The Solar Edition

The Magazine for Renewable Energies ISSN 1861-2741 74714 www.sunwindenergy.com € 12.00 • International issue 4/2015 TheTHE solar SOLAR edi EDITIONTion

Inverters On the way to power plant standards

Heat transfer fluids Frost-proof on the roof and below ground

Photovoltaics in the U.S. Utility-scale PV: bedrock of demand MORE ENERGY absorptive and reflective solar surfaces: mirotherm®| mirosol® TS | eta plus® | MIRO-SUN®

EFFICIENCY. SOLAR. SURFACES. www.alanod-solar.com Editorial

Be wary of a woodland breeze Dr. Volker Buddensiek Editor-in-chief o you use the fragrance of the forest? ground coffee and throws the window wide [email protected] No, I don’t mean a Sunday walk in the open, extolling the virtues of having his new Dwoods, where you breathe in deeply, office way out in the middle of the woods – it’s free your mind of daily troubles – and sudden- time for you to decide it smells fishy instead! ly get exactly the creative ideas which had Oh, but how much more subtly the adver- been eluding you during the week. Neither do tising sector does things. We now have I mean the little fragrant tree hanging from Europe’s largest manufacturer of envelopes your rear-view mirror to hide the fact that the making seals with microcapsules, which can air-conditioning is broken. contain a variety of scents. When you open What I mean is a forest fragrance that you the envelope the fragrances are set free. An can send by post, and which – according to a initial and intensive waft awakens our inter- press release I recently received in my inbox – est, while a longer-lasting subliminal dose is supposed to make the reader receptive to steers our mood in the desired direction. So, green ideas. We’ve long known that fra- if you receive a letter and opening it reveals a grances can affect our moods and the deci- woody fragrance, it could be that someone is sions we make. Used car dealers thus use a trying to tap into your subconscious and get spray that creates the typical aroma of a new you to invest in renewable energy. car. They aim to make the car seem more But for how long can this go well? Not only valuable to the customer at an emotional may you suddenly realise that your secretary level than a pure assessment of knocking has started avidly surfing particular stock sounds from under the bonnet would achieve. market websites after opening the day’s post, The smell of a new car makes a driver a lot at some point you yourself may open a letter happier than the smell of driving over a from an energy company with a sausage on skunk. the cover and smelling of coal when you open It’s called scent marketing. It works for the it – taking you out to a summer’s evening car dealer, but may come a little too late for with a camp fire and grill. the skunk! And now this: a German scent re- But seriously: the transition to renewable searcher has developed a database system energy is a highly sensible, rational decision. which groups various fragrances with certain Ok, so it is not disputed that its development associations, product fields and target benefits from highly motivated and also emo- groups. His first suggestions in the above- tionally charged individuals – just as it bene- mentioned press release: the fragrance of fits from a public image convinced of the coffee can create the level of trust required to good cause. But please, not like this! With agree to the investment offer of a financial scent marketing from the field of used-car services provider, whilst forest freshness is salesmanship, the renewables sector is more supposed to increase interest in renewable likely to ruin its image than gain public energy. acceptance and support. So, if your tax advisor offers you a dead cert investment in new cylindrical PV modules, provides you with a lovely cup of hot freshly

Solar Edition 3 Table of contentS

Market overview inverters: On the way to power plant standards Photo: Alanod Photo:

The technical gap between PV systems and conventional power plants has been closed. That is not least thanks to the performance capabilities of the latest utility-scale inverters, which in the meantime offer all the functionalities necessary to handle high power outputs.

Page 50

Absorber coatings: SMA Photo: Black instead of Blue?

THE MAGAZINE for Renewable Energies ISSN 1861-2741 74714 www.sunwindenergy.com € 12.00 Blue PVD absorber coatings have prevailed so far on • International issue collectors. Given the domination of just one manufacturer, new players are developing alternatives. Black coatings could once again gain in importance.

Page 32

4/2015

TheTHE solar SOLAR edi EDITIONTion

INVERTERS Focus: Solar power in On the way to power North and Latin America plant standards HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS This edition focuses on the solar energy markets in North Frost-proof on the roof and below ground and Latin America. PV and solar thermal in the U.S. enjoy great support among the American public. While there was implemented a revised incentive programme for solar thermal installations in New York State, PV experts still fight for an extension of the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). PHOTOVOLTAICS IN THE U.S. Unlike New York, Chile has to wait for a solar thermal support programme to be passed since the previous ended in 2013. PV markets in Latin America, however, are Utility-scale PV: experiencing sky-rocketing growth rates. Pages 10 to 25 bedrock of demand Photo: ArrayTechnologies

4 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015

Heat transfer fluids: Frost-proof on the roof and below ground

Heat transfer fluids protect systems from frost and corrosion – in both solar thermal and geothermal. The requirements are very different, however.

Page 36 Photo: Aqua Concept Aqua Photo:

Solar farms: Tracker technologies and mounting methods

When it comes to technology for solar farms, horizontal trackers are the big thing these days. As a cost-effective material for substructures, steel is still gaining ground. Other trends include using state-of-the-art technology and intelligent solutions in mounting technology, such as coatings. Page 58 Photo: Hill & Smith & Hill Photo:

Review 22 PV in Latin America: 50 Market overview: 6 Pictorial Growth markets with big plans for expansion On the way to power plant standards 8 Facts & Figures 57 Yield optimisation: Solar thermal Increasing performance and detecting errors Focus north america 26 Review Intersolar Europe: 58 Solar farms: 10 Solar Power International: Only for the inner circle Tracker technologies and mounting methods The right place at the right time 32 Absorber coatings: 64 Solar skyscrapers: Black instead of blue? 12 Interview with Rhone Resch, SEIA: High-rises, the new symbols of (solar) power 36 Heat transfer fluids: “9 out of 10 Americans support solar” 67 U.S. utility-scale PV: Frost-proof on the roof and belowe ground 14 Solar thermal in New York State: Record Pipeline A significant role 44 Mountain restaurant: 70 U.S. residential solar: 16 Certification in North America: Certificates, A frugal place to unwind Riding the wave of success certification and licensure in the U.S. 18 Financing in North America: Photovoltaics New ideas on solar financing in the U.S. 46 Intersolar Europe: Department “A very exciting time” 74 International Events Focus Latin america 48 Cell and module technology: Modules are 76 Directory 20 Solar thermal in Chile: more than just mass-produced goods 82 Preview and imprint Demand kept on hold

Solar Edition 5 Review pictorial PIC torial

6 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 A cell stack for a cell block

Solar photovoltaics is going strong in the U.S. Both utility-scale and residential PV have grown to sources of energy production not to be neglected anymore. The next big thing to come for PV applications is storage technology increasing the share of PV self-consumption and minimising the individual electricity bill. This battery storage system shown here is integral to the solar panel project on the roof of the main cellhouse building at the prison on Alcatraz Island. Photo: Byron Stafford/NREL

Solar Edition 7 Review facts & figures

Analysts and market researchers produce a vast number of studies on how the different sectors of renewable energies have developed both globally or in selected countries. They facts& send out their own projections on how markets for all kinds of renewable energies are set to develop. Facts and figures come into our mailbox, in an endless stream, difficult to overview. SUN & WIND ENERGY has selected several interesting ones and presents you our figures new Facts & Figures section.

Ups and downs in PV markets Growth of global solar installations has been these numbers Mercom Capital analysts volume of solar installations. Consequently revised to 28 % in 2015 (Y-O-Y growth) in the forecast 1.3 GW for Germany in 2015. Some there’s discussion to include commercial latest forecast of Mercom Capital Group. Of people at Intersolar Europe in Munich even rooftop installations into the pool of projects 57.4 GW annual global PV installations about predicted installations as low as 1 GW of new to be licensed in tenders. A revision of the 60 % will be attributed to China, Japan and solar installations. If this comes true German tendering process is scheduled for October the U.S. This prediction is based on (among PV installations will fall short of 50 % below 2015 resulting in a new legal regulation until others) the announcement of China’s National the government’s “installation corridor” as May next year, coming into force by the end Energy Administration to raise its 2015 instal- defined in the national EEG for 2015. of 2016. lation target from 15 GW to 17.8 GW, further The first round of tenders for large ground- A spokesperson of the German Solar growth in Japan (10 GW against 9.5 GW in mounted solar installations in Germany Association (BSW Solar) expects installations 2014) and 9 GW in the U.S., driven by compa- resulted in average generation costs of in 2016 to be the same level as 2015 and stat- nies rushing to blank their project pipeline be- 9.17 €-ct/kWh, i.e. higher than the fixed feed- ed that any predictions beyond 2016 could fore a Federal Tax Credit expiration in 2016. in tariff the tender process is about to replace only be “a guess” depending on the market A continued downward trend in contrast (9.02 €-ct/kWh). Nevertheless, the German mechanisms chosen by the government. is reported from former world leader Germany government is determined to accept such With all uncertainties looming on the hori- with less than 100 MW capacity installed for higher generation cost for solar power as long zon he concluded somewhat defeatist: “We the third month in a row in April. Based on as it gains an effective tool to limit the overall are the guinea pigs.”

Downward pressure on overall returns due to market consolidation A nearly 80 % drop in project development is expected in the U.S. between 2016 and 2017 in anticipation of the potential reversion of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), according to the latest Mercatus Distributed Energy Insight Report. One of the most prominent trends to emerge in the report is a decrease in IRR for solar projects seeking financing throughout 2014. This indicates that investors are eager to fill the pipeline, but growing competition means financing projects with lower returns. Despite continuing cost reductions in solar, IRR continues to decline as the market is increasingly defined by consolidation and low-cost capital financing mechanisms.

Data source: www.gomercatus.com

Effects of climate change on electricity production Electricity production from thermal power plants influence climate basin, and the central southwestern part, the river Rhine basin with change. Now, a group of scientists have studied reverse effects: its tributary rivers Neckar and Main. For the scenario period 2031– How will climate change affect electricity production in Germany? 2060, thermal power plants without cooling tower will suffer a total Water shortages and environmental regulations, e.g. regarding stand still of 22 days per year in these regions; thermal power water temperature, are affecting the production of thermal power plants with cooling tower 2.2 days per year respectively. Compared plants. For most rivers in Germany temperature thresholds of 23 °C to the reference period, this is a doubling (without cooling tower) (without cooling tower) and 26 °C (with cooling tower) are estimat- and an increase by a factor of three (with cooling tower). The nega- ed. Reaching these thresholds, the production must be reduced tive effects for thermal power plants can only be reduced signifi- gradually and eventually be stopped. Regions with the most severe cantly by replacing old once-through cooling systems by closed- effects are found in the central northwestern part, the river Weser circuit cooling systems. Data source: Meteorologische Zeitschrift 24(2): 173-188

8 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 ISGlobal2015_Sun Wind Energy_210x297_Layout 1 15.06.15 15:19 Seite 1

DISCOVER THE WORLD OF INTERSOLAR

Discover the World’s Leading Exhibition Series for the Solar Industry www.intersolarglobal.com

Solar Edition 9 Review Solar Power International The right place at the right time Sunny State for solar

California’s nickname fits like a glove to the current status of the solar industry. With more than 3,500 MW installed in 2014 (60 % of the U.S. total), over 10 GW of cumulative capacity, 55,000 solar workers and more than 1,900 solar companies, California itself repre- sents almost half of the whole U.S. Solar Industry with barely a 12 % of the countries’ population. It is no wonder that SPI organisers had decided to choose the Anaheim Convention Center (1 hour’s drive from Los Angeles) for this year’s event. Besides, the exhibition and conference venue completed last October a 2.4 W rooftop photovoltaic plant covering more than 100,000 m2 of space above the exhibition halls. After 13 years of steady growth Solar Power International Beyond the traditional exhibition that will take place during four days the conference also offers a (SPI) has become a real must-attend event for anybody wide range of more than 100 educational, posters and workshop activities. According to Gary Thuro, Vice willing to be in the U.S. solar industry’s limelight. Its 2015 President of Marketing and New Markets Development edition expects to host more than 600 exhibitors and at Solar Energy Trade Shows, “we have expanded our educational reach and have a track solely designated 15,000 attendees. Some novelties are expected, such as to storage as well as additional sessions related to technology. Another interesting news for this year are new training labs and a running event. the hands-on training labs where visitors can hear t is still a teenager, however on its 13th birthday from leading solar providers (such as Enphase or Solar Power International (SPI) can proudly say SunEdison) about practical solar solutions”. Ithat it has successfully reached its full maturity. A quick glance at the posters shows some The event, created back in 2003 by the two main U.S. stimulating topics such as “Approaching the Horizon: solar sector associations (Solar Energy Industries the Solar Industry in 2017 and Beyond” by Eric Scheier, Association (SEIA) and the Solar Energy Power Portfolio Analyst of Sol Systems, who will analyse what Association SEPA), expects to host this year more than project economics will remain after the potential 600 solar industry exhibitors and over 15,000 visitors Investment Tax Credit (ITC) step-down in 2017. Some from 75 different countries between the 14th and 17th other themes such as new funding opportunities for September in Anaheim (CA). residential solar will be addressed by Stephane Compared to last year’s event in Las Vegas, the Dufrenne, President of Upsolar America, who will talk growth seems to have stabilized with a slight increase about “Residential Loan Programs: Creating New in exhibitor numbers (15,000 visitors and 583 exhibi- Opportunities for Homeowners and Installers”. tors in 2014). According to these preliminary figures On the technical side some trending topics such as SPI is being consecrated as the U.S. Solar event with storage solutions and hybrid solar systems will be ad- the highest number of exhibitors (Intersolar USA ex- dressed. One subject that attracted attention of the pects 550 exhibitors in July in San Francisco (after undersigned was “Mounting Solar Panels with press date of the issue) but not the one with the high- Structural Silicone Adhesives“ by John Samuels, PhD est number of visitors (Intersolar expects 27,000 visi- from Brittmore Group. The poster will focus on how sil- tors to both conference and exhibition). Currently SPI icone adhesives can help reduce costs by attaching is ranked number 109 in the Top Largest 250 U.S. glass, metal or other PV module materials to the sup- Trade Shows according to the magazine Trade Show porting structure. This technique could help reduce News Network. the needs of brackets, clips and screws, while reducing Obviously the reasons for this continuous material and installation cost. progression are varied but in the end it comes down to The educational sessions will be complemented The Anaheim Convention a single one: the U.S. PV Market is still thriving. Last with more than 20 specific workshops and training Center will be home of the 13th year the country’s PV sector experienced a 34 % labs (some of them in Spanish language) with juicy Solar Power International in growth. According to SEIA, the country expects to add subjects such as “Economics of PV: Making the September. some 8 GW in 2015 and reach a cumulative 28 GW by Financial Case for Commercial & Residential PV” by Photo: Visit Anaheim the end of this year. Andy Black, CEO of OnGrid Solar, or “Turning Solar into

10 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 a Utility-Friendly Resource” which will be imparted by fact, GRID Alternatives will also organise a Job-Career SEPA. This workshop will address one of SEPA’s core fair at SPI, on Tuesday 15th, in order to offer a dedicated activities: how to bring utilities, technology vendors space for growing employers to connect with hundreds and researchers together to explore the effective of job seekers. Bring your CV just in case. integration of solar power into the electric grid. The presence of both SEPA and SEIA in this event is very No pain, no gain important especially for the educational side, as Thuro declares: “Unlike other solar conferences, all of the In general terms SPI offers a broad and complete offer proceeds from the event go right back into the indus- of business, education and leisure. In a moment when try through each association’s – SEIA and SEPA – the U.S. market is still growing steadily and despite research and education initiatives as well as their the medium term shadows expected by the end of the advocacy efforts.” ITC tax incentives by 2017, it makes sense to attend the Anaheim venue. Maybe the only objection one The most healthy networking could introduce here has to do with the overall fees of event: running! the event, which can be a bit hefty, and not for all pockets. Depending on the date of registration, the Nevertheless there’s more to life than work. The fees start at US$ 100 for a one-day exhibition pass and exhibition complements itself with a good dose of reach up to US$ 1,165 for the full conference and leisure and networking events. Probably the most exhibitor pass. Without the full pass many of the healthy networking event will be the Run with SOLar events have to be paid separately. In contrast, other 5K race. For the first time in SPI’s history this race will events such as Intersolar US have a price range take place at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday 15th and will join between US$ 50 and 150. If you add hotel and travel partners, clients, and competitors alike in a expenses to the entrance fees it may be a bit of a strain competition where you may test the shape state of in the wallet unless you are an affluent PVentrepreneur your peers. The event is hosted and promoted by Sol or your company pays for your tickets. Systems, a solar energy finance and investment firm. Anyhow no pain, no gain and, definitely, the The funds from registration (starting from US$ 25) and potential gains to be achieved in terms of knowledge, donations will directly benefit the work of the non- contacts, business opportunities (and even fun) in the profits Solar Foundation and GRID Alternatives which four days of next SPI’s event are no small potatoes work in education and training and making solar power whatsoever. accessible to low-income communities respectively. In Alejandro Diego Rosell

Solutions for the precise measurement of solar radiation

Accurately measuring solar radiation is the key to ﬁnding optimal locations, helping investment decisions, maximising operating eﬃciency, scheduling maintenance, monitoring performance and improving technology in solar energy, both PV and CSP.

As the experts, we develop high quality instruments for solar radiation measurements such as the unique SMP Series of Smart Pyranometers. With enhanced performance by digital processing, RS-485 with MODBUS® protocol, ampliﬁed analogue output and extremely low power consumption they are very ﬂexible and easy to interface.

We welcome you to visit us at EU PVSEC, Intersolar South America or Solar Power International.

www.kippzonen.com

TheSolar Edition Netherlands • France • United States of America • Singapore11 Review Marekts in North America “9 out of 10 Americans support solar” Though the costs of PV have gone down, an extension of Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is still necessary, Rhone Resch, CEO and President of Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) points out.

S&WE: In Europe, we have seen very controversial important. The ITC provides market certainty on a Rhone Resch public debates about photovoltaics within the last federal level, encouraging companies to make long- years, especially the costs of subsidies. How big is term investments that drive competition and techno- CEO and President of the public support in the U.S. for solar? logical innovation, while lowering further the costs SEIA: “The U.S. solar Rhone Resch: 9 out of 10 Americans support solar, for consumers and spurring the economy. Hence we industry employs more according to recent polls. The latest Gallup poll – fight for an ITC extension of at least 5 years until than tech giants Google, taken in March 2015 – shows solar as the No.1 ener- 2022. Otherwise, we see a harsh market slump in Apple and Facebook gy choice among a large majority of Americans. Solar 2017, especially for utility-scale installations. combined.” also stood out with 91 % of respondents saying the Photo: SEIA U.S. should place more emphasis, or the same em- S&WE: Are the realistic chances for an ITC extension? phasis, on solar development in the future. In another Resch: We have an uphill fight but believe we can get poll conducted in April 2015 by Zogby Analytics, the job done, that Congress will agree on that. The 74 % of Americans polled favoured continuing federal “New Energy for America Act” would extend Section tax incentives, such as the Solar Investment Tax 25D of the federal tax code for residential energy Credit (ITC), that support the growth of the solar and efficient property, as well as the Section 48 commer- wind industries, including 82 % of Democrats, 67 % cial ITC, for an additional 5 years. We applaud Rep. of Republicans and 72 % of Independents. Mike Thompson, a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, for this proposal. It’s an im- S&WE: How important are incentives like the ITC? portant “bridge to the future,” which will benefit our Resch: Today the U.S. solar industry employs economy, environment and national security. 174,000 Americans, more than tech giants Google, Apple and Facebook combined – with 150,000 of S&WE: What about the trade case with China? those jobs added since the passage of the ITC. This Resch: The trade case is pretty much over and the remarkable growth is due, in large part, to smart and market has adjusted without any downturn in effective public policies, such as the ITC, Net Energy demand, while prices have held steady. Our biggest Metering and Renewable Energy Standards. The ITC challenge now is to get the ITC extended. has helped solar become one of the fastest-growing industries in America, pumping US$ 18 billion into S&WE: What opportunities do storage, net integra- the U.S. economy in 2014 alone – and nearly tion and smart grids offer for distributed solar? US$ 70 billion since the ITC was passed in 2006. Resch: That will be the next big step for solar. It will Solar has been added to 570,000 homes since pas- create new business models. Whereas distributed sage of the ITC, with the average price of an installed solar has historically been primarily a single offering residential system dropping by more than 50 % and to customers, solar developers and installers are utility-scale prices plummeting by more than 65 %. increasingly seeking opportunities to combine solar with other technologies and services: energy S&WE: Is there still a need for the ITC, since the costs storage, load control, demand response, electric have gone down so significantly? Do you support its vehicle charging. The technology convergence is still planned phasing out by the end of 2016? in its infancy and the vast majority of solar systems Resch: Though the costs have gone down, we still are installed without these ancillary offerings. But as need some more years to reach grid parity in all elec- adjacent technologies become more cost-effective, tricity markets. Therefore, the industry and home- and as electricity rates evolve, we expect to see owners still need the ITC for a while. Moreover, most further convergence and more integrated offerings of the state incentive programs have been already for customers. phasing out, so a federal incentive is even more The interview was conducted by Hans-Christoph Neidlein.

12 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 There’s a New Direction in AGM C-MAX Introducing Trojan’s Reliant™ AGM with C-Max Technology™, an all-encompassing portfolio of U.S. made, true deep-cycle, non-spillable batteries for a wide range of applications. Take a step in a new direction — Reliant AGM TECHNOLOGY 800.423.6569 / +1 562-236-3000 / trojanbattery.com

Solar Edition 13 Review Solar Thermal in New York state

A Significant Role

Solar thermal systems in New York City do not only profit from a clear sky but also from the new incentive programme, which started in March in New York State. Photo: Pixabay/PredragKezic

A revised incentive programme in But solar thermal still has its supporters. New York State Energy Research and Development New York State has increased the Authority (NYSERDA) has updated its incentive number of installations of solar programme for solar hot water systems in March of this year. The programme is designed to provide thermal systems that replace fossil financial assistance to any project whose use of solar energy to heat water will displace conventional fuels fuels and electricity. Now, the including heating oil, natural gas, propane and wood, programme’s financial resources are as well as projects that displace electricity. The latest incentive expands upon an earlier programme that already nearly exhausted. provided incentives only for those systems that used solar to replace electricity as an energy source. The programme is offering incentives of up to US$ 6,000 dvances in PV technology, such as increased for residential installations, and up to US$ 150,000 efficiency and reduced cost, have some peo for commercial, or non-residential applications. Aple questioning whether solar thermal sys tems even make sense. The advent of highly efficient, Funds nearly exhausted electric heat pumps, when combined with solar PV, now provide a hot water alternative to solar thermal Response to the programme has been robust. So that is more cost effective, at least in the residential much so that the funds for the programme extension, market. Martin Holladay, a Senior Editor at the web which were derived from the Regional Greenhouse site GreenBuildingAdvisor.com posted an article in Gas Initiative (RGGI), have already been exhausted. December 2014 entitled “Solar Thermal is Really, However, there are still funds available for those Really Dead.” He goes through several cost compari projects replacing electric systems. NYSERDA has sons that show a PV-based system to be more econo proposed a Clean Energy Fund to the state Public mical in most cases, especially when a heat pump Service Commission that will provide support for water heater is used, despite the higher heater cost. renewables regardless of what type of fuel is being Depending on the assumptions used, and without replaced and they expect a decision on that soon. looking at operating costs or incentives, solar heat According to Dayle Zatlin, Assistant Director of pump-based systems range from 23-50 % less Communications at NYSERDA, some 213 applications expensive to install. have been received so far this year. This is roughly

14 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 equivalent to the number received for the full year in each of the preceding years since the programme be gan: 2014 (217), 2013 (232), 2012 (178), and 2011 (214). The applications were evenly distributed between residential (49 %) and non-residential (51 %). The 121 projects completed so far this year, al so compare favorably with the average of 156 com R pleted in each of the previous program years. Clearly, the availability of these incentives changes Holladay’s PRO calculus. Even in Holladay’s most PV-friendly case, the NYSERDA incentive would potentially drop the price tag for a solar thermal system to beat out the price for the PV + conventional hot water heater system, requir ing 1.17 kW by 44.7 %, and the PV + heat pump water heater system, requiring 0.57 kW, by 18.2 %. Of course solar PV has incentives as well, and those will vary by state. Shawn Lessord of Renewable Rochester, a solar PV installer in Rochester, NY, says that for the most part, installing PV will be more cost effective, though solar thermal for hot water intensive applications can make sense, especially where roof space is limited, such as in a car wash, since solar thermal is more energy intensive. Focus on commercial systems

That opinion was shared by A.J. Heiligman, the Founder and President of Alternative Carbon Energy Solutions (A.C.E.S), also of Rochester, NY. His compa ny installs both solar thermal and PV systems as well as geothermal. He said that they were focusing their efforts on commercial installations where they were experiencing significant growth. With a projected 30 % increase in business they are expecting to be hiring 2 to 3 additional workers in the near future. Their primary customers are dairy farms, laundry fa cilities, and car washes. The key factor, said Heiligman, was the “substantial need for hot water on a year-round basis.” These customers, he said, were seeing paybacks in less than five years. That’s why the biggest opportunity for solar ther mal seems to be in the commercial space. NYSERDA’s incentives have allowed Bavarian Manor Inn and Restaurant, in Purling, NY, with its 18 guest rooms and restaurant to install solar hot water. The site pre viously used an electric water heater, to heat approx imately 3,800 liters per day. The solar thermal project will use 11 solar collectors (evacuated tubes) to pro vide about 67 % of their domestic hot water, or 33,052 kWh per year. At 12 US$-ct/kWh, that is roughly US$ 4,000 in annual savings. Syracuse University has installed forty separate, identical installations, each consisting of six solar collectors to provide 636 liters of hot water for show ers in student housing units. Each system produces 7,508 kWh per year, offsetting about 59 % of the site’s hot water needs. Through these incentives, NYSERDA has opened up another path to solar. While PV and heat pumps might have the upper hand for residential use, there are plenty of commercial operations that will benefit from solar thermal. RP Siegel

Solar Edition 15 Review Certification in North America Certificates, certification and licensure in the U.S. In the United States there are differences between certificates, certification and licensure. Certificates are credentials one receives typically with no continuing education credits requirements. Certification typically has a requirement of continuing education. And finally, a license allows one to practice the trade.

Both employees and owners orkers are entering the solar industry at a • A safety certificate requirement for construction of a photovoltaic installation number of entry points. Specifically, entry- is different from a certification. benefit from certified labour Wlevel positions are in demand and many • A person who is certified or has a certificate skills and experience people are transitioning from other careers into the may work with someone who is licensed. Photo: Dennis Schroeder/NREL solar photovoltaics industry. As more PV systems are For example, should you have an engineering installed, the demand for operations and maintenance degree, to practice engineering you would require a (O&M) is growing as well. professional engineering license. In California, “all businesses or individuals who construct or alter, or Articulating a career pathway offer to construct or alter, any building, highway, road, parking facility, railroad, excavation, or other In accordance with the National Fire Protection Asso- structure” must be licensed. ciation’s National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) used in There are approximately 1000 active solar the U.S., the definition of a qualified person is “one contractor licenses issued in California. This is double who has skills and knowledge related to the the figure recorded in 2008. With the largest number construction and operation of the electrical equipment of solar installations, California has a special contrac- and installation and has received safety training to tor’s license in solar. There are classifications autho avoid the hazards involved.” rised to install solar, but the qualifier may consider In the U.S. the career pathways would typically be additional specialised training – certificates and certificates, certification after 2 years, and licensure certification – to become proficient. after 4 years of practical experience, and then addi- Certification organisations are trade-based and tional certifications and certificates, after a contrac- have yet to combine both the university-level tor’s license and then expert level credentials after theoretical knowledge and practical skills in an entry 5 years of contracting. level certificate. Each state may have different licensing re The makeup of entry-level people are changing in quirements which typically include an examination. the US and a demand for internationally recognised However, some states have reciprocity. To most people certificates with practical knowledge, including it is not clear what certificates, certification and licens- industry standard practices, is growing in the U.S. ing are, and what they are not and how they differ: Martin E. Herzfeld • A license is certification, typically for the

license qualifier only. The author is lecturer at the European Energy Centre (EEC), an • A license is required to practice within those independent professional body that trains about 5000 individuals states requiring a license. every year in over 300 training courses across Europe. Courses leading to the internationally recognised Galileo Master Certificate • The requirements may include building codes, (GMC) are delivered across 21 European universities. All individuals guidelines, and safety. who succeed in gaining the GMC are recognised as having both the • A certificate or certification alone cannot theoretical and practical skills to be a quality technician. To learn more about Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency allow a person to practice. through training courses visit www.EUenergycentre.org.

16 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 SPI-BE(210x297mm).pdf 1 6/26/15 3:30 PM B USINESS NERGIZED E SPI is Business Energized. Make your mark this September at the largest and fastest growing solar trade show in the U.S. What will you BE at SPI?

  Strategic and build relationships Influential

  ??? Collaborative and share ideas

Share with us what you want to BE at SPI online using #OnlyatSPI for your chance to win an Apple iPad and other great prizes!

BE ______. #OnlyatSPI.

