1/2016 THE MAGAZINE for Renewable Energies ISSN 1861-2741 74714 www.sunwindenergy.com 12.

00 International issue

THEsolar
The SOLARediTion
EDITION

INVERTER MARKET

Good opportunities
worldwide
SOLAR CONTROLLERS

Improving established
technologies

Storing
the power of the sun
AZeesGlobal2016_ees International_210x297_EN_V1 05.11.15 08:44 Seite 1

EUROPES LARGEST
JUNE 2224, 2016
EXHIBITION FOR
BATTERIES AND ENERGY
MUNICH
STORAGE SYSTEMS GERMANY

CHARGING THE FUTURE

ENERGY STORAGE
JULY 1214, 2016
MEETS NORTH AMERICA'S
MOST-ATTENDED SAN FRANCISCO
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OCT 1921, 2016
EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS
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INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION SERIES

FOR BATTERIES AND
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS

www.ees-events.com

Germany: a sad record!
T
he expression Energiewende has now
been taken up in many languages. This
shows the huge amount of attention
which has been paid around the world to the
German Energiewende experiment. When, in
a highly industrialised country such as
Germany, renewable energy has been able to
replace nuclear and conventional power sour-
ces without causing economic or social distor-
tions, then other countries will be able to
achieve this too. The awareness that the
Energie wende project must not remain a
German solo effort if climate change is to be
effectively tackled, is growing around the
world. The effects of climate change are
becoming all too clear: too large the damage
from storms, crop failures and health issues.
Sinking oil prices also cannot change
this. Firstly, the further burning of oil deriva-
tives for heat generation and mobility cannot
provide a way out of the CO2 issue, and sec-
ondly, almost nobody believes that the pric-
es will stay so low permanently. If consumers
in Germany, for example, have already been
willing to pay over 96 for 100 litres of heat-
ing oil, as was the case in October 2012, then
the oil producing countries will at some point
agree again on quotas to take us away from
the current prices of below 40.
But back to the renewables. The financial
services company Bloomberg New Energy
Finance has calculated that last year
US$329 billion was invested in renewable
energy projects. This is the highest sum ever
for environmentally friendly and sustainable
energy generation. Accordingly, wind and
solar also set new records in 2015: 64 GW of
new installations globally for wind power
and 57 GW for photovoltaics.
Things look very different for the pre-
vious class leader Germany, however. At
US$10.6billion, investments here have fall-
en to the lowest level for 10 years. The former
front runner in renewable energy investment
now only lies in sixth place behind China,
EDITORIAL
the USA, Japan, Great Britain and India. This
would be bearable if such a decline could be
explained away by sinking systems prices,
but the installation volume itself has been
falling for years across the board from so- Dr. Volker Buddensiek
lar farms to small privately financed rooftop Editor-in-chief
systems. volker.buddensiek@sunwindenergy.com
But instead of comprehending this devel-
opment as an alarm signal and firmly chang-
ing course especially given the promises
made at the Paris Climate Conference
federal and state parliaments in Germany are
shamefully skirting around the issue. There
is a debate about for how long brown coal
extraction should still be allowed, with vari-
ous sides throwing in a proposed exit by the
year 2050. Whereby the term exit is a consid-
erably ironic one, given that this exit date
coincides with what RWE head Peter Terium
claims will be the exhaustion of the energy
companys brown coal reserves anyway.
This makes it clear that the political will to
shape matters is taking a back seat to the
dominating economic interests. Yet it was
just such a political will to shape matters
which drew up the contours of the Energie-
wende, and it is still required now to show
all those who are watching the German
Energiewende project keenly, how a para-
digm shift in energy supplies can be suc-
cessfully implemented.
Right now, however, there is nothing to be
seen of a renewed desire to shape matters
and the fear remains that the former class
leader will continue to bring home negative
records in the future. But this doesnt seem
to be bothering anybody for this sad record
has not even been reason enough to want to
talk about it.
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Inverters:
Good opportunities wordwide

More and more solar electricity is being consumed direct-

ly, resulting in increased performance requirements for in-
verters in the residential segment. Demand is stagnating
in Europe, but the market is growing in North America and
East Asia as well as in some emerging markets.

Page 48

Photo: Steca
Photo: Resol

Solar controllers: Improving

tried-and-tested technologies
Lately, manufacturers have only introduced a small
number of new solar and system controllers on the market.
Instead, most of them have been focusing on developing
existing models further.
Page 22

PV in UK: What to expect in 2016?

