solarbuildermag.com may/june 2013 mounting€¦ · half the global total. asia’s importance to...

solarbuildermag.com May/june 2013

Finding the best tilt angle

ballast For ground-Mounts

rethinking large rooFs

adViCe FroM ManuFaCturers

traCking systeMs

Cable ManageMent

Metal rooFtops

produCt showCase

mounting s o l u t i o n s guide

solar builder’s First annual

4 mounting solutions guide 2013

solar industry data We start our mounting and racking guide with a manufacturer survey and an outlook of the future of the solar industry. Seeing what markets plan to grow in the coming years helps manufacturers develop better products.

14

18 tilt angle mapWhen tracking systems aren’t feasible for ground-mount projects, what are the ideal fixed and seasonal angles for solar modules? With this handy map of North America, you can see how modules should be angled based on latitude locations.

product showcase There are many players in the solar industry, as evident from our expanded mounting and racking system product showcase. Some of the newest and most unique products are here for your reviewing pleasure.

36

TM

☼ on the coverVarious mounting and racking systems are shown on our cover, including SunLink, SolarDock, DynoRaxx, Sunmodo, Quick Mount PV, MAGE SOLAR and Solar FlexRack.

contents

mounting s o l u t i o n s guide

solar builder’s First annual

May/june 2013

SOLARBUILDERMAG.COM MAY/JUNE 2013

FINDING THE BEST

TILT ANGLE

BALLAST FOR

GROUND-MOUNTS

RETHINKING LARGE

ROOFS

ADVICE FROM

MANUFACTURERS

TRACKING SYSTEMS

CABLE MANAGEMENT

METAL ROOFTOPS

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

MOUNTING S O L U T I O N S

GUIDESOLAR BUILDER’S

FIRST ANNUAL


TM

contents

22

Flexible solar engineeringThe six-story, 50,000-sq-ft Bullitt Center in Seattle is equipped with a ground-mount system on its rooftop. HatiCon Solar repurposed its system for the unique project.

20Features

maximizing roi with trackingIn an effort to increase solar output, single-axis trackers have become the go-to racking solutions since they increase production by up to 30 percent on large projects.

22 no excavation requiredBallasted ground-mount systems are an ideal solution to difficult ground conditions. Patriot Solar’s system has seen success at landfills, brownfields and at rocky soil sites.

34

34 20

2013 Solar Builder Webinar Schedule ..................................... 28 ..........................................www.solarbuildermag.comAdvanced Racking Systems .................................................... 13 ......................................... www.advancedracking.comAllied Tube & Conduit, a part of Atkore International ............... 2 ............................................. www.atc-mechanical.comBenjamin Media Online Buyer’s Guide ..................................... 11 .......................................... http://tinyurl.com/c2j3ck6Benjamin Media Resource Center ........................................... 29 .............................................edu.benjaminmedia.comCreotecc ................................................................................ 11 ........................................................ www.creotecc.usEcoFasten ............................................................................. Back Cover ................................www.ecofastensolar.cominterSolar North America ........................................................ 41 ....................................................... www.intersolar.usPatriot Solar Group ................................................................ 27 ........................................ www.patriotsolargroup.comPV Racking ............................................................................ 9 ........................................................ www.pvracking.usQuick Mount PV ..................................................................... 3 ............................................... www.quickmountpv.comQuickscrews ........................................................................... 5 ..................................................www.quickscrews.comSnake Tray ............................................................................. 28 .................................................... www.snaketray.comSolar Builder Online Buyer’s Guide ......................................... 11 ..........................................www.solarbuildermag.comSolar Builder: Online Directory Listing Form ........................... 17 ..........................................www.solarbuildermag.comSolar Builder: Project of the Year Award .................................. 43 ..........................................www.solarbuildermag.comSolar Builder: Tools................................................................ 40 ..........................................www.solarbuildermag.comSolar Power International ....................................................... 25 ............................... www.solarpowerinternational.comSunmodo ............................................................................... 7 ...................................................... www.sunmodo.com

mounting For metal rooFtops

cable management systems

advice From manuFacturers

2630

ad

in

de

X

also be sure to read:

32

May/june 2013


editor’s message

growing solutionsThe solar industry has seen such tremendous growth in the last 10 years, and

it’s an exciting time to be involved. A large part of the industry surrounds racking and mounting manufacturing, thus we present to you Solar Builder’s first Mounting Solutions Guide, an issue entirely dedicated to racking and mounting systems. We hope it provides a convenient glimpse into this ever-important market.

The average price of a completed PV system dropped 27 percent in 2012, and there’s room for further decreases in price with racking and mounting leading the charge. Manufacturers are trying out different materials and limiting the number of nuts and bolts and tools necessary for installation, all in an attempt to bring down costs. We have some interesting stories about the innovative ways companies are manufacturing systems. For example, HatiCon Solar thought outside the box when given a large project in Seattle. The company took its ground-mount system and repurposed it for a rooftop. Check out the details of this project on page 20.

In addition to our neat industry outlook starting on page 14, we have various quotes and advice from racking and mounting companies peppered throughout the issue. They have a lot to say about how to better improve solar on a national and global scale.

Finally, see what new and specialized systems are out there in our product showcase on page 36. There are many companies involved in mounting and racking, but each system is unique in its own way. We hope our Mounting Solutions Guide opens your eyes to what this great industry has to offer.

Happy reading,

Kelly Pickerel, Associate Editor

solar builder (issn 2166-5362) is published bimonthly by benjamin Media inc., 10050 brecksville rd., brecksville, oh 44141 usa. Copyright 2013. all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. one year subscription rates: complimentary in the united states and Canada. single copy rate: $10. subscriptions and classified advertising should be addressed to the brecksville office.

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president robert d. krzys

managing editor keith gribbins

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10 Mounting solutions guide 2013

Global photovoltaic (pv) installations are forecast to exceed 35 GW in 2013, equiva-lent to growth of 12 percent, according to recently released analysis from IHS. The researching firm also reaffirmed its earlier prediction that global PV installations surpassed 30 GW in 2012, with final analysis showing that installations, in fact, grew 14 percent to reach 31.4 GW last year.

These findings and the latest PV demand projections for 2013 and beyond were recently issued by the IHS solar team, which comprises analysts from the IHS acquisitions of IMS Research, iSuppli and Emerging Energy Research. Contrary to many other more pessimistic predictions for the industry, IHS foresees the PV industry to continue along its double-digit growth path in 2013 and to exceed 35 GW for the first time.

“We often see quite pessimistic forecasts at the start of each year for PV installations, due to a seasonal slowdown and talks of major incentive cuts as Europe reassesses its PV policy,” said Ash Sharma, senior director of solar research at IHS. “However, our analysis of more than 60

countries around the world shows that demand outside of Europe will more than compensate for the fall in the con-tinent, and installations will go on to hit 35 GW this year.”

Q4 2012 surge in AsiAAsia surged in the fourth quarter of 2012 and installed

more than 4 GW during the period, an amount close to half the global total. Asia’s importance to the global PV market is predicted to continue, and Asia in 2013 will become the largest region for PV installations for the first time in 10 years. Asian PV installations are forecast to grow to 15 GW this year, in the process exceeding Europe, which is predicted to drop to 13 GW.