Learn more at SolarPowerInternational.com/OnlyatSPI

September 14 - 17 Anaheim, CA

Contest eligibility and terms and conditions can be found online at solarpowerinternational.com/onlyatspi. All entrants hereby agree to the terms and conditions of the contest. All winners must be present at Solar Power International, September 14-17,in Anaheim, CA. Solar Edition 17 Review Financing in North America New ideas on solar finance emerge in the U.S.

decline from 30 % to 10 % for commercial and third- party owned systems and will be completely terminated for directly-owned residential systems. “We think [the solar industry] can do it, but going from 30 % to 10 % is a little bit of a cliff,” said Mary Rottman, President of the Solar Energy Finance Association (SEFA). SEFA was created in 2013 speci fically to accelerate the “financial acumen” of the solar industry, order to access capital markets and expand financing options. The idea is to tap into in vestment that has been traditionally unavailable to renewable energy project finance: pension funds, in surance companies, mutual funds, and private wealth accounts. These hold the majority of approximately US$ 100 trillion in global investment assets. “The solar market is evolving, and every [company] is a bit unique,” Rottman said. But capital markets need to see consistency, standards in con tracts and practices. One of SEFA’s key activities has therefore been to produce standardised financing contracts to reduce the time and complexity of evalu ating projects, lower transaction costs in the solar development process, and improve transparency to the consumer. Standardisation will also allow for the pooling of the associated cash flows from solar PV SEFA President Mary assets for sale, known as “securitisation” in capital Rottman: “We are Government and industry-led markets, which could expand financing options. working to make sure all initiatives in the United States aim Yet securitisation does carry risks. Mortgage- players understand the backed securities based on pools of loans to U.S. risks and rewards, and to make it easier for the solar households are considered to have kicked off the use best practices.” 2008-2009 crisis after the housing bubble popped Photo: SEFA industry to access capital markets and defaults on mortgages increased. But according as a key way to continue growing to Rottman, who has 30 years’ experience in asset- backed securities, mistakes of the past are unlikely to despite upcoming drops in be repeated for solar, and they also do not mean the idea of securitisation in itself is to blame. “There are incentives. The initiative is also bad practices and bad players in any industry … We being brought to China and could are working to make sure all players understand the risks and rewards, and use best practices,” she have global relevance. added. SEFA has created a “Consumer Best Practices Checklist”, focused on consumer education and reg he solar photovoltaic industry has been ulatory guidelines. It offers guidance to consumers growing at a rapid pace in the United States: who are thinking about adding a solar system to their T over 40 % annually on average since 2007, home and assists industry professionals in complying according to the U.S. Energy Department’s National with regulations. Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The Obama ad Now NREL is also bringing these concepts to ministration has set targets for 2020, but there is sig China – including documentation standardisation, nificant uncertainty on what might happen after data availability, and consistency in asset deploy 2016. The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a key incentive ment and operations and maintenance. According to for solar, which reduces federal income taxes for qua Rottman, this also has very interesting implications lified tax-paying owners based on capital investment for Europe and the rest of the world: “Solar as an in renewable energy projects. The amount of expen asset class can become universal.” diture that can be included in the credit system will Germana Canzi

18 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 „ SUN & WIND ENERGY Solar Edition 05/2015 focusing on the 2 most promising

European solar markets at present THE SOLAR EDITION

„ the UK – currently being the only solar PV market in Europe with a strong and continuous growth

„ France – about to gain momentum with its new renewable energy policy passed August 2014

„ Special insert with the most relevant texts of Solar Edition 05/2015 additionally translated into French and included in the circulation distributed in France

Present your company in this environment by advertising in this issue

Publication date: September 9th, 2015; Booking deadline: August 10th, 2015

For more information or an oﬀ er contact: Stefanie Schwarz-Eickmeyer at +49 521 595 575 or [email protected] Solar Edition 19 review Solar Thermal in Chile Demand kept on hold

Chile is home of the largest solar thermal plant in the world. However, at the moment the sector is not doing well. The picture shows Chile‘s then President Sebastian Pinera Echenique during the opening of a thermal energy plant in Antofagasta in 2013. Photo: dpa picture alliance

A support programme for solar thermal systems that In August 2009, the Chilean government passed law No. 20,365 Establece Franquicia Tributaria ended in 2013 revealed the large potential of the Chilean Respecto de Sistemas Solares Térmicos. It allowed solar thermal market. Since then the industry has been construction companies to set up to 100 % of the purchasing costs of solar thermal systems against their waiting for a long-announced revision of the legislation income for tax purposes. The support applied to systems that covered at least 30 % of the hot water to be passed. needs of a building. The tax deduction rate was based or several years Chile was the solar thermal on the value of the building, which in Chile is deter- sector’s bright star in South America. The mar- mined using the Unidades de Fomento (UF), an F ket flourished after the government introduced inflation-adjusted unit. On 1st October 2009 one UF a national tax rebate programme for solar thermal was equivalent to around 20,830 Chilean pesos systems in 2009. But this support scheme ended in (approx. € 29.30). For buildings that cost up to 2013, with predictable results. The industry is now 2,000 UF, companies could deduct 100 % of the val- hoping that Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile ue of the solar thermal installation. They could claim since March 2014, will keep her campaign promise 40 % for buildings valued between 2,000 and and revitalise the market. 3,000 UF. And for buildings valued at up to 4,500 UF, Climate change started becoming an issue in up to 20 % of the costs of the solar thermal system Chile in the middle of the last decade. This was mainly could be deducted. due to the government holding talks with the The law expired on 31st December 2013, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and effect on the market was immediate. For example, THC Development (OECD), beginning in 2007. In 2010, Solar, a Chilean manufacturer of flat collectors, ceased Chile became the first South-American country to join production in 2014 due to the lack of demand. that club of nations. As part of the accession talks, the country undertook to tackle climate change and Hoping for government action announced ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. Another contributory factor in Chile is that the The election campaign of the current President economy is stable and growing, causing a rapid ex- Bachelet rekindled hopes. Climate change was one pansion in the demand for energy. In addition, the of her campaign issues, and she expressed her in- country has one of the highest insolation rates on the tention to improve and reintroduce law 20,365. planet. This all makes it a very attractive candidate for Adding grist to the mill, in May 2014 her Energy the use of solar energy. Minister Máximo Pacheco presented the Energy

20 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Agenda 2014–2018, which his team had drawn up after talks with some 200 market participants. The agenda’s aim is to diversify the energy matrix and to reduce the cost of energy imports. One way to achieve this is by developing the use of solar energy. A draft amendment to law 20,365 was completed by the end of September last year. It was supposed to come into force on 1st January 2015 and run until 2019. But by June 2015 it was still not enacted because the Chilean senate had yet to agree to it. The draft law includes new regulations for tax deductions on new homes, benefitting the constructors of buildings valued between 1,000 and 4,000 UF. A total of US$ 45 million has been earmarked. Improvements to the legislation are also planned for subsidised housing. Developers and constructors of social housing projects will be able to apply for a direct subsidy, although its level has not yet been set. The amendment also introduces quality requirements. Installation companies will be obliged to sign an operation and maintenance contract over a period of five years. Importers waiting on legislation

It is not just Chilean installers and manufacturers who are waiting for the law to finally be passed. For- eign companies are also present in Chile, like the Turkish manufacturer of solar and hybrid collectors and storage tanks Solimpeks. Two Chilean partners sell its products as OEM manufacturers, while a third sells them under the Solimpeks brand name. Around half of the systems are thermosiphon systems installed in residential buildings; the rest are forced systems for larger projects such as social housing. At the moment Yusuf Akay, Regional Sales Manager at Solimpeks, is hoping that a contract for hybrid collectors at a large copper mine will go through. Such contracts are, of course, highly sought-after. The Danish collector producer Sunmark already has one under its belt: a process heat plant with a collector surface area of 39,300 m² has been operating at the Gaby copper mine south of Calamara since June 2013. The heat from the Sunmark collectors is used in the final production step: the electrolytic refining of the copper in an acid bath. Apart from mines, large systems are only installed in hotels, industrial buildings and social housing at the moment – though on a significantly smaller scale. Termicol, a Spanish collector maker, has been distributing its products in Chile for around four years. It mainly sells systems for residential buildings and hospitals. According to Jacobo Romero, Export Manager at Termicol, Chile is an interesting market because the economy is very strong and the market is open. “It is a good market for foreign companies as it is easy to import.” And if the Senate finally approves the law and demand picks up again, many other collector manufacturers will certainly be drawn to Chile. Ina Röpcke

Solar Edition 21 review PV in Latin America Growth markets with big plans for expansion

SunEdison has already built a power plant in the Atacama Desert in Chile. A large-scale project with an output of 81.7 MW in Honduras is currently being planned. Photo: SunEdison

Recently, the market research company GTM Research photovoltaics. Nevertheless, this year could be better if the Brazilian Development Bank provides cheaper presented surprising figures on Central and South capital and there are tax breaks as well as more America: last year, solar energy systems with a total financial resources for decentralised systems,” James said. capacity of 625 MW were installed. This is equivalent to In its current ‘Latin America PV Playbook’, GTM is expecting Honduras to install photovoltaic systems a growth rate of 370 % compared to the previous year. with an overall capacity of 460 MW during the current Numerous international companies are involved in major year. This would make the country the second largest PV market in Latin America. Chile will remain the mar- projects, and some are providing production technology ket leader with 1 GW of new installations expected in 2015, relegating Mexico to third place. “Despite all or even building their own production facilities. the risks, there are currently photovoltaic power plants with an overall capacity of 349 MW under construction in Honduras. The country is Latin America’s dam James, solar analyst at GTM Research, is surprise for 2015. Project developers want to finish expecting the PV market in Latin America to their projects there quickly because the first 300 MW Atriple again in 2015 with a newly installed ca- that are connected to the grid by July will receive a pacity of 2.1 GW in the current year. Chile is currently bonus of 155 US$/MWh,” James said. experiencing the strongest PV expansion in Latin According to the analysts, photovoltaic expansion America. “The country accounted for more than three in Mexico will be postponed into 2016 because fund- quarters of the total market volume. In the fourth ing and framework conditions are changing and there quarter of 2014 alone, twice as many PV systems were are financial risks. Nevertheless, Mexico’s solar mar- installed in Chile as in all of Latin America in 2013,” ket will almost triple in 2015 from the 67 MW it had James said. Mexico and Brazil take second and third last year to 195 MW. Short-term PV growth, however, place. Mexico saw a photovoltaic expansion of 67 MW is being negatively affected by a weak peso, falling oil in 2014, and James is expecting 84 % growth and an prices and cheap electricity tariffs. Nevertheless, the installed PV capacity of 3.3 GW by 2018. country could become the market leader in Latin Brazil, by contrast, did not live up to expectations America by 2020. “There is a good basis for the de- last year with its PV expansion of 21 MW. “There were mand for electricity in the country, photovoltaic sys- problems with net metering as well as financing, and tems are becoming more economical, capital is be- this slowed down the expansion of decentralised coming more accessible, the peso is picking up, and

22 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 electricity prices are also expected to rise. Unlike with Jinko Solar on this important project. The project other Latin American countries, Mexico offers growth was planned, monitored and implemented completely opportunities in all photovoltaics segments. A new by Hondurans.” In addition, Jinko Solar is supplying Growth markets with wholesale market for industrial customers, who modules with an output of 33.6 MW for a ground- account for 60 % of electricity consumption, enables mounted system in Antofagasta in northern Chile. them to purchase energy from independent The project is being carried out by Rijn Capital, the producers.” Chilean subsidiary of the Dutch investment company big plans for expansion Rijn Capital BV. Involvement of foreign companies In May, JA Solar and Soventix Chile SpA Solar announced a new joint venture in Santiago de Chile, One of the companies looking to participate in the which will develop large-scale photovoltaic projects project business on the Chilean market is Yingli Solar. in Chile. The Chinese photovoltaics manufacturer recently In addition to Chinese companies, companies opened an office in Santiago, making this its third from Europe and the United States are also driving subsidiary in Latin America. Robert Muhn, Managing the solar market in Latin America forward. Construc- Director of Yingli Green Energy Chile, will be in charge tion recently began on a 60 MW solar power plant in of the office. According to Muhn, the market segment Honduras. The Norwegian company Scatec Solar ASA, for large photovoltaic power plants is booming in which also holds a 40 % stake in the power plant, is Chile and the first projects have already been carried responsible for project development. “The implemen- out using Yingli Solar modules. “Chile has one of the tation of this project is an important milestone for highest levels of solar radiation in the world, particu- us,” said Raymond Carlsen, CEO of Scatec Solar. It is larly in the Atacama Desert, making it a market with our first step into the promising Latin American solar tremendous potential,” Muhn said. “The conditions market.” for photovoltaics are very attractive, especially con- The U.S. company SunEdison reached agreements sidering the relatively high electricity prices in the with the International Finance Corporation, the Central country.” American Bank for Economic Integration and the OPEC But electricity prices are not only high in Chile. Fund for International Development for US$ 146 According to Alberto Cutter, Sales Manager for new million to finance a solar park in Honduras. The solar markets at Jinko Solar, the same applies to Honduras: plant will have a capacity of 81.7 MW and consists of “Energy prices in Central America tend to be higher three subsystems: Pacifico with 23.3 MW, Choluteca I than elsewhere because the region depends on fos- with 23.3 MW and Choluteca II with 35.1 MW. The so- sil fuel imports and uses them to generate 45 % of its lar power plant will begin feeding electricity into the energy.” His company supplied photovoltaic modules national grid this year. The company has a 20-year with an overall capacity of 3 MW for the largest power purchase agreement (PPA) with the state- rooftop system in Honduras, which is installed on the owned power company and grid operator Empresa 34,000 m² roof of a modern bottling plant for drinks Nacional Energía Eléctrica (ENEE). It is the largest in San Pedro Sula. Project developer Smartsolar is re- renewable energy project in Central America to date. sponsible for the project. The company specialises in SunEdison will operate and provide maintenance for commercial and industrial facilities in Central the power plants under a long-term O&M contract. America. Ramzy Massu, General Manager at “We are very happy to be entering this new photo- Smartsolar said: “We are very proud to be co-operating voltaic market, which has great growth potential,”

Relief projects, such as the school in San Salvador shown here, are no longer the only application area for PV. Latin America is becoming a pioneer in the construction of large solar parks. Photo: SMA

Solar Edition 23 review PV in Latin America

said SunEdison President Jose Perez. “Solar energy capacity of 70 MW to the Brazilian company will play an important role in covering the growing en- Renovasol. A further production line of the same size ergy requirements of Honduras and will make the will be installed one year later. Both utilise a process country less dependent on fuel imports.” technology that is suitable for desert and tropical In February, the Spanish company Abengoa began climates, according to J.v.G. Thoma. construction on a 100 MW photovoltaic power plant But German companies are not the only ones near the town of Maria Elena in the northern Chilean receiving orders from Latin America. Flextronics from region of Antofagasta. It is scheduled to be complete Singapore, for example, recently announced that it by the end of the year and will feed solar power direct- will be producing photovoltaic modules for SunEdison ly into the grid. The Atacama-1 project is being funded in Mexico. “This order is increasing our production by the European Union, Chile, the Inter-American capacity to over 1.7 GW,” said Scott Graybeal, Senior Development Bank, KfW, the Clean Technology Fund, Vice President of Energy at Flextronics. Electronic and the Canada Fund. Abengoa has now announced Components Ernesto Che Guevara from Cuba will be that it has obtained approval for the construction of a expanding its solar module production capacity with further power plant, Atacama-2, which will be built in a Chinese production line. A production capacity of the immediate vicinity of Atacama-1. 60,000 modules with a total power of 15 MW is planned. At the end of this year, the electricity pro- Construction of new production vider Energia Provincial Sociedad del Estado in facilities Argentina will commission a module production facility with a capacity of 71 MW. The Chinese storage Where there is a lot of construction going on, there is and photovoltaics company BYD Company is also also a high demand for components. The German looking to expand its activities on the Latin American photovoltaic plant manufacturer Schmid Group is continent and has announced that it will build a sec- pleased that it has received an order from ERDM ond factory in South America. The module factory Solar, one of the oldest module manufacturers in with an output capacity of 400 MW will complement Mexico, to build a new cell and module manufacturing a factory that manufactures electric buses in São line in San Andrés Tuxtla. The existing capacity for the Paulo, Brazil. However, it is not clear whether all of production of solar cells and modules will be these products are intended for the Latin American increased from 60 to 170 MW a year. Production on market. By using a factory in Brazil, BYD can get the new line is scheduled to begin in the third quarter around the import duties on Chinese solar products of 2015. in the USA, allowing it to supply the attractive North J.v.G. Thoma from Germany is delivering a turn- American market. key module production line with a production Markus Grunwald

Subsidisation in the most promising Latin American countries, according to GTM Research: Mexico Brazil Up till now, the Mexican government has implemented a few fis- Financing by private banks: The Brazilian bank Itaú (Itaú Unibanco cal incentive, such as increased tax depreciation for machinery Holding SA) is providing 1.05 billion Brazilian reais (BRL) (US$ 408 that was purchased in connection with projects for electricity million) for financing renewable power and water treatment generation with renewable energies. In addition, funding for projects. The sum consists of a five-year loan of BRL 262 million projects is available via the Inter-American Development Bank from the IFC (International Finance Corporation) and a three-year (IDB) as well as Mexico’s multi-industry national infrastructure loan of BRL 787 million from international private banks. fund (Fondo Nacional de Infraestructura). Net metering has now According to the IFC, this is the largest sum that has ever been also been implemented for private systems (10 to 30 kW) and provided by a Brazilian bank for climate protection projects. This commercial facilities (up to 500 kW). The time period is twelve year, Brazil will be holding two auctions for reserve power capacity months and the tariffs are different from region to region. The specifically for renewable energy projects. PV capacities will be highest is 28 US$-ct/kWh. auctioned off on 14 August, and a second tender will be held on 13 November that will include photovoltaics and wind projects. Honduras The winning bidders will receive power purchase agreements (PPAs) from the grid agency (ANEEL) for a period of 20 years. In July 2013, the Honduran Congress passed a reform to the existing law on funding for renewable energies. The new law Chile requires the state-owned energy company ENEE to purchase and pay for renewable electricity that is being generated. The current There are no feed-in tariffs or subsidies for solar power in Chile. rate is 0.12445 US$/kWh and will be paid over a period of Nevertheless, the high cost of electricity and the demand from 15 years. The law provides a further bonus for photovoltaics: an industry (mining in particular) are driving the installation of solar additional payment of 0.03 US$/kWh. systems forward.

24 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 49354_solar_barter_adv_for_21X29.7cm.pdf 1 6/3/15 5:42 PM

Solar Edition 25 Solar thermal review intersolar europe Only for the inner circle

The first impression Solar thermal has always been the junior partner at the Intersolar. This is while looking at the foyer at Intersolar Europe is not not necessarily bad. For a long time, the trade fair was so big that there was that bad. enough space and attention left over for the solar heating industry. But this Photos (6) :Jan Gesthuizen is working less well from year to year.

his year, the Intersolar probably reached its attended by an inner circle of visitors. The Intersolar all-time low as far as visitors interested in solar is hardly recognised anymore as an important trade T thermal are concerned, and one could easily fair for solar thermal. question whether this trend can be reversed. The fact As in previous years, companies specialising in that less exhibitors attend than previously is not solar thermal energy were banished to the last hall of exclusively the fault of the organisers; the market has the exhibition, not even half of which could be filled. been shrinking for years. Solar Promotion, which An additional reason for this is that the concept failed organises the Intersolar, is pinning its hopes on the to impress exhibitors from other heating sectors, new market stimulation programme. Since April 1 such as biomass heating and heat pumps. Even the Germany has enjoyed significantly better support Pellets Industry Forum, which took place in parallel conditions, not only for solar thermal but also for with the Intersolar for the first time, did not attract biomass and heat pumps. The effect of this should any companies . also be noticeable at the Intersolar 2016. It was clear, In the previous year, many exhibitors were already however, that this year the trade fair was only dissatisfied and complained about poor positioning.

26 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Markus Elsässer, Managing Director of Solar Promotion, pointed out that there had also been positive feedback from exhibitors. But he said we would have to wait for the results of the detailed exhibitor questionnaire. One thing is already clear: there will no longer be a special hall for regenerative heating systems in 2016. “We are already planning to emphasise the system competence of the exhibitors in the area of regenerative heating in future, which is why we probably will not have a hall exclusively for regenerative heating in 2016”, said Elsässer. Intersolar Award sadly missed

It is not only spatially that the representatives of the solar thermal industry feel themselves pushed into a corner by those responsible for the trade fair. Since last year there has no longer been an award for innovative solar thermal products. Michael Beckmann, Head of Product Management for Solar Thermal and Storage at Viessmann criticised this decision that it is unreasonable that no solar thermal products can be nominated for an award. The Intersolar is supposed to be a solar trade fair and not a photovoltaics trade fair, he said. As an innovation for Intersolar, Viessmann presented a solar thermosiphon system. The equipment is designed for OEM customers in markets such as Africa and South America, where Viessmann is not represented as a brand. These systems are significantly cheaper than the pumped systems that are usual in Germany and Austria. The storage tank is pre-mounted above the collector and supplies warm water using a gravity-feed system. For the double- jacket thermosiphon system with its closed solar circuit, Viessmann has developed a harp collector for the first time. Up to now the company has only manufactured meander collectors. The improvements are in the detail. Handles integrated into the storage tank make installation easier. The collector and the storage tank are fixed to the mounting frame with the same bolt. This saves work and therefore also time. The connections for cold and warm water as well as the anode and the electrical heating element are on the same side of the storage tank. “When performing maintenance on the roof, our customers don’t want to have to circumnavigate the thermosiphon system”, said Beckmann. For the connections, Viessmann has taken over the easy-to- install push-fit connectors from its standard collectors. An additional tap is included in the solar circuit right next to the fresh water connector. This provides the advantage that the installer can feed water into the solar circuit without having to carry extra containers of water onto the roof. The Austrian OEM producer of solar collectors GREENoneTEC also presented a thermosiphon system but is going in exactly the opposite direction. Up to now only an OEM manufacturer, the Austrian collector supplier now wants to sell products under its own name.

Solar Edition 27 Solar thermal review intersolar europe

Finding new solar collectors was a rare exception. However, this modell from the Chinese manufacturer Piep Solar was an eye-catcher.

The production of thermosiphon systems is not new for GREENoneTEC. The company makes such solar warm water generators in a factory in Mexico for Bosch. It produces the new systems, however, in Austria. Even though such equipment is generally quite inexpensive, there is still a range of prices. GREENoneTEC wants to position its TSF thermosiphon system at the upper end of this range. The new product will mainly be sold in markets where the company will not be competing with its own OEM customers. The Austrian company is using a hygienic two-circuit system, so that the solar and warm water circuits are separate. In most systems of this type the water that will be utilised flows directly through the collector. In contrast to many other such systems, all of the connectors are located at the top of the collector so that the supply hoses do not need to run next to it. The TSF is offered in three sizes with storage volumes of 150, 200 and 300 litres. The largest variant uses two flat collectors each of 2.03 m²; the smaller sizes use only one. New concentrating collector

The Berlin-based start-up company perSolar presented a new grid-independent parabolic trough collector at the Intersolar Europe in Munich. It is able to use conventional piping for its absorber tubes. The new TLC-1000 collectors are especially compact. A single collector has a gross area of only 1 m2. Nevertheless, temperatures of up to 200 °C can be achieved. As with other parabolic trough collectors, The new Sinus tank can be installed by just two the TLC-1000 has to track the sun. A supply of people. electricity from outside is not needed for this. The

28 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 collectors are equipped with a small solar cell, which provides enough power for the motor. The surface of the mirror is protected from dirt by a covering pane made from 2 mm thick solar glass that is tempered on one side. The pane is pressure- sealed onto the collector. In order to ensure a long lifespan and an impermeable seal, perSolar does not use any lubricated connections. The solar collectors are controlled via an optical connection and the controlling software can be utilised via the internet, if desired. For example, a temperature limit can be set, which the collectors then achieve under their own initiative. If the temperature rises above the limit that has been set up, the para bolic troughs turn away from the sun automatically. In high winds the collectors turn themselves to a position which provides the least possible wind resistance. This is achieved using vibration sensors, which send out appropriate signals when a storm causes shaking and vibrations. Wind energy meets solar thermal

We often hear that the markets for heat and electricity should amalgamate further in the future. This is exactly what is happening at the rotor blade manufacturer Sinoi. The company now produces large heat-storage tanks, for which it makes use of its know-how from the wind energy industry. The new tanks are manufactured using the same composite materials that are used to make rotor blades. From 2016, the pressureless storage tanks will be offered in various standard sizes between 2,500 and 5,000 litres. The company is, however, already looking further into the future and wants to offer significantly larger tanks as well. Despite their size, the “Sinus” tanks can be installed by just two people as they are delivered as a set of components, which are bonded together at the final location. The components each consist of a double composite layer , between which there is an insulating core. Exactly which materials are utilised depends on whether the Sinus is to be used as a day, week or seasonal storage facility. In addition to the composite materials only stainless steel is used, for example for the heat exchanger. This should ensure a lifespan of 30 years or more. Thanks to its cubic form, the Sinus can be placed next to walls or in corners, thus saving space. Optionally, a maintenance hatch can be included in the front panel. Solar electricity for heating is becoming more popular

Up to now, heating using the sun always meant having a solar thermal collector on the roof. Lately, however, heating using photovoltaic electricity has become more and more popular. The number of suppliers offering such systems has increased significantly in comparison with the previous year. Marlec from Great Britain was one of the first

Solar Edition 29 Solar thermal review intersolar europe

Sometimes the small things are more interesting than the big ones. Viessmann presented a small mounting aid that installers just clip onto the corners of the solar collector. A common carabineer and a rope is then used to pull the collector up to the roof.

manufacturers in this sector. It has already sold around 30,000 of its product Solar iBoost, which shows how the demand for PV heating systems has gained momentum. In markets such as Britain, where an electrical heating element is already installed in almost every warm water tank, the intelligent control system is all that is needed in order to utilize surplus PV electricity. The new Solar iBoost+ can now control two heating elements. This means that the upper part of the tank can be warmed first and then the lower part. In order to use a maximum of PV power, timer programs can be entered which ensure that the tank is only heated with grid electricity when a lot of warm water is needed. A wireless display and operating device show how many kWh the user has saved. A green lamp signals that the PV installation is supplying the heating element. Orange indicates that the PV electricity is insufficient. When the light turns red, this shows the user that his household is currently using a lot of electricity. At last year’s Intersolar, my-PV from Austria presented its DC-Elwa. Now there is also an Elwa for AC. As with a grid-coupled inverter, regulation takes place using a high-frequency power controller. This means that the Elwa does not cause any grid disturbances, as is the case with thyristor power switches that use phase-fired control. The Enerboxx from the Austrian heat-storage tank manufacturer Pink is a special warm water system for multi-family houses. It is equipped with a flat storage

30 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 tank that can be mounted in the wall. A possible example of its use could be that in winter the residents use district heating whereas in summer the heating network can be turned off and the PV system uses the INSTALL Elwa to provide warm water via the heating element in the tank. HEAT A new DC system named Solar Kerberos comes from the company Unites Systems, based in the RESISTANCE Czech Republic. Up to now there has been a controller for 1.5 kW systems, which are sufficient for tanks containing 120 to 200 litres. A larger version that can heat a 1000 litre storage tank using a 6 kW PV system will soon go onto the market. The inverter manufacturer SoMa Solar Holding from Germany presented the Solarmax Energy Manager in Munich, which increases the own consumption of PV electricity and can control heating elements and heat pumps. SoMa has taken over the Swiss inverter brand Solarmax, which it will now continue to market. Viessmann also uses PV for heating. The Vitocell 100-B is a bivalent design like a classical solar heating fresh water tank. At the top is a heat exchanger that provides additional heating using gas or oil when required. At the bottom, instead of the solar heat exchanger, there is a dry-mounted heating element that can use surplus PV electricity from 0.05 to 2.7 kW. Jan Gesthuizen, Jens-Peter Meyer

The flexible solution for temperatures up to 220 °C. Feed and return pipes with an integrated sensor cable form a perfect unit which is pre-insulated with a high- tech polyester insulation material and fast to assemble with quick-fitting couplings. DuoSolar 220 is the natural choice for professional installers. Performance, availability, ease of installation – Install it. Trust it.

The new parabolic trough collector from the Berlin Tel.: +49 25 17 60 30 · [email protected] · www.armacell.com based start-up perSolar

Solar Edition DuoSolar220_Draft.indd 1 21.04.201531 13:23:49 Solar thermal Absorber coatings

Black instead of blue?