The UKs renewable energy policy took a sudden turn in
2015. Drastic cuts were announced to subsidies for solar
and wind. Other measures initiated years ago to
promote clean energy were scaled down. Although they
were motivated by budgetary needs, at the core of the
ational

decisions there is the new energy vision of the

Photo: Fronius Intern

Conservative Government elected in May. So what to

expect for 2016?

Page 60

4 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

 U.S. market: ITC extension
promises a surge in growth
The solar market in the USA is expected to
see renewed growth. The five-year extension
of the ITC amounts to a breakthrough, and
the energy transition is now also increasing-
ly setting the tone in New York in addition to
California. However, developing the net
metering system in the individual states is
still a challenge. One example of this is
Massachusetts.

Page 12
Photo: SEIA/AllEarth Renewables

Mounting systems: Out of the doldrums

Mounting systems for rooftop PV systems on residential dwell-
ings have developed to reach a certain optimum. Further materi-
al savings and ground-breaking innovations have become di-
cult, instead internationalisation and standardisation have now
become the order of the day. However, in view of the decreasing
sizes of PV systems, the eorts and expenses required for certifi-
cation and the establishment of distribution structures present
high obstacles indeed.
Photo: Schletter

Page 35

REVIEW PHOTOVOLTAICS

Photo: Hummelsberger
6 Pictorial: 32 Power supply:
Summers heat for cold winters About battery and storage systems
8 Facts & Figures: 35 Mounting systems:
New record for global PV market Out of the doldrums
10 PV policy in California: 40 Monitoring: Sensor technology and Large storage tanks
Preserving net energy metering diagnostic processes More and more multi-family buildings are be-
12 U.S. market: ITC extension 44 Partner programmes: ing designed as solar homes. Solar storage
promises a surge in growth Backbone of sales then takes centre stage.
14 EU policy: Interview with Dominique 48 Market overview:
Ristori A Europe-wide asset Inverters for domestic installations Page 20
16 UN policy: Good opportunities worldwide
Renewables The road from Paris 56 Cleaning of solar modules:
Clean and transparent
60 United Kingdom:
SOLAR THERMAL
Photo: Nedap

2015 was the annus horribilis for

18 Preview Mostra Convegno (MCE): solar, so what to expect for 2016?
Italys largest trade fair
20 Large storage tanks: About battery and storage systems
Living without a second rent DEPARTMENT The market for domestic solar power storage
22 Market overview: 62 International events systems is hugely diverse, from products that
Solar controllers Improving 66 Directory are essentially just a battery to complete
tried-and-tested technologies 66 Preview and imprint storage systems.
Page 32

Solar Edition 5
REVIEW PICTORIAL

PIC
torial

Summers
for cold winters
h

6 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

s heat
First the storage, then the house
constructing a solar house, as
here in Weienburg, Germany,
involves a few peculiarities
along the way. Each of the stor-
age tanks has a volume of 74m
and will store solar heat from
the summer to be used during
fall and winter.
Photo: Haag & Ortner GmbH

Solar Edition 7
 ISGlo

REVIEW FACTS & FIGURES

facts&
Analysts and market researchers produce a vast number of studies on how the
dierent sectors of renewable energies have developed both globally or in selected
countries. They send out their own projections on how markets for all kinds of

figures
renewable energies are set todevelop. Facts and figures come into our mailbox, in
an endless stream, dicult to overview. SUN & WIND ENERGY has selected several
interesting ones and presents you our new Facts & Figures section.

CIGS: low cost high eciency photovoltaics technology

The PV modules with CIGS (Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 )
absorbers are well positioned in the field of PV
technologies with present record eciencies for
production size modules of 16.5 %. Recent
Projected CIGS production cost using presently available
technology and leveraging further cost reduction potential
0.45
facility & maintenance

Projected production cost (US$ / Wp)

0.40

progress at the cell level paves the way for 0.35

personnel
0.30
progress towards total area module eciencies
0.25
of 18 %. Low cost CIGS PV modules can provide depreciation
0.20
electricity below 5 -ct/kWh (LCOE). In the material
0.15
longer term in combination with suitable wide 0.10
bandgap absorbers CIGS can be used as bottom 0.05