For the Chinese market, however, IHS is less optimistic than others on likely installations for that country this year: “We predict China will install at least 6 GW of new PV capacity this year,” noted Sharma. “This is way lower than the 10-GW figure that has been widely circulated around the industry as China’s target for 2013. The continued issue of grid-connecting megawatt-scale PV projects, as well as

Global PV InstallatIons to exceed 35 gW in 2013

news

solArbuilderMAg.coM | 11

delays in developers receiving FIT payments, is likely to hold back China from installing more this year. Even so, a dwin-dling European market and restrictions on Chinese modules could well drive higher domestic installations.”

instAllAtions or connections?Although IHS confirmed that global PV installations

surged past 31 GW last year, its analysis showed that grid-connected PV capacity was actually lower than 30 GW.

“When analyzing PV demand, some people talk of instal-lations while others talk of connections. This often causes confusion, and so IHS tracks both to fully understand the market dynamics,” Sharma noted. “Connections were lower in 2012 than installations, owing to lengthy delays in con-necting major projects in countries such as China and India. For instance, up to 2.5 GW of PV projects were completed but not connected to the grid at the end of 2012 in China.”

IHS analysis showed that global PV connections in 2012 amounted to just more than 27 GW.

europe’s doMinAnce set to endWhile Europe accounted for 70 percent of PV installa-

tions in 2011, IHS found that this fell to 57 percent in 2012 and is predicted to slide further to 37 percent in 2013, espe-

cially as the region becomes outflanked by Asia. Almost all of Europe’s so-called “mature” PV markets are predicted to decline in 2013 — a development forecast to take place despite bright spots of growth in countries such as the U.K., Turkey and the Netherlands. As a result, IHS predicts that installations in Europe will fall from 18 GW in 2012 to 13 GW in 2013.

“While hopes in the past could have been pinned on Germany or Italy — which accounted for nearly two-thirds of European installations in 2012 — growth here looks impossible,” Sharma said. “Changes to Germany’s EEG (Renewable Energy Act) and Italy’s Conto Energia are already in place, and a contraction in these two big markets is predicted in 2013. Moreover, looming antidumping measures against Chinese manufacturers are taking their toll on Europe, resulting in price increases and additional registra-tion paperwork that will further temper solar demand this year.”

Despite Europe’s dramatic decline in 2013, IHS maintains that double-digit growth will occur again in global installa-tions. Growth rates of 250 percent, 50 percent and 65 per-cent are forecast for the Middle-East and Africa, the Americas, and Asia respectively, supporting global growth, but continuing the industry’s geographic fragmentation.


Salt RiveR pRoject (SRp) and SunPower Corp. dedicated a 1-MW solar photovoltaic power plant at Arizona State University’s (ASU) Polytech-nic campus in Mesa, Ariz., in early April. The facility is the first commercial deployment of the SunPower C7 Tracker technology, a solar PV tracking system that concentrates the sun’s power seven times to achieve one of the lowest levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) for solar power plants available today.

SunPower engineered and constructed the plant on the southeast corner of the ASU Polytechnic campus, and is currently operating and maintaining it. The plant is expected to produce an amount of energy equal to that needed to serve about 225 SRP customers’ homes and requires mini-mal water use.

Under a power purchase agreement, SRP is buying the entire output of the solar plant from SunPower. ASU is purchasing the power from SRP for use at its Polytechnic campus under a separate agreement.

“At SRP we continue to look for new and innovative ways to diversify our portfolio with sustainable sources of energy that best serve our customers in a cost-effective way,” said John Sullivan, SRP’s chief resource executive. “SunPower’s

C7 Tracker system is a promising technology that we expect to provide these benefits.”

The C7 Tracker combines single-axis tracking technol-ogy with rows of parabolic mirrors, reflecting light onto high performing SunPower Maxeon solar cells, with an efficiency of 22.8 percent. The 1-MW C7 Tracker power plant at ASU will require only 172 kW of SunPower solar cells when corresponding to a geometric concentra-tion ratio of seven to one and a power-based ratio of six to one.

“The SunPower C7 Tracker leverages SunPower’s depth of experience developing reliable tracking systems and deliv-ers bankable technology with guaranteed performance,” said Howard Wenger, SunPower president of regions. “We ap-plaud our partners on this project in selecting this advanced technology platform that will deliver cost-effective renew-able energy in Arizona for the long-term.”

“This dynamic project with SunPower enables ASU to move closer to our 2015, 25-MW solar energy-generating goal, embrace innovative technologies,and facilitate possible education opportunities for our students,” said David Brixen, ASU’s associate vice president of facilities development and management.

SunPower DeDicateS FirSt commercial DePloyment oF concentrating technology

news

solArbuilderMAg.coM | 13

winD, Solar more than Double During FirSt obama term

According to the most recent issue of the “Monthly Energy Review” by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), with data through Dec. 31, 2012, renewable energy sources and natural gas expanded rapidly during the Obama administration’s first term while coal, nuclear power, oil imports and use, energy consumption and CO2 emissions all declined significantly.

Comparing data for 2008 (last year of the Bush Administration) to data for 2012 (last year of the Obama administration’s first term), domestic energy production from renewable energy sources (biofuels, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind) grew by 23.48 percent with wind and solar more than doubling their output. Other report findings can be found on the right.

end of obama’s First term (2012) as compared to end of bush’s Second term (2008)

Total domestic energy production increased 8.15% Domestic energy production from renewable sources

increased 23.48% Domestic natural gas production increased 8.71% Crude oil production increased 29.47% Nuclear power output decreased 4.47% Domestic coal production decreased 13.28% Hydropower production increased 7.01% Geothermal production increased 18.23% Biofuels production increased 40.66% Solar production increased 138.20% Wind production increased 149.27% Biomass production decreased by 0.89% Total energy use decreased 4.16% Petroleum consumption decreased 6.95% CO2 emissions decreased 9.38%

report findings


feature

The laTesT indusTry sTaTisTics and fuTure plans for The sunniesT renewable energy.

solar data and 2013 Predictions

This issue of Solar Builder is entirely dedicated to mounting and racking systems, show-casing various installation techniques, unique projects and future predictions. We surveyed mounting manufacturers and took a look at industry data to develop this outlook into how solar is installed and what the next big advanc-es will be. You can’t miss the fact that panel prices have dropped considerably in the last few years, and mounting and racking manufacturers are now leading the charge at reducing the cost of a solar system even further. Seeing what markets plan on the most expansion in the coming years can really determine how mounting and racking manufac-turers develop their products.

solarbuilderMag.coM | 15Data from SEIA/GTM Research “U.S. Solar Market Insight 2012 Year-In-Review” or from Solar Builder survey of 14 mounting/racking manufacturers.

exPected u.s. Market growth for 2013

30%50%

29%

14%

7%

warranty length of SB SURvEY RESponDEnTS

in 2012,

83,000 u.s. hoMes installed

solar

4.3 gw of new PV

installations exPected for 2013

in 2012, aVerage

Price of a

coMPleted PV systeM

droPPed

71% MAnUfAcTURE An AlUMInUM-BASED SYSTEM

21% MAnUfAcTURE A HDpE-BASED SYSTEM

21% MAnUfAcTURE A STEEl-BASED SYSTEM

annual growth in 2012

62% residential1

26% coMMercial

134% utility

“the future of PV Mounting

lies in fully code-coMPliant standardized Products that

work with all Modules.”

