Solar Industry

December 2015

Close Window – December 2015

Micro-Inverters And O&M

Micro-Inverters Enable Big Data Collection And Analysis

By Martin Rogers

Hardware and software technologies offer a pathway to optimized plant performance and proactive O&M.

Drones For Solar Sites

Drones Are A Part Of Solar Power’s Future

By Christian Sanz

A wide variety of inspection, monitoring and maintenance functions are envisioned for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Solar In Europe And The U.S.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Solar Progress And Pitfalls In Europe And The U.S.

By Gordon Moran

Lessons learned from solar advancement in developed countries serve as examples for each other and the rest of the world.

Yieldcos

News Of The Yieldco’s Demise Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

By Michael Puttré

KeyBanc’s Andrew Redinger says yieldcos will be “the comeback player of the year” - eventually.

New & Noteworthy

GRID Alternatives Helps High Schoolers Get Their Hands Dirty On Solar Job Sites

Policy Watch

EPA Publishes Clean Power Plan, State And Local Governments Take Sides

Products & Technology

Agency Confirms IronRidge System For Bonding Solar Modules

Projects & Contracts

Ra Power & Light Completes 270 kW Commercial Array For Aethercomm

Sundown

Change Solar's Story

November 2015

Close Window – November 2015

Solar In Latin America

Latin America Beckons As Solar’s New World

By Michael Puttré

Developers must pick their strategies carefully in a region of diverse climates and policies.

Optimizing Array Spacing

Find The Perfect Pitch For Ground-Mount Arrays

By Foad Alvand

A few simple calculations can be used to determine optimal array spacing from any point in the world.

Tracker Project Management

International Tracker Projects Have Many Moving Parts

By Gil-Arnaud Perrin

As markets for large-scale solar projects move into the developing world, strong project management principles are becoming increasingly vital.

Distributed Generation Policies

How Market Deregulation Could Support DG Solar

By Michael Puttré

Some developers and energy providers are devising business models that transcend state policies.

New & Noteworthy

On A Cost Basis, Solar And Wind Improve Against Fossil-Fueled Sources

Policy Watch

Florida Supreme Court Paves The Way For PACE Financing

Products & Technology

Utility Software Has Processed 25K Solar Interconnection Applications

Projects & Contracts

Solar Energy Management Builds 1.5 MW Rooftop Project For Florida Distributor

Sundown

All Revved Up

October 2015

Close Window – October 2015

Global O&M

For International O&M Success: Think Global, Act Local

By Cyrille Godinot

Customers have widely different expectations for levels of service and the willingness to pay for them.

Global Demand

Global Solar Installations Continue Growing Despite Recent Headwinds

By Raj Prabhu

Government policies continue to be the primary drivers of new photovoltaic capacity around the world.

Northeast Solar Policy

The Time Is Now For A Northeast Solar Policy

By Mike Trahan & Karl R. Rabago

Solar business and policy leaders in the northeastern U.S. have joined forces to bring coherence and sustainability to solar markets in the region.

Real-Time Control

Controlling Networks Of Microgrids Over The Industrial Internet

By Lynne Canavan

The application of existing technologies to energy distribution will enable real-time control of renewable energy sources.

New & Noteworthy

Where Is Solar Financing Headed?

Policy Watch

Biden Extols Federal Solar Policies At SPI

Products & Technology

Online Tool Helps Track Solar Permitting Compliance

Projects & Contracts

Toledo Zoo Marks First Year With 2 MW Array

Sundown

All Revved Up

September 2015

Close Window – September 2015

Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering Gives Solar Projects A Firm Foundation

By Jeff Hill

From site preparation to conservation and interconnection, a well-planned civil engineering effort helps move projects forward.

Project Design

Scaling Down Utility Solar

By Aaron Halimi

Solar companies need to learn how to modify project designs to meet new market opportunities.

State Solar Policies

Trendsetters And Bellwethers: How States Are Shaping Solar’s Future

By Sara Baldwin Auck

State policies are creating many laboratories for solar, but some federal leadership is still required.

Solar Site Security

Who’s Minding The Plant?

By Michael Puttré

O&M providers differ on the importance of providing site security for PV facilities.

Community Solar

Proof Of Concept: Community Solar Is Ready To Soar Despite Complications

By Sara E. Bergan & Andrew P. Moratzka

Minnesota’s turmoil over solar gardens provides a laboratory for handling similar efforts across the U.S.

New & Noteworthy

DOE Seeks To Improve Forecasting

Policy Watch

EPA Clean Power Plan Increases Importance Of Wind And Solar

Products & Technology

Companies Work On PV For Greenhouses

Projects & Contracts

Connecticut Church Sees The Sunlight

August 2015

Close Window – August 2015

Ground-Mount Engineering

Mounting And Tracker Firms Have Project Knowledge To Share

By Michael Puttré

Equipment suppliers are a ready source of practical experience for developers and installers.

