Go Solar Initiative

The New Solar Homes program is part of the California Solar Initiative.  It is a set of incentives to help promote installing PV systems on new homes built in CA.  I say it's about time.  A tract of new homes in the ideal place to use solar power.  It's relatively easy to install while they are being built and the infrastructure to handle the power generated (i.e. grid) can be added as they put in the power lines.

It is a great way for a developer to differentiate themselves in this competitive market.  They'll probably get a higher price for the homes too!  Most important it's a chance to do something right for the environment, something they should brag about.

I applaud California for leading they way in this effort.


http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/nshp/

Zep Solar Seminar

I attended the GroSolar Zep week seminar yesterday. They put this on to showcase the new Zep Solar mounting system. This is a system where you interlock the panels directly together (with special hardware from Zep) and there is no need to install rails. The system is pretty ingenious and well thought out. You can install a system about 5 times faster than conventional rack method, dramatically reducing labor costs..and it's much more flexible. The other thing about it is that once you connect a module it's grounded. You simply bring your grounding wire to the edge of the array, add a small grounding stud to one of the panels and attach the ground..viola, it's all grounded.

Now the one big draw back is that the panels themselves require a special rail. This means that the manufacturers must adopt this new rail system when they manufacture a panel. Canadian Solar is the first and they have two modules in their line up with the Zep rails. They call it the NewEdge system.  The panels are backwards compatible with a traditional system so I don't see too much drawback to more widespread use of the Zep rail.

The other thing is that the new system will require manufactures to develop a way to plug in to the Zep edge on these panels (since there are no rails). I'm sure that will come as it's not a difficult task but it will have to be done (Enphase had a representative there..hint hint!). Currently Zep only has a residential version but will have a commercial version (think flat roof mounting) soon and the ability to do ground mounts later this year. I think the Zep system is a game changer in the industry so stay tuned.


Check them out here:
http://www.zepsolar.com/index.html