- QUIck MoUnT pv’S Ron JonES, vIcE pRESIDEnT of MARkETInG

exPected

utility-scale

growth

in 2013

31%

third-Party-owned residential solar Market will becoMe a

$5.7 billion Market by 2016

7,221 Mw u.s. solar electricity caPacity at end of 2012

27%

10 years

no response

20 years

25 years

“reduced Material cost and a

MoVe froM aluMinuM to Plastic

is in the near future.”- MAGE SolAR’S SUSAnnE fIScHER-QUInn, HEAD of coRpoRATE coMMUnIcATIonS

of those surVeyed by solar builder:

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Size and Cost Options*1" COLOR $250

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Cost Options* BW $150

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Carylon Corp. Woodrow F. Chartrand, Director of Mktg. 2500 W. Arthington St. Chicago, IL 60612 USA Phone: 312-666-7700 Tollfree: 800-621-4342 Fax: 312-666-5810 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.caryloncorp.com Vacuum Excavating, Sliplining, Spot Repair, Root Control (C), Pipeline Inspection/Evaluation, Pipe Sealing (C), Pipe Cleaning (C), Manhole Rehabilitation (C), Lateral Rehabilitation, Grouting, Flow Monitoring (C), Dewatering NASSCO, WEF

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Copperhead Industries LLC Debbie Lee, Customer Service Mgr. Lee Dester, VP 111 Thomas Park Dr Monticello, MN 55362 USA Phone: 763-271-4432 Tollfree: 877-726-5644 Fax: 763-271-3694 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.copperheadwire.com Locating Equipment, Directional Drilling Accessories, Pipe-PVC, Pipe Products

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o Adhesiveso Aluminum Extrusionso Architectso Batteries & Energy Storage Systemso Brazing Equipmento Cables / Wireso Clamping Deviceso Cleaning Technologies / Systemso Combiner Boxeso Consultingo Contractor: Commercial / Industrialo Contractor: Residentialo Contractor: Utility-Scaleo Developer: Commercial / Industrialo Developer: Residentialo Developer: Utility-Scaleo Distributorso Education / Workshopso Enclosureso Energy Auditors

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solar builder directory


suMMeR

equatoR

sun shines more directly on northern Hemisphere.

WinteR

equatoR

sun shines more directly on southern Hemisphere.

Portland

Salt lake City

albuquerque

auStin

oklahoma City

Pierre

denver

Calgary

What Are Ideal Module

TIlT Angles?

In a perfect world, every ground-mount solar project could use tracking systems to get the most pro-duction. But some setbacks — cost, loca-tion, size of project — take installing track-ing out of the equation. Fixed-tilt systems still work great, but it would be even better if the modules could be adjusted twice a year. What would the absolute ideal tilt angles be throughout North America for ground-mounted systems? Let’s have a quick science and math lesson.

During the summer, the sun is more directly shining on North America and the Northern Hemisphere, so tilt angles can be relatively low but increasing as you head north toward the North Pole. Canadian solar installations will fare better year-round if they’re tilted higher, while instal-lations in Texas or Florida don’t need as much tilt. In the winter, the sun shines on the Southern Hemisphere, so tilt angles need to be much greater for maximum production. If increasing or decreasing tilt angles seasonally is not possible, finding a tilt angle somewhere in between should work well year-round.

Charles R. Landau, founder and CFO of MACS Lab Inc. in Grass Valley, Calif., did extensive research and calculations on the best tilt-angles for solar power systems across North America. He dumbed it down as well as he could to present the information to those interested in under-standing how solar power systems best work.

feature

solaRbuildeRMag.coM | 19

Map is not drawn to scale.

30° latitude ➔ Fixed: 25.9° suMMeR: 6.9° WinteR: 45.5°






ottawa

ColumbuS

PhiladelPhia

JaCkSonville

memPhiS

minneaPoliS

new orleanS

miami

For an absolute fixed-tilt system, landau suggests using this formula to determine the best angle to set panels:

• If your latitude is below 25° (Mexico and Central America), use the latitude times 0.87.

• If your latitude is between 25° and 50° (United States), use the latitude times 0.76, plus 3.1°.

• If your latitude is above 50° (majority of Canada), a more complex formula is needed.

For systems capable of being adjusted twice a year, this formula should help:

• Summer: For latitude between 25° and 50° (United States), use the latitude times 0.93, minus 21°.

• Winter: For latitude between 25° and 50° (United States), use the latitude times 0.875, plus 19.2°.

• For latitudes below 25° or above 50° (Mexico and Canada), a more complex formula is needed.

Check out the most beneficial fixed-tilt and summer/winter angles using Landau’s formulas below. You can find additional information on solar tilt angles at macslab.com/optsolar.html.


feature

At its grAnd opening on Earth Day (April 22) this year, the Bullitt Center intro-duced itself to Seattle and the world. The six-story, 50,000-sq-ft office building is the first urban commercial building in the United States to meet the goals of the Living Building Challenge. The international certificate program, created in 2006, promotes the most advanced measurement of sustain-ability in building. Influenced in seven performance areas — beauty, energy, equity, health, materials, site and water — projects that achieve

the Living Building Challenge are the greenest in the world.

In the case of the Bullitt Center, in addition to its wooden frame (which should extend the struc-ture’s lifespan to 250 years), auto-matically programed windows (for temperature regulation), oversized windows and high ceilings (to pro-vide 82 percent of the center’s lighting naturally) and composting toilets (all water and waste is treat-ed on site), the $30 million build-ing is completely off-grid, using geothermal energy and a 242-kW solar power system.

The large rooftop system is unique in that it’s actually a ground-mount refurbished to fit on top of the building. HatiCon Solar, an Ontario, Calif.-based mounting and racking manufacturer, produces systems for pitched roofs, flat roofs and ground, but found its all-alumi-num, ground-mount the most ideal for the Bullitt Center. Additional testing and certification was needed — the city had to approve the solar panels to extend out over the side-walk — but HatiCon Solar’s involvement in the ground-breaking project was fairly uncomplicated.

Flexible engineering HatiCon Solar repurpoSed a ground-mount to fit on tHe roof of a new green building in Seattle. By Kelly Pickerel

solarbuilderMag.coM | 21

HatiCon Solar founded in 2009 and has more than 100 MW of product in the ground in the United States thus far. Each system uses pre-assembled components and few parts to provide a quick installation, including universal module clamps that slide and click onto structural rails. HatiCon Solar systems are all-aluminum (except for stainless steel hardware and ground posts), which provides an even greener product for customers.

“At the end of the project’s life, [the mounting/racking system] is 98 percent recyclable,” says Eduardo

Lainez, sales and marketing coordi-nator. “If you’re doing a large ground-mount installation and you’re looking at an ROI of a few years, at the end of life of the whole project, instead of getting 10 cents on the dollar for a steel-structure system, you’re getting closer to 70 to 90 cents on the dollar for an alu-minum system. You’re actually gen-erating some money on the back-end, which is nice.”

HatiCon Solar’s mounting sys-tems are very flexible, and Lainez says the company has found itself doing a lot of odd projects — the Bullitt Center being maybe the oddest. The HatiCon Solar ground-mount product was reconfigured to be placed on the roof of the six-sto-ry building.