Source: www.CIGS-PV.NET
cell in tandem devices that enable eciency 0.00
values well beyond 30%. These are the main Present fab Next gen fab Upgrade & scale next gen fab

findings of a study conducted by a group of in- Capacity 150 MW / a p

250 500 MW / a p
500 1000 MW / ap

Average efficiency 14.3 % 16 % 18 %

ternational researchers and companies lead by
Reductions versus material -20 % material -30 %
two German research insitutes, the Zentrum fr present fab capex -20 % capex -30 %
Sonnenenergie- und Wassersto-Forschung f&m -20 %
facility and maintenance personnel depreciation material
(ZSW) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB).
Currently the biggest production units, ated processing combined with new capex. Improved productivity by next
ranging in capacity from 100 to 1,000 MW/a, CIGS facilities have the potential to yield generation equipment (improved
Fig. 3: Projected CIGS production cost using presently available technology and leveraging further cost reduction potential
are located in Germany and in Japan. These are total cost of ownership of 40 US$-ct/W throughput, yield and availability), mini-
operated at high yields well beyond 90 % over even at productions capacities as low as mized energy consumption and opti-
the whole value chain. At present, the total 150 MW/a. Costs will be continuously re- mized infrastructure will also contribute
world-wide CIGS production capacity is about ongoing duced by improving module e ciency
with the focus to transfer the high-efficiency to theTHE
costCIGS
decrease.
WHITE Summarizing all re-
PAPER INITIATIVE INCLUDES
2 GW/a. Even when using non-abundant ele- lab results from 14 % to 18
to production. % and by scaling e ects duction potentials,
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM:and scaling to the
ments like indium, a supply limitation is not reducing the bill of materials (purchasing multi GW/a level, CIGS technology will be
expected below a production volume of large volumes, reducing layer thickness- able to reduce costs by another 25 % to
Costs will be continuously reduced by improving module Jrg Palm, Franz Karg (AVANCIS)
100GW/a. Large area deposition and acceler- es and using less pure materials) and 40 % within the near term.
efficiency from 14 % up to 18 % (see Fig. 1) and by Hannes Schneider and Katsumi Kushiya (Solar Frontier
scaling effects reducing the bill of materials (purchasing K. K.)
large volumes, reducing layer thicknesses and using Lars Stolt (Solibro/Hanergy)
Global PV market reached new record in 2015 less pure materials) and capex. Improved productivity Growingdemand Ayodhya N. Tiwari for (Flisom, EMPA)
After 40 GW of grid connected PV instal- by next generation equipment
driven primarily by a booming UK market (improved renewable electricity with GO
throughput, Esko Niemi (Midsummer)
lations in 2014, 2015 saw a significant yield than
at more and availability),
4 GW, followed minimized
by a re- energy consumption Markus Beck (Siva Power)
growth with a market reaching at least 51 ducedandGerman
optimized infrastructure
market at 1.4 GW.will also contribute Theto the forChris
demand Eberspacher
renewable (Solopower)
electricity docu-
GW, according to data compiled by the cost
Indiadecrease.
confirmedSummarizing
its growth with all2reduction
GW potentials,
mented withGuarantees
Peter Wohlfart (SINGULUS
of Origin (GO) sur-TECHNOLOGIES AG)
PV Market Alliance (PVMA). Strong and scaling
installed in 2015 toand
the positive
multi GWprospects
p
/ a level, CIGS technology
passed 340TWh Atiye Baymanin(MiaSol
in Europe 2015. ThisHi-Tech/Hanergy)
is up
growth was observed in all major mar- for will
the be able to
coming reduce costs by another 25 % up
years. to 40than
more % 8% Urs
fromSchoop
2014. GO (Global Solar /elec-
are issued Hanergy)
kets while more emerging market start- within
A numberthe near term. markets on
of emerging tronically forthe Bobelectricity
Wieting and Kannan Ramanathan
generated (1 GO per (Stion, California)
ed to contribute to the global growth. all continents started to contribute sig- MWh), traded and Bernhard
used byDimmler,
suppliers Claus Kuhn (MANZ AG)
as evi-
China installed at least 15 GW, a nificantly to the global growth. Installa- dence to their customers
Stephen Whitelegg
of the quality(Nanoco
of the Technologies)

The time
37% increase against 2014 installations. tions reached around 1.5 GW in other delivered electricity. The five
Ulfert Rhle countries that con-
(Flisom)
The utility-scale segment continued to American countries and around 2.5 GW sume the most renewable
Daniel Lincot,energy
Negarare Germany,
Naghavi (CNRS-IRDEP)
dominate the market with a share of in other Asian countries, including Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands
Thomas Walter (Hochschule and Italy.
Ulm)

to invest in
more than 70 %. With this new record Australia. Africa and the Middle East Together they demand three-fourthsMartha
Rutger Schlatmann, of the re-Lux-Steiner (Helmholtz
China overtook the pole position from together contributed about 1 GW. newable energy used in Europe.
Zentrum Berlin) The Nether-
Germany with 43 GW installed capacity. Analysts from Bloomberg New lands is the fastest
Andogrowing
Kuypersmarket. From 2014

