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Renusol Introduces Rail-Free Vertical Mounting

Germany-based mounting systems manufacturer Renusol has extended its MetaSole mounting units to include the new MS+ Portrait, which is capable of fixing photovoltaic modules to roofs in portrait orientation.

The company says the design enhancement provides for rear ventilation of the photovoltaic modules and eliminates continuous mounting rails.

The MS+ Portrait allows PV panels to be securely installed on roofs with inclinations ranging from as low as three degrees to as steep as 70 degrees. The system weighs in at 3.0 kg/kW, making it suitable for roofs on commercial buildings with low load-bearing capacities.

The MS+ Portrait is compatible with other Renusol components, including the new RS1 universal clamp.

“Depending on the roof surface available, mounting solar modules in a portrait configuration sometimes allows more panels to be fitted, enabling a greater output to be generated,” says Felix Janssen, product manager at Renusol. “It may also be preferable to install PV modules to the roof in a portrait as opposed to a landscape orientation for aesthetic reasons.”

Renusol: renusol.com

 

Folsom Launches HelioScope For Enphase

Folsom Labs has developed a version of its HelioScope solar photovoltaic system design software for commercial Enphase installations.

Folsom Labs has incorporated Enphase micro-inverter systems, including the new C250 micro-­inverter for medium- and large-scale commercial installations, into HelioScope to support the sales and engineering efforts of commercial PV system designers.

According to Enphase, Folsom Labs’ cloud-based project collaboration technology allows engineering, procurement and construction personnel to share designs with Enphase and project finance partners to fast-track project development. Complex layouts can be assembled rapidly, and the calculation of energy production can be adjusted on the fly as the system is designed.

Folsom Labs: folsomlabs.com

 

skytron Launches PVGuard 2.1

Germany-based skytron energy has launched a new version of its PVGuard photovoltaic supervision software.

PVGuard 2.1 introduces a dashboard for the display of all performance and yield characteristics of a PV plant. The Dashboard Designer enables PV plant owners and operators to design their own customized plant displays. With this new tool, users can also design their own mimic diagrams suited to their individual arrangement of plants and featuring their own branding.

skytron says the upgraded software includes improvements in the way supervision data for plants in different time zones is handled in charts, tables and predefined views. The new version also allows PV plant owners to define multiple email lists for plants, each with a different set of recipients. Plant operators can configure emails to be sent at a defined time or through an alarm trigger.

skytron: skytron-energy.com

 

RENA Unveils Wet Chemical PERC Machine

Germany-based RENA Technologies GmbH has developed its InOxSide+ wet chemical processes machine for producing passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cells.

The company says the InOxSide+ combines edge isolation and rear-side smoothing with etch depths of up to 6 micrometers, according to customer requirements. Applied wet chemical processes enable an advanced rear-side surface preparation for subsequent passivation layer deposition as a key factor for successful PERC solar cell production.

RENA Technologies says its new Switzerland-based investor, Capvis, will enable it to further develop its wet chemical processing equipment for solar cell production.

RENA: rena.com

 

Steadysun Signs R&D
Agreement On Forecasting

France-based developer of solar forecasting systems Steadysun has signed a research and development (R&D) agreement with the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) to improve the latter’s solar power forecasting services.

The aim of the agreement is to enable the CEA to anticipate solar energy production down to minute intervals to facilitate its integration into electricity grids and energy markets. This project involves photovoltaic installations initially but also will encompass concentrating solar power and concentrated PV plants.

The program, with a budget of EUR 800,000 over two years, will use the CEA’s equipment and demonstrators located at France’s National Institute of Solar Energy. It will also enable Steadysun to benefit from the expertise of CEA laboratories on various solar production technologies.

“I am very pleased with this partnership that gives us the opportunity to expand our R&D efforts and to continue offering more and more efficient and innovative services to our customers,” says Xavier Le Pivert, CEO of Steadysun.

Steadysun: steady-sun.com

 

meeco Ramps Up Solar Storage Hybrid Production

The meeco Group says its India-based subsidiary, meeco India (Pvt) Ltd., is ramping up production of its sun2go XL solar-hybrid systems.