“The roof in particular could take a really strong point load, so you

could do large spans,” Lainez says of the Bullitt project. “It’s more like BIPV than a stand-alone system on top. They needed a specific flush look. They were looking for an aes-

thetic look, so we modified our system.”

Assembly of the system was done on the roof, as it was easier to move the parts piece by piece. HatiCon modified and tested its exist-ing ground-mount system with new aluminum connec-tions to meet all require-ments and building codes.

“We did do additional tests, both for installation and rain to make sure the rain would run off correctly, that the installation would work,” Lainez says. “The rails are extremely light and extremely strong, and the point load on the roof isn’t extremely heavy. There’s that wind strength, and it can take the snow load.”

The 242-kW system should produce more than enough energy for the

Bullitt Center year-round. With super-insulated walls, a highly effi-cient heating and cooling system and the large windows, less electric-ity is needed to heat and cool the building and keep it lit up. Large electricity suckers, like computers, servers and other office equipment, are put on an energy limit. Tenants of the building can swap unused portions of their energy budget to other tenants, thus sharing the cen-ter’s full range of benefits.

Solar power makes up a small portion of the Bullitt Center, but it’s making a huge presence in pro-ducing a net-zero building, thanks to HatiCon Solar’s innovative mounting solution.

Kelly Pickerel is associate editor of Solar Builder.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION The bulliTT CenTer, here sTill being Finished, has a 242-kW solar sysTem on iTs rooF, manuFaCTured by haTiCon solar.

WAY UP HIGH haTiCon solar

insTalled a ground-mounT sysTem on

The rooF oF The six-sTory bulliTT

CenTer in seaTTle. Photos courtesy of John stamets.


The goal of solar power is to lower costs, generate savings and provide a hedge against rising energy rates. Solar developers, financiers, utilities and businesses are all looking for a viable eco-nomic model to maximize a solar project’s return on investment (ROI). Driving down the cost of solar hard-ware and increasing productivity are the sure ways to maximize the ROI of a solar power system.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry,” says project superintendent Kevin Rosales, a 12-year veteran with SPG Solar, a provider of solar technologies and services for commercial and utility-scale solar projects. “The fierce competition, low cost of solar panels and dwin-dling energy rebates have made us look for ways to streamline our processes while maintaining high quality. Single-axis trackers were the natural answer.”

inCReAse PRoduCtionIn an effort to increase solar output, single-axis track-

ers have become the “go-to” racking solution since they increase production by up to 30 percent. Traditionally open fields used a fixed-tilt system, with the introduc-tion of single-axis trackers and the lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE), trackers have become the main-stream ground-mount solution.

The decision to choose between a fixed-tilt and a sin-gle-axis tracker depends on geography, land, soil type, foundations and module stringing. Historically, there

were reservations about a single-axis tracker and the increased maintenance and ground cover ratio (GCR). However, the technology has improved and most sin-gle-axis trackers require less than 16 man-hours of maintenance annually per megawatt and use a back-tracking algorithm. So even with GCRs higher than 40 percent, the economics for a single-axis tracker still make sense in the Southwest compared to a fixed-tilt.

“The best tracker is one that’s been designed to short-en the overall installation timeline,” Rosales says. “Take the latest SunSeeker tracker, for instance; we ensured that it has a smaller footprint, one-third of the piers per megawatt and requires fewer materials and less labor. This all adds up to one thing: faster installation, which translates into lower costs that we can pass on to our customers in the form of lower project pricing.”

instAllAtion-FRiendlYSingle-axis trackers, like any other solar power system,

are only as successful as their installation. Tracker instal-lation can be divided into four important areas: founda-tion installation, racking installation, commissioning and operations and maintenance (O&M).

Foundation InstallationVibro-piling wide flange beams is the preferred

method of tracker installation for those who want to reduce costs, mitigate land impact and shorten con-struction timelines. Laying out the foundation with sur-

MaxiMize ROifeature

solARbuildeRMAg.CoM | 23

vey points versus string lines or other methods will increase efficiency and accuracy, thereby reducing labor costs. It is absolutely critical to have the proper machin-ery and skilled installation crew for this — a typical crew consists of one operator on the vibro-pile machine, one on the skid steer and one laborer verifying accurate placement and elevation of the pile. Maintaining pier tolerances in x, y, z directions eases installation of the tracker’s racking components and improves the overall quality of the installation.

Racking InstallationStaging materials during the installation of the piers

increases the efficiency of the installation and cuts down on the time required to install the racking. This process can be separated into four segments — motor and con-troller installation, driveline installation, array wing installation and module installation. The most efficient way to tackle these segments is to deploy crews on each of these tasks. And, as with any racking product, quality control of the installation crews is critical to the success of the installation. Because welding has been eliminated with most single-axis trackers, the need for special on-site inspections is reduced, thereby decreasing the build cycletime.

CommissioningIt’s important to understand the system’s configura-

tions and input variables prior to starting commission-ing. This ensures that proper safety protocols are in

place and removes the risk of improper configuration. Documentation of the system configurations and set-tings is important for O&M crews to troubleshoot the system in the future if required. Most systems have minor adjustment points to accommodate any aesthetic concerns, which may be small but are critical to the overall look of the system.

O&MA well-established training manual or program —

including installation and commissioning records — should be in place for any installation. Service techni-cians should be certified, trained and knowledgeable of the systems they are maintaining. While O&M requirements for systems vary, proper maintenance of the system is key to its uptime. If trackers are properly maintained, an uptime of up to 99 percent can be expected for most systems.

As the cost of solar continues to dramatically decline, with the price of solar panels falling 41 percent from 2011 to 2012 and the installed price of solar dropping 27 percent, prices are expected to continue to drop, but they will eventually bottom out. Improving production, therefore, becomes even more imperative. The simple installation of a single-axis tracking system increases a system’s output and maximizes a project’s ROI.

Tim Cain is vice president of product management at SPG Solar. Visit spgsolar.com for more information.

Single-axiS trackerS are faSt to inStall, eaSy to maintain and geneRAte the Most

solAR eneRgY At the lowest liFetiMe Cost. By Tim CainMaxiMize ROi


every tracker varies with the installation process, but here are six steps that sPg solar recommends to ensure successful installation of its sunseeker single-axis tracker.

instAll Posts

instAll MotoR AsseMblY And

dRiveline

instAll noRth And south Rows

instAll dAMPeRs

tO ensuRe successful installatiOn

typical installations are vibro-piled, with one post for every eight to nine modules.

the 3-hp motor has three main components: jackscrew, horizontal beam and baseplates. only one fully-assembled driveline is required per row.

rows are supported by three pre-assembled components: pivot brackets, cradles and rotational supports. rows can be installed up to 220 ft wide,

supporting up to 102 72-cell modules.

dampers absorb the dynamic loads of the system, minimizing wind loads and wear and tear on key components.

instAll PAnel PACks

each controller is pre-wired and programmed using an nrel algorithm to ensure accurate tracking.

three panels in landscape-orientation are pre-panelized and installed as panel packs, reducing field

labor costs. aluminum rivet attachments minimize theft.

instAll ContRolleR

6 steps

1-2

3-4

5-6


TilTing in meTal’s favor

feature

Low-pitched metaL roofs can successfuLLy support soLar moduLes when they’re angLed just right. advanced racking soLutions manufactures tiLted systems that happen to work perfectLy on metaL rooftops. By Kelly Pickerel


Most of Advanced Racking’s work is on standing-seam rooftops. A standing-seam roof has a rib or seam that stands up generally every 2 ft. Roof panels meet together and roll into a weather-tight seam without using any fasteners.