CIGS technology
(Solliance)
The US market grew by 56 % in 2015 Energy Finance are even more optimistic to 2015 it hasgrown by 12 % and
Bernd Szyszka (TU Berlin) consumed
over 2014 to 9.8 GW. However, installa- about 2015 installations summarizing to more than 42.5 TWh in 2015.
Susanne Germany
Siebentritt is still the
(University of Luxembourg)

tions were to a large extent driven by ITC
uncertainty and ccelerated growth in the
market for residential solar leases.
Europe installed about 8.5 GW,
is now!
57GW. Together with 64 GW of new wind
power installations they calculate a glo-
bal investment of US$ 392 billion an
all-time global record.
largest market with a total volume of 87TWh in
Peter Lechner (ZSW)
2015. For the first time since 2011, there was a
Michael Powalla (ZSW, KIT)
real balance between supply and demand.
Rommel Noufi (consultant, formerly at NREL)
Data: www.ecohz.com
Hans Werner Schock (formerly at Helmholtz Zentrum
Berlin)

8 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, SEE WWW.CIGS-PV.NET

Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
ISGlobal2016_Besucheranzeige_BVA SWE_25 Jahre_210x297.qxp_Layout 1 19.01.16 11:28 Seite 1

INTERSOLAR POWERFUL PIONEERS FOR 25 YEARS!

Intersolar Summit USA East | New York | March 24, 2016

Intersolar Summit Turkey | Istanbul | April 6, 2016
Intersolar Europe | Munich | June 2224, 2016
Intersolar North America | San Francisco | July 1214, 2016
Intersolar South America | So Paulo | August 2325, 2016
Intersolar Middle East | Dubai | September 1921, 2016
Intersolar India | Mumbai | October 1921, 2016

Discover the Worlds Leading

Exhibition Series for the Solar Industry
www.intersolarglobal.com

Solar Edition
REVIEW PV POLICY IN CALIFORNIA
PG&E employees installing solar atop a home in Chico,
California CPUC regulators have proposed a net
metering regime that does not have any cap and will
maintain retail payments for residential rooftop PV
systems. Photo: PG&E
Preserving net
energy metering
Californias existing net metering programme is close to
expiring as the states utilities approach their 5 % caps. A
2013 state law, AB 327, required the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC) to create a successor
programme when the threshold is met, but the CPUC just
came up with a proposed decision outlining a future net
metering regime.
A
s California comes closer to becoming the
first state in the United States to reach 5 %
penetration of solar energy generation, both
solar industry representatives and utility companies
nervously anticipated what reaching that threshold
would mean. Under previous California law, utility
companies were required to offer net energy mete-
ring to solar customers until 5 % of the utilities
customers adopted solar. Although each utility will
hit the cap at a slightly different time, they are all
expected to meet it within the next year.
The approaching 5 % threshold gave utility com-
panies an opportunity to fight for a change. The
California Assembly passed Assembly Bill 327 in
2013 to establish a regulatory framework for when
the threshold is met, but the California Public
10
Utilities Commission (CPUC) just issued a proposed
decision outlining the specifics of the new net
metering laws in December.
It upholds net metering for solar customers in
California, explains Susannah Churchill, the
Regional Director of Vote Solar, a solar industry
group. The solar industry lobbied to keep net energy
metering the same, while utility companies lobbied
for substantial changes. The CPUC also received a
record 150,000 written public comments, mostly
supporting a continuation of the current net energy
metering system.
This California decision is going to set really im-
portant precedents for the rest of the country, be-
cause California is seen as a bellwether, Churchill
explains. Importantly, the CPUCs proposed decision
does not have any cap, so the solar industry and
potential solar customers can count on the net
metering landscape remaining the same far into the
future.
According to Benjamin Airth, the Senior Manager
for Renewables at the Center for Sustainable Energy,
any decision that did not uphold the major tenets of
net energy metering would have substantially re-
duced the number of solar installations immediate-
ly, starting in the first quarter of 2016.
Ari Vanrenen, a spokesperson from PG&E,
counters that solar would continue to grow under his
utilitys proposal, which would involve levying a
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
 sage-based demand charge and a new way to cal-
u
culate how customers would be credited for the en-
ergy they supply to the grid. Churchill contends that
the specifics of PG&Es proposal would result in an
80 % decrease in savings from going solar for the
average utility customer in California.

