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Chint/Astronergy is debuting new integrated mounting solutions at the PV America show in San Jose, which the company is launching as part of a total solution package that has been previously offered abroad and has now been modified for the needs of the US market. Chint/Astronergy looks to this expansion of its products as a way to meet its goal to offer a total integrated PV system by the end of 2012.
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) supports Zep Solar in an infringement case made against the company by Westinghouse Solar, Zep Solar has announced. Westinghouse Solar argued in a complaint to the International Trade Commission (ITC), that Zep Solar had infringed its ‘614 patent. After rejecting previous claims by Westinghouse Solar, USPTO had issued an action closing prosecution (ACP), attesting that the claims made by Westinghouse Solar were invalid.
Leading PV module tracking systems supplier DEGERenergie has come to the conclusion that CPV-based technologies, dependent on tracking the sun for correct yields, will remain an unprofitable business for the foreseeable future and as a result has discontinued the sale of its tracking products for the technology.
Although PV inverters make up a significant percentage of the balance of system (BOS) equipment cost structure, monitoring hardware, smarter mounting structures and tracker systems are expected to help boost the PV BOS market towards US$24 billion in 2016, according to a new market report from IMS Research.
PanelClaw has announced the ETL listing of all its products to UL Subject 2703, which establishes safety and performance requirements for PV mounting systems. PanelClaw’s ETL listing includes modules from Canadian Solar, Chaori Solar, ET Solar, Gloria Solar, Helios Solar Works, LDK Solar, Mitsubishi Electric, Motech, MX Solar and Suniva.
Having launched its fast-track module mounting system in Europe and the US last year, Trina Solar has said that the first European project to use the innovative system was recently completed in Cumbria, UK.
The collaboration between Phoenix Solar and Dow Corning to bring a proof-of-concept PV installation to Dow Corning’s Michigan headquarters has been completed. The installation will allow both companies to work on commercializing a total solution using Dow Corning’s structural adhesives, which replace metal clamps, clips and bolts used to secure PV modules to mounting rails and are claimed to lower the total cost of labor and installation for a PV project.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) revealed its latest funding under the SunShot Initiative with a US$7 million effort for the reduction of non-hardware costs of residential and commercial PV installations. The funding will fall under the DOE’s SunShot Incubator Program and is set to support the development of tools and approaches that diminish non-hardware, or “soft” costs, including installation, permitting, interconnection and inspection. The DOE noted that these expenses can make up half of the cost of a residential system stating that the Incubator program is a better way to buy, install and maintain a PV system at a more cost effective rate
Westinghouse Solar released its Q3 2011 financial results, which saw the company achieve US$3.4 million in revenue during the quarter amounting to a year-over-year increase of 57% when compared to Q3 2010’s US$2.1 million and a 22% increase over Q2 2011’s US$2.8 million. Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Westinghouse Solar advised that the company’s revenue saw an increase during the third quarter due to the shipments of its new, lower cost and larger format panels to customers, which began in late August. Cinnamon additionally advised that the company reduced its total operating expenses to US$1.9 million in the Q3 over the US$2.2 million in Q2 2011.
Zep Solar revealed that it had added Sharp Solar, Hanwha SolarOne and Enphase Energy as new partners in its licensing program. The companies join a growing list of companies throughout the US, Germany, China, Japan, Australia and Israel. Zep Solar additionally revealed that the US Department of Energy (DOE) had given it a conditional award of US$919,626 for the formation of a partnership between the two organizations that will aim to reduce BOS costs.