“That seam presents a continuous knob that you can grab onto,” Stephenson says. “We use the S-5!

clamp to connect the racking system to the roof. We took a version of our ballasted racking system and adapted it to use the S-5! clamp to clamp onto the seams.”

Advanced Racking’s VICERACK system’s ability to clamp onto the seams allows the system to be installed without ballast. As with any flat-rooftop

Metal rooftoPs are found atop a wide range of build-ings — family homes, storage ware-houses, large industrial shops, sports arenas, you name it. All metal rooftops must be pitched, and large metal roof-tops are considered “low-pitch” because they’re at angles less than 10°. The pro-cess of installing solar on these large metal rooftops is not so much of an issue as the fact that low-slope rooftops need modules tilted to get the most production. Advanced Racking Solutions focuses exclusively on manu-facturing solar mounting solutions for low-pitched metal rooftops to solve the tilt problem.

“Because there’s a pitch to the roof, the traditional way of putting solar on a metal rooftop is to put it flush-mount on the south side, meaning parallel with the roof surface, and put nothing on the north side,” says Eric Stephenson, director of engineering and technology. “For low-pitched metal roofs, we devel-oped a tilted solution, which would allow you to put solar on both the south and the north. It opens up the other half of the roof to rooftop solar.”

Flush-mount systems are not ideal for low-pitched metal roofs because their low tilt angles subject modules to snow cover and general poor yield since they’re almost horizontal. Heat buildup is also a big problem underneath the modules.

“With our titled solution, it’s vented and allows the heat to escape,” Stephenson says. “And because it’s tilt-ed, you have a small aisle between each row. There’s no more climbing over top of the modules to get access to modules in the middle of the array.”

The two common types of metal roofs include an exposed fastener roof and a standing-seam roof. Exposed fas-tener roofs or corrugated steel roofs screw sheet metal into the structure, so fasteners are exposed. Advanced Racking manufactures the VICERAIL system for exposed fastener roofs and uses an EJOT fastener to penetrate the roof. The fastener is then sealed to make it water-tight.


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solar project, the biggest obstacle is often ensuring the building can support an additional load. Not needing ballast with the Advanced Racking system is helpful for design.

“What was critical for us is that we have a system that would be benign as far as the wind loading was

concerned,” Stephenson says. “The additional wind load on the building would make the project undoable. We spent a lot of time in the wind tunnel to make sure that we had a system that would not add any addi-tional wind loads to the structure. We were able to achieve that.”

The type of material you place on top of a metal rooftop requires attention, too.

“All of [Advanced Racking’s] racking members are aluminum and the fasteners are stainless steel,” Stephenson says. “The aluminum is primarily for corrosion resistance. It’s also compatible with the types of coatings on rooftops. Standing seam rooftops are often finished with galvalume, a combination of galvanizing and aluminum coating. Having an aluminum racking sys-tem avoids some of the problems that come with dissimilar metals.”

Advanced Racking’s systems are almost entirely shop-assembled, so

work on top of the roof is minimal. Very few tools are needed to install the S-5! clamps in the case of a standing-seam rooftop installation.

Metal rooftop mounting and racking systems from Advanced Racking Solutions are easy enough to install, but Stephenson says the real obstacle in gaining larger accep-tance is changing people’s views on how solar works on metal roofs.

“One of the challenges that peo-ple have with low-pitched metal roofs is that a flush-mount system is not a great solution,” he says. “When people see that there is a better solution for a low-pitched metal roof, they will start to look differently at rooftops that are out there. Roofs that were previously overlooked or not looked at very favorably will become a lot more appealing.”


"When people see

that there is a

better solution for

a loW-pitched Metal

roof, they Will start

to look differently

at rooftops that are

out there."

- eric stephenson, advanced racking soLutions

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feature

Most any solar panel installation worth its salt, whether on the roof or on the ground, should feature secure mounting for the panels and a secure and protective raceway sys-tem to manage the dozens, hun-dreds or even thousands of cables. The issue heard, probably around the globe, is “What do we do with all these wires?”

When Snake Tray, a manufactur-er of cable management systems, wanted to install solar panels on the roof of its headquarters in Bay Shore, N.Y., to reduce its electric bill, right off the bat it ruled out using conduit to route the cable because it is expensive and labor-intensive to install and often requires de-rating cables to com-pensate for the excessive heat

buildup inside the conduit. Instead, capitalizing on its engi-

neering know-how, the company created an innovative system of cable management devices designed specifically for solar installations to streamline wiring for the 535 solar panels that were slated to go up on the roof. The new system, which also facilitates easy access to the cable and provides continuous sup-

Choosing the right mounting and raCking system might seem like your biggest task, but don’t forget about Cable management, too.

By William Feldman

Wires everyWhere!


port for them and the panels, was based on the company’s signature product, Snake Tray, a metal cable management system of open-web trays. The entire system is light-weight and does not substantially add to the weight load of the solar panel installation on the roof.

Solar Snake Tray is a weather-proof hand-bendable cable convey-ance that easily, quickly and secure-ly carries the DC circuitry from solar panels to their terminations. Installers change directions simply by bending the tray to accommo-date the route of the run, which is a lot faster for installers in compari-son to working with alternative methods.

The Solar Snake Trays feature an open, patented “lobster trap” design that permits easy drop-in of cables and lets air flow freely around the cables, allowing for heat dissipation

and enabling copper conductors to carry their full capacity. This open web design precludes the need to increase the size of the cable and conduit, saving on the cost of copper cable. Also, the bendability of the tray simplifies installation compared to installation of other methods.

The trays connect with a single connector for a speedy bonded attachment, tray to tray, maintain-ing NEC compliance. The system is weatherproof and keeps cables in place even in hurricane force winds of up to 120 mph. Solar Snake Tray is available in hot-dipped galva-nized or stainless steel to protect against weather and other environ-mental conditions.

Snake Tray also manufactures other solar accessories, including the UL-classified Solar Mega Snake, a pole-mounted management system capable of spanning distances in

excess of 30 ft, and the Solar Messenger Snake Tray, which clips easily onto messenger wire rope without the need for tools or hard-ware.

Snake Tray, which itself generates about 75 percent of its electrical energy off its own roof, has supplied more than 1 million ft of Solar Snake Trays in installations in the United States and around the world in the last three years, in projects ranging from schools and sewage treatment plants, drugstores, meat-packing plants and railway station carports, all the way up to utility grade solar arrays producing hun-dreds of megawatts of energy.

William Feldman is a freelance writer, reporting frequently on building products and construction techniques and technology. Visit snaketray.com for more information on Snake Tray.

tight squeeze

Cable management

systems, like the

solar snake tray,

organize Wires in

limited spaCe.


feature

Fixing leaks from residential PV installations costs more than you think. Jeff Spies, vice president of business development for Quick Mount PV

Waterproofing penetrations for solar mounting is a serious issue. Unfortunately,

many underestimate the long term cost impacts of this critical decision.

