BIPV has remained a niche market in Europe for more than 10 years. According to trade group SolarPower Europe, over 200 BIPV products are available in Europe and future growth could be pegged to further legislation in the EU, such as the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
S’Tile has developed BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaic) solutions for all types of new buildings. The Linea module combines aesthetics and flexibility with very high power performance, enabling modules to easily fit with designer’s requests for installing modules on facade and roofs. The company is showcasing its products at Intersolar Europe 2019.
Leading US residential PV installer, Sunrun reported deployments of 86MW in the first quarter of 2019, a 27% year-over-year increase that was in stark contrast with former leading installer, Tesla that recently reported deployments of 47MW for the same quarter.
Tesla’s energy generation and storage business revenue declined further in the first quarter of 2019, with solar rooftop deployments hitting a new low of 47MW, a 36% quarter-on-quarter decline. In response, Tesla will be offering new customers in the US a US$99 upfront deposit before installing a solar system.
More than 240MW of feed-in tariff-accredited solar was installed in the UK in Q1 2019 as the country’s last remaining subsidy mechanism closed to new applicants.
US-headquartered high-efficiency solar panel manufacturer SunPower Corp recently held its ‘Capital Markets Day’ event that indicated a slow turnaround in its business fortunes would be a key development in 2019.
A key challenge for a company that has undergone several major restructurings in recent years has been the lack of profitability.
Hoymiles is unveiling its 4-in-1 microinverter, the HM-1200, which is the first designed with reactive power control for 4 solar panels. It still offers the same features as Hoymiles former released MI-1200, with wide DC input operating voltage range (16-60V) & low start-up voltage (22V only).