PV Development In Egypt

Egypt Stands Out As An Attractive PV Development Market In A Difficult Region

By Alex Jost

Experience and recent reforms have made Egypt a standout in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Residential Inverter Testing

Inverter Benchmarking Results In Smarter Residential Inverter Solutions

By Michael Mills-Price

PV system stakeholders need validated information beyond the product data sheets.

PV Fire Testing Standards

Manufacturers Must Get Ready For New PV Fire Testing Standards

By Sunny Rai & Greg Allen

Real-world failures and unanticipated effects from fires have spurred revisions to ANSI/UL 1703.

New & Noteworthy

Silicor Materials Forges Deals To Make Iceland A Link In The Solar Supply Chain

Policy Watch

New York Looks To Well-Tuned Incentives To Sustain Solar Growth

Products & Technology

Solar Manufacturers Spotlight New Products For SPI 2015

Projects & Contracts

ecoSolargy Delivers 126 kW Commercial Rooftop System In Diamond Bar, Calif.

July 2015

Close Window – July 2015

State & Local Policy

Vermont’s Valuation Policies For Solar Energy Plants Could Be A Model For Other U.S. States

By David K. Burton & Richard T. Page

Taxpayers should be aware of changes in the state’s 2015 tax law, much of which is praiseworthy.

End-Of-Life PV Recovery

Act Now To Handle The Coming Wave Of Toxic PV Waste

By Dustin Mulvaney

Although PV generation is enjoying a boom, end-of-life PV materials will weigh heavily on industry, communities and the environment.

Solar Construction

Get Ready For The Great Solar Construction Squeeze

By Jesse Tippett

Book your deals now, and reach out to your service and equipment suppliers before you get left in the dust.

Environmental Policy

Migratory Bird Policy Casts Shadow Over Large-Scale Solar

By Svend Brandt-Erichsen & Andrew C. Bell

The U.S. government’s proposed “incidental take” rule covering over a thousand species could affect solar projects in many regions.

System Monitoring

PV Monitoring Systems Provide Actionable Intelligence

By Michael Puttré

Across the board, stakeholders - from field service personnel to asset managers - are turning to advanced analytics to help improve plant performance.

New & Noteworthy

Conergy And Demeter Bring Third-Party Ownership To PACE

Policy Watch

N.C.’s Legislative Wrangles Over Solar Highlight Role Of States

Products & Technology

Renusol Says The Time Is Right For East-West Mounting

Projects & Contracts

EnterSolar Builds C&I Success With The Help Of C-PACE Backing

June 2015

Close Window – June 2015

Marketplace: Solar Carports

Solar Canopies Turn Parking Lots Into Power Plants With Benefits

By Michael Puttré

Cost reductions and customer awareness have made solar carports one of the hottest market segments.

Industry At Large: Federal Solar Siting Rules

Feds Ready To Change Renewables Permitting For Public Lands

By Andrew C. Bell

The BLM is about to change the way it permits solar and wind projects for the next 20 years.

Industry At Large: Grid-Connected Storage

Deploy Grid Energy Storage Using Best Practices From Existing Installations

By Chris Thompson

Designers should always keep the “three Ps”of performance, pricing and packaging in mind.

Industry At Large: Optimizing Inverter Placement

Maximize Solar PV Power Generation By Optimizing Inverter Location

By Foad Alvandi

Designers can use the location of combiner boxes to place a central inverter and minimize loss.

New & Noteworthy

Distributed Microgrids Get Real-Time Touch

Policy Watch

Xcel And Developers Clash On Gardens

Products & Technology

ATI Ships New DuraTrack Tracker

Projects & Contracts

Toyota Supplies Batteries For Yellowstone Hybrid

May 2015

Close Window – May 2015

Industry At Large: Solar Housing Developments

Denver Authority Lets Solar Shine On Affordable Housing

By Victoria Mills

City authority opens up solar benefits to low-income families through a program of retrofits and new builds.

Industry At Large: Installer Soft Costs

It’s Getting Harder For Installers To Duck Solar Soft Costs

By Mark Durrenberger

Despite publicized efforts, a growing flock of costs is nibbling away at profits and the health of the industry.

Industry At Large: Solar For Home Builders

Solar-Ready Homes Are Lean, Green And Seen

By Erin Clark

Regulations, incentives and home buyers are pushing builders to incorporate solar as a standard feature.

Industry At Large: Deploying Distributed Energy Storage

States Need To Move Now To Prepare For Distributed Energy Storage

By Sky Stanfield

Growing solar and wind generation are already affecting the grid, and authorities must get out in front to pave the way.

Marketplace: Solar Smartphone Apps

Solar Smartphone Apps Are Joining The Installer’s Toolbox

By Michael Puttré

The smartphone is becoming a toolbox to help developers, installers and customers interact with solar projects.

