Balance of Systems

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.

Failures in residential solar systems can be the bane of an installer, who is often paid merely to install the system, not necessarily to back the various component warranties.

SunLink has launched TechTrack Distributed, its distributed single-axis tracker, featuring dynamic design, site flexibility and total cost reduction.

U.S. tracker manufacturer NEXTracker has purchased software firm BrightBox Technologies in a move it says will augment its predictive modeling capabilities and expedite the commissioning process.

The company has contracted for over 20 MW of projects in Massachusetts and Vermont.

The world’s largest inverter maker says the move is “unavoidable”, and is maintaining its sales and service operations in California.

Elon Musk gave scarce information on developments at the world’s largest battery factory in Tesla’s Q2 results.

The microinverter maker has pursued price reduction to gain market share, but has not turned a profit since Q3 2015.

The court document from the dramatic initial ruling in the SolarWorld and Hemlock Semiconductor polysilicon dispute reveals that Hemlock was willing to negotiate amendments to the polysilicon Supply Agreements with SolarWorld subsidiary Deutsche Solar, if the German company assisted in resolving a dispute “between the US and China over the exchange of solar-industry products.”

The German PV group says it is optimistic that Hemlock will not succeed in actually enforcing any claims against it in Germany, arguing that the disputed silicon supply contract at the center of the legal dispute violates EU antitrust law.