A solar array on a new roof can last 30 years, but long-term waterproofing is a challenge as mounts flex daily due to wind loads and the difference in expansion/contraction of wood roofing versus the metal PV racking.

Solar waterproofing is a statistical challenge. Solar installations require dozens of penetrations, meaning even a small leak rate can still be a big problem. A “small” 1 percent leak rate after 10 years equates to

30 to 50 percent of your PV installation leaking.For a 5-kW system, quality flashed solar mounts cost

$500 to $1,000 (10 to 20 cents/watt), however, remov-ing/reinstalling the PV system costs $2,500 to $7,500 (50 cents to $1.50/watt) which equates to 25 to 50 percent of the cost of a brand new system, and wood rot or mold damage further increase costs. Fixing leaks will cost most PV owners more than replacing their inverter

Most customers assume their warranties protect against this risk, but in reality, waterproofing warranties usually last no more than 10 years.

Saving money by economizing on waterproofing could be a costly mistake. In the end, quality solar flashed mounts are cheap insurance.

Most important residential installation concern? Location, location, location. Russell Eisenman, marketing and social media for Quickscrews International Corp.

the most important consideration for using solar panels is installing them in the proper location and at the correct angle to the sun. Sunlight is important for solar, but even cloudy areas are great for solar energy. What matters more is one’s roof. As long as the roof is free of shade and faces south (east and west are good too, but south is optimal), there will be plenty of sunshine for the panels.

If you live in a place where direct sunlight for con-tinuous periods of time is a challenge, then one may want to consider triple junction laminated panels. This category of panels contains photovoltaic cells which respond to more than one wavelength of light, picking up low-range or indirect light and converting them into

electrical energy. If one’s roof isn’t opti-

mal for solar (faces the wrong direction, made of the wrong materials, etc.), a ground-mounted solar system is a good alternative. People commonly choose ground mounted if there is a lot of space on the property.

As often as possible, go for tabbed solar cells because this will make wiring easier for the installer. It may be a little more expensive, but the conve-nience is well worth it.

Advice from Mounting Manufacturers


Make sure your racking system for large-scale installations is the full package.

Harman Kaur, marketing manager for RBI Solar

a good solar racking system for large-scale installations should have the following features:

feWer posts — Reduced number of posts leads to faster installation. self-grounded — Utility-scale racking

should be ETL classified to UL 2703. Built-in Wire management — This

reduces the cost of wire management devices. pre-assemBled — Fast on-site installation

happens with pre-assembled components. string sizes — A good racking system

should accommodate various string sizes.

individual design — Projects should be individually designed to meet local building code requirements. foundation options — Different foun-

dation options should be available to install the racking. total cost — Racking cost should include all

components including cost of design/complete engi-neering, posts, racks, mounting hardware, freight to the jobsite and installation of posts/racks. optionS — Often installation options offered

by the racking manufacturer are economical, as they have highly skilled construction crews that install noth-ing but solar racking.

Figure out a game plan before beginning a job to ensure everything runs smoothly.Kate Bayard, director of marketing for SolarDock

visiting the site and developing an installa-tion plan in advance helps the job run smoothly, resulting in less downtime and increased production. Three impor-tant things to consider in advance:

1. do the build plans match actual roof conditions? Compare mechanical build plans to as-built roof

conditions. Check layout specs to confirm dimen-sions, location of obstructions, shading or quirky roof features. If anything looks amiss, let the de-signer know so a solution can be developed before you get on the roof.

2. how will equipment be handled and staged?Identify where delivery trucks should unload, how

equipment and materials will be lifted to the roof and

where they will be staged for maximum efficiency during instal-lation. This avoids confusion on delivery day, helping you get to work sooner.

3. Who will do what? Give workers clearly

defined jobs that allow them to specialize on a single task. By having only one job, the worker is able to be more efficient and proficient at what they are doing. It also helps the foreman trouble-shoot problems because he knows who was responsible for what.

Advice from Mounting Manufacturers


feature

Visions of large ground-mounted solar projects consist of large posts drilled into the earth, with dirt and small rocks being hauled away. But not all ground conditions are ideal for a penetrating system. Ballasted mounting systems can work just as well on the ground as they do on rooftops. Patriot Solar Group has a ballasted ground-mount that has seen success at landfills, brownfields and among rocky soil conditions.

“Landfill caps cannot be penetrated at all so you can-not use a post-driven solution,” says Adam Parr, account manager for Patriot Solar. “Brownfields cannot have any major soil disturbance. For rocky soils, you can drive

posts but you then run into possibly hitting rock and throwing off your array.”

These difficult ground conditions are usually the cheaper alternative for solar power compared to lush, green landscapes.

“When you look at the cost of the land of [difficult ground areas] compared to a pristine farm field or other ‘building suited’ land, it makes sense to go with inexpen-sive or otherwise unusable land,” Parr says.

Parr describes Patriot Solar’s ballasted ground-mount as “simple, with minimal parts and ease of use, all while providing the most functionality.” The system consists of:

Ballasted ground-mounts work just as well as penetrating ones, especially when it comes to difficult land conditions. By Kelly Pickerel

No Excavation nEEdEd


a cement block with adjusting plates that come pre-poured to site; a post that can be adjusted up and down for height differences and 10 to 30° to accommodate slopes; a truss which can be adjusted to the desired module tilt from 10 to 40°; and rails that hold five panels before sliding onto the next rail.

Patriot’s standard ballast block meets a 100 mph wind-load. For large projects, the company provides civil engineering assistance to ensure the ballast system meets desired criteria.

“We have built-in fork pockets for ease of use and can add a jagged edge that cuts into the dirt to pre-vent erosion or slippage,” Parr says. “Duck bills or earth anchors can be used as well if you have a slope to prevent sliding. You can also size the block smaller and add duck bills to use less cement and still meet the desired wind loads.”

Ballasted ground-mounts are more expensive than post-driven systems, mostly from the additional costs in concrete. But considering the costs associated with site prep and excavation (for rocky conditions) in addition to the added labor, the costs are pretty comparable for the two systems.

Patriot Solar Group began first as a manufacturer of fixed and tracking ground-mounts but soon saw a mar-ket demand for ballasted systems, so they were added to the product line-up.

“More and more landfills are being developed because

it is land that is otherwise unusable,” Parr says. “Poor soils and unusable land make the cost of the land much less expensive. [And] there are no other options. They have to be ballasted.”

Patriot Solar recently completed a 3.4-MW array in Massachusetts, which is notorious for rocky conditions. It was decided to use both post-driven and ballasted ground mounts for the largest ground-mounted solar farm in the state.

“The Western array was post-driven because geo tech results showed little rock in the soils below,” Parr says. “We ended up hitting rock in six to seven post locations, so we put a ballast block in its place. It was a simple fix.”

Patriot’s unique telescoping post has a multiple-angle adjustment plate that allows for height alteration with 10 to 30° of tilt variance. This allows the block to follow the contour of the land and keep in line with both post-driven sections and other ballasted sections of the array.

Instead of laboring over removing large rocks, using ballasted ground mounts next to pene-trating mounts saved crews time and money.

“With our ability to adjust the post height and tilt, we minimize the amount of site prep and can combat variations in slope,” Parr says. “Our design allows installation of racking and panels to take place on the ground without any heavy machinery or scaffolding.”

The next time developers run into rough terrain, a ballasted ground-mount could be the simple solution to a complicated installation problem.