Alanod has dominated Blue PVD absorber coatings have prevailed so far on collectors. Given the the market for highly selective coatings since domination of just one manufacturer, new players are developing its takeover of Bluetec in alternatives. Black coatings could once again gain in importance. 2014. Photo: Alanod

hat we are talking about is thin: wafer thin. leader Alanod from Germany took over the then The coating on the collector is just a few number two, Bluetec, also from Germany. A merger Wnanometres thick, and ensures that as with the third large player, the Almeco Group from much sunlight as possible is converted into heat. Italy, was also briefly being considered. Together this Most collectors in use today are coated with highly monopoly would have controlled approximately 80 % selective layers, which are applied in a vacuum of the selective absorber coating market, according vapour deposition process. In the market overview of to sector experts. Even though this did not come flat-plate collectors on the SUN & WIND ENERGY about, Alanod does still dominate the market today. homepage (see www.sunwindenergy.com/solar-ther- There is a second manufacturer active here, mal/market-overview-flat-plate-collectors), 93 % of namely Arceo Engineering from Belgium, a subsidi- the 250 collector models receive an absorber with ary of the steel giant ArcelorMittal, but so far Arceo such a coating. Paint coatings or galvanised black has not really been able to make its mark. The com- chrome are only found in a small minority of pany had planned to put a steel-based absorber on- products. to the market, but is currently still limiting itself to To manufacture the highly selective layers you copper and aluminium as substrates (see table). need large vapour deposition machines, which can Those wishing to use steel today must resort to using be over a hundred metres long. There are thus only a stainless steel. Galvanised stainless steel plates are few companies which have specialised in such made by Energie Solaire from Switzerland and processes. Somewhat over a year ago the market Alternate Energy Technologies from the U.S. Alanod-

32 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Xxentria, a joint venture between Alanod and the Tai- wanese company Xxentria Technology Materials, also coats stainless steel using the physical vapour deposition process (PVD). Follow the Apart from the large manufacturers with the abil- ® ity to perform vapour deposition in a vacuum, there Greenway Neo, are also newcomers on the market. In 2010, Finnish the technological and coatings experts set up the company Savo-Solar. Their MEMO 4 coating, which is manufactured using environmentally friendly a combination of PVD and plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD), achieves an excellent alternative absorption rate of 97 %. Highly selective PVD coatings reach absorption rates between 95 and 97 %. These are values which galvanised coatings can also attain. The difference lies in the emissions rate, that Heat pump is the loss of heat in the form of infra-red radiation. Under ﬂ oor heating PVD coatings, with losses of 4 to 5 %, do better here Boiler than galvanised coatings, which re-emit between 5 and 15 % of the heat collected. The Austrian company Calus is even fresher on the scene; it presented its pure.black coating one year ago. The coating is based on a patented thermo- electric process developed by researchers at the National Academy of Sciences in Minsk (Belarus) and Solar panel at Wels Technical College (Austria). While PVD coat- Hot water system ings generally have a blue sheen, the Calus coating is jet black. The company is marketing this with claims that the coating process gives the surface an un- matched ability to withstand any manner of environmental influences. Even the harshest conditions, such as salty air or smog have no negative effects on the high quality of pure.black. Absorber coatings hardly age at all

Approved by: Independent tests have shown, however, that ageing • ANSES processes on the common PVD coatings also have • Belgaqua practically no negative effects. In the SpeedColl project, supported by the German Ministry of Economics, researchers from the Fraunhofer ISE and the University of Stuttgart are currently testing collectors for three years at various sites around the world A full range of plant-based heat transfer to see how they cope with environmental influences such as temperature, humidity, solar irradiation and ﬂ uids suited to Renewable energy salt exposure, but without extracting heat from them. • Greenway® Neo Solar to sustain solar thermal This includes a site in salty air on the Spanish island systems of Gran Canaria, a site on Germany’s highest moun- ® tain at a height of almost 3,000 m and a site in the • Greenway Neo Heat Pump to optimise the heat transfer tropical climate of India. After 2.5 years of exposure so far, the researchers can only make out small changes • Greenway® Neo to protect underﬂ oor heating to the collectors. One collector that was on Gran Canaria for 2.5 years did show an approximately 5 % reduction in efficiency back on the test stand, butafter sand had been cleaned off the glass cover of the collector, the efficiency across a range of temperatures rose back to the levels from before the exposure. More infos: On other absorbers the researchers did find www.greenwayneo.dehon.com changes, however. “A spectral analysis of the test ob- jects did show changes in emissions of up to 4 %,” it says in a publication by the project group. To what extent the new Calus coating could have advantages in its long-term behaviour is something which must be

Solar Edition 33

Greenway_102x297_01.indd 1 12/02/2015 17:22 Solar thermal Absorber coatings

Overview of absorber coatings

Manufacturer Product Start of Absorpti- Emissi- Coating Coating Absorber plate Absorber plate Absorber plate name production vity [%] vity [%] process material thickness [mm] width [mm] Alanod GmbH & Co. ceramic-metal- Mirotherm 2001 95 ± 1 5 ± 2 PVD aluminium 0.3 to 0.8 KG, Germany structure selective nano- coil Mirosol TS 2010 90 ± 2 20 ± 3 aluminium 0.3 to 0.5 composite coating selective nano- coil Mirosol TSS 2015 > 93 < 45 copper 0.3 bis 0.5 max. 1,250 composite coating ceramic-metal- Eta plus Al 2005 95 ± 2 5 ± 2 PVD aluminium 0.3 to 0.5 structure ceramic-metal- Eta plus Cu 2005 95 ± 2 5 ± 2 PVD copper 0.12 to 0.5 structure Alanod-Xxentria Sungain Al aluminium 0.3 to 0.6 Technology Materials ceramic-metal- Sungain Cu 2012 95 ± 2 5 ± 2 PVD copper 0.12 to 0.5 max. 1,250 Co., Taiwan structure Sungain SS stainless steel 0.3 to 0.5 Almeco GmbH, TiNOX ener- ceramic-metal- 2008 95 ± 2 4 ± 2 PVD aluminium 0.3 to 0.75 Germany/Italy gy Al structure TiNOX ener- ceramic-metal- 2008 95 ± 2 4 ± 2 PVD copper 0.12 to 0.5 gy Cu structure max. 1,250 TiNOX ceramic-metal- aluminium 0.3 to 0.75 2011 90 ± 2 5 ± 2 PVD artline structure copper 0.12 to 0.5

ceramic-metal- aluminium 0.3 to 0.75 TiNOX nano 2011 90 ± 2 5 ± 2 PVD structure copper 0.12 to 0.5 Alternate Energy galva- stainless steel, Crystal Clear 1995 97 ± 2 7 ± 2 bimetallic alloy 0.2 90 to 152 Technologies, U.S. nic copper, steel

Arceo Engineering, ceramic-metal- aluminium 0.3 to 1 max. 1,250 Belgium Solarceo 2009 95 ± 2 5 ± 2 PVD structure copper 0.18 to 0.2 max. 1,300 Calus GmbH, Austria pure.black 2014 92 ± 2 11 ± 2 electro- aluminium 0.3 to 1.0 max. 1,250 ceramic-metal- thermal structure future.black 2015 93 ± 1 8 ± 1 (ETH) aluminium foil 0.01 to 0.02 n/a Energie Solaire S.A., AS 1 1980 96 15 galva- 2 Switzerland black chrome stainless steel 0.4 to 6 max. 1,000 AS+ 1998 95 5 nic Materials Technology, galva- Krosol 1977 95 ± 2 8 ± 2 black chrome copper 0.12 to 0.3 max. 1,200 U.S. nic Savo-Solar Oy, MEMO 2011 96 ± 2 5 ± 2 TiAlSiN/NO + PVD + aluminium, 2 3 Finland 0.3 to 65 max. 3,000 MEMO 4 2013 97 ± 1 5 ± 2 SiOx PECVD copper Solec-Solar Energy spray- Solkote HI/ silicone/calci- metals, plas- Corp., U.S. 1982 90 ± 2 4 25 ± 5 4 appli- any any Sorb-II ned oxide tics, masonry cation Viessmann Werke ceramic-metal- n/a 5 2009 95 ± 1 5 ± 1 PVD aluminium 0.4 max. 1,000 GmbH & Co., Germany structure

1 The AS coating can also be used in coverless absorbers and receiver tubes; 2 coating of entire, full-flow absorbers;3 max. absorber plate length: 6,000 mm; 4 dependent of thickness and substrate; 5 Viessmann only coats its own absorbers

PVD coatings are the determined in further tests. You do have to make Alanod presented the new Mirosol solar paint with most efficient at conver- compromises in the absorption rate when compared the suffix TSS for copper plates. With this paint coat- ting solar irradiation to to PVD coatings, however, as the rate here only ing Alanod achieves an absorption rate of 93 %. The heat. Galvanised coa- reaches 92 %. coatings company had already been supplying a paint tings and selective solar coating on aluminium plates under the name Mirosol paints lose more heat New coating for aluminium foil TS since 2011. Marketing and Sales Director Frank through re-emission. Schoonen explained that the reason for introducing Source: manufacturers’ A brand new coating from Calus is future.black. What this new offer was the fact that some absorber manu- information is special here is that the coating is not applied to alu- facturers could only work with copper. minium sheets 0.3 to 1 mm thick, but to aluminium Alanod-Solar had developed the Mirosol coating foil just 0.01 to 0.02 mm thick. If powerful collectors especially for Southern European countries, where for could successfully be designed using this foil, then pricing reasons it is easier to enter the market with the reduction in material use would be huge. cheaper qualities. With its high emissions rate of Paint coatings have so far achieved an absorption approximately 45 % it has a lower stagnation temper- rate of 90 %. Their disadvantage is an emissions rate ature and thus offers overheating protection. Alanod- of 20 to 25 %. At the Intersolar Europe 2015 in June, Solar applies the solar paint using an industrial

34 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 coating process. A low stagnation temperature of the Ensuring the prevention of vapour formation collector was also the development aim for a new coating applied in a vacuum, presented by the German heating technology and collector manufacturer Viessmann in the spring at the International Heating Technology Exhibition ISH. Together with the Institute Standard for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH), the coating absorber was developed in a joint project supported by the Switching German Ministry of Economics. It lowers the stagna- absorber tion temperature of the absorber to 150 °C, without any significant affect on the performance across the normal operating range of a solar system. This works because the layer structure changes above approximately 75 °C, thus increasing the emissions. The re- Collector temperature (°C) temperature Collector emission becomes particularly high above an absorber temperature of 100 °C. “The special challenge was the optical design of the coating system, so that the technical values of efficient selective coatings with a Solar irradiation low rate of thermal emissions could be achieved across the normal working range of a collector on the In normal collector operation, the new absorber coating from Viessmann one hand, whilst obtaining a high rise in the emis- behaves like a regular one. Above a collector temperature of 75 °C, however, sions rate above that on the other,” says ISFH working the re-emissions change dramatically. This provides protection against group leader Rolf Reineke-Koch. The big advantage of vapour formation in the case of stagnation. the new coating is that at an appropriate pressure, Source: Viessmann vapour formation can be completely prevented in the collector loop during periods of stagnation. Joachim Berner, Jens-Peter Meyer

www.ouraset.com We manufacture solar water heaters for the world!

Tansuğ Machinery Industrial Plant Adana-Ceyhan Yolu 10.km 01340 Adana TURKEY Tel: +90 322 346 49 00 Fax:+90 322 346 50 08 E-mail: [email protected] solar thermal systems Solar Edition 35 Solar thermal heat transfer fluids Frost-proof on the roof and below ground

The ASTM D1384 is designed for the automotive industry. But it is the only standardised method that can be used to test the corrosiveness of solar and heat pump fluids. Photos: Aqua Concept

Heat transfer fluids protect systems from frost and corrosion – in both solar thermal and geothermal. The requirements are very different, however.

old in winter, heat in the summer: a solar Anti-freezes based on renewable raw materials, thermal system has to withstand high tempe- which several manufacturers have added to their Crature differences. To make sure that ice does ranges in the last few years, are becoming estab- not crack external piping during the winter, most so- lished. Tyforop, the market leader for solar fluids in lar thermal systems require an anti-freeze. But as the Germany, speaks of a “slowly increasing popularity, solar loop can get very hot during the summer, it must but not a breakthrough” for its latest product, Tyfocor be designed not only for low temperatures but also L-eco. Apart from using renewable raw material gly- for high ones. col, Tyforop also uses non-toxic corrosion inhibitors For the first time the market overview also which are not subject to labelling. These are also to includes heat transfer fluids used in the source loops be used in other products by the manufacturer in the (also called brine circuits) of ground-source heat medium term. Renewable raw material glycols are pumps. Those who decide to go with solar heating or made from glycerine, which is a by-product of geothermal generally do so partly out of environmen- bio-diesel manufacturing. tal conviction. Conventional anti-freezes based on The French supplier Climalife has just had its glycol naturally do not go well with this. renewable raw materials-based solar fluid Greenway

36 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Neo Solar tested at the Spanish technology centre transport the same amount of heat when compared IK4-Tekniker (see page 40). To replace glycol, Climalife to a fluid based on MPG. Frost-proof on the roof uses 1,3-propanediol, which is also made from Apart from the two glycol types there are also renewable raw materials. anti-freeze fluids for use in geothermal which are The Federal Government and Federal States based on ethanol or salts such as calcium carbonate, German Working Group on Water Issues (LAWA) has but these are much less common. also taken up new products made from renewable The amount of anti-freeze you need naturally and below ground materials and for use in geothermal systems in its list depends not only on the anti-freeze agent itself, but of recommendations. This includes the ready-to-use also on the temperature down to which you wish to mix (down to - 8 °C) of Staubcolsol BE and Coracon protect the system. With solar thermal systems you GEKO EF-10 by Aqua Concept and GEKO AF-8, which also have to consider the night-time thermal radia- is based on ethanol. tion, which means that the temperature in the collector can fall considerably lower than the ambient Less is more temperature. The temperature which the source

For solar thermal the same is naturally as true as below ground; water is an excellent heat transfer medium. It has a high heat capacity and a low viscosity. The more water and the less anti-freeze there is in the fluid used, the more efficiently the system CONTROL TECHNOLOGY can thus work. Therefore, it is important to get an estimate of the expected temperatures that is as accurate as possible. “An extra dose of anti- freeze just to be on the safe side leads to large disadvantages in the viscosity and the thermophysical properties,” says Marco Bergemann from Tyforop. In solar thermal systems the ba- SBS 2000 sis for the anti-freeze is normally FILLING AND FLUSHING STATION monopropylene glycol (MPG), but sometimes propanediol or higher glycols. It is important that the product is not harmful to health, because if there is a fault in the heat exchanger in the boiler then it can get into the drinking water. In geothermal uses, however, the brine circuit does not come into contact with the tap water loop. Thus monoethylene glycol (MEG) can be used although it is classed as harmful. Apart from the lower costs, MEG also has technical advantages. When using an anti-freeze based on MEG you need a lower amount than with a product based on MPG in order to get the same degree of frost protection. For Clariant products and a frost pro- FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE! tection down to - 10 °C, for example, The safe, quick and clean way to fi ll and fl ush your solar or heating system! you need 25 % Antifrogen L based on MPG or 20 % antifrogen N based on  Easy handling and cleaning  Additional handles for easy transport MEG. The result is two advantages for  Pictorial instructions on the station  Integrated hose reel MEG; firstly the heat transfer ability  For heat transfer fl uids  Filling level control of the solution is somewhat higher  Powerful pump  Also available as a 115 V~ version due to the higher share of water, and  Dirt fi lter at the pump inlet  Customised versions possible secondly the viscosity is considerably lower. A fluid based on MEG thus requires less electricity for pumping to +49 (0) 23 24 / 96 48 - 0  Visit www.resol.de/videos for a product video www.resol.com Solar Edition 37 Solar thermal heat transfer fluids

Heat transfer fluids for solar thermal systems

Manu- Product Antifreeze Delivery Suitable Suitable Colour Minimum temperature Density Thermal conductivity Refraction index pH-value 1 Buffer alkalinity Mixable Delivery size [L] facturer form collector types materials [°C] [g/cm3] 1 [W/mK] 1 [ml 0.1 N HCl] Aqua Coracon Sol 5 MPG conc FPC, VTC (HP) Al/Cu/VA almost colourless - 1.045 approx. 0.4 n/a approx. 8 approx. 9 (for 50 % water) MPG/ n/r 10 / 20 / 200 / IBC / TKW Concept Coracon Sol 5F MPG ready FPC, VTC (HP) Al/Cu/VA red - 28 (crystallisation point) 1.036 approx. 0.4 n/a approx. 8 approx. 9 MPG/ n/r 10 / 20 / 200 / IBC / TKW Coracon Sol 5 HF di-propylene-glycol ready FPC, VTC (HP, DF) Al/Cu/VA almost colourless - 24 (crystallisation point) 1.030 approx. 0.4 n/a approx. 8 approx. 9 n/r 10 / 20 / 200/ IBC / TKW Coracon Sol EKO MPG 7 conc FPC, VTC (HP, DF) Al/Cu/VA almost colourless n/a 1.055 approx. 0.4 n/a approx. 8 approx. 9 (for 50 % water) n/a 10 / 20 / 200 / IBC / TKW Coracon Sol EKO F MPG 7 ready FPC, VTC (HP, DF) Al/Cu/VA almost colourless - 23 (crystallisation point) 1.050 approx. 0.4 n/a approx. 8 approx. 9 n/a 10 / 20 / 200 / IBC / TKW Clariant Antifrogen Sol HT high boiling glycols ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA slightly yellowish - 28 approx. 1.082 approx. 0.36 approx. 1.401 approx. 9 approx. 3 - 4 yes 3 n/a Antifrogen Sol HT Conc. high boiling glycols conc FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA yellowish - 53 approx. 1.130 n/a approx. 1.460 approx. 9 at least 8.5 yes 3 n/a Climalife Solufluid Solar -20°C propylene glycol ready FPC, VTC (HP) Al/Cu/VA yellow - 25 1.038 0.42 1.382 approx. 8.3 ≥ 6 n/r 20 /210 Greenway Neo Solar -30°C 1.3 propanediole ready FPC, VTC (HP, DF) Al/Cu/VA green - 30 1.041 0.41 1.389 approx. 8.5 ≥ 4 n/r 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW Fragol Zitrec LC MPG conc FPC Al/Cu/VA blue-green - 50 1.050 0.4 5 1.389 7.5 - 8.5 n/a MPG/ n/r 20 / 210 / 1,000 / 20,000 Zitrec L-25 MPG ready FPC Al/Cu/VA blue-green - 25 1.036 0.4 1.378 approx. 8 n/a MPG/ n/r 20 / 210 / 1,000 / 20,000 Fragoltherm W-PGA MPG conc FPC Al/Cu/VA colourless - 50 1.050 0.4 1.378 7.5 - 9.5 n/a n/r 20 / 210 / 1,000 Fragoltherm W-VR MPG ready VTC Cu/VA red - 28 1.034 0.41 1.382 9 > 20 n/r 10 / 25 / 200 / 1,000 pro PEKASOLar 100 MPG conc FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA spec - 50 1.046 0.22 1.431 9 4 yes n/a Kühlsole Pekasolar 50 MPG ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA spec - 28 1.040 0.4 1.384 9 2 yes n/a Staub Solarliquid L Concentrate MPG conc FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA slightly yellowish (conc) approx. 1.045 approx. 0.22 approx. 1.435 7.5 - 8.5 approx. 19 MPG 5 / 10 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 60 / 200 / 1,000 / TKW & Co. Solarliquid L ready - 28 °C MPG ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA violett - 28/’ - 38 approx. 1.040 approx. 0.4 approx. 1.445 approx. 8 approx. 9.5 MPG 5 / 10 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 60 / 200 / 1,000 / TKW - Silber- mann Solarliquid L ready - 22 °C MPG ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA violett - 22/’ - 28 approx. 1.037 approx. 0.43 approx. 1.383 approx. 8 approx. 9.5 MPG 5 / 10 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 60 / 200 / 1,000 / TKW Solarliquid HT ready high boiling glycols ready FPC, VTC Cu/VA slightly yellowish - 24/’ - 27 approx. 1.030 n/a approx. 1.400 7.5 - 8.5 approx. 9.5 no 5 / 10 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 60 / 200 / 1,000 / TKW Sunex SL n/a conc FPC, VTC Al/Cu/SS spec - 59 (conc) 1.040 (conc) n/a n/a 7.5 - 9.5 n/a no n/a GL n/a conc FPC, VTC Al/Cu/SS spec - 46 (conc) 1.190 (conc) n/a n/a 9 18 no n/a SL AL n/a ready FPC Al spec - 64 1.040 n/a n/a 7.5 - 9.5 n/a no n/a Tyforop Tyfocor L MPG conc (40) 6 FPC Al/Cu/VA spec (usually colourless) - 50 1.039 2 0.387 2 1.3792 2 7.5 - 8.5 2 > 5 2 Tyfocor L-eco, 5 - 1,000 / TKW others n/r Tyfocor L-eco MPG 7 conc (40) 6 FPC Al/Cu/VA spec (usually colourless) - 50 1.039 2 0.387 2 1.3792 2 7.5 - 8.5 2 > 4 2 Tyfocor L, others n/r 6 - 1,000 / TKW Tyfocor HTL MPG und high boiling glycols ready VTC (FPC) 4 Al/Cu/VA blue-green - 35 1.054 0.385 1.394 7.5 - 8.5 > 9 no 7 - 1,000 / TKW Tyfocor LS MPG ready VTC (FPC) 4 Cu/VA red fluorescent - 28 1.034 0.413 1.382 9.0 - 10.5 > 20 LS Arctic, LS Mediter- 8 - 1,000 / TKW raneo, Tyfocor G-LS Tyfocor LS Arctic MPG ready VTC (FPC) 4 Cu/VA red fluorescent - 47 1.039 0.344 1.393 9.0 - 10.5 > 25 TyfocorLS, LS Medi- 9 - 1,000 / TKW terraneo, Tyfocor G-LS Tyfocor LS Mediterraneo MPG ready VTC (FPC) 4 Cu/VA red fluorescent - 12 1.020 0.468 1.361 9,0 - 10.5 > 12 Tyfocor LS, LS Arctic, 10 - 1,000 / TKW Tyfocor G-LS Tyfocor G-LS MPG ready VTC (FPC) 4 Cu/VA purple - 28 1.034 0.413 1.382 9.0 - 10.5 > 20 Tyfocor LS, LS Arctic, 11 - 1,000 / TKW LS Mediterraneo Wittig Glysofor Solar MPG and high boiling glycols conc (20) 6 FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA green - 50 1.040 0.365 1.433 7 - 8 3 MPG 10 - 24,000 Umwelt- Glysofor Solar AF MPG and high boiling glycols ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA yellow - 28 1.020 0.385 1.389 7 - 8 3 MPG 10 - 24,000 chemie Glysofor Solar HT MPG and high boiling glycols ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA yellow - 28 1.020 0.385 1.386 7 - 8 3 not mixable 10 - 24,000

Notes: FC = flat plate collector; VTC = vacuum tube collector; HP = heat pipe; DF = direct flow; Al = aluminium; Cu = copper; VA = stainless steel; MPG = monopropylene glycol; spec = variable/customer- specific; n/a = not available; n/r = not recommended; FP = flocculation point; conc = concentrate; TKW = tank wagon; IBC = intermediate bike container

loop of a ground-source heat pump operates at depends strongly on the design. Shallow ground-source heat pumps often intentionally cool the ground to temperatures below freezing in order to use the latent heat of freezing. Brine solutions, which can achieve frost protection down to - 15 or - 20 °C, are thus not at all rare. In deeper probes the temperature of the brine rarely goes below - 3 °C at peak operation, and during normal operation the brine temperature should not fall below freezing at all. With a so-called The new solar fluid storage probe instead of a double-U probe the heat Greenway Neo Solar extraction peaks from the ground can be somewhat Photo: Climalife buffered, so that the temperature does not fall so

38 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Manu- Product Antifreeze Delivery Suitable Suitable Colour Minimum temperature Density Thermal conductivity Refraction index pH-value 1 Buffer alkalinity Mixable Delivery size [L] facturer form collector types materials [°C] [g/cm3] 1 [W/mK] 1 [ml 0.1 N HCl] Aqua Coracon Sol 5 MPG conc FPC, VTC (HP) Al/Cu/VA almost colourless - 1.045 approx. 0.4 n/a approx. 8 approx. 9 (for 50 % water) MPG/ n/r 10 / 20 / 200 / IBC / TKW Concept Coracon Sol 5F MPG ready FPC, VTC (HP) Al/Cu/VA red - 28 (crystallisation point) 1.036 approx. 0.4 n/a approx. 8 approx. 9 MPG/ n/r 10 / 20 / 200 / IBC / TKW Coracon Sol 5 HF di-propylene-glycol ready FPC, VTC (HP, DF) Al/Cu/VA almost colourless - 24 (crystallisation point) 1.030 approx. 0.4 n/a approx. 8 approx. 9 n/r 10 / 20 / 200/ IBC / TKW Coracon Sol EKO MPG 7 conc FPC, VTC (HP, DF) Al/Cu/VA almost colourless n/a 1.055 approx. 0.4 n/a approx. 8 approx. 9 (for 50 % water) n/a 10 / 20 / 200 / IBC / TKW Coracon Sol EKO F MPG 7 ready FPC, VTC (HP, DF) Al/Cu/VA almost colourless - 23 (crystallisation point) 1.050 approx. 0.4 n/a approx. 8 approx. 9 n/a 10 / 20 / 200 / IBC / TKW Clariant Antifrogen Sol HT high boiling glycols ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA slightly yellowish - 28 approx. 1.082 approx. 0.36 approx. 1.401 approx. 9 approx. 3 - 4 yes 3 n/a Antifrogen Sol HT Conc. high boiling glycols conc FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA yellowish - 53 approx. 1.130 n/a approx. 1.460 approx. 9 at least 8.5 yes 3 n/a Climalife Solufluid Solar -20°C propylene glycol ready FPC, VTC (HP) Al/Cu/VA yellow - 25 1.038 0.42 1.382 approx. 8.3 ≥ 6 n/r 20 /210 Greenway Neo Solar -30°C 1.3 propanediole ready FPC, VTC (HP, DF) Al/Cu/VA green - 30 1.041 0.41 1.389 approx. 8.5 ≥ 4 n/r 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW Fragol Zitrec LC MPG conc FPC Al/Cu/VA blue-green - 50 1.050 0.4 5 1.389 7.5 - 8.5 n/a MPG/ n/r 20 / 210 / 1,000 / 20,000 Zitrec L-25 MPG ready FPC Al/Cu/VA blue-green - 25 1.036 0.4 1.378 approx. 8 n/a MPG/ n/r 20 / 210 / 1,000 / 20,000 Fragoltherm W-PGA MPG conc FPC Al/Cu/VA colourless - 50 1.050 0.4 1.378 7.5 - 9.5 n/a n/r 20 / 210 / 1,000 Fragoltherm W-VR MPG ready VTC Cu/VA red - 28 1.034 0.41 1.382 9 > 20 n/r 10 / 25 / 200 / 1,000 pro PEKASOLar 100 MPG conc FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA spec - 50 1.046 0.22 1.431 9 4 yes n/a Kühlsole Pekasolar 50 MPG ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA spec - 28 1.040 0.4 1.384 9 2 yes n/a Staub Solarliquid L Concentrate MPG conc FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA slightly yellowish (conc) approx. 1.045 approx. 0.22 approx. 1.435 7.5 - 8.5 approx. 19 MPG 5 / 10 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 60 / 200 / 1,000 / TKW & Co. Solarliquid L ready - 28 °C MPG ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA violett - 28/’ - 38 approx. 1.040 approx. 0.4 approx. 1.445 approx. 8 approx. 9.5 MPG 5 / 10 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 60 / 200 / 1,000 / TKW - Silber- mann Solarliquid L ready - 22 °C MPG ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA violett - 22/’ - 28 approx. 1.037 approx. 0.43 approx. 1.383 approx. 8 approx. 9.5 MPG 5 / 10 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 60 / 200 / 1,000 / TKW Solarliquid HT ready high boiling glycols ready FPC, VTC Cu/VA slightly yellowish - 24/’ - 27 approx. 1.030 n/a approx. 1.400 7.5 - 8.5 approx. 9.5 no 5 / 10 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 60 / 200 / 1,000 / TKW Sunex SL n/a conc FPC, VTC Al/Cu/SS spec - 59 (conc) 1.040 (conc) n/a n/a 7.5 - 9.5 n/a no n/a GL n/a conc FPC, VTC Al/Cu/SS spec - 46 (conc) 1.190 (conc) n/a n/a 9 18 no n/a SL AL n/a ready FPC Al spec - 64 1.040 n/a n/a 7.5 - 9.5 n/a no n/a Tyforop Tyfocor L MPG conc (40) 6 FPC Al/Cu/VA spec (usually colourless) - 50 1.039 2 0.387 2 1.3792 2 7.5 - 8.5 2 > 5 2 Tyfocor L-eco, 5 - 1,000 / TKW others n/r Tyfocor L-eco MPG 7 conc (40) 6 FPC Al/Cu/VA spec (usually colourless) - 50 1.039 2 0.387 2 1.3792 2 7.5 - 8.5 2 > 4 2 Tyfocor L, others n/r 6 - 1,000 / TKW Tyfocor HTL MPG und high boiling glycols ready VTC (FPC) 4 Al/Cu/VA blue-green - 35 1.054 0.385 1.394 7.5 - 8.5 > 9 no 7 - 1,000 / TKW Tyfocor LS MPG ready VTC (FPC) 4 Cu/VA red fluorescent - 28 1.034 0.413 1.382 9.0 - 10.5 > 20 LS Arctic, LS Mediter- 8 - 1,000 / TKW raneo, Tyfocor G-LS Tyfocor LS Arctic MPG ready VTC (FPC) 4 Cu/VA red fluorescent - 47 1.039 0.344 1.393 9.0 - 10.5 > 25 TyfocorLS, LS Medi- 9 - 1,000 / TKW terraneo, Tyfocor G-LS Tyfocor LS Mediterraneo MPG ready VTC (FPC) 4 Cu/VA red fluorescent - 12 1.020 0.468 1.361 9,0 - 10.5 > 12 Tyfocor LS, LS Arctic, 10 - 1,000 / TKW Tyfocor G-LS Tyfocor G-LS MPG ready VTC (FPC) 4 Cu/VA purple - 28 1.034 0.413 1.382 9.0 - 10.5 > 20 Tyfocor LS, LS Arctic, 11 - 1,000 / TKW LS Mediterraneo Wittig Glysofor Solar MPG and high boiling glycols conc (20) 6 FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA green - 50 1.040 0.365 1.433 7 - 8 3 MPG 10 - 24,000 Umwelt- Glysofor Solar AF MPG and high boiling glycols ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA yellow - 28 1.020 0.385 1.389 7 - 8 3 MPG 10 - 24,000 chemie Glysofor Solar HT MPG and high boiling glycols ready FPC, VTC Al/Cu/VA yellow - 28 1.020 0.385 1.386 7 - 8 3 not mixable 10 - 24,000

1 at 20 °C (if not otherwise marked); 2 at concentration in use of 40 vol %; 3 only tested with Tyforop L and LS; 4 developed for VTC; 5 mixing ratio 50 %; 6 in brackets minimum concentration [vol. %] 7 based on renewable raw material

much. “The anti-freeze ratio of the heat transfer fluid is often higher when using the double-U probe tech- The selective coating for solar thermal absorbers nology, in order to protect against the lower return temperatures,” says Ronald Klukas, an authorised officer at Aqua Concept. Available in copper, aluminium and steel in wide coils, Additives make a big difference slit coils and sheets

While the basis of the anti-freeze used by most manufacturers is the same, the various products differ in the additives which are applied. These mainly 1, rue Sompré | 4400 Ivoz-Ramet | Belgium protect solar and geothermal systems from corrosion [email protected] | +32 4 220 96 08 | www.arceo.be and stabilise the pH value. The subject is especially

Solar Edition 2984_14•ARCEO PUB 90x60.indd 1 39 7/10/14 08:53 Solar thermal heat transfer fluids

