Events

IdeemaTec, the Wallerfing, Germany-based tracker manufacturer, announced at SPI that it has won new projects in Georgia and Tennessee following the opening of its first U.S. office in Charlotte, in July.

This week saw collaborations between nations and companies, some numbers on the U.S. energy storage market and progress in the carving up of SunEdison, as the solar industry prepares for the Solar Power International trade show.

Quality control campaign: PV panel manufacturers selling plug connectors as MC4 compatible is nothing unusual. Two operators who have installed such modules are now struggling with lost insurance coverage and fires.

Changing technology, pressure to cut costs, dizzying price slumps and a number of other issues make solar module quality control as relevant as ever. The danger that modules could fail outright remains slim, so module reliability is still decisive for the success of the investment, explains George Touloupas, Director of Technology and Quality at CEA, in preparation of the 4th pv magazine Quality roundtable at SPI.

Quality roundtable preparation: A case of compromised quality. An operator claims nearly 17% of the modules in his array displayed significant damage after three years. The EPC company concealed the damage from the investor until the warranty had expired. The module manufacturer responded slowly and only out of goodwill.

An installation company in the Midwest reports how blame was laid at their door for defective PV panels. The actual cause of the defects probably lie elsewhere.

The famed InterSolar North America solar trade show here in San Francisco wrapped up late last week with an increase in several indicator categories, most important among which was the 10 percent rise in exhibitor space by 550 companies, indicative of the strong manufacturer outlook for near term growth.

Battery storage, net metering, trackers and the integration of solar as part of the smart energy concept were big themes at this years’ Intersolar North America trade show.

At the Intersolar North America trade show we have launched a new site specifically for the American solar industry, with a focus on downstream markets and, of course, policy.

Conflict with entrenched interests was a major theme of the 2016 Intersolar North America opening session