Changes and concessions

The CPUCs decision is not yet final, and it does con-
tain some concessions to the utilities although
both Airth and Churchill consider the concessions
reasonable. The first change would be that solar
customers would be responsible for paying non-
bypassable charges small fees that are used to
fund renewable energy programs as well as energy
subsidies for the poor. The second change is that
utilities would be allowed to charge a one-time con-
nection fee of between US$ 75 and US$ 100.
Utilities are likely to continue lobbying for the
ability to charge solar customers more fees or chip
away at the net energy metering regime. According
to Churchill, the biggest question is whether or not
the CPUC will allow utilities to charge transmission
fees fees charged to solar customers for transmit-
ting the energy they produce.
There are other issues that solar advocates say
have the potential to affect Californias solar market.
California used to have a four-tiered metering sys-
tem, in which the largest electricity users also paid
the highest rates. That system is being flattened to a
two-tiered structure that establishes the same rates
for all utility customers. The second potential change
is in how time-of-use rates are calculated. The cur-
rent system has the highest rates paid in the after-
noon, which is ideal for solar producers. Utility com-
panies would like to shift the highest rates into the
evening, which would result in lower payouts under
net metering programs for solar customers. Those
shifts have been rejected by the CPUC in the past,
but with time-of-use becoming more important with
the new net metering regulations, that decision
could be revisited and could mean substantial
changes for rooftop solar producers.
Emily Liedel

Benjamin Airth, Senior Manager for Renewables at

the Center for Sustainable Energy, considers the
concessions to the utilities reasonable.
 Photo: Center for Sustainable Energy

Solar Edition
REVIEW U.S. MARKET
ITC extension promises
a surge in growth
The solar market in the USA is expected to see renewed growth. The five-year extension of the
ITC amounts to a breakthrough, and the energy transition is now also increasingly setting the
tone in New York in addition to California. However, developing the net metering system in the
individual states is still a challenge. One example of this is Massachusetts.
T
he industry had been hoping for a positive de-
cision for months. Shortly before Christmas,
the decision was announced. The U.S. Con-
gress had agreed to a five-year extension of the
Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The provision, which has
been the most important financial tool for funding
photovoltaics and solar thermal energy, was origi-
nally scheduled to expire at the end of 2016. Invest-
ments in solar plants will now continue to benefit
from a tax credit of 30% of the total investment sum
until 2019. In 2020, the tax credit will be lowered to
26%, in 2021 to 22%, and the programme will finally
expire on 31 December 2022.
This will lead to more than US$ 133 billion in
new, private sector investments in the U.S. economy
and add 220,000 new jobs by 2020, said Rhone
Resch, President and CEO of the Solar Energy
Industries Association (SEIA). He anticipates that
the installed photovoltaic capacity will more than
triple by 2020, and that the milestone of 100 GW will
be achieved. As a result, solar power is expected to
achieve a share of around 3.5% of the US electricity
mix over the next four years. By comparison, the pro-
portion of solar was only 0.1% of overall electricity
production in the USA in 2010.
The solar industry now has a seat at the table
with the nations other major electricity producers,
12
the SEIA CEO confidently stated. He also pointed
out that in addition to project developers of large
solar parks, the surge in growth will also especially
benefit small installation companies, which account
for 85% of the 8,000 solar companies in the USA.
The market for private PV roof systems (residential
market) has been boasting the highest growth rates
in the USA for quite some time now. Support for
further expansion of renewable energies also came
from President Barack Obamas final State of the
Union Address in mid-January. He also spoke in
favour of internalising the external costs for fossil
fuels, stating that oil and coal resources need to
better reflect the costs they impose on taxpayers
and our planet.
A range of measures in New York
Political messages such as this as well as the ITC ex-
tension are also providing positive impetus for the
growing photovoltaics market in the US east coast
states. New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York are
pulling ahead (see table). New York in particular is
making headlines in terms of renewable energies.
Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, is using a
wide range of measures to advance climate protec-
tion, convert the energy supply infrastructure and
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