New & Noteworthy

Mercom Capital Forecasts Big Year For Solar

Policy Watch

Storage Is Key To New York’s REV

Products & Technology

Renusol Introduces Rail-Free Vertical Mounting

Projects & Contracts

NEXTracker Supplies 16 MW Commercial Solar Project In Mexico

April 2015

Close Window – April 2015

Marketplace: Rooftop Mounting & Racking

Mounting And Racking Designs Make Life Easier Up On The Roof

By Michael Puttré

Suppliers of solar’s supporting infrastructure work to turn installer experience into better engineered parts, tools and assemblies.

Industry At Large: Solar Permitting

Standard Solar Permitting Is The Industry’s Next Breakthrough

By Andrew Savage

With equipment prices and the cost of capital down, reducing soft costs represents an important opportunity.

Industry At Large: Distributed Energy

Easing The Transition To A More Distributed Electricity System

By Erica Schroeder McConnell

The changing roles of consumers, utilities and regulators are setting the stage for solar to play a more significant role on the grid.

Industry At Large: Massachusetts Solar Incentives

Massachusetts’ SREC II Program Is Worth Preserving And Expanding

By Jesse Grossman

There are good reasons for keeping the highly successful incentive program going strong.

New & Noteworthy

First Solar And SunPower Yieldco Breaks The Mold

Policy Watch

Federal Energy Subsidies Falling

Products & Technology

Natcore Makes Laser-Processed HIT Cell

Projects & Contracts

Nexamp Wrangles Largest Mass. Managed Growth Project For 2014

March 2015

Close Window – March 2015

Industry At Large: Community Solar Gardens

Community Solar Programs Open New Doors For Developers And Consumers

By Michael Puttré

Community gardens are widening access to solar while attracting new capital into the sector.

Industry At Large: Federal Policy

Petroleum And Solar Usher In A New Era Of Cooperation On Energy Policy

By Neil Z. Auerbach

Industry groups representing oil and renewables are now working together.

Marketplace: PV Modules

DNV GL Takes On Module Degradation In Lab And Field

By Michael Puttré

A year after acquiring PV Evolution Labs, the testing and certification firm says PV module research is picking up.

Industry At Large: PV manufacturing

State And Local Governments Vie To Attract A New Industrial Base

By Michael Puttré

Regions hope to revitalize dormant manufacturing and leverage educational and research institutions.

New & Noteworthy

Oil Prices Won’t Hurt Solar

Policy Watch

DOE SunShot Repositions Grant Program

Products & Technology

First Item

Projects & Contracts

Haldeman Ford Dealership And e2/ECTA Install 310 kW Rooftop PV System In N.J.

February 2015

Close Window – February 2015

Industry At Large: Utility Solar Hybrid Plants

FPL Generates Electricity And Experience At Martin Hybrid Solar Facility

By Michael Puttré

The world’s first solar-natural gas hybrid power plant withstands hurricanes and skepticism.

Marketplace: Commercial-Scale Inverters

String Inverters Are Inching Their Way Into Larger C&I Installations

By Michael Puttré

Rooftops, in particular, are opening up as an increasingly important market.

Industry At Large: Solar Tariffs

Managing The Ups And Downs Of Solar Tariffs Requires Agile Thinking And Deep Pockets

By Michael Puttré

Rates are not set in stone - every step of an ITC review is an opportunity for stakeholders to change the game if they can work out what variables are in play.

Industry At Large: Project Management

Borrego Solar Looks To Project Management To Keep Its PV Pipeline Moving

By Michael Puttré

The more risk a developer assumes, the more work it needs to do up front.

New & Noteworthy

U.S. Solar Jobs Have Grown 86% In Four Years

Policy Watch

Community Solar Creates Buzz

Products & Technology

Firms Partner On CPV And Microgrids

Projects & Contracts

EnterSolar Completes 1.6 MW Rooftop For Long Island Distributor

January 2015

Close Window – January 2015

Marketplace: Commercial & Industrial Rooftop Solar

Commercial Rooftop Success: A Little Ballast And A Lot Of Business Sense

By Peyton Boswell & Joe Stofega

C&I solar developers must overcome many technical and financial challenges to gain and keep a foothold.

Industry At Large: Managing Solar Glare

Assessing Solar PV Glare In Dense Residential Neighborhoods

By Roger D. Colton

Concerns about the impact of solar glare on surrounding properties can be dispelled with thorough analysis and documentation.

Industry At Large: Analytics For Energy Markets

Analytics And Big Data Are Changing The Energy Market Map

By Michael Puttré

Software developed for grid operators, asset managers and customer service can help integrate solar more effectively.

Industry At Large: Transmission And Distribution Operators

Energy Planners Edge Toward A New Model Distribution Service Layer For DG Solar

By Michael Puttré

In their role as distributed resource operators, utilities would maintain the infrastructure for a marketplace of services.

New & Noteworthy

Interests Challenge Co-op Solar Procurement

Policy Watch

Wisconsin Solar ‘Devastated’ By PSC

Products & Technology

Partnership Records 46% Conversion Efficiency

Projects & Contracts

Solect Completes 210 kW Commercial Rooftop With Room To Grow