SETTLE INTO PLACE the post and truss of the ballasted

ground-mount can be adjusted to fit any slope and module tilt.

READY TO INSTALL Patriot’s ballasted ground-mounts are delivered to the site pre-poured.

Excavation nEEdEd

As evident in the next few pAges, there are many, many players in the solar industry. It can seem overwhelming to narrow down the choices for the best mounting

and racking system for a new solar project. Some companies focus on specific applications — like metal rooftops or landfill caps — while

others focus on different materials — like fiberglass or HDPE.Solar Builder reached out to the vast and diverse mounting and racking community, and the following are submissions

from companies spanning all corners of the North American market, from residential rooftops to large ground-mounts and everything in between. It’s interesting to see how companies are working to reduce installation risks and system costs. Here are the newest and most unique mounting and racking systems out there now for your review-ing pleasure.


AdvAnced RAcking solutions viceRAck VICERACK by Advanced Racking Solutions offers a low-weight, tilted mounting

solution for all low-pitch, standing seam roof profiles. The weight of a VICERACK system (including solar modules) is less than 2 psf and is designed for inclinations of 5 to 30°.

The versatility of VICERACK means the system, connected with S-5! clamps, can be installed either square or skewed to the roof on both the north and south facing pitches.

Analyzed by several pre-engineered building supply companies, VICERACK systems are configured to avoid additional snow accumulation. The rear vented design and open side profile result in lower operating temperatures and improved solar yield. Access is available to all modules for maintenance. advancedracking.com

Applied eneRgy technologies RAypoRt-BAET claims to have the only stainless steel roof ballast system on the market with its

RAYPORT-B solar rack that is designed to minimize installation time and cost. The RAYPORT-B is designed with the end-user in mind. Ease of ordering (only four part numbers to order), top-down assembly of PV modules, integrated fasteners (allowing one common bolt to be used for all joints), integrated panel grounding and industry-leading installation time make the RAYPORT-B a favorite with installers.

AET’s racks are the quickest to assemble on the market and fit all major solar modules. A full layout and loading analysis is provided for every project. With manufacturing located in Ohio, AET has the shortest lead-time in the industry. Most racking systems are available for immediate shipment. aetenergy.com

cReotecc Mounting systeMsCreotecc mounting systems provide superior module retention without the use of

clamps, thereby accelerating installation times, minimizing stress on modules and improving aesthetics. With no clamps to fasten, modules are placed quickly and easily into insertion rails for faster panelization. Resting securely in place without clamps, mod-ules are able to contract and expand naturally, minimizing the risk of micro-cracks and early degradation. Finally, straight rows are automatically produced by the insertion rail, creating a continuous, even plane surface and a beautiful, gap-free appearance. With more than 1 GW installed globally, Creotecc mounting systems for residential, commercial and utility applications are made in the United States, are P.E. certified and UL 2703 recog-nized. creotecc.us

pRoduct ShowcaSe

solARBuildeRMAg.coM | 37

dynoRAxx evolutionThe DynoRaxx Evolution flat roof system features rugged fiberglass components and

DynoRaxx’s innovative tool-less clamping mechanism. The compact ballasted design requires no roof penetrations and has a smaller footprint than competitive systems.

The DynoRaxx Evolution fiberglass components cost less than traditional metal sys-tems. The baskets are stacked like cups for huge savings in shipping. Installers assemble the system quicker with the tool-less pivot clamp design. This means a lower installed cost per watt and more profitable PV installations.

After an initial measurement and chalk line to place the first row, the precision com-ponents require no further field measuring. From module to module and row to row, installers work quickly assembling racking and clamping solar panels. dynoraxx.com

ecoliBRiuM solAR BAllAsted systeMsEcolibrium Solar designs ballasted, flat-roof racking hardware, with a goal of reducing

the cost and duration required to install solar arrays by focusing on polymer-based solu-tions, weatherability and roof-membrane material compatibility.

Ecolibrium’s original product, Ecofoot, offers simple installation — one foot and one bolt provides 15 modules/man-hours install time, with the ability to accommodate any framed module. Ecofoot2 offers integrated grounding and built-in wire management. The low part-count and simple, top-down clamping system makes installing the largest projects fast and easy. The system only requires a drill to install all the components including wind deflectors which reduce the ballast requirements lightening the load placed upon the roof. ecolibriumsolar.com

hAticon solAR pitched Roof systeM HatiCon Solar’s pitched roof system is optimized for simple and fast on-site installa-

tion with no fabrication. Solar PV panels can be easily installed in portrait and landscape orientations. HatiCon Solar’s adjustable universal clamps click or slide on to the rail and only require one Allen wrench to tighten. This means less clamp inventory for the dis-tributor or installer. Integrated grounding technology is available. Angle brackets connect standard industry stanchions to the HatiCon Solar rail. Angle brackets allow up to 1 1/2 in. of vertical and 3/4 in. of back-to-front adjustability in the field with no fabrication. The pitched roof system is available in mill and black anodized finishes. All hardware is stainless steel. Rails can span up to 16 ft and the system can work on a pitch of up to 70°. haticonsolar.com

MAge systeMtec MAGE SYSTEMTEC is a universally adaptable, easy-to-use mounting system that

reduces installation time over conventional systems. It is designed to provide customized solutions with strong results on a wide array of ground and pitched roofing applications. Its innovative click-lock technology requires only a few tools which drastically reduces the installation time. This, in turn, increases the overall yield of the PV system for the end-customer due to lower costs for the investment and accelerated pay off time.

Covered by MAGE SOLAR’s 10-year material warranty, the rails are made of high-tier 6063-T6 extruded aluminum with fasteners and other hardware parts from stain-less steel. M5 and M8 bolt sizes, a drill and clamps are sufficient for installation. magesolar.com


pAnelclAw sun BeAR Sun Bear is a penetrating ground-mount racking system from PanelClaw designed for

large-scale installation of PV power plants for almost any terrain, foundation and envi-ronment. With its distinct truss design structure Sun Bear streamlines PV construction with just four major components and zero loose fasteners to reduce construction risk, integrated turnbuckles to safely perform in-field adjustments, telescoping frame that maximizes shipping capacity and interchangeable foundations to reduce project risk.

Sun Bear takes an innovative approach to large ground-mount applications to reduce project risk and decrease total project lifecycle costs. Its four-component design includes a pre-assembled frame and in-field adjustability, for an unmatched combination of sim-plicity and flexibility. panelclaw.com

pAtRiot solAR 375 seRies BAllAsted gRound MountWith only four major components — block, post, truss and rail — Patriot

Solar’s ballasted ground-mount system is ideal for large commercial and utility-scale installations. The mounting structure is 100 percent hot-dipped galvanized steel. Five panels can fit per section. Tilt angles range from 10 to 40°. It’s rugged and weather resistant, and the ballasted ground mount comes with a 10-year guaranteed against mechanical failure (breakage) of the frame construction. patriotsolargroup.com

Quick Mount pv Roof MountsQuick Mount PV uses its patented QBlock Elevated Water Seal technology for superior

waterproofing in the Classic Composition Mount and the Classic Shake Mount mounts on wood shake roofs. The QBase Composition Mount is a base-and-post style mount ideal for new roof construction. The QBase, the strongest mechanical roof attachment available, is also used for the QBase Low Slope, QBase Shake & Slate and QBase Universal Tile Mounts. The Classic Conduit Mount lifts conduit off the roof to prevent wiring from overheating, and the Conduit Penetration Flashing waterproofs roof penetrations for conduit passing through the roof.

