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Ecoppia Enables
Panel-Cleaning Forecasts

Israel-based Ecoppia has launched a new control system for its E4 robotic photovoltaic panel-cleaning system that integrates data from The Weather Channel into its forecasting functions.

With the integration of real-time and forecasted information on precipitation, cloudiness and air quality, Ecoppia says the E4 control system provides a comprehensive view of local conditions that help site managers make better-informed decisions on cleaning schedules. Because the data is built into E4’s master control, the system can automatically retract any cleaning robots in the field during severe weather events.

Customers also have the option to receive severe weather alerts via text messaging, along with scheduling recommendations.

“Our team performed various tests with the top weather information providers in the world and incorporated the intelligence that will best support our customers and enhance the value of our E4 solution,” says Eran Meller, CEO of Ecoppia.

Ecoppia’s E4 robotic cleaning systems were recently selected for five PV projects in Israel’s Arava and Negev deserts.

Ecoppia: ecoppia.com

 

First Solar Marks
Thin-Film Milestones

First Solar Inc. has claimed another set of performance achievements for its cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic research cells.

The Newport Corp.’s Technology and Applications Center PV Lab has recorded a conversion efficiency of 21.5% for First Solar’s CdTe test cells. First Solar says the research cell was constructed at its Perrysburg, Ohio, facility using processes and materials suitable for commercial-scale manufacturing.

The company has said its technology road map for thin-film technology remains a foundation of its future as a PV manufacturer and developer of solar power projects.

First Solar also announced that its commercial modules have passed Atlas 25+ certification following a series of long-term combined-stress environmental exposure tests conducted by Atlas Material Testing Technology. The company says formal certification documentation will be issued by SGS.

“Our latest cell-efficiency research record is a result of continued learning in the material science and device physics of CdTe solar cells,” says Raffi Garabedian, First Solar’s chief technology officer. “Our work is not done in isolation but is, in part, a result of the many fruitful collaborations we have with academia, national labs and our industrial partners, most notably GE Global Research.”

First Solar: firstsolar.com

 

Fronius Offers Rapid Shutdown Box

Fronius USA has released the Fronius Rapid Shutdown Box for compliance with the latest NEC 2014 code requirement of rapid shutdown.

The Fronius Rapid Shutdown Box is designed for use with all of the company’s single-phase SnapINverters from 1.5 kW to 8.2 kW. The system connects directly to the inverter through the same DC conduit as the DC homeruns.

Fronius says no extra power supply or ground-level hardware needed. The rapid shutdown function is triggered whenever AC is not present and the DC lines are rapidly discharged by the inverter.

Fronius: fronius.com

 

Pick My Solar Developing PV Data App

The U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative has awarded Los Angeles-based Pick My Solar a grant to develop an app for capturing electricity usage data and enabling homeowners to search for solar power options through an online marketplace.

The PVimpact app will collect information about energy usage in real time and make it available through the company’s online marketplace. The system aggregates three principal pieces of data: the homeowner’s electricity usage, solar system production and contractual details of the solar system. The app then enables access to the information for analysis by homeowners, solar installers and utility companies.

Through this mechanism, prospective solar buyers will be able to see who in their neighborhood has gone solar, how much they paid and how much they are saving. Solar installers may access this same information to find prospective customers more easily.

Solar equipment manufacturers will be able to use PVimpact to access a pool of captured data on solar equipment performance. PVimpact will have the ability to capture data on how well panels and inverters perform compared to their ratings and how well they perform in different climates and conditions. The software will also enable utilities to study electricity consumption and production trends from residential solar installations.

Pick My Solar says it intends to release PVimpact to its customers this summer for free and then expand access to the rest of the U.S. residential solar market in early fall.

Pick My Solar: pickmysolar.com

 

SunLink Introduces
Cast-In-Place Foundation

SunLink Corp. has released Ballasted GMS, a cast-in-place foundation option for its ground-mount photovoltaic racking system.

The company says the new cast-in-place option makes use of off-the-shelf concrete forms and standard construction methods to pour concrete ballasts on-site.

The cast-in-place foundations are created with concrete formwork that can be sourced from local suppliers or purchased directly from the company. SunLink says the formwork also allows foundations to be cast at varying heights on-site to adapt to uneven terrain.

SunLink: sunlink.com

 

Renusol Unveils
Universal Clamp

Renusol is launching its RS1 universal clamp for mounting photovoltaic panels that can be used as either a mid or end clamp.

In order to switch between the mid and end clamp function, the clamp head is turned 90°. The company says that because only one component is needed instead of two, planning, ordering materials and mounting are all made easier for installers.

The new RS1 clamp is height-adjustable, making it suitable for all standard, framed solar panels with frame heights between 30 mm and 50 mm. Renusol says the clamp can be positioned, adjusted and fixed in the mounting rail with one hand, which is a big advantage for installers, particularly on steep roofs.

Renusol: renusol.com

 

Miasole Introduces
Flexible Solar Module

Miasole, a Hanergy company, has introduced its Flex 210 W photovoltaic module for thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) low-slope commercial roofing.

The FLEX module features a peel-and-stick installation system with an adhesive that bonds to the TPO roof, which eliminates the need for racking, concrete ballast or roof penetrations.

Miasole says the low-profile PV module has the same wind uplift rating of the roof system design. The Flex W modules weigh less than 0.7 pounds per square foot, making them suitable for roofs with low load capacity and buildings in seismically active areas.

Miasole: miasole.com

 

Imergy Introduces
New Flow Batteries

Imergy Power Systems has introduced its new ESP250 series of vanadium flow batteries, a low-
cost, high-performance energy storage solution for large-scale applications.

The ESP250 features an output power capability of 250 kW, 1 MWh of energy storage capacity and a modular design that supports linking of multiple batteries into a single energy storage platform (ESP).

Potential applications include peaker plant replacement, transmission and distribution investment deferral, renewables management, microgrid implementation or backup power system delivery. Customers can also use the ESP250 for applications such as frequency regulation and peak shaving.

The ESP250 series, the latest in a series of storage systems from Imergy, uses secondary sources of vanadium, such as mining slag, fly ash and other environmental waste.

The ESP250 modules measure approximately 12 meters, with available energy ranging from two to 12 hours of output duration. The product can be remotely managed using secure Linux- and Windows-based integrated dispatch optimization software.

Worldwide customer delivery will begin this summer.

Imergy: imergy.com