Heat transfer fluids for geothermal collectors

Manufacturer Product Antifreeze (ethylene Percentage Delivery Minimum con- Delivery size [L] Colour Tmin Classification Density Thermal Refraction index at pH-value A, B Specific. ther- Buffer Mixable Kinetic viscosity glycol, propylene glycol) (for declared form centration (only [°C] A according to GHS A [g/cm3] A, B conductivity minimum concen mal capacity alkalanity [mm2/s] A, B delivery form) for concentrate) [W/mK] A, B tration nD20 [kJ/kg*K] A, B [ml 0.1 N HCl] Aqua Concept CORACON KS 6 MEG 98.87 conc 25 30 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW green -13 GHS 08 1.045 0.49 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.73 n/a n/a 3.84 CORACON KS 6 F -13 MEG n/a ready 100 31 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW green -13 GHS07, GHS08 1.055 0.47 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.62 n/a n/a 4.61 CORACON WT 6N MEG 97.74 conc 25 32 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW green -11 GHS07, GHS08 1.044 0.49 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.74 n/a n/a 3.81 CORACON WT 6N F-20 MEG 37.63 ready - 33 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW green -20 GHS07, GHS08 1.068 0.45 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.48 n/a n/a 5.62 CORACON WT 6P MPG 97.74 conc 25 34 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW blue -13 n/a 1.026 0.47 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.92 n/a n/a 5.40 CORACON WT 6P F-20 MPG 37.14 ready - 35 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW blue -20 n/a 1.038 0.43 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.75 n/a n/a 9.58 CORACON GEKO N MEG 95.49 conc 10 36 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW green -5 GHS07, GHS08 1.018 0.53 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 4.03 n/a n/a 2.41 CORACON GEKO EF -10 MPG 3 23 ready - 200 / 1,000 / TKW gelb -10 n/a 1.037 n/a n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.87 n/a n/a 5.14 CORACON GEKO AF-8 ethanol 14.9 ready - 200 / 1,000 / TKW blue -8 n/a 0.980 0.46 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.83 n/a n/a n/a Clariant Antifrogen N MEG 91.3 conc / ready 20 variable light yellow -10 n/a 1.033 0.50 1.357 7.7 1,2 3.90 at least 4 n/a 3.30 Antifrogen L MPG 91.7 conc / ready 25 variable light blue -10 n/a 1.028 0.46 1.362 8.7 1,2 3.90 at least 4 n/a 5.80 Protectogen N MEG 94.78 conc / ready 20 variable orange -10 n/a 1.035 0.50 1.358 7.6 1,2 3.90 at least 2.5 n/a 3.40 Protectogen L MPG n/a conc / ready 25 variable purple -10 n/a 1.028 0.47 1.361 8.0 1,2 3.90 at least 2.5 n/a 5.80 Climalife Solufluid® Heat Pump - 25 °C MPG n/a ready - 20/210 yellow - not hazardous 1.038 ± 0.002 0.42 1.382 8.3 n/a ≥ 6 MPG 4.10 Greenway® Neo Solar - 30 °C 1,3-propandiole n/a ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000/ TKW green - not hazardous 1.041 ± 0.002 0.41 1.389 8.5 n/a ≥ 4 no 5.50 Fragol Zitrec MC MEG conc conc n/a 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow - GHS 08 n/a n/a n/a 8.8 - 9.0 n/a n/a MEG (conditional) n/a Zitrec M-05 MEG 15 ready - 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -5 GHS 08 1.017 0.53 1.347 8.3 - 8.6 4.01 n/a MEG (conditional) 2.71 Zitrec M-10 MEG 20 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -10 GHS 08 1.027 0.51 1.368 8.3 - 8.6 3.98 n/a MEG (conditional) 1.80 Zitrec M-15 MEG 28 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -15 GHS 08 1.04 0.48 1.361 8.3 - 8.6 3.87 n/a MEG (conditional) 2.28 Zitrec M-20 MEG 34 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -20 GHS 08 1.049 0.44 1.368 8.3 - 8.6 3.74 n/a MEG (conditional) 2.67 Zitrec M-25 MEG 39 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -25 GHS 08 1.054 0.43 1.373 8.3 - 8.6 3.60 n/a MEG (conditional) 3.10 Zitrec M-35 MEG 47 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -35 GHS 08 1.066 0.42 1.382 8.3 - 8.6 3.36 n/a MEG (conditional) 4.05 FRAGOLTHERM W-ECO MEG conc conc - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW colourless / blue -15 GHS 08 1.04 0.48 1.361 8.7 - 8.8 3.85 n/a MEG (conditional) 2.34 FRAGOLTHERM W-ECO-20 MEG 34 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW colourless / blue -20 GHS 08 1.049 0.45 1.368 8.3 - 8.6 3.72 n/a MEG (conditional) 2.70 Zitrec LC MPG conc conc - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW blue-green -15 none 1.028 0.52 1.349 8.8 - 9.0 4.05 n/a MPG (conditional) 2.00 Zitrec L-20 MPG 38 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW blue-green -20 none 1.034 0.40 1.378 8.4 - 8.6 3.73 n/a MPG (conditional) 4.52 pro Kühlsole GLYKOSOL N ethylene glycol 96.2 conc / ready - 30 / 60 / 220 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -8 GHS 7 1.036 0.513 1.433 - 1.435 8-10 3.88 > 20 n/a 3.35 PEKASOL L propylene glycol 96.8 conc / ready - 30 / 60 / 220 / 1,000 / TKW colourless -6 n/a 1.017 2 0.470 (at 1.435 - 1.436 8 - 10 3.39 (at 27 %) n/a n/a 6.53 27 %) PEKASOL 2000 brine 32 - 100 (vol) conc / ready 32 vol 30 / 60 / 220 / 1,000 / TKW blue -10 n/a 1.111 0.53 - 8 - 9 3.41 - conditional with 2.30 PEKASOL 50

Climalife has solar fluid tested in Spain

The French supplier Climalife has had its solar fluid Greenway Neo Solar tested at the labs of the Spanish technology centre IK4-Tekniker, both as a concentrate and as a ready-to-use mix for frost protection down to - 30 °C. An ageing test was also performed. The fluid was initially heated for 500 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere at 12 bar, then for a further 250 hours at the same temperature and pressure, and finally for a further 72 hours at 200 °C. After the first 500 hours of testing the originally light blue fluid had turned brown. The viscosity remained unchanged. The pH value remained constant after 750 hours according to Climalife (before: 8.7, after: 8.73). Additionally, an infra-red analysis was carried out. A thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) at atmospheric pressure showed a stability up to 109 °C and a decomposition of the fluid, which was defined as a loss of mass of 5 %. In nitrogen this value was reached at 199 °C. A study by the lab using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed degradation temperatures of Photo: Climalife 215 °C in air and 290 °C in nitrogen.

40 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Manufacturer Product Antifreeze (ethylene Percentage Delivery Minimum con- Delivery size [L] Colour Tmin Classification Density Thermal Refraction index at pH-value A, B Specific. ther- Buffer Mixable Kinetic viscosity glycol, propylene glycol) (for declared form centration (only [°C] A according to GHS A [g/cm3] A, B conductivity minimum concen mal capacity alkalanity [mm2/s] A, B delivery form) for concentrate) [W/mK] A, B tration nD20 [kJ/kg*K] A, B [ml 0.1 N HCl] Aqua Concept CORACON KS 6 MEG 98.87 conc 25 30 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW green -13 GHS 08 1.045 0.49 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.73 n/a n/a 3.84 CORACON KS 6 F -13 MEG n/a ready 100 31 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW green -13 GHS07, GHS08 1.055 0.47 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.62 n/a n/a 4.61 CORACON WT 6N MEG 97.74 conc 25 32 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW green -11 GHS07, GHS08 1.044 0.49 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.74 n/a n/a 3.81 CORACON WT 6N F-20 MEG 37.63 ready - 33 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW green -20 GHS07, GHS08 1.068 0.45 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.48 n/a n/a 5.62 CORACON WT 6P MPG 97.74 conc 25 34 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW blue -13 n/a 1.026 0.47 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.92 n/a n/a 5.40 CORACON WT 6P F-20 MPG 37.14 ready - 35 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW blue -20 n/a 1.038 0.43 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.75 n/a n/a 9.58 CORACON GEKO N MEG 95.49 conc 10 36 / 60 / 200 /1,000 / TKW green -5 GHS07, GHS08 1.018 0.53 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 4.03 n/a n/a 2.41 CORACON GEKO EF -10 MPG 3 23 ready - 200 / 1,000 / TKW gelb -10 n/a 1.037 n/a n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.87 n/a n/a 5.14 CORACON GEKO AF-8 ethanol 14.9 ready - 200 / 1,000 / TKW blue -8 n/a 0.980 0.46 n/a 8.0 - 8.5 3.83 n/a n/a n/a Clariant Antifrogen N MEG 91.3 conc / ready 20 variable light yellow -10 n/a 1.033 0.50 1.357 7.7 1,2 3.90 at least 4 n/a 3.30 Antifrogen L MPG 91.7 conc / ready 25 variable light blue -10 n/a 1.028 0.46 1.362 8.7 1,2 3.90 at least 4 n/a 5.80 Protectogen N MEG 94.78 conc / ready 20 variable orange -10 n/a 1.035 0.50 1.358 7.6 1,2 3.90 at least 2.5 n/a 3.40 Protectogen L MPG n/a conc / ready 25 variable purple -10 n/a 1.028 0.47 1.361 8.0 1,2 3.90 at least 2.5 n/a 5.80 Climalife Solufluid® Heat Pump - 25 °C MPG n/a ready - 20/210 yellow - not hazardous 1.038 ± 0.002 0.42 1.382 8.3 n/a ≥ 6 MPG 4.10 Greenway® Neo Solar - 30 °C 1,3-propandiole n/a ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000/ TKW green - not hazardous 1.041 ± 0.002 0.41 1.389 8.5 n/a ≥ 4 no 5.50 Fragol Zitrec MC MEG conc conc n/a 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow - GHS 08 n/a n/a n/a 8.8 - 9.0 n/a n/a MEG (conditional) n/a Zitrec M-05 MEG 15 ready - 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -5 GHS 08 1.017 0.53 1.347 8.3 - 8.6 4.01 n/a MEG (conditional) 2.71 Zitrec M-10 MEG 20 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -10 GHS 08 1.027 0.51 1.368 8.3 - 8.6 3.98 n/a MEG (conditional) 1.80 Zitrec M-15 MEG 28 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -15 GHS 08 1.04 0.48 1.361 8.3 - 8.6 3.87 n/a MEG (conditional) 2.28 Zitrec M-20 MEG 34 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -20 GHS 08 1.049 0.44 1.368 8.3 - 8.6 3.74 n/a MEG (conditional) 2.67 Zitrec M-25 MEG 39 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -25 GHS 08 1.054 0.43 1.373 8.3 - 8.6 3.60 n/a MEG (conditional) 3.10 Zitrec M-35 MEG 47 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -35 GHS 08 1.066 0.42 1.382 8.3 - 8.6 3.36 n/a MEG (conditional) 4.05 FRAGOLTHERM W-ECO MEG conc conc - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW colourless / blue -15 GHS 08 1.04 0.48 1.361 8.7 - 8.8 3.85 n/a MEG (conditional) 2.34 FRAGOLTHERM W-ECO-20 MEG 34 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW colourless / blue -20 GHS 08 1.049 0.45 1.368 8.3 - 8.6 3.72 n/a MEG (conditional) 2.70 Zitrec LC MPG conc conc - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW blue-green -15 none 1.028 0.52 1.349 8.8 - 9.0 4.05 n/a MPG (conditional) 2.00 Zitrec L-20 MPG 38 ready - 20 / 210 / 1,000 / TKW blue-green -20 none 1.034 0.40 1.378 8.4 - 8.6 3.73 n/a MPG (conditional) 4.52 pro Kühlsole GLYKOSOL N ethylene glycol 96.2 conc / ready - 30 / 60 / 220 / 1,000 / TKW yellow -8 GHS 7 1.036 0.513 1.433 - 1.435 8-10 3.88 > 20 n/a 3.35 PEKASOL L propylene glycol 96.8 conc / ready - 30 / 60 / 220 / 1,000 / TKW colourless -6 n/a 1.017 2 0.470 (at 1.435 - 1.436 8 - 10 3.39 (at 27 %) n/a n/a 6.53 27 %) PEKASOL 2000 brine 32 - 100 (vol) conc / ready 32 vol 30 / 60 / 220 / 1,000 / TKW blue -10 n/a 1.111 0.53 - 8 - 9 3.41 - conditional with 2.30 PEKASOL 50

Notes: MPG = monopropylene glycol; spec = variable/customer-specific; n/a = not available; GHS 08 = health risk; GHS 07 = acute toxicity – beware; conc = concentrate; TKW = tank wagon; IBC = intermediate bike container; A at minimum concentration; B at 0 °C; 1 undiluted; 2 at 20 °C; 3 mix ratio 1:2 with water

Solar Edition 41 Solar thermal heat transfer fluids

Heat transfer fluids for geothermal collectors

Heat transfer fluids used in geothermal need to withstand less high temperatures. Low viscosity and good environmental compatibility are important.

For soil surface collectors the right mixture of the brine is important because they are regularly run into the freezing zone to use the latent heat of the surrounding ground when it freezes. Graphic: German Heat Pump Association/BWP

42 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Manufacturer Product Antifreeze (ethylene Percentage Delivery Minimum con- Delivery size [L] Colour Tmin Classification Density Thermal Refraction index at pH-value A, B Specific. Buffer Mixable Kinetic viscosity glycol, propylene glycol) (for declared form centration (only [°C] A according to GHS A [g/cm3] A, B conductivity minimum concen thermal alkalanity [mm2/s] A, B delivery form) for concentrate) [W/mK] A, B tration nD20 capacity [ml 0.1 N HCl] [kJ/kg*K] A, B Staub & Co. - Kühlsoleconcentrat N MEG 98.5 % conc 20 % 10/20/30/60/200/1,000/TKW green - 9 not hazardous approx. 1.037 approx. 0.51 n/a 7.5 - 8.5 approx. 3.88 n/a MEG n/a Silbermann Kühlsoleconcentrat MPG 98.5 % conc 20 % 10/20/30/60/200/1,000/TKW blue - 6 not hazardous approx. 1.022 approx. 0.49 n/a 7.5 - 8.5 approx. 4.00 n/a MPG n/a Spezial VA STAUBCOSOL BE ready ethanol approx. 17 % ready - 10/20/30/60/200/1,000/TKW red - 10 not hazardous approx. 0.970 n/a 1.342 - 1.350 7.5 - 8.5 n/a approx. 0.4 no approx. 1.843 2 - 10 °C STAUBCOSOL BE ready ethanol approx. 15 % ready - 10/20/30/60/200/1,000/TKW red - 8 not hazardous approx. 0.975 n/a 1.340 - 1.348 7.5 - 8.5 n/a approx. 0.4 no approx. 1.843 2 - 8 °C Tyforop Tyfocor ethylene glycol > 93 conc 20 vol % spec usually green - 9 GHS07, GHS08 1.035 0.489 1.3545 > 8 3.91 > 10 Tyfocor GE 3.35 Tyfocor GE ethylene glycol > 93 conc 20 vol % spec usually green - 8 GHS07, GHS09 1.034 0.491 1.3545 > 8 3.92 > 5.5 Tyfocor 3.29 Tyfo Spezial potassium carbonate n/a ready 100 vol % 20 / 200 green fluorescent - 13 GHS07, GHS10 1.274 0.54 - > 10 3.02 - no 2.90 Wittig Glysofor N MEG > 95 % conc 20 % 10 - 24,000 kg pink - 10 GHS 08 1.037 0.51 n/a 7 - 8 3.85 > 3 MEG 3.32 Umweltchemie Glysofor L MPG > 95 % conc 25 % 11 - 24,000 kg blue - 10 n/a 1.035 0.49 n/a 7 - 8 3.95 > 3 MPG 6.40 Glysofor TERRA MEG > 95 % conc 20 % 12 - 24,000 kg yellow - 10 GHS 08 1.037 0.51 n/a 7 - 8 3.85 > 3 MEG 3.32 Glysofor EVO N MEG > 95 % conc 20 % 13 - 24,000 kg pink - 10 GHS 08 1.037 0.51 n/a 7 - 8 3.85 > 3 MEG 3.32 Glysofor EVO L MPG > 95 % conc 25 % 14 - 24,000 kg blue - 10 n/a 1.035 0.49 n/a 7 - 8 3.95 > 3 MPG 6.40 Glysofor CARBO alkali carbonate < 50 % ready - 15 - 24,000 kg colourless - 12 GHS 05, GHS 07 1.250 0.56 - 11 n/a n/a if applicable n/a water

Notes: MPG = monopropylene glycol; spec = variable/customer-specific; n/a = not available; GHS 08 = health risk; GHS 07 = acute toxicity - beware; conc = concentrate; TKW = tank wagon; IBC = intermediate bike container; A at minimum concentration; B at 0 °C; 1 undiluted; 2 at 20 °C; 3 mix ratio 1:2 with water

sensitive in solar systems, as high temperatures accelerate chemical reactions. But it is also true for ground-source systems that “fluids without corrosion protection and PH stabilisers have not proved successful even with stainless steel and plastic systems,” says Bergemann. Gernot Krakat from Fragol also strongly advises making sure you have enough additives, both “qualitatively and quantitatively”. A big boost for This is not so easy in practice, for what is in the anti- freezes apart from glycol generally stays a renewables manufacturer’s secret. However, it is exactly these additives which most strongly determine how much damage the earth or even the ground water can suffer if heat transfer fluid runs into the ground from a leak. “Cooling brines should be free of benzotriazole, phosphate, nitrite and amines. Additionally, no carcinogens, mutagens or substances toxic to reproduction – so-called CMR substances – should be used,” says Sascha von Jeinsen from Staub & Co. - Silbermann. “Our new anti-freezes make do without any critical additives, especially triazole, which is often used in other pro ducts for protecting non-ferrous metals,” says Dirk Wittig from Wittig Umweltchemie. The good news is that deep leaks occur extremely rarely. “There are no known cases in Baden-Württemberg in which the ground water has been contaminated by a leaked heat exchange medium,” wrote the Baden-Württemberg state TYFO is Europe’s number-one supplier of cool- government in 2012 in response to a parliamentary ing brines and heat transfer fluids. TYFOCOR® enquiry by the SPD party – and this despite the products ensure reliability and long service approx. 27,000 ground-source probes which had lives for solar thermal and geothermal systems, wind turbines, and heat pumps. Quality — been installed in the state up to then. made in Germany. www.tyfo.de Eva Augsten

Solar Edition 43 Solar thermal Mountain restaurant

A frugal place to unwind

In the Goona mountain The mountain restaurant Goona needs to draw 450 kWh of energy every restaurant you can relax at the fireside after a day day to supply its guests with good food in a cosy dining room. To cover on the slopes. Still, it is that demand, it taps into three environment-friendly sources: the power worth to give a second thought at how the of the sun, the fire of a wood-burning stove, and the waste heat from a energy consumed up in the mountains has been refrigeration system. The three complement each other perfectly. generated. SUN & WIND ENERGY explains how. Photos (3): Fortner Speichertechnik

he mountain restaurant Goona paints a vivid season. “With the wood stove, the Goona is fully picture in figures of its daily energy consump- autonomous in the winter season,” says Werner T tion. Dining room, kitchen, cold storage and Neuhauser, Sales Manager of the Austrian company sanitary facilities need as much energy as it takes to Forstner Speichertechnik, which provided the heat cook 2,750 servings of noodles, transport 86 skiers a storage and recovery system. The amount of wood day on a ski lift, or wax 1,833 pairs of skis. But the burned can be adapted to the daily conditions best part is that the restaurant, which is nestled di- as needed. The solar thermal system delivers rectly beside the summit station of the Palüd cable 62,773 kWh of heat yield per year, says Neuhauser, car in the Brand skiing region of the Austrian federal and the heat recovery system adds a further 32,265 state of Vorarlberg, generates all of its energy from kWh. The heat pump contributes 6,980 kWh and the renewable sources. wood stove 27,750 kWh. The lodge is also aiming at On the south side of the building, solar collectors energy independence for the summer season. with a surface area of 23.8 m² provide hot water. Above the solar collectors are 70 m² of hybrid collec- It all comes together in the tors that supply both power and solar heat. Another stratified tank 35 m² of solar hybrids occupy the east facade of the building. In the dining room a 31 kW water-fed wood As skiers wend their way to the various lift stations of stove can be stoked up. The stove can pump 25 kW of the Brandnertal ski area, the alpine heat generators heat into the heating circuit through a heat ex feed their energy into an array of tanks. Depending changer. A refrigeration system and a 46 kW hot on the temperature, the solar and hybrid collectors water heat pump complement the energy supply for feed their heat either directly to a 1,500 l stratified the ski lodge on its 1,600 m high perch. combi-tank or one of two 4,160 l buffer storage tanks. Together, the various systems can produce more The excess heat from the wood stove and the energy than the restaurant consumes in the winter refrigeration system can be transferred from the

44 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 combi-storage tank into the big tanks for later use. A bus controller connects all the parts of the system to ensure that everything flows properly and the various components work together. On the slopes, the lift moves skiers to their desti- nations on the mountain. At the Goona, the combi- tank distributes the hot water to the kitchen sinks, the lavatories and the rooms. The ventilation system, a high-temperature heating system in the restaurant and kitchen as well as under floor heating in the restaurant, the kitchen and in the basement are all supplied separately from the buffer tank. The water- water heat pump plays a special part in the system. It can raise the energy from the buffer tank to the required temperature and transfer it to the central heat- As temperatures rise, the output of solar modules de- When skiers enjoy ing unit. It taps into the temperature level of the large clines. Hybrid collectors use this heat, thus cooling the sun terrace in fine buffer tanks that is in the range of the return-line tem- the cells. Solator does this with a heat-transfer fluid weather, the solar energy perature of the heating system, some 25 ° C, which is flowing through flat metal tubes mounted on the back system also reaches its no longer usable. In this manner, the storage tanks of the photovoltaic modules. highpoint. can be cooled down to 6 °C, leaving another 19 K to In addition, the hybrid collectors make it possible be used. to use a heat pump, since bore holes for ground- source heat pumps are prohibited in the mountains. Lounge and sun terrace “And for an air heat pump, it is just too cold at this provide energy elevation in the winter,” says the Forstner employee Neuhauser. The photovoltaic part of the hybrid collec- Ecology and sustainability are guiding principles for tors also provides more power than is needed to the energy supply in the mountain lodge, but they operate the heat pump, which means that there is also come into play in other aspects of the building. enough solar power left over to drive a refrigeration Designers have used wood to make the building’s system. superstructure from a renewable raw material. The op- The system draws heat out of the refrigerated timally insulated building is thus fitted with a wooden goods. To avoid simply discharging the heat into the cladding that harmonises with its surroundings. In- environment, where it serves no purpose and is lost, side, the wood creates a cosy atmosphere. The wood Forstner has developed the Frionic heat recovery sys- stove in the dining room not only creates luxurious tem. On its way to an external condenser, the refrig- warmth, but its open hearth makes the lounge, with erant in the cooling system flows first through a spe- its comfortable chairs, a comfortable space. The stove cial 560 l heat storage tank, where it is condensed in thus offers a triple benefit: it creates atmosphere, a separate refrigerant exchanger, heating up the con- warms the guests, and reheats the combi-tank. tents of the tank. The Frionic tank is connected to the When the weather is fine in the mountains, the central combi-tank. The concept has been well re- Goona welcomes guests in greater numbers. The ceived. The Skiarea Test team, which has been evalu- more guests come, the more energy consumption ating ski resorts around the world for more than rises. The amount of sunshine and increased need for 18 years, selected the Goona as the most popular hot water thus rise in tandem. This is a good precon- mountain restaurant of winter 2013/14. dition for using the solar radiation in collectors. When Joachim Berner the restaurant guests enjoy the warming rays and the panoramic views from the 500 m² sun terrace, the Solator collectors provided by Austrian company C. Bösch are hard at work, delivering high-temperature heat to the storage tanks. Refrigeration system provides heat

A bit less spirited, but no less useful, the Solator hybrid collectors also integrated into the facade of the terrace do their part as well. The waste heat from the solar cells with their low temperatures can be used either directly for the floor heating system or as a source of energy for the heat pump. Hybrid collectors The hot-water heat pump are considered an innovative way of boosting the ef- feeds its energy, like the ficiency of conventional photovoltaic modules be- other heat sources, into a cause they recover heat that normally goes unused. combi-tank.

Solar Edition 45 Photovoltaics intersolar europe

“Global PV Markets” conference at the Intersolar Europe: the main focus is switching towards Asia and America. Photo: Solar Promotion

“A very exciting time”

While photovoltaics has seen a strong decline in the Press Spokesman for the German Solar Association (BSW-Solar), at the “Global PV Markets” conference pioneering European countries since 2012, the markets the day before the Intersolar Europe Exhibition in in America and Asia are booming. By 2020, at the latest, Munich. Wedepohl only reckons with an addition of 1 to 1.5 GW in Germany this year, with 2016 at a sim- we could be seeing annual new installations worldwide ilar level. The politicians are apparently not interested in letting the level of the newly introduced tender- reach the 100 GW mark for the first time. ing for large PV systems grow above 400 MW a year: “It’s the volume control they want.” uture prospects for photovoltaics are superb. In That the politicians have reacted in this way is 2014, solar electricity systems with a total partly down to BSW-Solar, as its President, Joachim F capacity of 40.1 GW joined the grid worldwide, Goldbeck, indirectly admitted: “Yes, there were errors and in 2019 it could already be 67 GW according to in the past. Politicians see that solar was overfunded the middle scenario of the European Photovoltaic from 2008 to 2012. Information given by the PV Industry Association (EPIA), which is now going under industry was wrong. Politicians do not trust that the new name of SolarPower Europe. As the EPIA PV numbers are correct.” forecasts have not been particularly ambitious in the However, Goldbeck hopes that given the rapid past, the 86.5 GW in the high demand scenario is drop in generation costs, politicians can now grasp probably more likely here. The analysts at GTM the advantage of PV. The sector must develop new Research from the USA even expect a newly installed financing models; James Watson, Chief Executive PV capacity of 110 GW. Officer of SolarPower Europe, named the USA as a role model. BSW spokesman Wedepohl also had good Disillusionment in Europe news to announce; the prices for battery storage systems, which make own consumption attractive, have The sector is thus looking very optimistically towards fallen by 20 % between 2013 and 2015 for lithium the coming years. Only in the region where the systems, and even by almost 30 % for lead-acid bat- success story began is disillusionment predominant. teries. In this period, over 10,000 storage systems In 2011, solar electricity systems with a capacity of have been supported by the KfW development bank. 22.3 GW joined the grid in Europe, but in 2014 it was Reza Shaybani, Chairman of the British just under 7 GW. Photovoltaic Association, spread optimism, although Especially the former pioneer Germany is shaken; support for PV systems with a capacity over 5 MW it is a “rather sad picture” said David Wedepohl, through green certificates – so-called Renewable

46 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Obligation Certificates (ROCs) – came to an end on the banks do not yet have low-interest loans for PV 1st April. Shaybani stressed that his association had systems, however. built up strong relations with politicians: “We have learnt from the mistakes others made,” he said Heavyweights in Asia cheekily. But that PV systems on schools, for example, offered “massive potential” to fill the gap left by the China will remain as the largest driving force on the end of ROCs support, sounded strongly like forced global PV market. Frank Haugwitz, owner of the con- optimism. It is rather more likely to be the long pipe- sultancy Asia Europe Clean Energy (Solar) Advisory, line of ROCs projects with a capacity of below 5 MW reckons with an expansion of 14 to 15 GW this year; that will lead to Shaybani‘s forecast being reached, the adjustment of the feed-in tariff in 2016 will result namely that annual newly installed capacity will stay in strong activity before this. By the end of 2020 the at a level of 2 GW. This is because as far as the cumulative PV capacity in China may reach 130 to envisaged strong expansion of PV rooftop systems on 150 GW forecasts Haugwitz; this equates to an annual commercial buildings is concerned, there are still expansion of 17 to 21 GW from 2016 onwards. legal problems about the relation of ownership Japan, currently the world number two, will land between the lessor and the lessee. at the same level as the previous year in 2015, namely between 9.5 and 10 GW, according to the estimation Dynamics in North and of Izumi Kaizuka, an analyst at RTS Corporation. In the South America medium term the market will shift towards rooftop systems on commercial buildings, as grid capacities In the USA, power purchase agreements have helped and land for large solar farms are limited, said to develop the PV market, but it is primarily the invest- Kaizuka. Because of the reduction in the feed-in tariff, ment tax credit of 30 % for PV that is driving invest- she expects a slight drop in the market in 2016. ment. For 2015 GTM Research forecasts an expansion Its size and population alone gives India the of almost 8 GW. As the tax credit is to be reduced to potential to rise to become an important solar market 10 % from 2017 onwards, all observers expect that in Asia. The new central government under Prime the market will shrink initially after a boom. Minister Narendra Modi has ambitious plans: by By then new growth regions may have become 2020, 100 GW are to be newly installed across the established in South America. With an expected 1 GW country. This would mean a compound annual growth of newly installed capacity available this year, Chile is rate of 82 %, explains Tobias Engelmeier, Director of already looking very strong, but runs into a bottleneck the consultancy Bridge to India. His forecast: between when it comes to grid capacities. This is to be 2015 and 2019 there will be an additional 24 GW. eliminated by a new transmission line between the Engelmeier stressed the increased activity of large northern and the central grid by the end of 2018 at institutional investors and international players, as the latest, announced Marcel Silva, responsible for well as an improved regulatory energy framework. solar power at the Chilean Energy Ministry, speaking Apart from the big three of China, Japan and India, at the Munich conference. smaller PV markets in South-East Asia are also grow- In Mexico a lot still depends on the deregulation ing, led by Thailand and the Philippines. Pietro Radoia of the electricity market. The reform may be settled by from Bloomberg New Energy Finance forecast that the beginning of 2016, said María Jesús Báez, these two countries together with Indonesia, consultant at the Spanish consultancy Creara. Then Malaysia, Laos and Vietnam will install between private companies will also be able to supply 4.7 and 6.8 GW from 2015 up to and including 2019. electricity to large users with a power demand of at In 2020 the expansion in the region could lie between least 3 MW. One obstacle, however, is the highly 1.1 and 1.7 GW. volatile and recently sinking price of electricity of the The scenario put forward for the Near East and spot market. Báez still assumes, though, that PV North Africa by Nikolai Dobrott, founder of the installations will pick up strongly by 2017 at the consultancy Apricum, is even more optimistic. On the latest. In 2020 the newly installed capacity could Arabian Peninsula, in Jordan, Egypt, Algeria and Further information: already reach 900 MW. Morocco, 8.6 GW will be installed between 2015 and ABSolar: www.absolar.org.br Apricum: www.apricum-group.com The largest electricity market in Latin America, 2019 according to this. 2020 will see 2.9 GW in just Asia Europe Clean Energy (Solar) with over 130 GW, is in Brazil, however. Approx. two- that year alone. The main driver, according to Dobrott, Advisory: www.aecea.com.de thirds of demand there has so far been met through is the high consumption of energy due to the strongly Bloomberg New Energy Finance: http://about.bnef.com hydropower, but an ongoing drought has now brought growing population and the high costs of electricity Bridge to India: www.bridgetoindia.com PV more into play. In 2014, 31 PV projects with a total from oil-fired power plants. In contrast, there are new British Photovoltaic Association: capacity of 1,048 MW were awarded for the first time record-breaking offers of 6 US$-ct/kWh (approx. http://bpva.org.uk BSW-Solar: www.solarwirtschaft.de in a country-wide auction. For the two auctions in 5.3 €-ct/kWh) for solar electricity from tendering in Creara: www.creara.es August and November 2015, Rodrigo Lopes Sauaia, Dubai and Jordan. Shukri Halaby, Board Member of Edama: www.edama.jo Executive Director of the Brazilian PV association the Jordanian association of companies “Edama”, GTM Research: www.greentechmedia.com/research ABSolar, expects over 1 GW to be awarded once again. which is promoting sustainability, described the Ministerio de Energía, Chile: The projects must be finished between August 2017 mood as follows: “It is a very exciting time to see www.minenergia.cl and November 2018. Taxation and administrative prices come down that much.” RTS Corporation: www.rts-pv.com SolarPower Europe: hurdles for net metering are also to be removed, but Johannes Bernreuter www.solarpowereurope.org

Solar Edition 47 Photovoltaics cell and module technology Modules are more than just mass-produced goods

TwinPeak is REC’s high-performance series with 120 half-cells and four bus bars.

