production, environmental and economic benefits of solar energy; presents qualified solar installers; and compares financing options. Users enter an address and the average cost of their monthly electricity bills. Homeowners can view the details of each solar energy plan, including upfront costs, ongoing payments, incentives and savings on electricity bills, the company says.

For customers who choose ownership options, Geostellar says it qualifies solar equipment manufacturers and installers for their ability to service both material and workmanship warranties. Each solar energy plan describes the liability insurance coverage; licensing and experience of the solar installer; the specifications, efficiency and performance guarantees of the equipment; and the cash flow associated with all payments, incentives and savings on electricity costs on each solar plan.

Geostellar: geostellar.com

 

Amphenol Offers
Hercules II Junction Box

Amphenol Industrial Global Operations has added the Hercules II junction box to its Hercules series. The UL- and TUV-approved Hercules II provides an overall footprint of 84.9 mm x 80.9 mm x 19.5 mm, with a current rating of 10 A and a rated voltage of 1,000 VDC.

Amphenol says the Hercules II is intended for use on rigid silicon panels for all photovoltaic applications. It features a standardized exterior geometry for automated assembly and alignment with tape and tabs to maintain a low breakage rate during robotic assembly.

The junction box’s diodes can be paired with any PV panel’s specifications for optimal electrical protection, Amphenol says. The new box offers either a spring clamp termination with leads that clamp to the inside of the junction box or the ability to terminate leads with solder. Hercules II allows for the use of a potting compound to seal the inside of the junction box, keeping moisture out.

Amphenol: amphenol-industrial.com

 

Hitachi Developing
Containerized Storage

Hitachi Ltd. has developed a prototype container-transportable energy storage system it is positioning at the core of its renewable energy management product strategy. The CrystEna system is intended to ensure the stable use of distributed wind and solar power while maintaining the power supply-demand balance.

The 1 MW energy storage system combines the Hitachi Group’s electricity grid control technologies and Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd.’s lithium-ion battery technology. The company says it intends to begin field trials of the CrystEna system in North America this year. Plans call for Hitachi to incorporate the results of this testing in a commercial product after verifying the economic viability and performance of the system in the ancillary electricity market.

Hitachi: hitachi.com

 

SolarCity Offers Storage
Using Tesla Batteries

SolarCity has launched its DemandLogic energy storage system that incorporates batteries from Tesla. The DemandLogic system is intended for commercial-scale customers to store electricity for use during peak demand and as backup power during grid outages. The system also includes software that automates the discharge of stored energy to optimize utility charge savings.

SolarCity storage systems are available to new solar power customers through 10-year service agreements that include monthly payments. SolarCity says it will customize the system size to offset peak load and support high-priority backup functions. The company says the system requires no change in operations and is fully automated.

SolarCity storage systems will initially be available in areas of California serviced by Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison, areas of Massachusetts serviced by NSTAR, and areas of Connecticut served by Connecticut Light and Power.

SolarCity: solarcity.com

 

Ecosphere Receives
Mobile Solar Patent

Ecosphere Technologies Inc. says it has received a U.S. patent for its Ecos PowerCube photovoltaic solar and wind energy generation and battery storage system for providing off-grid electricity.

The company says the Ecos PowerCube incorporates an array of stacked solar panels, a wind turbine and batteries into a package that fits in standard shipping container footprints. Once on location, the system has a generating capacity of up to 15 kW.

Ecosphere says the Ecos PowerCube can be transported by land, air or sea and is suited to support off-grid military, disaster relief, humanitarian and mobile communications applications. The company indicates it regards the U.S. Department of Defense as a promising customer.

Ecosphere Technologies: ecospheretech.com R