Quick Hook USA is the industry’s first flashed tile hook mount, available for curved and flat tile roofs. The Quick Groove offers Quick Mount PV’s patented waterproofing technology for Zep-compatible installations. quickmountpv.com

oMg Roofing pRoducts poweRgRip OMG PowerGrip is a roof mount system for securing solar racks to thermoplastic

(TPO and PVC) roofing membranes. PowerGrip provides a secure connection directly to the roof deck or structural members. Once secured and heat-welded in place, prop-erly installed PowerGrips limit rack movement and remain watertight.

Factory fabricated OMG PowerGrip assemblies are easy-to-install and compatible with most solar racking systems on the market. No field fabrication or assembly is required. Since they eliminate the need to cut open the roof down to the deck, the system saves time and labor. PowerGrips feature a 9-in. wide diameter welding flange and a 1/2-in. tall weather resistant aluminum perch. An exposed 1-in. tall by 3/8-in. diameter stainless steel bolt provides a secure connection point for solar racks. olyfast.com

solARBuildeRMAg.coM | 39

solARdock Mounting systeMInvented in 2003, SolarDock was designed to meet the needs of commercial property

owners and tenants for racking that would protect their building while providing a strong ROI. SolarDock is made from durable mill-grade aluminum and stainless steel, has been rigorously tested in the wind-tunnel and has TUV Rheinland’s certification.

SolarDock is engineered to protect the roof with no penetrations and has no metal parts touching the roof, eliminating the chance of roof leaks and damage. SolarDock’s full-frame support protects the panel from micro-fractures created by wind uplift forces. Enclosed sides and back protect the wiring from damage caused by weather, animals and birds. SolarDock saves money throughout the life of the system, with reduced installation costs, little or no operations costs and increased power generation. solardock.com

solAR flexRAck utility gRound MountThe SFR Utility Ground Mount incorporates advanced design engineering for optimal

use of materials. Its all-steel rack dramatically reduces the price per watt. The entire system comes pre-assembled in two pieces, allowing for easy installation by a three-person crew in less than 10 minutes. The SFR Utility Ground Mount also has an integrated wire manage-ment system built into every rack by using z-purlin horizontal rails.

The SFR Utility Ground Mount utilizes a direct bolt connection for mounting modules to the rack. This method also bonds the module to the rack eliminating the need for an extra step to ground the modules to the racking system. Every rack is custom designed and project specific using structural analysis software to analyze the structure and ensure com-pliance with all applicable local building codes. solarflexrack.com

sollegA fAstRAckSollega Inc. debuts the new FastRack (FR5) 5° low-pitch solar roof-mounting system.

The FR5 complements Sollega’s existing InstaRack (IR10 and IR15) product line and is the first truly universal one-piece modular mounting system engineered to mount all 60- and 72-cell modules. The lightweight stackable design is efficient to ship and quick to stage and install. The FR5 arrives assembled and ready to install with all hardware pre-attached. To install, position the FR5, add ballast and attach the module with four pre-installed top-mount bolts. Grounding is performed using a UL-certified mid-clamp. As with all Sollega mounting systems, all attachments utilize one tool, a standard 1/2-in. socket. Manufactured in California utilizing recycled HDPE plastic enhanced with ultra-violet (UV) inhibitor, the FR5 is guaranteed for 25 years. sollega.com

sunlink pRecision RMsSunLink’s Precision RMS boasts design innovations that enable installation on roof-

tops with limited deck capacity and advanced features that allow for faster installation making it possible for more building owners to install solar, even in locations where it wasn’t previously possible.

These features include roof-friendly rubber feet that can be adjusted to align loads with structural elements of the roof, and a roof following capacity of 7°/12 percent. Plus, with a linked rail structure and stiff aluminum frame, Precision RMS can withstand condi-tions in the highest wind, seismic and corrosion zones — opening up a wider range of environmental sites to solar, as well. sunlink.com


ZillA RAcking And Mounting systeMsZilla designs and manufactures innovative solar racking, flashings, mounting systems

and products that make solar power more practical and affordable than ever before. Zilla accomplishes this through thoughtful design that facilitates intuitive use and cost-saving efficiencies throughout the manufacturing, delivery and installation processes.

The Zilla product line applies best-in-class technology to provide outstanding racking and mounting solutions. Zilla leads the industry with systems that are on the cutting edge of technology and is redefining solar mounting solutions in ways that make solar instal-lations safer, easier and more affordable. The company offers flat roof, flush mount, ground mount and custom systems to meet customer needs while focusing on strength, performance and value. zillarac.com

All of these tools can be found on

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sunModo eZ Roof MountNot only is the Sunmodo’s Ez Roof Mount easy to install, but it is water tight and

durable when used with any composite shingled roof. Ez Roof Mount has been certified under IAPMO ES for 100 percent compliance with International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC) as well as watertight compliance UL 441 criteria.

In addition, Sunmodo offers Ez Metal Roof Mount, specially designed for metal roofs. With few components and single penetration, Ez Metal Roof Mount has a fast installation.

Recently, Sunmodo introduced another product line for metal roofs. The universal seam clamp is specially designed to distribute load evenly against metal standing seam roofs and allow for continuous pressure contact against the attachment surface with no permanent damage to the roof. sunmodo.com

need to fill A position?

hAve used eQuipMent you wAnt to sell?

plAce youR clAssified heRe!

contAct kelly dAdich At:

phone: 330-315-2056 eMAil: [email protected]

position AvAilABle: designer and/or installer of residential and

commercial solar electric systems

Positive, energetic, detail oriented personality. knowledge of PV design and site analysis (designer). healthy and not afraid to climb

and work on roofs. high aptitude with math and geometry. Basic Auto cAd ability (designer). excellent working environment.

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last word recent news from solarbuildermag.com

on april 6, twitter co-founder Jack dorsey and his parents flipped the switch on a 25-kw rooftop system on their downtown st. louis business, ma tech services. the system was designed and installed by brightergy.

two san mateo county schools are the first schools in california to be fitted with ballasted solar mounting systems of any kind. Panelclaw’s grizzly bear flat roof racking system is the first in the industry to have its wind-tunnel data successfully approved by the california division of the state architect newly revised ir-16-8 permitting guidelines. the new rules allow companies to replace the structurally-prohibitive minimum weight requirement for ballasted systems with approved third-party wind tunnel data.

“until now, many california schools were unable to use [ballasted systems] due to the high ballast weight requirement causing a significant increase in ballast costs and typically resulting in a design that exceeded what most roofs could handle structurally,” said dustin rosepink, structural engineer and ceo at 4 s.t.e.l. engineering. “the option to use wind tunnel data opens up the opportunity for more schools to use Panelclaw’s ballasted systems without the need to wait for data to be independently reviewed and approved for each project. this levels the playing field between ballasted and penetrating systems and gives schools a choice in the systems that will be best for them.”

walgreens expanded its renewable energy initiative with solarcity to the state of colorado, agreeing to install solar at 22 stores in 14 cities. the company has committed to reducing its total energy use by 20 percent by 2020.

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