There is scarcely space The condemned live longer. Well-known cell and module manufacturers anymore for high-volume production of solar with big names and Asian owners are researching, developing and modules in Germany. Southeast Asia (pictured producing new cell and module concepts. Research institutes, too, are is the REC office in continuing their pursuit of higher efficiency. Singapore) produces on a massive scale. Photos (2): REC s early as last year’s Intersolar Europe, and The takeover by the Norway-based Elkem Group certainly at this year’s event, there was a has apparently done REC good. Agnieszka Schulze, Asignificant and clear shift in emphasis at the who is responsible for public relations at REC, con- trade fair. The new focus was a nod by Intersolar cluded: “We’re doing very, very well.” She emphasises organiser Markus Elsässer to the direction in which the autonomy granted by the new parent company the industry is developing. and, more importantly, “There is a willingness to Europe lost considerable ground as a location for invest in the brand.” solar cell and module production and Asian One of the most important changes, she says, is high-volume goods have been the beneficiary. the increased use of “home-made” silicon. The Elsässer’s intent was to realign his event towards in- company says that the silicon the solar division of tegrated system solutions: “The conceptual develop- Elkem produces with its proprietary process uses ment of Intersolar tends to occur in the substantive 75 % less energy than silicon made with either the expansion of themes, in fields such as energystorage, fluidised bed reactor (FBR) or the Siemens process. If grid integration, energy management and power to this information is correct, it would be an important heat.” Cell and module concepts seem to have competitive advantage. There are also other benefits dropped out of focus. associated with production in Singapore, where the company started production of its TwinPeak series in REC strengthened by takeover early 2015.

But, of course, Europe is still home to some PV PERC and PERT companies continuing to carry out research and development on the continent. REC, which claims to be REC has optimised production and increased Europe’s largest solar module manufacturer, also con- efficiency. The star of its portfolio is now a poly tinuously expands its production capacity – in Asia, crystalline 280 W panel from the TwinPeak series with however. By the end of this year, REC will increase its a module efficiency of 17 %. These modules offer out- production capacity from 820 MW to 1,300 MW. put and efficiency on par with monocrystalline

48 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 modules, says Schulze. Some specific benefits of the TwinPeak panels are their 100 % resistance to potential-induced degradation and ideal suitability for operation under harsh environmental conditions. The modules consist of 120 polycrystalline half-cells, four bus bars and a three-part junction box. The cells employ passivated emitter rear cell (PERC) technology. Separating standard wafers with a laser cuts re- sistive losses, while dividing the junction box protects the modules from excessive heat. Research continues to be one of the pillars of the European solar industry, and one of the key contribu- tions came from the international research network imec in Belgium. The scientists and engineers from the Belgian town of Leuven made a strong showing at Intersolar with a high-tech cell. Philip Pieters, the Business Development Director at imec, reports that the new n-type PERT cells have reached 22.5 % efficiency. In a press release, imec claimed that this is the highest efficiency ever achieved for a two-side- contacted solar cell processed on 6-inch commercially with the “engineered in Germany” quality label. Its “Engineered in Germany” available n-type Cz-Si wafers without the use of pas- approach seems to be working in view of the 1.5 GW has a good reputation. It sivated contacts. Pieters sees silicon technology as order it received from NextEra Energy, one of the includes quality guarantees the future of photovoltaics. “Si has the highest poten- largest power plant operators in the United States. backed by test results, such as tial. It opens the door to high-efficiency modules.” Q Cells is advancing its Q.antum series and was performance testing. seen at Intersolar promoting its Q.Plus-G4 modules. Photo: Hanwha Q Cells From the lab to the industry The basic idea of the series is reflection of incident light from its nano-coated back. This double use of The cell concept that the imec researchers are working light, along with other features, results in a module on is a PERT cell made from n-type Si. The abbreviation efficiency of 17.1 %. The top model currently has a PERT stands for passivated emitter rear totally rated output of 280 W. According to the company, the diffused. Just like the PERC cell, the Belgian PERT new Q.Plus-G4 module achieved the highest marks variant is not an entirely new concept – it was for low-light performance, as well as thermal and demonstrated some years ago as a small laboratory mechanical stability. cell. The success of the Belgian researchers can therefore scarcely be overestimated. After all, the Sand storm in Berlin n-type PERT cell that the imec scientists presented was manufactured on a conventional production line Against the backdrop of booming global photovoltaic from standard 6-inch wafers, something accom- installations, the Photovoltaic Institute Berlin (PI) plished with PERC cells some time ago. These takes to the desert – the simulated desert, that is. industry-like conditions would accelerate market The testing and certification company has developed adoption significantly, said the institute. The similar- desert testing, which exposes modules to the stresses ity of the process control to the standard silicon pro of a desert location. The stress factors are sand, dust, cess would make it easier for module manufacturers and high temperature variation. One of the most im- to introduce the new technology. portant tests is the abrasion test. Sand and dust The PERT cell concept is similar to the one used by storms not only make PV systems dirty but they also REC and the PERC structure, which is the structure of have an abrasive effect, which can cause permanent choice at several other companies. One benefit these damage. The testing systems at PI can simulate companies expect from both cell concepts is a front various types of deserts by manipulating swirling side free of contacts, which increases the aperture particles; long-term tests are also possible. area and boosts efficiency at the module level. All of Jörn Iken the electrical contacts are located exclusively on the back of the cell. The choice of the raw material is of crucial importance. Using n-type silicon offers the best potential. It’s all Chinese... Shortly before this year’s Intersolar, the sale of the solar company REC to Elkem Light from the back was completed. Anyone who thinks that the REC-Elkem deal was an intra-European transaction and thus a strong sign of life in the European solar Global competition to achieve the highest efficiency industry is mistaken, however. REC now belongs to Elkem, and the Norwegian is keen. Despite all of the changes in the solar company in turn to China National BlueStar, a subsidiary of China National industry, German technology is still relevant. Chemical Corporation – or ChemChina, for short – the largest chemical compa- Hanwha Q Cells, for instance, wants to score points ny in the People’s Republic.

Solar Edition 49 Photovoltaics inverters On the way to power plant standards

Central position in the The technical gap between PV systems and conventional power plants has module array: Sunny Central inverter from SMA been closed. That is not least thanks to the performance capabilities of the in Brandenburg, Germany latest utility-scale inverters, which in the meantime offer all the Photo: SMA functionalities necessary to handle high power outputs.

nverters for large-scale power plants, which are second table (page 52) covers the output class from to be presented in more detail in this market over- 10 to 100 kW and thus contains those inverters which Iview, do not differ essentially from inverters for usually establish a grid connection for PV installa- domestic installations. In fact, the dividing line be- tions on commercial buildings. In contrast to the tween “small” and “large” systems has been drawn top-of-the-range models, these mid-range systems rather arbitrarily at a nominal output of 10 kW. While are generally not yet geared to global use, as can be it is true that properties change with increasing size, recognised from the lack of a Californian efficiency this change is not tied to any particular limit. The only rating (CEC) in the table. And their weight is further- visible distinction compared to smaller inverters (rat- more an indication that some are even still suitable ings below 5 kW) is that systems for more than 10 kW for wall mounting. provide exclusively three-phase outputs, and that is also imperative in order to avoid unbalanced loading Efficiency close to the optimum on the grid side. Maximum nominal outputs are being pushed One thing common to all inverters, whether large or higher and higher. The largest inverters included in small, is that their efficiency is already close to the this market overview are able to deliver an output of physical limit. Customers would naturally like to see 4.5 MW. Such multi-megawatt inverters are expected efficiency ratings of 99 %, but the manufacturers are to control the PV installation in the style of a utility, quick to place dampers on these expectations. Further and this can increasingly be taken to apply to all in- efficiency increases would be highly cost-intensive verters with outputs of more than 100 kW. They are and thus hardly justifiable from an economic point of thus gathered into a table of their own (page 54). The view, not least since such technical feats could well

50 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 undermine system availability. “At full load or when limiting is active, the efficiency is in any case only secondary,” says Gerd Hackenberg, Vice President for Global Technical Consulting and Projects at SMA Solar Technology AG. “The more often you get into the situation where output must be limited, the less significant the level of system efficiency.” The possibility to increase efficiency by using silicon carbide semiconductors is for most manufacturers a topic for the more distant future. SMA states categorically that the use of such semiconductors is not yet a viable proposition. Jörg Leonhardt, Head of Research and Development for KACO new energy, is slightly more optimistic: “We have been using silicon carbide diodes for a number of years, and increasingly also SiC switches.” There are already a few SiC applications in the output class up to 50 kW, but hardly any concern a central inverter. Leonhardt believes that silicon carbide could also be used there in the longer term, at least once the semiconductor industry is “ready”. It remains to be seen, however, whether an adequate reliability can be proven. Consequently, the inverter REFUsol 020K-SCI from Advanced Energy can still claim to be the sole representative of its class. With SiC transistors in the High input voltage has many Standardised concepts output stage, it achieves an efficiency of 98.7 % and benefits are also finding their is thus the frontrunner for the output range from 10 way into multi-megawatt to 100 kW – topped only by the Sungrow SG 60 KTL, It is already well accepted that a high input voltage projects. Photo: Belectric whose even higher efficiency is to date still has considerable benefits. As a result, most inverters unexplained. are designed for an input voltage of 1,000 V. This

PVS980. Maximize yields without losing a watt.

ABB central inverters are designed for multi-megawatt PV power plants. The new ABB PVS980 central inverters are available up to 2000 kVA and have a robust enclosure to ensure outstanding endurance for outdoor use in the toughest environments. The high

DC input voltage up to 1500 VDC, high efficiency, proven components, compact and modular design, and a host of life cycle services ensure ABB PVS980 central inverters provide a rapid return on your investment. To discover how you can maximize your yields, visit www.abb.com/solarinverters

Solar Edition 51 Photovoltaics inverters

Market overview inverters >10 kW up to 100 kW (selection)

Manufacturer Type designation Max. DC power DC input Transfor- Cooling MPP- MPP voltage range Nominal AC Apparent Cosφ φ Max. European Own consump- Night con- Degree of Weigth [kWp] voltage [V] mator Tracker [V] power [kW] power (max.) efficiency [%] efficiency [%] tion (max.) [W] sumption protection [kg] [kVA] (max.) [W] according to IEC 60529 Advanced Energy REFUsol 020K-SCI 24 1,000 n/a convection 1 490 up to 800 20 20 0.8i … 0.8c 98.7 98.5 n/a 0.5 IP65 40 Advanced Energy AE 3TL 40 48 1,000 no convection 1 490 up to 850 40 40 0.8i … 0.8c 98.2 97.8 n/a 0.5 IP65 74 Bonfiglioli RPS 450 Compact 0030 30 1,000 yes n/a 1 425 up to 875 27 27 0.9i … 0.9c 95.2 94.4 n/a 20 IP20 400 Chint CPS SCA36KTL-DO-480 37 1,000 no ventilator 2 540 up to 800 36 n/a 0.8i … 0.8c 98.6 98.1 n/a 2 n/a 55 Delta RPI M50A 58 1,000 no ventilator 2 520 up to 800 50 50 0.8i … 0.8c 98.6 98.4 n/a 0 IP65 74 Fronius IG Plus 150 V-3 12.8 600 yes ventilator n/a 230 up to 500 12 12 0.85i … 0.85c 95.9 95.4 n/a 1 IP54 49 Fronius Symo 10.0-3-M up to 20.0-3-M 30 1,000 no ventilator 2 200 up to 800 20 20 0 … 0 98.1 97.9 7 1 IP66 43 Ginlong Technologies Solis-20K 23 1,000 no convection 4 300 up to 800 20 n/a n/a 98.3 n/a n/a 10 IP65 47 Ginlong Technologies GCI-30K 36 1,000 no convection 4 300 up to 800 30 n/a n/a 98.3 n/a n/a 10 IP65 50 Ingeteam Ingecon Sun 20TL M 26.8 1,000 no ventilator 2 200 up to 820 20 n/a n/a 98.5 98.3 10 1 IP65 60 KACO Powador 10.0 TL3 n/a 1,000 no ventilator 2 200 up to 800 n/a 9 0.8i … 0.8c 97.9 97.1 n/a 1.5 IP65 40 KACO Powador 72.0 TL3 Park 72 1,000 no ventilator 3 580 up to 850 60 60 0.8i … 0.8c 98.0 97.8 263 1.5 IP54 173 Kostal PIKO 20 22.6 1,000 no ventilator 3 345 up to 800 20 20 0.8i … 0.8c 98.0 97.3 2.1 2.1 IP55 49 Layer Electronics GC-242 55 1,000 yes ventilator 1 350 up to 850 50 n/a n/a 98.0 95.0 n/a 40 IP20 450 Platinum Platinum 16 000 R3-MDXB 15.5 900 no convection 1 350 up to 720 15 n/a 0.7i … 0.7c 98.6 98.3 20 1 IP66 44 SMA Sunny Tripower 17000 TL 17.4 1,000 no ventilator 2 400 up to 800 17 17 0 … 0 98.2 97.8 n/a 1 IP65 59 SMA Sunny Tripower 25000TL 25.5 1,000 no ventilator 2 390 up to 800 25 25 0 … 0 98.3 98.1 n/a 1 IP65 61 SMA FLX PRO 17 17.6 1,000 no ventilator 3 n/a 17 17 0.8i … 0.8c 98.0 97.4 n/a 2.7 IP65 39 SolarEdge SE17K 21.2 900 no ventilator 2 up to 750 17 17 n/a 98.0 97.7 n/a 2.5 IP65 33 SolarMax SolarMax 32HT4 40 1,000 no ventilator 4 430 up to 850 32 32 0.8i … 0.8c 98.0 97.5 n/a 0 IP65 70 Steca Elektronik StecaGrid 20000 3ph 20.5 1,000 no convection 1 490 up to 850 20 20 0.8i … 0.8c 98.2 97.8 n/a 1 IP65 38 Steca Elektronik StecaGrid 46000 3ph 46.9 1,000 no convection 1 575 up to 850 46 46 0.8i … 0.8c 98.3 98.1 n/a 1 IP65 74 Sungrow SG 60KTL 67.5 1,000 no n/a 1 570 up to 850 60 66 0.8i … 0.8c 99.0 98.7 n/a 1 IP65 55 Zeversolar Eversol TLC20K 29.1 1,000 no ventilator 2 270 up to 950 20 20 0.85i … 0.85c 98.3 97.9 12 1 IP65 48

value derives from the fact that, until recently, there As the PV installations become larger, however, were certain components which would not allow a the strivings to overcome this limit are becoming Agilo inverters from Fronius higher voltage. That applies not only to the modules, ever more urgent, because the benefits are evident. feed the electricity from this but also to junction boxes. For most applications to Longer module strings are possible and the neces- installation into the grid. date, furthermore, an input voltage of 1,000 V was sary cabling for the solar array is corresponding Photo: Fronius perfectly sufficient. shorter. Furthermore, the higher voltage means that currents are lower and thus that smaller cable cross- sections can be used. On the AC side, the lower currents reduce the cost of the transformers, because less copper is needed for the primary winding. Or else the same transformer can be operated with the same current strength but higher voltage to deliver more power into the grid. As corresponding components gradually come onto the market, the PV industry can begin to set its sights on 1,500 V as the future limit. “In our opinion, increasing input voltages to 1,500 V is without doubt the right development,” says Hackenberg. “After all, the cost of power transmission is reduced quadrati- cally with each increase in voltage.” With its Utility Power System, which SMA unveiled at Intersolar 2014, the company plans to make maximum use of this possibility for cost savings. The most favourable solution would be to feed power into the grid with an AC voltage of 690 V, because it would then be possible to follow the example of the wind energy branch and to use standard transformers. At the same time, this would permit the best utilisation of

52 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Manufacturer Type designation Max. DC power DC input Transfor- Cooling MPP- MPP voltage range Nominal AC Apparent Cosφ φ Max. European Own consump- Night con- Degree of Weigth [kWp] voltage [V] mator Tracker [V] power [kW] power (max.) efficiency [%] efficiency [%] tion (max.) [W] sumption protection [kg] [kVA] (max.) [W] according to IEC 60529 Advanced Energy REFUsol 020K-SCI 24 1,000 n/a convection 1 490 up to 800 20 20 0.8i … 0.8c 98.7 98.5 n/a 0.5 IP65 40 Advanced Energy AE 3TL 40 48 1,000 no convection 1 490 up to 850 40 40 0.8i … 0.8c 98.2 97.8 n/a 0.5 IP65 74 Bonfiglioli RPS 450 Compact 0030 30 1,000 yes n/a 1 425 up to 875 27 27 0.9i … 0.9c 95.2 94.4 n/a 20 IP20 400 Chint CPS SCA36KTL-DO-480 37 1,000 no ventilator 2 540 up to 800 36 n/a 0.8i … 0.8c 98.6 98.1 n/a 2 n/a 55 Delta RPI M50A 58 1,000 no ventilator 2 520 up to 800 50 50 0.8i … 0.8c 98.6 98.4 n/a 0 IP65 74 Fronius IG Plus 150 V-3 12.8 600 yes ventilator n/a 230 up to 500 12 12 0.85i … 0.85c 95.9 95.4 n/a 1 IP54 49 Fronius Symo 10.0-3-M up to 20.0-3-M 30 1,000 no ventilator 2 200 up to 800 20 20 0 … 0 98.1 97.9 7 1 IP66 43 Ginlong Technologies Solis-20K 23 1,000 no convection 4 300 up to 800 20 n/a n/a 98.3 n/a n/a 10 IP65 47 Ginlong Technologies GCI-30K 36 1,000 no convection 4 300 up to 800 30 n/a n/a 98.3 n/a n/a 10 IP65 50 Ingeteam Ingecon Sun 20TL M 26.8 1,000 no ventilator 2 200 up to 820 20 n/a n/a 98.5 98.3 10 1 IP65 60 KACO Powador 10.0 TL3 n/a 1,000 no ventilator 2 200 up to 800 n/a 9 0.8i … 0.8c 97.9 97.1 n/a 1.5 IP65 40 KACO Powador 72.0 TL3 Park 72 1,000 no ventilator 3 580 up to 850 60 60 0.8i … 0.8c 98.0 97.8 263 1.5 IP54 173 Kostal PIKO 20 22.6 1,000 no ventilator 3 345 up to 800 20 20 0.8i … 0.8c 98.0 97.3 2.1 2.1 IP55 49 Layer Electronics GC-242 55 1,000 yes ventilator 1 350 up to 850 50 n/a n/a 98.0 95.0 n/a 40 IP20 450 Platinum Platinum 16 000 R3-MDXB 15.5 900 no convection 1 350 up to 720 15 n/a 0.7i … 0.7c 98.6 98.3 20 1 IP66 44 SMA Sunny Tripower 17000 TL 17.4 1,000 no ventilator 2 400 up to 800 17 17 0 … 0 98.2 97.8 n/a 1 IP65 59 SMA Sunny Tripower 25000TL 25.5 1,000 no ventilator 2 390 up to 800 25 25 0 … 0 98.3 98.1 n/a 1 IP65 61 SMA FLX PRO 17 17.6 1,000 no ventilator 3 n/a 17 17 0.8i … 0.8c 98.0 97.4 n/a 2.7 IP65 39 SolarEdge SE17K 21.2 900 no ventilator 2 up to 750 17 17 n/a 98.0 97.7 n/a 2.5 IP65 33 SolarMax SolarMax 32HT4 40 1,000 no ventilator 4 430 up to 850 32 32 0.8i … 0.8c 98.0 97.5 n/a 0 IP65 70 Steca Elektronik StecaGrid 20000 3ph 20.5 1,000 no convection 1 490 up to 850 20 20 0.8i … 0.8c 98.2 97.8 n/a 1 IP65 38 Steca Elektronik StecaGrid 46000 3ph 46.9 1,000 no convection 1 575 up to 850 46 46 0.8i … 0.8c 98.3 98.1 n/a 1 IP65 74 Sungrow SG 60KTL 67.5 1,000 no n/a 1 570 up to 850 60 66 0.8i … 0.8c 99.0 98.7 n/a 1 IP65 55 Zeversolar Eversol TLC20K 29.1 1,000 no ventilator 2 270 up to 950 20 20 0.85i … 0.85c 98.3 97.9 12 1 IP65 48

transformers and switchgear. Generally speaking, electronic components are incorporated,” as this could also be achieved with an input voltage of Hackenberg sums up. The goal of an inverter service 1,000 V, though only with step-up converter. “The life of 20 years would hardly be attainable in that disadvantages of using a step-up converter are sig- case. Here too, therefore, simple solutions are the nificant, because the complexity of the inverter in- best, and a high input voltage is the most important creases and reliability suffers as more and more prerequisite.

Solar Edition 53 Photovoltaics inverters

Market overview inverters >100 kW (selection)

Manufacturer Type designation Max. DC DC input Transfor- Cooling MPP- MPP voltage range Nominal AC Apparent power Cosφ Max. European CEC weighted Own con- Night con- Degree of Weigth power voltage [V] mator Tracker [V] power [kW] (max.) [kVA] efficiency efficiency efficiency [%] sumption sumption protection [kg] [kWp] [%] [%] (max.) [W] (max.) [W] according to IEC 60529 Bonfiglioli RPS Endurance 0500 575 1,000 no ventilator 1 550 up to 875 500 575 0.9i … 0.9c 98.6 98.4 n/a n/a 25 IP20 900 Chint CPS SCA630KTL-H 650 1,000 no ventilator 1 500 up to 820 630 n/a 0.8i … 0.8c 98.5 98.3 n/a n/a 100 IP20 1,500 Fronius Agilo TL 460.0-3 (outdoor) n/a 1,000 external ventilator 1 600 up to 820 460 460 0.8i … 0.8c 98.6 98.4 n/a n/a n/a IP44 615 Fronius Agilo 75.0-3 und Agilo 100.0-3 150 950 yes ventilator 1 460 up to 820 100 100 0.8i … 0.8c 97.3 96.7 n/a 36 36 IP55 834 General Electric 600 kW Solar Inverter (60 Hz) n/a 600 n/a n/a n/a 300 up to 600 600 n/a 0.9i … 0.9c 97.0 n/a 96.5 n/a 250 n/a 3,175 Ingeteam Ingecon Sun 1000TL X400 1,347 1,000 no ventilator 1 578 up to 820 1,020 1,020 n/a 98.9 98.7 n/a 120 120 IP20 2,500 KACO IPS 2.0 n/a n/a n/a ventilator n/a 550 up to 830 n/a 2,000 0.8i … 0.8c 98.7 98.3 n/a less than 400 n/a 19,500 1 % KACO Powador XP500-HV TL outdoor 600 1,100 no ventilator 1 550 up to 830 500 500 0.8i … 0.8c 98.7 98.3 n/a n/a 110 IP54 2,200 Layer Electronics Windsun GC-254 275 1,000 yes ventilator 1 450 up to 850 250 n/a n/a 98.0 95.0 n/a n/a 40 IP20 2,400 LTi REEnergy PVmaster 450-250 CS n/a 850 yes air/water 1 450 up to 850 250 n/a n/a 97.5 97.0 n/a 1,000 1,5 IP23 10,500 LTi REEnergy PVmaster III ISO-Container Station 1,540 1,000 yes air/water 1 590 up to 920 1,400 1,400 0.8i … 0.8c 98.8 98.6 98.6 less than 6 IP23 9,000 PVMI.59.1400 1 % SMA Sunny Central SC 500CP XT 560 1,000 no ventilator 1 430 up to 850 500 550 0.9i … 0.9c 98.6 98.4 98.5 1,900 105 IP54 1,900 SMA Sunny Central SC 1000CP-10 1,122 1,000 no ventilator 1 596 up to 850 1,000 1,100 0.9i … 0.9c 98.7 98.4 98.5 n/a 105 IP54 1,950 SolarMax 360 TS-SV 430 900 no ventilator 3 510 up to 800 360 370 0.8i … 0.8c 98.0 97.4 n/a n/a 7 IP20 1,980 Sungrow SG 800MX 900 1,000 n/a ventilator 1 545 up to 820 800 880 0.8i … 0.8c 98.7 98.4 98.5 n/a 100 IP54 2,340 Zeversolar NSG-1000 NG 1,120 1,000 no ventilator 1 500 up to 850 1,000 1,100 0.9i … 0.9c 98.7 98.5 n/a n/a 200 IP54 6,500

The reactions among customers are neverthe- the most cost-effective means to produce solar elec- less reserved. The major EPC companies, which pur- tricity. Inverters play an important role, because they chase hundreds of thousands of modules every become ever better with increasing size. The average year, are especially reluctant to make themselves efficiency lies above the level achieved by small-scale dependent on just a few suppliers, because compe- inverters and the specific costs are lower. tition is essential to their business model. To date, Even so, growth remains subject to certain limita- there are only very few manufacturers (the best tions, because increasing output is necessarily ac- known of which is First Solar) who are able to offer companied by further expansion of the connected a 1,500 V module, and there is thus little room for module array which collects the solar energy. The dis- negotiation. tances to the modules installed at the outermost ABB’s PVS980 meets edges of the “catchment area” become longer and the requirements of the Is bigger also better? longer, and the costs of cabling increase accordingly. protection class IP65. The “The inverters themselves are less expensive per unit new central inverter was Large-scale solar installations need large inverters, of output, but this advantage is eaten away by the presented at Intersolar and this trend towards more centralised power gen- higher system costs,” Leonhardt explains. The risks Europe. Photo: ABB eration is certain to continue, because it is evidently are also greater: An earth fault in a multi-megawatt system can knock out the whole system. Leonhardt: “For us, therefore, the current output ceiling for an inverter unit is around 2 MW.” The economic optimum determined by SMA lies between 2.2 and 2.5 MW. But even that is just a snapshot in time, because “the optimum could well be raised again for the next system generation, perhaps to 3 or 4 MW,” says Hackenberg. SMA offers the Utility Power System in two variants: 2,200 kVA with an input voltage of 1,000 V and 2,475 kVA with an input voltage of 1,500 V. The inverters, medium-voltage transformers and switchgear are installed on a platform which forms a feed-in unit with an output voltage from 6.6 to 35 kV. The dimensions of the heavyweight components have been chosen such that four complete units, that is a total capacity of around 10 MVA, will fit into a 40-foot container. On the Intersolar, ABB presented an especially robust grid feed-in system. The new central inverter PVS980, which is available up to 2 MW, can be built

54 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Manufacturer Type designation Max. DC DC input Transfor- Cooling MPP- MPP voltage range Nominal AC Apparent power Cosφ Max. European CEC weighted Own con- Night con- Degree of Weigth power voltage [V] mator Tracker [V] power [kW] (max.) [kVA] efficiency efficiency efficiency [%] sumption sumption protection [kg] [kWp] [%] [%] (max.) [W] (max.) [W] according to IEC 60529 Bonfiglioli RPS Endurance 0500 575 1,000 no ventilator 1 550 up to 875 500 575 0.9i … 0.9c 98.6 98.4 n/a n/a 25 IP20 900 Chint CPS SCA630KTL-H 650 1,000 no ventilator 1 500 up to 820 630 n/a 0.8i … 0.8c 98.5 98.3 n/a n/a 100 IP20 1,500 Fronius Agilo TL 460.0-3 (outdoor) n/a 1,000 external ventilator 1 600 up to 820 460 460 0.8i … 0.8c 98.6 98.4 n/a n/a n/a IP44 615 Fronius Agilo 75.0-3 und Agilo 100.0-3 150 950 yes ventilator 1 460 up to 820 100 100 0.8i … 0.8c 97.3 96.7 n/a 36 36 IP55 834 General Electric 600 kW Solar Inverter (60 Hz) n/a 600 n/a n/a n/a 300 up to 600 600 n/a 0.9i … 0.9c 97.0 n/a 96.5 n/a 250 n/a 3,175 Ingeteam Ingecon Sun 1000TL X400 1,347 1,000 no ventilator 1 578 up to 820 1,020 1,020 n/a 98.9 98.7 n/a 120 120 IP20 2,500 KACO IPS 2.0 n/a n/a n/a ventilator n/a 550 up to 830 n/a 2,000 0.8i … 0.8c 98.7 98.3 n/a less than 400 n/a 19,500 1 % KACO Powador XP500-HV TL outdoor 600 1,100 no ventilator 1 550 up to 830 500 500 0.8i … 0.8c 98.7 98.3 n/a n/a 110 IP54 2,200 Layer Electronics Windsun GC-254 275 1,000 yes ventilator 1 450 up to 850 250 n/a n/a 98.0 95.0 n/a n/a 40 IP20 2,400 LTi REEnergy PVmaster 450-250 CS n/a 850 yes air/water 1 450 up to 850 250 n/a n/a 97.5 97.0 n/a 1,000 1,5 IP23 10,500 LTi REEnergy PVmaster III ISO-Container Station 1,540 1,000 yes air/water 1 590 up to 920 1,400 1,400 0.8i … 0.8c 98.8 98.6 98.6 less than 6 IP23 9,000 PVMI.59.1400 1 % SMA Sunny Central SC 500CP XT 560 1,000 no ventilator 1 430 up to 850 500 550 0.9i … 0.9c 98.6 98.4 98.5 1,900 105 IP54 1,900 SMA Sunny Central SC 1000CP-10 1,122 1,000 no ventilator 1 596 up to 850 1,000 1,100 0.9i … 0.9c 98.7 98.4 98.5 n/a 105 IP54 1,950 SolarMax 360 TS-SV 430 900 no ventilator 3 510 up to 800 360 370 0.8i … 0.8c 98.0 97.4 n/a n/a 7 IP20 1,980 Sungrow SG 800MX 900 1,000 n/a ventilator 1 545 up to 820 800 880 0.8i … 0.8c 98.7 98.4 98.5 n/a 100 IP54 2,340 Zeversolar NSG-1000 NG 1,120 1,000 no ventilator 1 500 up to 850 1,000 1,100 0.9i … 0.9c 98.7 98.5 n/a n/a 200 IP54 6,500

up in the open air (protection class IP65), and a spe- Intersolar, CEO Jean Decalf emphasised that this rep- cial cooling system that fends off the external air from resented an extremely cost-effective solution, all sensitive units is responsible for all electronics to although “there is nothing Chinese in it!” WSTECH function properly under all climate conditions. purchases all components in Japan, Germany and Besides, ABB has now also made up their decision Switzerland, and the product assembly is genuinely and is following SMA’s example to step over the “made in Germany”. An operator who plans to equip 1,000 Volt threshold. a 150 MW solar park and thus purchases a corre- KACO builds an Integrated Power Station (availa- sponding number of these new central inverters can ble with optionally 1,100 or 2,000 kVA) in which two calculate with a price of just 0.03 €/W. It is still too central inverters are combined into a ready-to-connect early to judge whether this modular solution really unit on a steel base. A similar approach has been cho- brings the lowest costs when everything is factored sen by the company Wind & Sun Technologies in; that will be shown by the experience gained in the (WSTECH), which combines six units with outputs of coming months, and at the end of the day it is the 750 kVA each into a 4,500 kVA central inverter. At market which will decide.

Solar Edition 55 Photovoltaics inverters

put, it can be installed without problem by two per- sons. KACO new energy is also targeting a specific weight of less than 1.5 kg/kVA. The best example is the new 50 kVA inverter of the blueplanet series, which was developed with the aim of offering a light and favourably priced unit for solar parks. It does without all but the essential, and thus also a step-up converter. This raises the start point for the MPP controller to 570 V, but that is not at all problematic, because this voltage is easily achieved with longer module strings. To account for the fact that less expensive aluminium cables are being used more and more frequently in solar park installation, KACO has enlarged the connection cross-sections on both the DC and AC sides. This detail is good illustration of how less expensive solutions are being sought for all aspects of PV power generation. How far are the Chinese?

Even the output classes above 10 kW are no longer exclusive domains which European manufacturers are able to protect against global competition. That Solar park with inverters Simplification to reduce costs became clear at the latest in October 2014, when from KACO new energy Chinese manufacturer Sungrow announced that it Photo: KACO It is undisputed that inverters become more cost- had gained the custom of German company Enerparc efficient with increasing output. The prices forinverters AG. Sungrow had already sold inverters to IBC Solar with outputs between 10 and 100 kW currently vary in the past. Each of the two EPC companies has al- within a range from around 0.07 to 0.15 €/W. ready installed PV systems with a total output capac- Economies of scale could reduce this price further, but ity of several hundred megawatts, and they are thus the numbers of units sold are increasing only slowly, especially interesting for a manufacturer specialised not least because higher outputs naturally mean that on mass production. fewer inverters are required for a particular project. Through their multiple activities in the fields of It is thus not surprising that some manufacturers engineering, procurement and construction, EPC are concentrating on simplification as a means to companies occupy a key purchasing position on the lower costs. With its Power Package concept, Fronius market, and when they acknowledge the quality of has developed a system solution to facilitate the the Chinese products, this can rightly be described configuration and installation of medium-scale solar as a breakthrough. plants. To this end, the “AC Combiner” unit provides As the standardisation of PV systems progresses, an interface between the inverters and the power it will become easier for Asian manufacturers to grid. penetrate the European market. After all, they The unit incorporates AC overvoltage protection specialise on standardised products and can deliver and the switch disconnector, among other compo- quickly. “Price and delivery time are decisive when it nents, and is delivered directly to the construction comes to standard solutions,” says Stefan Müller, site with pre-assembled AC connecting cables, mean- Chief Operations Officer of Enerparc AG, “and the ing that four Eco inverters (in total 108 kVA) can be Chinese products are not only available immediately, connected immediately. If six Symo inverters are but also as good as their European counterparts.” chosen, a maximum of 120 kVA is possible. Shorter But the market needs more than just off-the-shelf installation times and the elimination of mistakes PV systems. Müller summarises: “The larger the in- serve to reduce project costs. stallation and the more complex a request for tender, The new Fronius Eco is relatively light; with a the less likely it is that simple standard solutions will weight of just 38 kg for an inverter with 27 kVA out- suffice.” In such cases, the inverter manufacturers which prevail are those which can handle medium- and high-voltage connections, understand Further inverter data online compensation systems and are able to perform grid Beyond the listings in the table here, we have compiled an overview with analyses. That is indeed a domain of the major comprehensive technical data on more than 150 inverter models at European and North American inverter manufacturers, http://www.sunwindenergy.com/market-overview-solar-inverters. and they must learn to defend this lead in order to Filtering and sorting functions help you to find the particular inverter in which stay ahead in the face of global competition. you are interested. Detlef Koenemann

56 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 yield optimisation Photovoltaics Increasing performance and detecting errors Ensuring good yields is one of the responsibilities of a solar park’s technical operations management. Precise monitoring and, if necessary, economic optimisation are services that are becoming increasingly important to investors.

aced with historically low interest rates, inves- to 25 %. Distributed systems for tors are now discovering that large PV systems module monitoring and perform- Fare investment opportunities. There is money to ance optimisation are becoming be made during installation as well as management, more important, and this is clear- and the new investors are looking for suitable offers. ly evident with new installations. The Austrian company ENcome has expanded its The Israeli company SolarEdge monitoring system for investors and also made it Technologies is a pioneer in the more user-friendly. Christian Ettinger, Head of IT and field of power optimisation. Last Software Development, announced in mid-May of year, it equipped the largest sun- this year that the company had launched version 2.0 tracking solar park in Scandinavia, which is located Shadowed modules of the Internet portal ‘Energy Monitor’. One reason near the motorway between Stockholm and Oslo, are a case for power that the Austrian company upgraded its existing with 3,300 power optimisers and 62 inverters. The optimisers. Photo: dpa solution is because its customer base had changed. technology levels out the string voltage to a fixed “Up till now, our customers have mainly been bankers value, reducing the inverter capacity required by the with a relatively small number of systems in their 1-MW solar park by one-third. portfolios,” Ettinger said. Investors needed data for Power optimisers are DC-DC converters that can two to five solar parks. Now, however, majorinvestors utilise residual current from a module that is in the are getting involved. shade, for example. Normally, a shaded module goes These investors, which include many funds with into bypass mode and shuts down completely. Never- large fixed asset volumes, have up to 300 solar parks theless, it may still be able to produce a current of in their portfolios. They want to see and compare 30 % of its rated output. Bypass mode drops this re- everything. ENcome provides the service of entering sidual power, but an optimiser can utilise it, thereby master data into their systems. “Integrating data log- reducing the overall loss incurred by shade. It is im- gers and inverters from various manufacturers was portant to note that power optimisers installed in quite a challenge,” Ettinger said. He claims that close proximity to the modules, intelligent junction ENcome is the only provider that has developed this boxes and micro-inverters are all fundamentally dif- type of integration to market maturity. “The search ferent devices. The fact that they are installed close to function has a variety of filters, making it very easy to the modules as well as the partial overlap of their use. Systems that are found while the search is being functionalities occasionally leads to the lines of dis- carried out are immediately displayed along with tinction between them being blurred. information such as the current amount of solar radi- SolarEdge has various types of power optimisers ation. The search can also be narrowed down further in its product range that are designed as add-ons or while it is still running by adding search criteria. are integrated in the module connection socket. The Skytron energy is another major provider of concept behind this is a mix of centralised and decen- monitoring services. The yield generated by a PV tralised system technology. The system is decentral- system depends on many factors, and the company ised in the sense that MPP tracking is handled direct- understands this. For this reason, it offers complete ly by the module, but the string inverter still controls sensor packages. These package solutions provide the overall system and handles DC-AC conversion. the customer with comprehensive environment data This means that SolarEdge is separating two func- for planning, purchasing and installation. The sensor tions that would otherwise be centrally controlled by kits measure temperature, solar radiation, wind data, the inverter. SolarEdge promises an output increase rainfall, and humidity. of 25 % when there is shade. This separation also allows detailed monitoring of large-scale PV plants. The Optimisers increase the yield monitoring portal has been upgraded for this. A new icon and a corresponding warning for maintenance The purpose of monitoring is to ensure the contin- technicians and operators indicate system communi- ued performance of a system using target/actual cation errors, instead of simply indicating an inverter comparisons. Power optimisers, on the other hand, failure. are aimed at increasing the yield of the system by 10 Jörn Iken

Solar Edition 57 Photovoltaics solar faRMS Tracker technologies and mounting methods

Hill & Smith from the UK rely on panel slide-in When it comes to technology for solar farms, horizontal trackers are the big systems with correspon- thing these days. As a cost-effective material for substructures, steel is still ding racking profiles. This is intended to further gaining ground. Other trends include using state-of-the-art technology and reduce time and material consumption and assem- intelligent solutions in mounting technology, such as coatings. bly costs. Photo: Hill & Smith he U.S. economic research institute IHS expects Especially for trackers, this means using smart con- annual growth rates of the global photovoltaics struction methods in order to keep expenses and Tmarkets to surpass the 70-gigawatt mark by costs for statics, laying foundations, required space, 2018. Some 47 GW was newly installed in 2014, the number of fasteners, motors and controls just as which is 24 % more than in 2013. The segment of low as maintenance costs and investment risk. large-scale PV power stations was the driving force for this growth over the last few years, accounting for Tracker business is growing 30 % of the 170 GW installed around the world, and the outlook is equally bright for the coming years. While fixed mounting systems will continue to account Ground-mounted systems are the most important for the greatest volume, single-axis horizontal track- project type for large-scale power plants. Here, fixed ers are the order of the day, not least because of re- mountings compete with tracking systems that in- quirements in energy management (afternoon peaks clude horizontal or vertical single-axis or dual-axis in countries with strong sun, sustained electricity pro- trackers. Project developers and solar farm operators duction). With these systems, the panel surface are under pressure to reduce as much as possible the rotates on a horizontal axis from the east to the west balance of system (BOS) costs for investments and (see photo on page 60) throughout the day. A large the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) in operation. number of new systems and drive technologies are

58 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 For Exotrack HZ V.2, panel frames are placed on central pivotal points above the posts. A sector gear is driven by a torque tube across the rows. Photo: Exosun currently being developed. According to another IHS because of mutual shadowing, which is especially study, tracker business is already on the rise. The detrimental in countries where space is precious. global figure for single-axis trackers alone is expected According to Lahuerta, horizontal trackers by contrast to grow from 1.9 GW in 2014 to 9 GW in 2019. Sales achieve the same utilization of space as fixed mount- for this type could reach approximately US$ 2 billion ing systems while also having other significant bene- by then. The U.S. is regarded as the largest national fits: “Using the Exotrack HZ, we achieve 17 to 25 % market for single-axis tracker systems. Now that sys- higher yields at 15 % higher costs, depending on the tem prices have dropped considerably in the last few site.” She also said that up to 25 % higher yields years, Chile, Mexico and other countries with high might be possible, especially in the upcoming PV solar irradiation are also preferred target markets. markets of the U.S. and Chile. “The market for dual-axis trackers has collapsed The single-axis horizontal Exotrack HZ tracker is because this technology is simply too costly,” says the flagship of the company, which was founded in Maria Lahuerta, Marketing Director for French tracker 2007 and has so far built trackers for about 200 MW manufacturer Exosun SAS. Another drawback of the of PV. Exosun also has dual-axis trackers for concen- dual-axis tracker is the large amount of space needed trated solar PV in its portfolio. Internationalisation

AS 2.1 + EFFICIENT INNOVATIVE PITCHED ROOF SYSTEM + PROFESSIONAL

ALUMERO‘s most economical pv mounting system for + FAST pitched roofs is quick and easy to install. The system AS 2.1 scores with structurally optimized profiles and pre-mounted components. The ALUMERO SOLAR.PRO.TOOL supports you in the technical layout of the pv mounting system. It generates the project report, a material list and a verifiable structural calculation for your pv system.

Learn more about AS 2.1 at: www.alumero.com

ALUMERO Systematic Solutions GmbH Sonnenweg 1-2 . 5164 Seeham . Austria T +43 6217 6841-0 . [email protected]

MADE IN EUROPE Solar Edition WWW.ALUMERO.COM59 Photovoltaics solar faRMS

For their horizontal tracker, Array Technolo- gies Inc. from the USA have moved the drive beneath the panel frames by means of a newly designed gear drive. Photo: Array Technologies

led to branch offices in the U.S., South Africa,Mexico, of New Mexico, a 1.3 MW solar farm with new Brazil and Chile. In many countries, especially the Duratrack HZ v3 trackers from Array Technologies Inc. ones mentioned with Exosun branches, local content was recently inaugurated. The company, also located requirements can be met. In a case study for a 12 MW in New Mexico, has been building trackers for project in Arizona (U.S.), Exosun compared the 25 years and recently redesigned their horizontal Exotrack HZ to a fixed mounting system (at 0° azimuth, tracker from the ground up. Before, the module rows’ 25° module tilt). The result shows that standard central supporting tubes were driven directly, but power purchase agreements (PPA) frequently found across the rows. This required angular gears, which in the southwestern U.S. prove advantageous to were placed outside the module rows. For version 3, tracking technology thanks to the high summer peak the drive has migrated to beneath the module frames. purchasing rates. Horizontal trackers increase annual To this end, the Americans have redesigned the drive energy yields by 20.8 % and revenue by 21.1 % with a focus on a large gear drive. According to Array compared to fixed mountings. Technologies, the design now permits a much higher For Exotrack HZ, module rows consist of up to 24 energy density, especially since the distance between panels mounted vertically next to each other. Module the modules was also reduced by 1 inch to ¼ inch. To frames are placed on central pivotal points above the achieve this, Array developed a new type of module posts. A sector gear driven by a torque tube across fastening. Overall, the number of mounting points is the rows moves the module row from east to west at said to have been diminished from 25,000 to 10,000 an angle of up to ±50°. At Intersolar Europe in Munich, per MW; the number of driven posts was also reduced Exosun presented the second generation of Exotrack by 9 % thanks to a better balancing of loads. More HZ V2, which boasts an even more efficient drive and over, only half as many motors and control units are control system. One tracking motor can drive up to 30 needed – one motor can now move 650 to 750 kW. rows, which is approximately equivalent to 200 kW. A Array is presenting the DuraTrack HZ v3 at the control unit can now control up to10 MW, a significant Intersolar North America in San Francisco soon. improvement over the previous 4 MW. “We refer to Exotrack HZ as a low-impact tracker,” says Lahuerta. New suppliers She says that cranes aren’t required for installation and that thanks to the relatively short module rows, Some German mounting system manufacturers who the system adjusts to a site’s topography quite well, until now have only provided fixed ground-mounted as long as the downhill gradient is 10 % at most. systems have recently ventured into trackers and dis- Lahuerta says that the tracking motor’s electricity played their models at Intersolar Europe. While consumption is only about 0.25 % of the yield, since Habdank PV has designed a gear drive, Arausol and the motor runs less than 30 minutes a day. Moreover, Schletter are banking on pushrods. According to the motors are maintenance-free and greasing is not Schletter, the company couples 16 rows per drive required. Recently, Exosun signed an agreement with with each other using a standard mechanical push- Forza Systems in Mexico. The installation of a pilot rod. With this method, one drive can move about plant in the state of Sonora, northern Mexico, is said 1,200 m2 of panels depending on local conditions. to mark the beginning of a long-term cooperation. The Schletter FS Track-2 system is intended to be On the other side of the border, in the U.S. state maintenance-free and provide a tracking range of up

60 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Solar Edition 61 Photovoltaics solar faRMS

to ±55°. The company says backtracking – retracting In order to prevent damage to the tracker drive when long shadows are cast in winter – means that caused by the impact of wind on the module array, the site can be more densely packed with PV. It also most systems need damping elements. SafeTrack says that FS Track-2 is configured on a modular basis Horizon is especially suitable for desert regions, in line with site conditions and as the customer re- because its patented tracking system using steel ropes quires with a maximum extent of pre-assembly and eliminates the need for shock absorbers that are only a small number of small parts for easy handling. sensitive to sand,” says Axel Hartung, Head of Sales The Arausol and Schletter systems are already on the and Marketing at Ideematec. He believes the company market. was recently awarded a contract for three power plants in Jordan thanks in large part to the robust steel rope Low-tension wire rope technology technology. In April, Ideematec announced an order from Mexico. According to the company, safeTrack For a good two years now, tracker and mounting Horizon’s single-row layout was an advantage because system manufacturer Ideematec has already had hor- of the often hilly, non-rectangular solar sites. Their izontal trackers in its portfolio. Ground-mounted sys- horizontal tracker is suitable for all commercially avail- tems with the safeTrack Horizon have been installed in able PV panels and can be equipped with up to two South Africa, Cyprus, Namibia, Chile, Germany, vertical or four horizontal panel rows. Mexico and Rwanda. With this system, each row of Krinner Schraubfundamente GmbH is also at work modules is provided with its own drive by means of a on a horizontal tracker that will be adjusted to their universal shaft with fixed drive via posts and steel screw-in foundations. In May, Krinner announced that cables. Ideematec does without drive trains between the foundation had been laid for the largest solar farm tracker rows, which means that the safeTrack Horizon currently being built in Europe. In Cestas near can follow slopes of up to 20° in all directions and Bordeaux, a 300 MW power station is being built that installations can be carried out more rapidly and effi- is fixed to the ground by 200,000 screw-in foundations At Intersolar Europe, ciently. Free access between the rows facilitates main- (soil screws). The Krinner Flex V system is now being Ideematec presented tenance and mowing activities. For example, two built as a substructure in a new east-west mounting a tracker system with module rows can be put in a V-position and cleaned solution. For planning and construction, Krinner used a drive for each row of simultaneously. On the other hand, an advantage of drones, GPS-controlled surveying robots and screwing panels that works with a elements overarching the rows is that they can also machines. With the help of a drone flight, data were universal shaft and steel serve as a path for DC cables, which need not be collected to establish a 3D model of the topography ropes. Photo: Christian Dany buried, thereby saving additional costs. throughout the 260 hectares. A GPS-controlled robot then pre-drilled the holes at the points determined, before another machine screwed in the foundations. In Munich, Krinner recently demonstrated a machine that is supposed to perform surveying and screwing-in in one work step. It is fitted to a tractor and thanks to two lancets can screw in both foundations of one module row at the same time. Smart coatings

German manufacturer Mounting Systems GmbH has expanded its range of ground-mounted systems with Sigma I XL Steel, which is completely made of steel components and more cost-effective than the XL aluminium variant. It is based on a row of posts and permits east-west ground slopes of up to 10°. Framed or frameless modules can be mounted upright or transversely using time-saving Clickstone module clamps. A Magnelis coating is applied to the structural steelwork. This zinc-magnesium-aluminium coating from ArcelorMittal is self-restoring – scratches cause no corrosion. Magnelis contains less zinc that can be flushed out into the earth and, for this reason, reduces the environmental impact. CWF GmbH specialises in ground-mounted support systems and also relies on the Magnelis coating for the substructure of their Vario system. Besides quality and durability, CWF owner Jürgen Wolpert also emphasises a logistical advantage: “We can manufacture components and eliminate the cost and time-con- suming process of batch galvanizing. In so doing, we

62 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Want a revenue booOSTER?

Krinner used GPS-controlled surveying robots and screwing machines for a 300 MW solar power plant in France. The screw-in foundations serve as a basis for an east-west mounting system. Photo: Krinner save one week of processing and are explains, adding that the system is able to meet the short delivery dead- based on single-row driven posts and lines often asked of us.” He says that very adaptable to varying project re- Magnelis can bridge and be self-restor- quirements. “Since we keep the SolarKIT ing for laser cuts of up to 6 mm. When in stock, we can supply it to our custom- mounting modules, CWF gives clients ers in the UK within a few days and can the option of drill screws fitted with a also deliver it to international custom- LCOE* friendly solar tracker separated bit drive that are intended to ers at fairly short notice. Our key market prevent theft. is our domestic market in England. How- Boosts your revenue up to 5% more ever, we have already supplied projects than any other tracker Facilitating assembly in Germany, Bulgaria, Romania and Bos- nia and Herzegovina,” states Moritz. Discover how! Another option for saving assembly time Hill & Smith Solar also have in their and therefore costs is module slide-in portfolio the Back-2-Back Rail insertion systems with corresponding racking system and Omega Rail, a clamping sys- er Exo ov t profiles. This is the module mounting tem in which panels can be deposited c ra method that the solar division at Hill & on the system’s rails, if the clamps are is c k Smith, an English infrastructure and fastened. With the Back-2-Back Rail sys- D galvanising producer, is focusing on. tem, panels are secured after insertion H

“Modules can be easily inserted and en- using a screw that is applied from below Z gaged in the rack frame. No clamps are and are therefore absolutely stable in required,” says Marketing Manager position. Additional lateral cover plates Michaela Moritz. Hill & Smith Solar is serve as an anti-theft device. Both sys- now launching a slide-in system that tems are made to measure. Hill & Smith comes as a kit on the market. “Our usually install U-shaped spacers, which * Levelized Cost Of Energy SolarKIT is a standardised system that are separators made from plastics that Call now +1 415 422 9625 / +33 5 56 64 09 24 or visit www.exosun.net is delivered complete with all compo- are attached to a panel frame on all four nents and is suitable for small-scale sides. They prevent contact corrosion ground-mounted systems between 3 kW between aluminium and steel. All sys- and 1 MW. The rails are adapted to the tems feature hot-dipped galvanised most common panel frame heights. The posts and rails with zinc-magnesium customer can choose between tables for coating. upright or transverse mounting,” Moritz Christian Dany

Solar Edition 63 Photovoltaics Solar skyscrapers

From the construction of the first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building in 1885 in Chicago, architects, engineers and urban designers have thrust technology to meet the growing demand of space in cities. The energy performance of skyscrapers has also evolved over time. The preferred approach to energy concepts will determine energy consumption in cities for decades. The solar industry has a High-rises, role to play in that.

he first 10-story skyscraper – the 42 m high the new Home Insurance Building – was built thanks to Tthe introduction of the elevator and the steel frame, which allowed going higher without placing all weight on the masonry. These innovations gave way to a sprawl of high-rises in Chicago and New York. symbols of Developers began to compete in the construction of the tallest towers: the Chrysler Building in 1930, the Empire State Building in 1931, the World Trade Center in 1971 and the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) in (solar) power Chicago in 1973. At the turn of the century, the competition moved east, with the opening, in 1998, of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, followed in 2004 by the Taipei World Financial Center and, in 2010, the Khalifa Tower in Dubai. With its 829 m, this is the tallest skyscraper in the world to date. The energy performance of such constructions has also evolved over time. A study by consultancy Terrapin Bright Green on the 1958-73 Manhattan office towers highlights that “all of these buildings have heating, cooling and ventilation systems optimised for an era in which natural resources were cheap and plentiful.” It adds: “Curtain wall construction was very rare, and double-glazed buildings did not become prevalent until after 1974, as a response to the 1973 energy crisis.” Today, environmental and energy concerns are top of the agenda, especially with increasing urbanisation, growing energy demand and looming climate change. “At the current pace of urbanisation, the world’s cities will add 65 million inhabitants a year between now and 2025,” predicts McKinsey&Company. The solar industry has a role to play in “The resulting demand for infrastructure will mean transforming high-rises, which are major that each year, India alone will need to add as much energy consumers, into energy producers. floor space as exists in all ofChicago, and China more Photo: Solarcentury than twice that. The way the world builds now will

64 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 determine urban sustainability – in emissions, waste production, and water use – for decades.” Solar retrofit of the CIS Tower in Manchester, One of the challenges will be to transform high-rises, which are major energy consumers, into United Kingdom, 2006 energy producers. The solar industry has a role to When it was built in 1962, The Co-operative Insurance (CIS) headquarters in play in that. New technologies and renewable power Manchester was the tallest building in the United Kingdom. The façade was covered systems are increasingly deployed in skyscrapers, by mosaic tiles, which however “began to fail a mere six months after the building both in new constructions and in the retrofit of old was completed,” says a note by solar energy company Solarcentury. This became a buildings. An example of a roof-mounted solar PV health and safety issue and a solution was found in replacing the tiles with photo- array is provided by the Deutsche Bank building in voltaic panels. Solarcentury worked on the retrofitting with Arup, an international New York. In 2012, a 122.4 kW solar photovoltaic firm of designers and engineers. The project was completed in 2006, making the system was installed on the bank’s American head- tower (25 floors, 118 m high) the largest solar array in Europe at the time. quarters, a 50-story building at 60 Wall Street. At The ventilated solar weatherproof cladding includes 7,244 80 W modules. 227 m above ground, it was the most elevated solar 4,898 modules are func- photovoltaic (PV) system in the world. tional, generating an es- timated 390 kW, or a to- A question of space availability tal 333,000 kWh of elec tricity annually. “870 ‘full Roof space, however, is limited, and a better chance size’ dummy modules, to develop solar energy capacity is to utilise the 109 ‘medium size’ dum- façades’ surface. In 2011, an experimental project my modules and 1,367 was launched at the Willis Tower in Chicago, where edge modules were used Pythagoras Solar replaced the windows of the 56th to optimise the system’s floor with high power density photovoltaic glass units electrical generation and

(PVGUs). PVGUs lay typical mono crystalline silicon minimise costs,” says Photo: Solarcentury solar cells between two layers of glass to form an Solarcentury. individual tile. An internal plastic reflective prism directs angled sunlight onto the solar cells but allows diffuse daylight through. The purpose of this modernised and have their performance significantly operation was mainly to test costs and benefits. enhanced by fully inclusive and responsive façade re- Meanwhile, a larger project has been carried out modelling,” says Dutch architect Ben van Berkel of in Manchester, UK, where Solarcentury clad The UNStudio, in charge of the design. Co-operative Insurance (CIS) building with ventilated While the market of building-integrated solar weatherproof modules. Another project is cur- photovoltaics (BIPV) is set to grow, not least because rently ongoing in Seoul, Korea, as the facelift of their cost is offset by saving on building materials, Hanwha’s headquarters includes the installation of another promising technology is the heliostat. This is PV cells on the façade (see text boxes). “The new a mirror reflecting sunlight towards a determined façade for the Hanwha headquarter demonstrates target directly using solar power for light and heat that existing buildings can be substantially instead of first converting it into electricity. Heliostats

Solar Edition 65 Photovoltaics Solar skyscrapers

have been used in the development of One Central The sun and the moon light One Central Park, Park in Sydney by French architect Jean Nouvel (see text box on the left) and will be placed on the south Sydney, Australia façade of the 10MW Skyscraper being built in Dubai. Inaugurated in 2014, two landmark towers in Sydney, designed by French Designed by Studied Impact and named after the re- architect Jean Nouvel, are experimenting with the use of heliostats. The towers newable energy capacity it will carry, this will be the are part of One Central Park, the Carlton & United Brewery Site being redeveloped first skyscraper to neutralise its overall carbon foot- near Central Station. They comprise two residential blocks of 34 and 12 stories, print in less than 20 years thanks to the clean energy sitting on a common retail and recreational podium. The residential surface is it will generate. The tower will include a 5 MW wind 48,391 m², while retail covers 19,235 m². turbine, a 3 MW concentrated solar power armature The key features of this development are a vertical landscaped garden de- and a 2 MW solar updraft for a yearly output of signed with artist and botanist Patrick Blanc, and the use of heliostats, sun- approximately 20,000 MWh. tracking mirrors that bring programmable amounts of direct sun into shaded are- As the solar technology progresses reducing as for light and heat. “40 heliostats on the lower tower reflect direct sunlight up costs and improving efficiency, architects believe that to 320 Fresnel reflectors on a cantilever off the taller tower, which then beam the the next step will be to focus on aesthetics. This will light down into an atrium, onto a pool deck and into the park,” explains a note by be necessary to better integrate solar power into the Ateliers Jean Nouvel. “A layer of water on the atrium glass roof functions as a buildings’ design and to promote a wider understand- drainable heat filter. It absorbs the infrared spectrum of the direct sunlight in the ing of its value. “Without background information or summer and naturally cools down by evaporation. In winter the roof pond can be expertise, it can be difficult to distinguish a zero net drained, so that the sunlight can help heat the space below.” energy project from the most wasteful buildings The heliostat system is adapted by hour and season to shift the light where standing right next to it,” says a briefing by Ateliers

Graphic: Design architect – Ateliers Jean Nouvel; it is most needed. It redirects up Jean Nouvel. “In order to transform environmental Local collaborating architect – PTW Architects to 200 m² of direct sunlight and commitments into visible architecture, it seems that uses between 40 % and 60 % of the design approach has to widen, go beyond the rat- the corresponding power during ing checklists and invent new technical solutions that Sydney’s 2,600 annual sunshine may not yet get credited, but still push the perform- hours. “This is a relatively high ance beyond the requirements and are clearly visible efficiency, because solar power is to anyone.” being used directly for light and A conference organised by the EU Photovoltaic heat instead of first being Technology Platform on 8 July 2015 (after press date converted into electricity,” they of this issue) in London will discuss how architects, add. “At night, LED lights on the builders and PV technology suppliers can work 320 reflectors create a monu together to promote BIPVs in Europe. mental urban chandelier that Claudia Delpero

simulates reflections of glittering Further information: water from the nearby harbour. Building the cities of the future with green districts: www.mckinsey. On a full moon night, the com/insights/sustainability/building_the_cities_of_the_future_ with_green_districts?cid=other-eml-alt-mip-mck-oth–1505 heliostats redirect forty reflec- Deutsche Bank Headquarter in New York: tions of the moon and make them www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9L3HwGaVU8 visible in the park.” One Central Park: http://studiedimpact.com/sustainable5.shtml#

