ROUND UP: BrightSpot installs first LoadSpot system, Trina Solar carport, Dominion acquisition

October 21, 2016
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

BrightSpot installs first LoadSpot system at Florida Solar Energy Centre

BrightSpot Automation's LoadSpot panel durability testing system. Source: BrightSpot Automation

BrightSpot Automation has installed its first LoadSpot system to perform durability tests on modules at the Florida Solar Centre (FSEC).

The system works by examining the durability of solar panels after their time out in the field exposed to variable conditions such as wind and snow that apply pressure to the front and rear of the panels. The LoadSpot performs static and cyclic loading tests that are required for various panel certification tests. It is also the only commercially available mechanical durability tester that employs vacuum and air pressure to apply the loads.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The LoadSpot also allows for considerable time and effort savings, according to the company, when compared with conventional manual static testing.

Trina supplies 4MW carport for German airport

The array at Weeze Airport in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Source: Trina Solar/Gottfried Evers.

Trina Solar has supplied modules at a 4MW carport installation in Germany.

The array at Weeze Airport in North Rhine-Westphalia was installed by EEPro. It includes 66 individual carport structures using Trina’s Honey series modules.

“Weeze airport is now benefiting not only from the economic advantages of clean solar electricity but also of a new parking canopy that protects the vehicles,” said Gonzalo de la Viña, sales manager, Trina Solar.

Dominion acquires 60MWac solar development in North Carolina from SunEnergy1

Energy firm Dominion has acquired the development rights for a 60MWac solar plant in North Carolina.

The Summit Farms Solar facility in Currituck County is due to be commissioned in December this year. Dominion purchased the project from solar developer and EPC SunEnergy1, which developed the project.

The project currently has 25-year power purchase agreements with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston Medical Center and Post Office Square Redevelopment Corporation.

“We are pleased to partner with these three outstanding organizations to add more carbon-free generation to the electric grid,” said Paul Koonce, chief executive of Dominion Generation Group. “We will continue to seek similar opportunities helping large and small energy consumers alike reduce their carbon footprint.”

Dominion has a long-term plan to bring online at least 500MW of solar electric generating capacity in North Carolina and Virginia.

Additional reporting by Tom Kenning and John Parnell

16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

November 18, 2025
TOPCon solar modules show signs of accelerated degradation, which undermines the long warranties promised by many manufacturers, according to new findings from German researchers.
Premium
November 18, 2025
PV Talk: George Touloupas of Intertek CEA explains how the regulatory environment is ratcheting up for the solar supply chain.
November 17, 2025
Jakson Group has started Phase 1 construction of its 6GW integrated solar ingot, wafer, cell and module manufacturing facility at Maksi, Madhya Pradesh.
November 17, 2025
India’s race to 500GW is being slowed by critical grid bottlenecks, NTPC PMI’s Abhinav Jindal told PV Tech.
November 17, 2025
Saatvik Green Energy, through its subsidiary Saatvik Solar Industries, has secured solar PV module orders worth INR1.77 billion (US$19.9 million). 
November 17, 2025
US solar module manufacturer First Solar will build a new production facility in the state of South Carolina, which will bring its US nameplate manufacturing capacity to 17.7GW by 2027.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Lisbon, Portugal
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA