SunLink Upgrades And Rebrands Solar Ground-Mount System
California-based SunLink Corp. says it has rebranded its Large-Scale GMS fixed-tilt ground-mount system for commercial- and utility-scale solar projects and added new enhancements for product flexibility. In addition to solving project challenges like irregular site boundaries, steep or uneven terrain, and last-minute module changes, the system, renamed GeoPro, can now overcome pile driving refusals quickly and withstand snow loads of up to 50 psf without increasing post cross sections, according to the company.
Colorado Energy Office And GRID Alternatives Launch Low Income Rural Shared Solar Projects
This week, the Colorado Energy Office and GRID Alternatives announced a pilot of five demonstration projects for 100% low income shared solar projects. Delta Montrose Electric Association, Gunnison County Electric Association, Holy Cross Energy, San Miguel Power Association and Yampa Valley Electric Association have volunteered to build low-income projects totaling 579 kW. Each project is designed to optimize the community solar model to reduce energy costs for the utilities’ highest need customers – those who spend more than 4% of income on utility bills – in Colorado’s rural communities.
SEIA Solar Newsletter | Jan. 26, 2016
Every week, The SEIA Solar Update includes top news stories covering the solar industry, major upcoming events, policy updates, and much more. This newsletter is open to SEIA Members and to the general public.
EnSync Energy Systems' Solar-Storage System Helps Hawaii Aquaculture Facility Operate Off Grid
An aquaponic nursery in Hawaii is using solar PV, battery storage and an energy management system to operate independently of the utility grid. EnSync Energy Systems says its energy management system has been operating continuously for four months, enabling Mari’s Garden to store power from its solar system and discharge it at a later time. Mari's Garden faces high energy consumption due to aquaponics on site that combine growing plants hydroponically with growing fish through aquaculture.
Borrego Solar Systems Doubled O&M Assets In 2015
Borrego Solar Systems Inc., a California-based solar power project designer, developer, installer, and operations and maintenance (O&M) provider, says that since expanding its O&M services to all owners of commercial- and utility-scale PV plants in early 2015, the company now has 265 MW of assets under contract. The current portfolio is more than double what Borrego Solar managed in 2014 and quadruple that of 2013. Prior to 2015, the company only offered its O&M services to PV system owners of the projects it designed and built.
SolarCity 'Gigafactory' In Buffalo Almost Ready
Soon after SolarCity acquired solar panel maker Silevo in the summer of 2014, it announced the construction of a 1.2-million-square-foot 'Solar Gigafactory' in Buffalo, New York. The Buffalo solar gigafactory aims to start producing solar cells in 2016, with a ramping up to 1 GW of annual capacity by 2017. If all goes well, the facility could eventually be expanded to 5 GW/year at some point. The solar cells produced there have a target price of around $0.50/watt, which would make them very competitive with other power sources.
SunPower, GRID Alternatives Help Bring Solar To Low-Income Families In Austin
About 80 Austin-based employee volunteers from global solar innovator, SunPower, brought solar energy to four low-income families in Austin’s Blackland Neighborhood. Working with national solar nonprofit Grid Alternatives over two days, the volunteers installed four rooftop solar systems totaling 13 kilowatts of generating capacity. The systems are expected to save each family electricity costs, and collectively reduce approximately 233 tons of greenhouse gas emissions over their expected 25-year life.
SEIA Solar Newsletter | Jan. 19, 2016
Every week, The SEIA Solar Update includes top news stories covering the solar industry, major upcoming events, policy updates, and much more. This newsletter is open to SEIA Members and to the general public.
SnapNrack Launches New Feature-Rich Website
SnapNrack launched its new website at SnapNrack.com. The website will provide the same great resources, tools and product information as before, but now with an innovative and modern look. Even more features have been added in an effort to always provide best in class tools, education and service to customers.
Sunrun Releases New Mobile App
Sunrun released its new app for iPhone and Android smart phones and tablets. The California solar installer released mySunrun as a new tool which integrates the power social media, along with analytics to give customers an engaging virtual experience. With mySunrun, customers can do many things. For starters, customers can check their solar electricity production on a weekly, monthly, or a yearly basis. This tool is especially handy if a client wants to check to see how much solar power they are producing at different periods of the year.