Reflecting a solar image at Hanwha headquarters in Seoul, Korea, 2013 Built in the 1980s, the Hanwha office tower in Seoul did not reflect the image of a leading environmental technology provider. Founded in 1952, Hanwha Group is the third largest photovoltaic producer in the world, with an annual cell production capacity of 2.4 GW. Its products and services span across manufacturing and construction, finance and leisure. The renovation is carried out by UNStudio, an Amsterdam-based firm specialised in architecture and urban development, teaming up with Arup (sustainability and façade consultant) and Loos van Vliet (landscape designer). The facelift includes the remodelling of the façade, the interior common spaces, lobbies, meeting levels, the auditorium and the executive areas, as well as the landscaping. As part of the project, 301 Hanwha Q Cells solar panels (1,350 x 680 mm) will be installed on the façade and 414 on the roof, for a maximum capacity of 107 KW (the black dots in the drawing show where the PV panels will be posi- tioned). The existing façade contained horizontal bands of opaque panelling and single layers of dark glass, which has been replaced by clear insulated glass and aluminium framing to accentuate views and daylight comfort while reducing energy consumption. “PV cells are placed on the opaque panels on the South – Southeast façade at the open zones where there is an optimal amount of direct sunlight,” explains UNStudio. Graphic: UNStudio, Amsterdam

66 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 U.s. utility-scale PV Photovoltaics Record pipeline

Utility-scale PV in the USA is booming. Major drivers are continued falling 268 MW solar park Mount Signal Solar in California costs and investments pouring in ahead of the announced reduction in the Photo: Array Technologies solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) which will take effect at the end of 2016.

he utility PV sector is still the bedrock of de- in the first quarter of 2015 to 1.58 US$/WDC, accord- mand within the U.S. solar market. Large plants ing to surveys conducted by GTM Research and SEIA, Twith a total capacity of nearly 4 GW went onto a decrease of 13 US$-ct over the first quarter of 2014. the grid in 2014. This corresponds to 63 % of the to- Meanwhile, prices paid for solar power in power pur- tal PV installations of 6.2 GW and, according to data chase agreements (PPA) in the sunbelt of the United from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), States are in many cases lower than 5 US$-ct/kWh. In an increase of approximately 38 % compared with 2014, 32 % of all new electric generating capacity in 2013. Added to that was 767 MW of new concentra- the U.S. came from solar, second only to natural gas ted solar power (CSP) generation capacity. The (42 %). Now solar power is gaining even more trac- world’s two largest ground-mounted PV plants Topaz tion, “The share of solar in all new electric generating Solar and Desert Sunlight, both from First Solar, went capacity in the U.S. increased to 51 % in Q1 2015,“ into full operation with a capacity of 673 MW each at the end of last year (see table). A total of 15 utility- scale installations with more than 100 MW were PV integrator rankings in the USA added to the grid in 2014. The average size of the (2014) for utility-scale newly installed large-scale PV systems was 28 MW. PV systems > 5 MW “We expect the utility segment will continue to carry the largest share of the market,” said SEIA Vice 1 First Solar President Tom Kimbis. The association expects PV ex- 2 SunPower 3 SunEdison pansion of some 8 GW in 2015 (see graphic p. 68). 4 Strata Solar U.S. utilities are thus increasingly banking on so- 5 Fluor lar power. After all, a continued decline in balance of 6 AMEC system costs (BOS costs) means that large-scale PV 7 Mortenson 8 EDF Energy systems in particular are increasingly competitive 9 Canadian Solar with conventional power plants. The average system 10 Abengoa price for non-tracking, large-scale systems dropped Source: IHS Technology

Solar Edition 67 Photovoltaics U.S. utility-scale PV

The largest PV projects in the U.S. Annual solar megawatts

Project name Developer Capacity State Offtaker Owner(s) On-line by utility 2014 (MWDC) date 1 Pacific Gas & Electric (CA) 1,504 Desert Sunlight First Solar 673.0 CA Soutern California NextEra Energy 2013-2014 Edison, Resources, 2 Southern California Edison (CA) 1,043 Pacific Gas & Electric GE Energy Financial 3 San Diego Gas & Electric (CA) 430 Services, 4 Duke Energy Progress (NC, SC) 161 Sumitomo 5 National Grid (MA) 123 Topaz Solar Farm First Solar 673.0 CA Pacific Gas & Electric MidAmerican Energy 2013-2014 6 Arizona Public Service (AZ) 91 Holdings 7 Jersey Central Power & Light (NJ) 86 Solar Star: Phase 1-5 SunPower 535.7 CA Southern California MidAmerican Energy 2013-2014 8 Tucson Electric Power (AZ) 73 Edison Holdings 9 NV Energy (NV) 71 10 El Paso Electric (NM, TX) 63 Agua Caliente Solar First Solar 333.4 AZ Pacific Gas & Electric NRG Energy, 2012-2014 MidAmerican Energy Average for all others 5 Holdings Total for all others 1,668

California Valley SunPower 287.4 CA Pacific Gas & Electric NRG Energy 2012-2013 Source: Utility Solar Market Snapshot 2014, SEPA, May 2015 Solar Ranch: I -V Antelope Valley Solar First Solar 283.7 CA Pacific Gas & Electric Exelon Corporation 2012-2014 Ranch One: Phase 1-3 Sempra Copper Sempra U.S. 272.7 NV Sempra U.S. Gas & Sempra U.S. Gas & 2014 says GTM Research Senior Vice President Shayle Mountain 3: Phase 1-6 Gas & Power Power, Con Edison Power, Con Edison Kann. The U.S. utilities integrated a total of 16.31 GW Mount Signal 8minutenergy, 260.0 CA Riverstone Holdings, Riverstone Holdings, 2014 of solar into their portfolios, 11.24 GW alone in the Solar Farm Silver Ridge SunEdison SunEdison Power top 10 companies, according to the Solar Electric Power Association’s (SEPA) recent Utility Solar Market Centinelar Solar LS Power 251.9 CA LS Power LS Power 2013-2014 Snapshot. The two leading companies, Pacific Gas & Solar Gen 2 First Solar 194.7 CA Southern Company, Southern Company, 2014 First Solar First Solar Electric (San Francisco) and Southern California Edi- son, expanded their solar portfolios last year alone Table/Source: GTM Research U.S. Utility PV Tracker by 1.5 GW and 1.04 GW, respectively (see text box U.S. solar industry forecast above). Another important factor in the U.S. power companies’ strong commitment to solar power is renewable portfolio standards policy. These standards require utilities in many states to increase the share of renewable energy in their power mix to certain minimum quotas. In California, the target is currently 33 % by 2020. Governor Jerry Brown recently proposed an increase in the share of green electricity in the Golden State to 50 % by 2050 at the latest. The announcement of a reduction in the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) on 31 December 2016 is driving investments in utility-scale systems. The credit will be reduced from its current level of 30 % to 10 % for utility-scale and non-residential. It is based on the amount of investment in solar property. Com- panies that install, develop or finance projects use the credit to reduce their income tax. GTM Research says that the planned tax credit cut has driven the project pipeline for utility-scale plants to a record high of nearly 15 GW for contracted projects with a signed PPA and more than 27 GW of announced Modelled utility turnkey fixed tilt PV system/Utility turnkey one- projects at the pre-contract stage (see graphic p. 69). axis tracking pricing “Most developers are now focused on finishing as many large-scale plants as possible by 2016 to take full advantage of the tax break,” says Kann. Although the first quarter 2015 saw relatively modest growth, with a newly installed capacity of 664 MW of utility- scale systems, “The highlight of this quarter for the segment was not what came on-line, but rather what was procured and added to the pipeline,” says the GTM Research Vice President. Currently there are 25 project developers that have pipelines of 100 MW or more under development. The analysts also expect the non-residential market to pick up again. A bit more than 1 GW of non- residential systems were newly installed in 2014, down 6 % from 2013. In the first quarter of 2015, the

68 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Solar park built by AllEarth Renewables Photo: NREL figure was a mere 225 MW, out of a total of 1.3 GW. BOS costs. Although installed system costs for non- “Customer origination, project finance and state in- residential systems have fallen since the first quarter centive reductions continue to challenge this seg- of 2014 from US$ 2.53 to US$ 2.19, when compared ment,” says Kann. with low installation costs in markets like Germany, But despite these challenges, five of the six there is certainly room for them to come down even largest non-residential state markets did grow com- further. The same is true of the inverter market. Ana- pared with Q1 2014. “Non-residential solar’s incre- lysts like Cormac Gilligan of IHS expect competitive mental rebound in 2015 is expected to come from pressure to increase even further in the U.S. Ultimate- three factors: California’s utilities expanding their ly, it is probably largely dependent on further cost solar-friendly tariffs for commercial solar, community development whether the planned reduction in the solar’s emergence, and corporate procurement of on- ITC will create the huge hole that the SEIA has fore- site solar”, says the latest U.S. Solar Market Insight cast. They fear a market collapse of more than 50 % Report by GTM Research and SEIA. Another key factor in 2017. here is certain to be the extent to which installed sys- Hans-Christoph Neidlein tem costs can be reduced for this broad market segment, which ranges from company carports, commu- Utility PV pipeline nity solar projects and solar installations on schools to commercial rooftop installations and solar farms up to a maximum size of 1 MW. In addition to a further simplified permitting process, this market, like others, will benefit mainly from further reductions of

Largest tracker market According to IHS, the USA was by far the largest market in the world for trackers last year. The global PV tracker market increased by more than 60 % to reach 4 GW in 2014. The three leading companies, Array Technologies, SunPower and First Solar compromised 40 % of the market. Like the world’s fourth-ranked company NEXTracker, they are all U.S. based. According to IHS analyst Cormac Gilligan, First Solar and other module suppliers with in-house tracking systems will increasingly use single-axis tracking systems for the PV projects they develop themselves. (HCN)

Solar Edition 69 Photovoltaics U.S. Residential Solar Riding the wave of success

Residential solar energy is on the rise in the United States. Largely stable framework conditions, third-party financing and other innovative business models are driving the market. The next big trend will be combining solar power with energy storage systems.

he comments in social media on the recent innovative financing options and business models reports of growth in residential solar markets are also providing impetus. Tin the USA are brimming with enthusiasm: Residential rooftop systems are still significantly “Fantastic!”, “Amazing!”, “I am proud!”, “Let‘s make more expensive in the USA than in Germany and other America strong with solar!” The first quarter of the European markets. Nevertheless, within one year, year is usually weak for rooftop PV systems on the cost of a turnkey roof-mounted systems fell privately-owned buildings, but that did not stop the by more than 10 % from US$ 3.83/WDC [Q1 2014] to market from growing by a newly-installed capacity of US$ 3.46/WDC [Q1 2015] (graphic p. 72). And SEIA 400 MW this year. This is a whopping 75 % increase spokeswoman Alex Hobson emphasises that there is over the same period last year. California saw a parti- still significant untapped potential for cost reduction cularly strong growth, but the East Coast did as well, in this market segment as well as the others, especially in New York and Nevada. In 2014, the resi- particularly in the area of electrical and structural dential PV market grew by 1.23 GW compared to the Balance of System (BOS) costs. previous year, which was already an impressive 55 %, “Third-party ownership and leasing models have making it the largest of all market segments in terms helped the distributed photovoltaic market to of annual percentage growth. Factors that are driving develop,” IHS analyst Lauren Cook stresses. It REC Solar employee Brian the market include the high level of acceptance for primarily occurs through two models. A customer can Webster installs PV modules photovoltaics in broad sections of society as well as sign a traditional lease and pay for the use of a solar on an Englewood, Colorado, the desire for energy self-sufficiency, which stems system, or the customer can sign a power purchase home. from the deeply-rooted desire for greater indepen- agreement (PPA) to pay a specific rate for the electric- Photo: Dennis Schroeder/NREL dence in American culture. Stable framework condi- ity that is generated each month. Customers have the tions such as the Solar Investment Tax Credits (ITC), option of paying no up-front costs, some of the sys- the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and net tem costs, or purchasing the system before the end of metering, but also factors such as the falling prices of the lease term. According to SEIA, more than 90 % of PV systems, increasing electricity prices and New Jersey’s residential solar market has consisted of

70 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 third-party owned systems since Q2 2013. In 2014, Top solar residential installers (2014)

more than 50 % of New York’s distributed generation Company Total Megawatts 2014 Rank systems were third-party owned, and in California, SolarCity/CA 444 MW 1 Arizona and Colorado, 69 % to 81 % of installed Vivint Solar/UT 156 MW 2 generation systems were third-party owned. The pioneers in the development of corresponding Sungevity/CA 36 MW 3 attractive financing options are major system suppli- Sunrun/CA 24 MW 4 ers and installers such as SolarCity (CA), Vivint Solar Verengo Solar/CA 24 MW 5 in total: 684 MW (UT), Sungevity (CA), Sunrun (CA), Verengo Solar (CA) RGS Energy/CO 17 MW and RGS Energy (CO), but also smaller companies such Amergy Solar/NJ 9 MW as Amergy Solar (NJ) or California Solar Systems (CA) California Solar Systems/CA 9 MW (see table). They commonly make use of the tax bene- all others 517 MW others in total: 552 MW fits provided by the ITC as well as large supply contracts, allowing them to offer attractive system prices. the U.S., for which the financial services company Table: GTM Research, SUN & WIND ENERGY In addition, they are now also offering residential cus- Morgan Stanley will be providing tax equity financing. tomers the opportunity to purchase their own systems, According to the recent Utility Solar Market enabling these customers to circumvent the regulato- Snapshot report published by SEPA (Solar Electric ry and legislative challenges that exist in some states Power Association), several utility companies are now due to the recognition of PPAs in connection with third- also offering additional financing options for residen- party ownership financing. In some cases, third-party tial customers. Rooftop ownership programmes are developers are being regulated as if they were electric- being developed by the following utilities: Investor ity utilities. In mid-June, the market leader SolarCity, owned utilities Arizona Public Service (APS) and for example, began offering a low-interest loan called Tucson Electric Power (TEP), municipal utility CPS MyPower to homeowners in Nevada, enabling them to Energy in San Antonio, Texas, and electric cooperative purchase PV systems with no upfront cost. The end- Wright-Hennepin in Minnesota. The APS and TEP customers can then flexibly repay the loan depending on their solar energy yield. Together with the Bank of “Attractive customer ROI” America Merrill Lynch (BofA), SolarCity is now creating a US$ 200 million tax equity fund for smaller investors. “Given the attractive customer Return on The newly created fund is aimed at regional banks and Investment, we expect the adoption of residen- other smaller corporations interested in offering solar tial solar to continue at a vibrant pace, even if finance packages to residential customers. “The new Congress does not extend the federal solar fund will bring many more investors and more compe- investment tax credit that is set to expire in tition, and that will reduce the cost of solar,” 2017. We see this growth being supported by SolarCity’s CEO Lyndon Rive said. Even SunEdison, a decreasing PV system costs and increasing elec- heavyweight company known best for large-scale so- tricity rates, as well as homeowners becoming lar and wind power projects, is now looking to become more environmentally conscious.” more active on the fast-growing US residential market. Dennis Lacey, In May, the company announced that it will be CEO RGS Energy (Louisville, Colorado) launching residential and small commercial PPAs in producer for ground mount solar mounting systems

We produced over 1,5 GWp! Solar park in Wiltshire, England

SWW_190x90_4C_062015_engl.indd 1 20.05.15 15:56 Solar Edition 71 Photovoltaics U.S. Residential Solar

Modelled residential turnkey rooftop PV system installation costs “Listen to the market” “Amergy Solar is a full service solar company operating competitively since 2009. In 2014 we installed approximately 11 MW of power, 9 MW residential and 2 MW commercial. Our customer base is primarily in New York, but in the coming year we have plans in place for expansion. We have a newly opened office in Los Angeles that is operating throughout southern California as well as a new director of east coast sales. Our focus this year is to listen to the market. We have teams in place in New York, New Jersey, California and Massachusetts, and in the last quarter of the year we will follow the new solar legislation into South Carolina and Maryland.” Bill Wang, Founder and Chairman of Amergy Solar (Piscataway, New Jersey)

or Coda Energy are also offering their systems with no upfront costs to end users. The combination of photo voltaics and storage systems promises interesting programmes will target 10 MW and 3.5 MW of residen- opportunities, particularly in states with a high, tial installations, respectively, and allow residents to expensive peak electricity demand and an already host PV systems on their roofs while the utility high proportion of volatile renewable energies, such finances, controls and bears the risk of the installed as California. Large utilities such as Pacific Gas and system. Both APS and TEP are considering ways to ad- Electric Company (PG&E) or Southern California dress underserved customers such as low-income Edison offer commercial as well as private customers consumers, as well as to identify locations in their dis- significantly cheaper electricity rates for off-peak and tribution systems that would benefit from local gener- mid-peak hours than for on-peak hours. “The poten- ation. In addition, an emphasis on panel orientation is tial savings, combined with incentives offered by the being tested with west-facing systems, which are California Self-Generation Incentive Program and tax better aligned with each utility‘s afternoon peak. credits, can make solar and energy storage an New revenue opportunities and business models extremely attractive proposition,” IHS analyst Sam for the residential market are now also arising, due to Wilkinson said. the increasing combination of PV with energy stor- The emergence of new markets related to energy age, load control or demand response. SolarCity, for storage is also being driven by the pioneering example, recently began offering leasing for the turn- requirement issued by the California Public Utilities key battery system Powerwall, which is made by its Commission (CPUC), which states that major utility parent company Tesla Motors. SunPower has signed companies need to procure at total energy storage agreements with battery providers Stem and capacity of 1,325 GW by 2020. The utility company Sunverge. Companies such as Green Charge Networks Southern California Edison, for example, now has a

Installation forecast 2010 - 2020 by segment

72 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 2014 solar PV installed capacity by states Workers installing panels “Variety of financial products” to a 5.5 kW array in “In 2015 we’ve continued to add employees and Williston, Vermont infrastructure to build on the vigour of the Photo: AllEarth Renewables/SEIA marketplace. Our focus continues to be around quality people, products and installations. With a variety of financial products to sell in a variety of markets, we expect 2015 to exceed our 2014 activity. Thus far we are on track to do just that.” Jason McLaughlin, Vice President of Operations, California Solar Systems (Anaheim, California)

today. In the future, this could create new revenue opportunities for PV-powered domestic energy storage systems if they can provide balancing energy to the market using aggregators or swarm concepts. “We clearly see distributed energy resources playing a larger and larger role to respond to our grid demands,“ said Tom Flynn, CAISO infrastructure policy development manager, at the presentation of pipeline of energy storage projects totalling 261 MW, the concept. 90 % of which are for battery storage systems, and In any case, the prospects for further development the company has also announced that it will increas- on the residential PV market are promising, and not ingly be integrating the decentralised storage sys- just in California. The discontinuation of the ITC at the tems of its customers. California’s grid operator end of 2016 (for private systems, the plan is to reduce CAISO (California Independent System Operator) has it to 0 %) could be a slight setback. But now taken an important further step towards the cre- according to forecasts by SEIA and GTM LIQUID ation of new markets. On June 10, it published a pro- Research (see graphic this page), the propor- posal for creating a new class of grid market players, tion of residential units is continuously in- CRYSTALS known as Distributed Energy Resource Providers creasing, and it is expected that domestic Thermometers and Foils (DERPs). The proposal sets rules for how DERPs can systems will be the mainstay of the photo- www.spirig.com be aggregated and dispatched to serve the same grid voltacis market in the U.S. by 2020. Free samples on request markets open to utility-scale energy installations Hans-Christoph Neidlein [email protected]

Solar Edition 73

TI2LC_mini_4532_2014.pdf 45x32mm Review International Events

This event focuses on the exchange of ideas, knowledge and expertise for further- International ing solar energy development in the United States. Designed and produced by Solar International Conference on Solar Energy Trade Shows, the event supplies Air-Conditioning Events your company with solutions that further September 24-25, 2015 your success. Unlike other solar conferen Rome, Italy ces, all proceeds from SPI support the ex- This conference is going to present the lat- pansion of solar through the Solar Energy est developments in both solar thermal as Industries Associations’ and Solar Electric well as photovoltaic air-conditioning sys- Intersolar South America Power Associations’ year-round research tems and technologies. The speakers and September 1-3, 2015 and education activities. poster presenters will talk about optimised São Paulo, Brazil Contact: Solar Energy Trade Shows, Alexandria (VA), components, as well as controlling, simula- The exhibition and conference offers an USA, Phone: 001/7037389460, customerservice@sets. tion, design tools, maintenance and costs solar, www.solarpowerinternational.com ideal platform for networking and gather- while attendees are going to share their ing information on the latest market devel- insights into improved system design and opments, effective production methods as technology advancements. well as financing and project planning for Contact: OTTI e.V., Regensburg, Germany, all professionals. It provides insights into Gabriele Struthoff-Müller, Phone: 0049/9412968829, Fax: 0049/9412968854, gabriele.struthoff-mueller@ the core topics of photovoltaics, PV produc- EU PVSEC 2015 otti.de, www.solaircon.com tion technologies, energy storage and solar September 14-18, 2015 thermal technologies in South America and Hamburg, Germany on the international level. Since being The EU PVSEC is an international confer- founded, Intersolar has become one of the ence for photovoltaic research and technol- most important platforms for manufactur- ogies, industries and applications, and at ers, suppliers, distributors, service provid- the same time a leading international PV Solar Asset Management Europe ers and partners of the solar industry. industry exhibition. It gathers the global PV October 20-21, 2015 Contact: Solar Promotion International GmbH, community to conduct business, to network Milan, Italy Pforzheim, Germany, Ludmilla Feth, Phone: and to present and discuss the latest devel- For the third year in a row, Solar Asset 0049/723158598215, Fax: 0049/72315859828, [email protected], www.intersolar.net.br/en opments and innovations in photovoltaics. Management Europe will bring together the It is considered to be one of the world’s leading investors, owners and service pro- leading science-to-science, business-to- viders in the European PV industry. The business and science-to-industry platform event provides an unparalleled networking for the global PV solar sector. opportunity, as well as the best way to Contact: WIP-Renewable Energies, Munich, Germany, learn about innovations and best practices Renewable Energy World Asia Phone: 0049/8972012735, Fax: 0049/8972012791, for optimising performance, management [email protected], September 1-3, 2015 www.photovoltaic-conference.com and financial returns of PV assets. More Bangkok, Thailand than 300 attendees from across Europe, Renewable Energy World Asia, as part of from service provider to portfolio manager ASEAN Power Week, is a platform for the re- and investor are expected to participate. newable and alternative energy industry to Contact: Solarplaza International, Rotterdam, meet, share information on the issues and The Netherlands, Stefano Cruccu, Phone: 0031/102809198, [email protected], challenges facing the power industry and to www.solarassetmanagementeu.com discuss solutions and technologies to meet The GREEN Expo the ASEAN region’s future energy challeng- September 23-25, 2015 es. Attracting 7,500 delegates and attend- Mexico City, Mexico ees from over 70 countries from across This event brings together leading environ- South East Asia and around the world, it is a mental companies offering solutions and premier industry conference and exhibition cutting edge technology for a sustainable Announce your events dedicated to the power generation, renew green economy. It is a multinational busi- able and alternative energy and transmis- ness forum, hosting both national and in- SUN & WIND ENERGY offers you the sion and distribution industries. ternational companies offering innovative announcement of your fairs and Contact: PennWell, Tulsa (OK), United States, solutions for all industries. The Green Expo conferences – up to date and free of Phone: 001/9188319160, Fax: 001/9188319161, 2015 features decision makers in the charge. Just feel free to send us your [email protected], www.renewableenergyworld-asia.com following sectors: business, research, conference information regularly. In science, and technology; consolidating return we would appreciate to provide four main themes in a unique space and you with free copies of our giving place to the best and most complete international magazine for distribution event of the region. at your event. Solar Power International Contact: E. J. Krause de México, Mexico City, Mexico, Please contact: Matthias Maier, September 14-17, 2015 Angélica Rodríguez Dufau, Phone: 0052/5510871650, [email protected], www.thegreenexpo.com.mx e-mail: [email protected] Anaheim (CA), United States

74 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 THE SOLAR EDITION Industry speciﬁ c newsletters NEW

Our weekly newsletter recaps important news from all renewable energy industries for you. You are more interested in a single industry sector? We now off er you two additional options: one newsletter specifi c for the solar sector and one for the wind sector. These will keep you up to date in your specifi c fi eld of interest. Visit our website www.sunwindenergy.com to add the wind and/or solar newsletter to your subscription – of course it’s free of charge.

BVA Bielefelder Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Standort Köln, Friesenplatz 16, 50672 Köln, Germany Tel: +49 (0)221/2587 248, Fax: 0221/2587 249 , E-Mail: [email protected] Solar Edition 75 DIRECTORY > DIRECTORY DIRECTORYGREAT BRITAIN Mounting Systems GmbH Biomass / Biogas Manufacturer of mounting systems and components for AUSTRIA 1Logic Energy Photovoltaic and SolarThermal Hybrid Renewable Energy Monitoring D-15834 Rangsdorf, Mittenwalder Str. 9a SOLARFOCUS GmbH Wind & Solar resource assessment Tel. +49/33708/529-0, Fax 529-199 Research, development, production and distribution Custom Displays & Dashboards www.mounting-systems.de of high quality solar thermal collectors (sealed CPC), biomass boilers, storage technology and fresh water 1 Ainslie Road technology GB – G52 4RU Glasgow Phaesun GmbH A-4451 St. Ulrich/Steyr, Werkstr. 1 United Kingdom The Off-Grid Experts Tel. +43/7252/50002-0 Fon: 44/141/5856496 www.solarfocus.eu, offi [email protected] Phaesun is the leading system integrator for www.logicenergy.com, [email protected] Off-Grid solar systems PELLETS HEATING SYSTEMS D-87700 Memmingen, Brühlweg 9 Tel. +49/8331/990420, Fax 9904212 AUSTRIA Photovoltaics www.phaesun.com, [email protected] Biotech Energietechnik GMBH Renusol GmbH Pellet and wood chips heating facilities, GERMANY Solar Mounting Systems feeding systems and autom. feeding systems D-51063 Köln, Piccoloministrasse 2 AXITEC GmbH for pellet stoves Tel. +49/221/788707-0, Fax -99 A-5101 Bergheim, Furtmühlstr. 32 High quality german solar company. Tel. +43/662/454072-0, Fax 454072-50 www.renusol.com, [email protected] www.pelletsword.com, offi [email protected] In the market since 2001. Pioneer in 10 years product warranty and plus tolerances. ROBUST HABICHT & HEUSER GmbH & Co. KG D-71034 Böblingen, Otto-Lilienthal-Straße 5 Cutting Machines for Tedlar, EVA and many more Tel. +49/7031/6288-5186, Fax +49/7031/6289-5187 Winding Machines for Tedlar, EVA and many more Measurement Technology www.axitecsolar.com, [email protected] Friction Winding Shafts Heraeus Materials Technology D-42899 Remscheid, Garschager Heide 41 GERMANY Tel. +49/2191/56118-0, Fax -75 Thin Film Materials Division www.robust.de, [email protected] Ammonit Measurement GmbH Heraeus TMD supplies the complete package of Data loggers, measurement systems for wind and solar sputtering targets for various types of solar cells. resource assessment, online monitoring software D-63450 Hanau, Wilhelm-Rohn-Str. 25 D-10997 Berlin, Wrangelstrasse 100 SCHMID Group|Gebr. SCHMID GmbH Tel. + 49/30/6003188-0, Fax -10 Tel. +49/6181/35-2229, Fax 35-2220 www.ammonit.com, [email protected] www.heraeus-targets.com, [email protected] Process equipment and turnkey lines For the production of wafer, cells, modules and thin fi lm application. D-72250 Freudenstadt, Robert-Bosch-Str. 32-36 Tel. +49/7441/538-0, Fax 538-121 www.schmid-group.com, [email protected]

skytron® energy GmbH Complete Monitoring, Control and Supervision System for utility-scale photovoltaic installations D-12489 Berlin, Ernst-Augustin-Straße 12 Tel. +49/30/6883159-0, Fax +49/30/6883159-99 www.skytron-energy.com, [email protected]

Solarc Innovative Solarprodukte GmbH Customized solar systems from very small up to large PV power, including electronics development D-10999 Berlin, Glogauer Str. 21 Tel. +49/30/3198554-00, Fax -99 www.solarc.de, [email protected] SolarWorld AG SolarWorld® construction kits SolarWorld Energy Roof® Solar Power Plants SolarWorld® Modules D-53175 Bonn, Martin-Luther-King-Str. 24 Tel. +49/228/55920-0, Fax 55920-99 www.solarworld.de, [email protected]

76 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 GERMANY TAIWAN GERMANY

Steca Electronik GmbH RITEK Solar Delta Energy Systems (Germany) GmbH An expert manufacturer of PV-Modules from Polycrys- German manufacturer of controllers and inverters; talline, Mono-crystalline, to BIPV certifi cated by TÜV, Delta Energy Systems has been investing in the sectors: PV- On- and Off-Grid, Solar thermal UL, CEC, and MCS. research and development of solar inverter D-87700 Memmingen, Mammostr. 1 No 42, Kuan-Fu N. Rd., Hsin Chu Industrial Park, 30351, products at its German location since 1999. Tel. +49-(0)8331-8558-100, Fax +49-(0)8331-8558-132 Hsinchu, Taiwan The result of this is something to be proud of - www.stecasolar.com, [email protected] Tel. +886-03-598-7298 #4013 reliable solar inverters with high effi ciencies Fax +886-03-599-8449 and state-of-the-art high-frequency topology. Talesun Solar Germany GmbH www.riteksolar.com, [email protected] D-79331 Teningen, Tscheulinstr. 21 80339 Mü nchen, Landsberger Str. 110 USA Tel. +49 7641 455 0, Fax +49 7641 455 318 Tel. +49/89/1891770, Fax +49/89/189177499 www.solar-inverter.com, DIRECTORYwww.talesun-eu.com, [email protected] Morningstar Corporation [email protected] Universal Energy Engineering GmbH The World’s Leading Solar Controllers and Inverters 8 Pheasant Run Modules, Inverters, Customized Packages, Develop- Newtown, PA 18940 ITALY ment Roof and Greenland Tel. +1/215-321-4457, Fax 4458 D-09119 Chemnitz, Neefestr. 82 www.morningstarcorp.com SielSpa Tel. +49 371 9098590, Fax +49 371 90985919 [email protected] SIEL is one of the world leaders in the production www.universal-energy.de, [email protected] and maintenance of PV solar inverters. PVCONNECTOR SYSTEMS I-20060 TREZZANO, VIA 1° MAGGIO, 25 ZIMMERMANN PV-Stahlbau GmbH&Co.KG Tel. +39/02/909861, Fax +39/02/90968490 producer for open area solar mounting frames SWITZERLAND www.sielups.com, [email protected] 88436 Oberessendorf, Petrusstr. 1 Multi-Contact AG Bonfiglioli Riduttori S.p.A. Tel.: 0049 7355 9330 0, www.pv-stahlbau.de PV connector systems manufacturer: Specialists in large and connectors MC3 & MC4, cables, junction boxes, custom solutions utility scale PV power plants GREAT BRITAIN CH-4123 Allschwil, Stockbrunnenrain 8 Via Giovanni XXIII, 7/A Tel. +41/61/306 55 55, Fax +41/61/306 55 56 40012 Lippo di Calderara (Italy) Hi-Bond Tapes Ltd. www.multi-contact.com, [email protected] Phone. +39 051 647311 High Performance Tapes for frame www.bonfi glioli.com bonding, junction box mounting cell PV INVERTERS fi xing and conductive tapes UK-NN17 5TS, Corby, Northamptonshire AUSTRALIA PV MODULES 1, Crucible Road Phoenix Parkway Selectronic Australia Pty Ltd Tel. 0044/1536/260022, Fax 0044/1536/260044 GERMANY www.hi-bondtapes.com, [email protected] Designer and manufacturer of high quality interactive inverter chargers Off Grid, Grid Support, Grid Backup 3kW-54kW BayWa r.e. Solar Energy Systems GmbH GREECE Chirnside Park VIC 3116, Suite 5, 20 Fletcher Rd Provider of high quality photovoltaic components Tel. +61/3/9727/6600, Fax +61/3/9727/6601 from sales to service including modules, inverters, IBC SOLAR A.E. www.selectronic.com.au, [email protected] pv-storage solutions and mounting systems GR-15125 Marousi - Athens D-72072 Tübingen, Eisenbahnstr. 150 29 Paradeisou & Zagoras str. AUSTRIA Tel.: +49(0)7071/98987-0, Fax +49(0)7071-98987-10 Tel.: +30 21 06 855090, Fax: +30 21 06 80 17 23 [email protected] Fronius International GmbH www.ibc-solar.gr, [email protected] www.baywa-re.com International quality leader and manufacturer of http://solarenergysystems.baywa-re.com grid-connected inverters for PV-Systems. ITALY A-4600 Wels, Froniusplatz 1 Tel. +43/7242/241-0 Talesun Solar Germany GmbH www.fronius.com, [email protected] SUNERG SOLAR Srl 80339 Mü nchen, Landsberger Str. 110 Producer PV MODULES / SOLAR THERMAL DENMARK Tel. +49/89/1891770, Fax +49/89/189177499 COLLECTORS and complete systems www.talesun-eu.com, [email protected] distribution from 1978. Danfoss Solar Inverters A/S I-06012, Cittá di Castello (PG), via D.Donini 51 DK-6300, Graasten, Ulsnaes 1 Tel. +39/075/8540018, Fax +39/075/8648105 Tel. +45/7488/1300, Fax +45/7488/1301 JORDAN www.sunergsolar.com, [email protected] www.danfoss.com/solar, [email protected] Philadelphia Solar Clean Renewable Energy Solution The FIRST Photovoltaic Modules Producer in JORDAN JO-11814, Amman, Airport St.-Al Qastal Industr.Area Tel. +962/6/471/6601, Fax +962/6/471/6602 www.philadelphia-solar.com, [email protected] PV CRYSTALLINE MODULES

GERMANY

Talesun Solar Germany GmbH 80339 Mü nchen, Landsberger Str. 110 Tel. +49/89/1891770, Fax +49/89/189177499 www.talesun-eu.com, [email protected]

Solar Edition 77 DIRECTORY

INDIA PV SUPPLIERS Almeco GmbH TiNOX energy® Selective absorber surfaces – Evergreen Solar Systems India Pvt Ltd GERMANY vega energy® Refl ective surfaces for solar energy concentration systems Manufacturer of high effi ciency Solar Photovoltaic KREMPEL-GROUP D-06406 Bernburg, Claude Breda Strasse 3 Modules and EPC contractor of Solar Power Projects AKASOL® Weather-resistant backsheet Tel. +49/3471/34655 00, Fax +49/3471/34655 09 IND-641017 Coimbatore for PV modules. With fl uoropolymer fi lms www.almecosolar.com, [email protected] Sulochana Mills Campus, KYNAR® or TEDLAR® Mettupalayam Road, Vadamadurai, D-71665 Vaihingen/Enz, Papierfabrikstr. 4 CitrinSolar GmbH Tel. +91422/2642564, Fax +91422/2642830 Tel. +49/7042/915-0, Fax +49/7042/15985 Energie- und Umwelttechnik www.evergreensolar.in www.krempel-group.com, [email protected] D-85368 Moosburg, Böhmerwaldstr. 32 Tel. +49/8761/3340-0, Fax 334040 PV MONITORING www.citrinsolar.com, [email protected] PV WIRE + CABLE BELGIUM Consolar GmbH GERMANY Hocheffi ziente Solaranlagen, Solare Wärmepumpen, 3E (SynaptiQ) Röhrenkollektoren, Kombisysteme, Internet-System- SynaptiQ is a universal PV monitoring and reporting HELUKABEL GmbH regler software platform, developed by the technical Cable & Accessories for photovoltaic D-79539 Lörrach, Gewerbestrasse 7 consultancy: 3E installations and for Wind Turbines Tel. +49/7621/42228-30, Fax 42228-31 Offi ces in Belgium, France, UK, Italy, D-71282 Hemmingen, Dieselstr. 8-12 www.consolar.de, [email protected] South Africa and China Tel. +49/7150/9209-0, Fax +49/7150/81786 Phone +32 2 217 58 68, www.3E.eu/synaptiq www.helukabel.de, [email protected] GRAMMER Solar GmbH Ihr Projektpartner beim Bauen mit der Sonne FRANCE D-92224 Amberg, Oskar-von-Miller-Str. 8 Solar thermal systems Tel. +49/9621/30857-0, Fax 30857-10 QOS Energy www.grammer-solar.de, [email protected] QOS Energy is a leading renewable energy performance AUSTRIA management solution. 100 % Hardware independent KBB Kollektorbau GmbH and fl exible. SOLARFOCUS GmbH Flat plate collectors and full surface absorbers 16 rue de Bretagne (copper and aluminium) F 44240 LA CHAPELLE SUR ERDRE Research, development, production and distribution D-12439 Berlin, Bruno-Bürgel-Weg 142-144 & Gebäude 4 offi ce 356 Landshuterstrasse 26 of high quality solar thermal collectors (sealed CPC), Tel. +49/30/6781789-10, Fax 6781789-55 D 85716 Unterschleißheim biomass boilers, storage technology and fresh water www.kbb-solar.com, [email protected] Phone France +33 2 51 89 46 00 technology Phone Germany + 49 8136-4077785 A-4451 St. Ulrich/Steyr, Werkstr. 1 www.qosenergy.com Tel. +43/7252/50002-0 www.solarfocus.eu, offi [email protected] OVENTROP GmbH & Co. KG Valves, controls and systems PV MOUNTING SYSTEMS Technische Alternative Solar Thermal Energy Elektron. Steuerungsgeräte GmbH D-59939 Olsberg, Paul-Oventrop-Straße 1 BELGIUM Solar-, Heizungs- und Wintergartenregler Tel. +49/2962/82-0, Fax -400 A-3872 Amaliendorf, Langestr. 124 www.oventrop.de, [email protected] voestalpine Sadef nv Tel. +43/2862/53635, Fax 536357 Design and manufacturing of steel structures for PV www.ta.co.at, [email protected] proKühlsole GmbH Bruggesteenweg 200 TiSUN® Solar Thermal Systems, Solarfl uids, Liquid Heat Carrier, 8830 Gits, Belgium D-52353 Düren, Am Langen Graben 37 T. +32/51/261 211, F. +32/51/261 301 Development + production of solar-collectors Tel. +49/2421/59196-0, Fax +49/2421/59196-10 (in-roof, on-roof, facade-integrated, free-setting up), [email protected], www.voestalpine.com/sadef www.pekasolar.de, [email protected] storage tanks, solar-boiler, solar fi ttings A-6306 Söll PROZEDA GmbH GERMANY Tel. +43/5333/201-0, Fax 201-100 www.tisun.com, offi [email protected] Manufacturer of controllers for solar thermal, freshwater, BayWa r.e. Solar Energy Systems GmbH heating, heating pumps and air handling systems Provider of high quality photovoltaic components 91330 Eggolsheim, In der Büg 5 from sales to service including modules, inverters, GERMANY Tel. 09191/6166-0, Fax 6166-22 pv-storage solutions and mounting systems www.prozeda.de, [email protected] D-72072 Tübingen, Eisenbahnstr. 150 ALANOD GmbH & Co. KG Tel.: +49(0)7071/98987-0, Fax +49(0)7071-98987-10 eta plus® (copper/ aluminium) and mirotherm® Ritter Energie und Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co. KG [email protected] (aluminium) with a selective PVD absorptive layer. www.baywa-re.com mirosol® TS with a selective absorptive lacquer. Development, production and distributing of http://solarenergysystems.baywa-re.com MIRO-SUN® for weatherproof solar applications. ecological energy systems D-58256 Ennepetal, Egerstr. 12 D-72135 Dettenhausen, Kuchenäcker 2 Solare Datensysteme GmbH Tel. +49/2333/986-500, Fax 986-525 Tel. +49/7157/5359-1200, Fax 5359-1209 Monitoring, Feed-in Management, Smart Energy www.alanod-solar.com, [email protected] www.ritter-gruppe.com, [email protected] D-72351 Geislingen-Binsdorf, Fuhrmannstraße 9 Tel.: +49/7428/9418-200, Fax: +49/7428/9418-280 www.solar-log.com, [email protected]

GREAT BRITAIN

Hi-Bond Tapes Ltd. High Performance Tapes for frame bonding, junction box mounting cell ﬁ xing and conductive tapes UK-NN17 5TS, Corby, Northamptonshire 1, Crucible Road Phoenix Parkway Tel. 0044/1536/260022, Fax 0044/1536/260044 www.hi-bondtapes.com, [email protected]

USA

Johnson Bros. Metal Forming Co. Custom shapes for Solar Panels USA-60163 Berkeley IL, 5520 McDermott Drive Tel. +1/708/449-7050, Fax +1/708/449-0042 www.JohnsonRollForming.com, [email protected]

78 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 SOREL GmbH Mikroelektronik ISRAEL WATT Manufacturer of Solar and Heating Controllers Manufacturer of solar systems and Pump Groups with integrated TDC-Controller DAGAN MACHINE ENGINEERING PL-41-208 Sosnowiec, ul. Watta 6 Manufacture of machines for complete D-45549 Sprockhövel, Jahnstr. 36 Tel. +48/32/28766-80, Fax 28766-84 absorber production line. Tel. +49/2339/6024, Fax 6025 www.kolektory.pl, www.watt.pl, [email protected] www.sorel.de, [email protected] Tube punching and customized machines IL-53211 Givatayim, 20, K.Joseph st. Tel. +972/544/324418 Steca Electronik GmbH www.dagan-machine.com SPAIN German manufacturer of controllers and inverters; sectors: PV- On- and Off-Grid, Solar thermal SONDER REGULACIÓN S.A. D-87700 Memmingen, Mammostr. 1 ITALY E-08191 Rubi, Avda. La Llana, 93; P.I. La Llana Tel. +49-(0)8331-8558-100, Fax +49-(0)8331-8558-132 Tel. +34/935884211, Fax 4994 www.stecasolar.com, [email protected] CMG Solari Srl PATENTED special solar thermal system www.sonder.es with condensation heat transfering. TYFOROP Chemie GmbH Manufacturer of absorbers, fl at plate Heat-Transfer Fluids collectors and complete systems. SWITZERLAND D-20537 Hamburg, Anton-Rée-Weg 7 I-73040 Melissano (LE), C. da Vore – Zona Ind.le Tel. +49/40/209497-0, Fax 209497-20 Tel. 0039/0833581428, Fax 0039/0833581428 Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH www.tyfo.de, [email protected] www.cmgsolari.it, [email protected] Antifrogen-Heat Transfer Fluids for Solar Thermal Systems WATER WAY Engineering GmbH JORDAN D-84504 Burgkirchen, Werk Gendorf Pipework systems for solar installations with Tel. +49/8679/7-2272, Fax +49/8679/7-5085 fl exible stainless steel or copper tubes / collector connectors HANANIA Energy www.antifrogen.com D-47441 Moers, Baerler Str. 100 Manufacturer of Solar Thermal Systems and Solar PV TACONOVA GROUP AG Tel. +49/2481/88320-0, Fax 88320-20 165, King Abdullah II Street www.waterwaygmbh.de, [email protected] P.O. Box 2858 Amman 11181 Jordan TACONOVA GROUP AG produces quality valves and Tel: +962 6 533 3003 systems for balancing, regulating, mixing, venting, Fax: +962 6 533 3175 underfl oor and solar heating systems GREECE www.hanania.jo [email protected] CH-8902 Urdorf, Steinackerstr. 6 Tel. +41/447355555, Fax 447355502 NOBEL XILINAKIS V. & Co. POLAND www.taconova.com, [email protected] Solar & electric water heating systems industry 23, Nerantzoulas Str., HEWALEX TURKEY 13677, Acharnes, Athens- Greece Flat plate, vacuum tube collectors Tel: 0030 210 2478677;Fax: 0030 210 2407185 and solar systems production Ezinc Metal San. tic. A.S. email: [email protected] PL-43-502 Czechowice-Dziedzice, Slowackiego 33 Tel. 0048/32/214-1710, Fax 0048/32/214-5004 Manufacturer of Solar Collectors, Thermosiphon SOLE S.A. www.hewalex.pl, [email protected] Solar Water Heaters, Storage Tanks, Boilers and Solar Water Heaters and Collectors Manufacturers r elated accessories for Solar Thermal Systems. GR-13671 Acharnai - Athens SUNEX S.A. Lefktron Str. and Laikon Agonon Str. Collectors, heat pumps, solar equipment TR-38070 Kayseri, 1. O.S.B. 23. Cad. No: 31 ul. Piaskowa 7, 47– 400 Racibórz, PL Tel. +90/352/3211776, Fax 3211325 Tel. +30/210/2389500, Fax 2389502 Tel:+48324140392, Fax:+48324149213 www.eurostar-solar.com, [email protected] [email protected] , www.sunex.pl www.ezinc.com.tr, [email protected] ✃ COMPANY DIRECTORY SUN & WIND ENERGY online entry included I would like you to enter our company in the directory of My Entry: www.sunwindenergy.com SUN & WIND ENERGY. I will get the entry in one category for only € 190. It includes eight lines with each 36 characters: Company name: ______one line for the company name, up to three lines for the company description Description: ______and four lines for the address. Each additional line costs € 30. If the entry is to be highlighted ______with a coloured background, this costs an additional € 95. For another € 65 you can also publish your logo online. The order is valid for ten issues of SUN & WIND ENERGY. ______If I order supplementary entries, e.g. for international subsidiaries or different categories, I will Address get the following discounts: 2 to 5 entries: 10% discount, 6 or more entries: 20% discount (Country, Zip-Code ______All orders are invoiced in Euros. The order is automatically extended for further ten issues if no City, State, Street): ______written cancellation is received by BVA – Bielefelder Verlag. Phone, Fax: ______❑ I would like my entry to be highlighted with a coloured background. E-mail, Web: ❑ I would like to subscribe SUN & WIND ENERGY with 50% discount for directory-clients (€ 54 instead of € 108 plus shipping costs)

Our company should be listed in the ❑ Process & Quality ❑ Thermosiphon following categories: ❑ Silicon, ingots, wafers and cells ❑ Vacuum tubes ❑ Biomass/Biogas ❑ Solar glass ❑ Vacuum tube collectors ❑ Biofuels ❑ Suppliers ❑ Wholesalers ❑ Biogas ❑ Tracking systems ❑ Wind Energy ❑ Pellets ❑ Wholesalers ❑ Banks & Insurance companies ❑ Production ❑ Wire + cable ❑ Engineering offices ❑ Heating systems ❑ Solar Thermal Systems ❑ International project developers ❑ Co-generation Plants ❑ Absorbers ❑ Measurement technology ❑ Financing Institutions ❑ Coatings ❑ Offshore ❑ Photovoltaics ❑ Control units ❑ Operation management ❑ BIPV ❑ Flat plate collectors ❑ Research & Development ❑ Connector systems ❑ International project developers ❑ Service & Maintenance ❑ International project developers ❑ Pool heating ❑ Suppliers ❑ Inverters ❑ Pre-insulated pipe systems ❑ Turbine manufacturers ❑ Modules ❑ Solar cooling ❑ General ❑ Crystalline modules ❑ Solar glass ❑ Manufacturing Equipment ❑ Thin-film modules ❑ Solar liquids ❑ Mounting systems ❑ Solar tanks and boilers Date: ______Please send your order to: BVA – Bielefelder Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, SUN & WIND ENERGY, Signature: ______Kerstin Haase-Darlath, Advertising Department, Niederwall 53, 33602 Bielefeld, Germany, phone +49/521/595591, fax +49/521/595556, VAT ID number: ______(for EU-companies) [email protected], www.sunwindenergy.com DIRECTORY

STS ABSORBERS USA CUBE Engineering GmbH Management Consulting, Wind Site Assessment, JORDAN Aquatherm Industries, Inc. Project Planning and Management, Environmental Largest U.S. manufacturer of polymer solar pool Assessment, Electrical Grid Assessment, Decentralized HANANIA Energy heating collectors. Energy Systems D-34119 Kassel, Breitscheidstr. 6 Manufacturer of Solar Thermal Systems and Solar PV Aquatherm manufactures the solar pool heating Tel. +49/561/288573-0, Fax 288573-19 165, King Abdullah II Street industry`s most trusted brands, including the [email protected] P.O. Box 2858 Amman 11181 Jordan latest breakthrough in solar pool heating, Ecolite Tel: +962 6 533 3003 1940 Rutgers University Blvd. Gamesa Energie Deutschland GmbH USA, 08701, Lakewood, New Jersey Fax: +962 6 533 3175 D-26122 Oldenburg, Staulinie 14-17 Tel. +1/7329059002, Fax 7329059899 www.hanania.jo Tel. +49/441/925400, Fax 92540325 [email protected] www.livegreenswimwarm.com, [email protected] www.gamesacorp.com, [email protected] STS SOLARTANKS & BOILERS STS FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS GE Wind Energy GmbH Manufacturer/Sales Wind turbines Be found JORDAN JORDAN from 900 kW to 3.6 MW D-48499 Salzbergen, Holsterfeld 16 HANANIA Energy Tel. +49/5971/980-0, Fax 980-1999 HANANIA Energy Manufacturer of Solar Thermal Systems and Solar PV in the SUN & WIND ENERGY www.gewindenergy.com Manufacturer of Solar Thermal Systems and Solar PV 165, King Abdullah II Street [email protected] 165, King Abdullah II Street P.O. Box 2858 Amman 11181 Jordan P.O. Box 2858 Amman 11181 Jordan Tel: +962 6 533 3003, Fax: +962 6 533 3175 KGW Schweriner Maschinen- u. Anlagenbau GmbH company directory – print & online www.hanania.jo, [email protected] Tel: +962 6 533 3003 Manufacturer of steel-tube towers for wind turbines Fax: +962 6 533 3175 D-19055 Schwerin, Wismarsche Str. 380 www.hanania.jo TURKEY Tel. +49/385/5731-0, Fax 565126 [email protected] www.kgw-schwerin.de, [email protected] Ezinc Metal San. tic. A.S. Nordex SE SWITZERLAND Manufacturer of Solar Collectors, Thermosiphon Solar Water Heaters, Storage Tanks, Boilers and related 22419 Hamburg, Langenhorner Chaussee 600 Tel. 040/300 30 1000, Fax 040/30030 1101 Helvetic Energy accessories for Solar Thermal Systems www.nordex.de, [email protected] SOLAR HEAT + SOLAR POWER TR-38070 Kayseri, 1. O.S.B. 23. Cad. No: 31 CH-8247 Flurlingen, Winterthurerstrasse Tel. + 90/352/3211776, Fax 3211325 Phaesun GmbH www.ezinc.com.tr, [email protected] Tel. +41 52 647 46 70, Fax: +41 52 647 46 79 The Off-Grid Experts www.helvetic-energy.ch, [email protected] Phaesun is the leading system integrator for STS THERMOSIPHON Off-Grid solar systems. TURKEY D-87700 Memmingen, Luitpoldstrasse 28 TURKEY Tel. +49/8331/90420, Fax 9964212 www.phaesun.com, [email protected] Baymak BDR Thermea Ezinc Metal San. tic. A.S. James Walker Deutschland GmbH Manufacturer of laser welded solar thermal forced darf Manufacturer of Solar Collectors, Thermosiphon Solar systems, Solar thermo-siphon water heaters, Storage Water Heaters, Storage Tanks, Boilers and related Specialists in slotted shaft seals tanks, Biomass/Oil/Gas Boilers and Expansion tanks. accessories for Solar Thermal Systems D-22335 Hamburg, Flughafenstr. 54 Exporting over 50 countries. TR-38070 Kayseri, 1. O.S.B. 23. Cad. No: 31 Tel.: +49/40/3860810, Fax +49/40/3893230 www.jameswalker.biz Tepeoren Mevkii Orhanli Beldesi, Akdeniz Sokak No 8 Tel. + 90/352/3211776, Fax 3211325 TR-34989 Istanbul www.ezinc.com.tr, [email protected] WINDTEST Grevenbroich GmbH Tel. +90/216/5816500, Fax 3041964 Consulting- and Measuring Institut for WEC www.baymak.com, [email protected] STS VACUUM TUBE D-41517 Grevenbroich, Frimmersdorfer Str. 73 COLLECTORS Tel. +49/2181/2278-0, Fax 2278-11 Ezinc Metal San. tic. A.S. www.windtest-nrw.de, [email protected] Manufacturer of Solar Collectors, Thermosiphon Solar USA [email protected] Water Heaters, Storage Tanks, Boilers and related accessories for Solar Thermal Systems Apricus Inc. WKN AG TR-38070 Kayseri, 1. O.S.B. 23. Cad. No: 31 Apricus is a global company focused on providing Development, Construction, Financing D-25813 Husum, Otto-Hahn-Str. 12-16 Tel. + 90/352/3211776, Fax 3211325 simple and effective solar hot water solutions for Tel. +49/4841/8944100, Fax 8944225 www.ezinc.com.tr, [email protected] families and businesses. All Apricus products are designed and manufactured in compliance with www.wkn-ag.de, [email protected] ISO9001:2008 management and international produc- USA tion standards. USA-06405 Branford CT, 6 Sycamore Way, Unit 2, WIND ENERGY SUPPLIERS Apricus Inc. Tel. +1 203 488 8215 Fax +1 203 488 8572 Rates – print and online: Apricus is a global company focused on providing www.apricus.com, [email protected] GERMANY simple and effective solar hot water solutions for Entry in company directory EUR 190,- families and businesses. All Apricus products are Wind energy HELUKABEL GmbH 8 lines à 36 characters, 1 category designed and manufactured in compliance with Cable & Accessories for photovoltaic IS09001:2008 management and international installations and for Wind Turbines Additional category EUR 190,- GERMANY D-71282 Hemmingen, Dieselstr. 8-12 production standards. Tel. +49/7150/9209-0, Fax +49/7150/81786 Additional line EUR 30,- USA-06405 Branford CT, 6 Sycamore Way, Unit 2, ABO Wind AG www.helukabel.de, [email protected] Tel. +1 203 488 8215, Fax +1 203 488 8572 Planning and turnkey construction of wind farms and Coloured background EUR 95,- www.apricus.com, [email protected] biogas projects, structured ﬁ nancing, operational management WIND MONITORING Logo online EUR 65,- D-65195 Wiesbaden, Unter den Eichen 7 STS POOL HEATING Tel. +49/611/26765-0, Fax 26765-99 GREAT BRITAIN www.abo-wind.com, [email protected] The order applies to 10 issues of SUN & WIND ENERGY 1Logic Energy and is valid until further notice. Bachmann Monitoring GmbH JORDAN Hybrid Renewable Energy Monitoring Bachmann Monitoring offers certiﬁ ed Condition Moni- Wind & Solar resource assessment toring Systems (CMS) for early fault detection on the HANANIA Energy Custom Displays & Dashboards main components (main bearing, gearbox, generator) Manufacturer of Solar Thermal Systems and Solar PV 1 Ainslie Road 165, King Abdullah II Street in the drive train of wind turbines D-07407 Rudolstadt, Weimarische Str. 10 GB – G52 4RU Glasgow P.O. Box 2858 Amman 11181 Jordan Tel. +49/3672/3186-0, Fax, 3186-200 United Kingdom You will find an order form for your entry in the middle of the company Tel: +962 6 533 3003, Fax: +962 6 533 3175 www.bachmann.info, Fon: 44/141/5856496 www.hanania.jo, [email protected] [email protected] www.logicenergy.com [email protected] directory of this issue. Or send your entry to Kerstin Haase-Darlath: [email protected] 80 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015 Be found in the SUN & WIND ENERGY company directory – print & online

Rates – print and online: Entry in company directory EUR 190,- 8 lines à 36 characters, 1 category Additional category EUR 190,- Additional line EUR 30,- Coloured background EUR 95,- Logo online EUR 65,-

The order applies to 10 issues of SUN & WIND ENERGY and is valid until further notice.

You will find an order form for your entry in the middle of the company directory of this issue. Or send your entry to Kerstin Haase-Darlath: [email protected] Preview

The solar ediTion IMPRINT Publishing company: rd BVA Bielefelder Verlag GmbH & Co. KG S&WE Solar Edition 5/2015 will be published on Sept. 3 Richard Kaselowsky Niederwall 53, 33602 Bielefeld, Germany Publisher: The upcoming S&WE The Solar Edition will be focusing on the solar Prof. Dr. Bernhard von Schubert thermal and photovoltaics markets in France and the UK. For selected Editors: Dr. Volker Buddensiek (responsible), articles there will be a translation into French. E-mail: [email protected] Silke Funke, Phone: +49/521/59 55 69, E-mail: [email protected] Jan Gesthuizen (Solar Thermal), Phone: +49/521/59 55 97, E-mail: [email protected] Ralf Ossenbrink (Photovoltaics), Self-consumption and Phone: +49/521/59 55 13, E-mail: [email protected] energy storage Tanja Peschel, Phone: +49/521/59 55 02, E-mail: [email protected] The global market for energy storage Freelance authors: systems is predicted to grow to 2.5 GW Joachim Berner, Elizabeth Block, Germana Canzi, annually by 2017, resulting in a market Claudia Delpero, Martin Frey, William Hirshman, volume of US$ 19 billion. Now, changing Jörn Iken, Anja Limperis, Jaideep N. Malaviya, Chris Meehan, Jens-Peter Meyer, Hans-Christoph markets are making residential Neidlein, Ina Röpcke, Alejandro Diego Rosell Photovoltaics self-consumption more desirable. SMA Photo: Advertising: International contact: Stefanie Schwarz, Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 75 E-mail: [email protected] Market overview solar Katharina Vötter, Phone: +49/521/59 55 81 E-mail: [email protected] collectors Martin Haase, Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 90 E-mail: [email protected] In our yearly market report we present the German contact: most recent technological developments Christine Michalsky, Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 25 and products that are currently found on E-mail: [email protected] Christiane Diekmann, Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 47 the worldwide market for flat-plate and E-mail: [email protected] vacuum tube collectors. Kerstin Haase-Darlath, Phone: +49/521/59 55 91 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +49/5 21/59 55 56 Solar thermal Solar Photo: Bosch Thermotechnik Bosch Photo: Advertising sales China: Sven Tetzlaff Phone: +86/13777476258, Fax: +86/571/87044210 E-mail: [email protected] Advertising sales Italy: Premium modules for Quaini Pubblicità, Graziella Quaini Phone: +39/02/39216180; Fax: + 39/02/39217082 residential systems E-mail: [email protected] Advertising sales USA: With roof-mounted systems investors are Avani Media, Inc., Leslie Hallanan especially demanding: modules with a Phone: +1/415/3312150 ; Fax: + 1/415/3312151 E-mail: [email protected] high performance and proven quality lie in Customer Service: front – if providers can offer good value for Andrea Rammisch (subscription) money. S&WE gives an overview on current Phone: +49/221/2587248, Fax: +49/221/2587249 products from renowned manufacturers. E-mail: [email protected]

Photovoltaics Layout: Bernd Schulte zur Wißen, Virginie Béclu, Photo: Hanwha Q Cells Q Hanwha Photo: Kristin Zeller, DSV Deutscher Sportverlag GmbH, Cologne, Germany Print: Dierichs Druck + Media GmbH & Co. KG, Solar plant monitoring Frankfurter Str. 168, 34121 Kassel, Germany SUN & WIND ENERGY is an independent journal published ten times a year with six S&WE Solar Up until now, monitoring was done Editions and four S&WE Wind Editions. only for a few large-scale solar Subscription costs for printed edition € 128 per year (incl. postage), e-paper edition € 51. plants. The new solar controller Period of cancellation: six weeks before the end of generations, however, now offer the respective subscription period. Otherwise the additional devices with internet subscription will automatically be extended by another year. Material in this publication may not be connection and thus new possibili- reproduced, reprinted or stored in any form without ties of remote monitoring for small- the publisher’s written permission. and medium-sized systems. Websites: www.sunwindenergy.com; www.sunwindenergy.asia Solar thermal Solar Photo: Technische Alternative Technische Photo:

S&WE Wind Edition 3/2015 will be published on Sept. 8th

82 Sun & Wind Energy 4/2015

/ Perfect Welding / Solar Energy / Perfect Charging

FLEXIBLE SYSTEM DESIGN IS POSSIBLE. BECAUSE THE FRONIUS POWER PACKAGE PROVIDES SOLUTIONS FOR ALL PV PROJECTS.

Comprising the Fronius Symo or Fronius Eco inverter, the Fronius AC Combiner and preassembled cables, the Fronius Power Package is the one stop system solution for large and small PV projects. / Easy installation thanks to prewiring of the inverters and the Fronius AC Combiner / Numerous options provide maximum flexibility in the design of the PV system / Tailored warranties for a prompt response should servicing be necessary Interested? Visit www.fronius.com

SE_DOC_INS_PowerPackage_EN_53687_0.indd 1 29.06.2015 08:29:32