The sun2go XL system is a solar generation and energy storage system with portable and semi-­portable variants. The units are intended to provide energy for small residential and commercial applications, as well as rural infrastructure, such as clinics, lighting, telecoms and agriculture requiring an off-grid power supply.

In addition, meeco India has launched new variation frequency drive pump controllers that will be available for its sun2flow products.

“We are experiencing a high growth in this segment in both Africa and India,” says Tarun Munjal, managing director of meeco India.

meeco: meeco.net

 

Solectria Inverters NEC 2014 Shutdown Compliant

Massachusetts-based Solectria has introduced a Rapid Shutdown (RSD) Combiner for its single-phase inverters for residential photovoltaic installations.

The RSD Combiner option enables compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) 2014, Article 690.12, requiring rooftop installations to de-energize conductors outside of a 10-foot boundary from the array. Solectria says the system has been designed to integrate seamlessly with its PVI 3800-7600TL single-phase, transformerless inverters. It allows for operation of dual maximum power point tracking (MPPT) zone configurations with two strings per MPPT zone.

The inverter provides a signal to enable or disable the RSD Combiner. If the RSD Combiner is enabled, the array automatically - upon loss of AC power at inverter - shuts down the system without an additional power supply, disconnect or activation switch.

Solectria: solectria.com

 

AET Receives UL 2703 Certification For Rayport-B

Applied Energy Technologies (AET) has received Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2703 certification for its Rayport-B ECO roof ballast racking system.

The Rayport-B ECO racking system was evaluated for module-to-system bonding to the requirements of UL Subject 2703 Issue 2. As part of this evaluation, the racking and modules were subjected to atmospheric and corrosion tests, temperature and humidity cycling, and bonding path resistance.

The Rayport-B ECO was also evaluated for fire resistance and achieved a Fire Class A rating when used with UL 1703-listed photovoltaic modules with a Type 1 and Type 2 fire performance rating.

“Achieving the UL 2703 certification is a vital component of our racking solutions and market strategy,” says Aaron Faust, vice president of business development at AET. “California rooftop installations in 2015 are already requiring this certification. The rest of the U.S. will require it in 2016, so we understand the importance of compliance.”

AET: aetenergy.com

 

OutBack Power Launches Incentive Program

OutBack Power Technologies Inc. - a designer and manufacturer of power electronics for renewable energy, backup power and mobile applications - has launched SystemEdge, an energy storage incentive program.

The program, designed to encourage solar installers to integrate energy storage into their renewable energy systems, is running until Oct. 31 and will include a grace period until Dec. 15 to submit claims.

OutBack Power’s storage-backed renewable energy systems of at least 4 kWh are eligible for the incentive.

The incentives scale based on the amount of storage and system capacity present but will range from $200-$800 per project.

OutBack Power: outbackpower.com

 

Hill & Smith Offers PV
Ground-Mount Kit

U.K.-based Hill & Smith Solar has launched its SolarKIT ground-mount system, tailored to solar projects between 3 kW and 1 MW in size.

In light of recent changes to U.K. legislation concerning the Renewable Obligation Certificates for solar farms over 5 MW, the company has engineered a mounting system to support the small-scale market.

Unlike its custom racking systems that may be adapted to the individual requirements of larger solar projects and site conditions, the Solar­KIT is a standardized system.

The panel slide-in system is packaged as a kit. At the same time, the SolarKIT supports flexibility of panel orientation and tilt angle.

Hill & Smith: hillsmithsolar.com

 

Suntech Unveils Carbon Nanotube Frame

Hong Kong-based Wuxi Suntech Power Co. Ltd. has developed a carbon nanotube photovoltaic module frame in partnership with Taiwan Carbon Nanotube Technology Corp.

Suntech says the carbon nanotube PV module frame is composed of carbon and glass fiber composite materials and weighs half as much as traditional aluminum module frames.

The integrated plastic components provide the frame with improved corrosion resistance. Suntech says the design is a solution to potential induced degradation problems.

In addition, the company says the carbon nanotube photovoltaic module frame offers a cost advantage over aluminum and that its non-reflective black material holds up better under extreme weather conditions.

The modules have passed numerous testing criteria, including the IEC 61215 standard testing, IEC 61701 salt mist corrosion testing and high-strength mechanical load testing.

Wuxi Suntech: suntech-power.com