Balance of Systems

Ciel & Terre has completed its fourth and largest system in the United States for a California municipal waterworks. The project is also one of four floating solar projects, totaling 5.3 MW, to be completed in the nation this summer.

The final order from the U.S. Trade Representative includes an interim tariff rate of 10% set to start on September 24.

The microinverter maker is shifting production to Mexico to avoid the pending Section 301 tariffs on inverters and other products from China.

Gibraltar Industries, owner of solar racking company RBI Solar, of Cincinnati, OH has acquired balance of system designer SolarBOS, of California.

The report found over 3,200 employees working at the factory at the end of 2017, and $3.7 billion in invested in the plant.

A report by Technavio suggests the global market for battery materials could grow 9% annually for the next four years. Analysts point to the increasing installation of storage systems with PV as a key driver. pv magazine has covered previous reports predicting significant growth in PV and storage systems.

The IQ8 will allow off grid solar power without the need for energy storage by instantly recognizing local load demands and meeting them with available solar-generated electricity.

While the microinverter maker is still the target of an aggressive short, Roth Capital Partners has reiterated its “buy” at $6.50 per share, describing the IQ8 as a “game changer”.

The deal gives SunPower $25 million in cash and 7.5 million shares in Enphase. Enphase also gains access to SunPower microinverter IP, and rights to SunPower’s Equinox AC modules line.

Several inverter makers could be hit by the Trump Administration’s move to increase tariffs on imports including inverters from China, but many are already shifting manufacturing to other locations.