According to SEIAs analysis, the growth spurt re-
sulting from the ITC extension will not only benefit
project developers of large solar parks, but also
small installation companies in particular.
Photo: SEIA/ AllEarth Renewables
promote photovoltaics. The goal is to increase the
states share of renewable energies in the electricity
supply to at least 50% and to reduce CO2 emissions
by at least 40% (compared to 1990) by 2030. At the
beginning of December, Cuomo commissioned the
New York State Department of Public Service (DPS)
with drawing up a programme by July of this year. By
the year 2020, 150,000 additional homes and busi-
nesses are to be equipped with solar power arrays,
which is a five-fold expansion over the 30,000 arrays
that the state has supported since 2013. Additional-
ly, Cuomo announced that the State University of
New York (SUNY) system will install renewable ener-
gy at each of its 64 campuses by 2020.
In order to achieve these development objec-
tives, the Governor is using a comprehensive set of
measures. Cuomo announced in mid-January that
US$15 million will be provided for solar training, for
example for installation technicians. A virtual net
metering programme called Shared Renewables
has been newly introduced. New York residents can
subscribe to receive the benefits of a PV array of up
to 2 MW located on a sponsors property, which is al-
so of interest to tenants. In addition, the Reforming
the Energy Vision process will help to adapt the
function and structure of the distribution grid and
utilities to the growing share of renewable energies.
In the future, we will be focusing strongly on de-
mand side management, pooling decentralised en-
ergy sources, selling PV plants equipped with stor-
age systems, as well as new services for energy e-
ciency, said Sergej Mahnovski, Utility of the Future
Director for the New York energy provider Con Edison.
Solar Edition
State ranking by cumulative solar capacity
California 12,147 MW
Arizona 2,210 MW
New Jersey 1,574 MW
North Carolina 1,264 MW
Nevada 1,016 MW
Massachusetts 953 MW
New York 570 MW
Hawaii 538 MW
Colorado 443 MW
Texas 403 MW
This info is current as of Q3 of 2015.
Source: SEIA/GTM Research U.S. Solar Market Insight report
The regional emissions trading market will also be
linked with carbon markets in Quebec, Ontario, and
California.
Caps endanger solar projects in
Massachusetts
In mid-October, the New York Public Services Com-
mission (NYPSC) lifted the existing limitation on net
metering for PV systems without much fanfare, so as
not to interfere with market growth and to support
the Reform the Energy Vision process.
In Massachusetts on the other hand, one of the
other east coast market hot spots, this issue is a
cause for concern in the industry. Due to the rapid
growth of the PV market during the past two years,
the tight caps on consumer sales of solar electricity
back into the grid were reached repeatedly and then
increased with corresponding legislation each time.
The cap will soon be reached again, which will en-
danger implementation of hundreds of solar
projects, according to the SEIAs analysis. We urge
policymakers to raise the caps through quick legis-
lative action, Sean Gallagher, Vice President of
State Aairs of SEIA appealed to Governor Charlie
Baker (Republican). SEIA urges policymakers to
join other states that are leading on solar, such as
New York and California, which are figuring out how
to fairly compensate customers who go solar, even
as they move to the next generation of solar
policies, Gallagher said.
Hans-Christoph Neidlein
Intersolar Summit USA East
The third year of the Intersolar Summit USA East will be held in Brooklyn, New York,
on 24 March 2016. At least 300 participants are expected to attend the one-day
conference, which will be opened by Senator Kevin S. Parker (New York State). The
topics that will be discussed include New Yorks Solar Roadmap, the development
of the photovoltaics and storage market in the east coast states, and trends in fi-
nancing and technology. The evening networking reception Solar Futures in the
Brooklyn Borough Hall will provide an interesting opportunity to establish contacts
with important decision-makers.
www.intersolarglobal.com/en/summits/usa-east/
13
REVIEW EU POLICY

A Europe-wide asset
The ambition to maintain global leadership in the sector is part of the Energy Union strategy
presented by the European Commission in February 2015. The first State of the Energy
Union report, which followed in November, confirmed the role of the industry for both
economic and climate goals. But walking the talk is not going to be easy. What is the
position of European companies and what to expect from the EU next year? Dominique
Ristori, Director General for Energy at the European Commission, gives an overview.

few sectors where employment has grown in spite of

the financial crisis, with almost half a million addi-
tional jobs between 2008 and 2013. European re-
newable energy companies also lead in terms of
turnover. In 2013, the sector generated 137 billion,
a 6 % increase on the previous year. We should
keep in mind that, even if we import some technolo-
gies, the value chain of renewables remains mostly
European.
According to the International Energy Agency, the EU
is set to lead growth in renewable generation, with
wind, solar and other technologies accounting for
50 % of power production by 2040, followed by
China and Japan at 30 %. To keep on this path, it is
true that we need to intensify our efforts. We will
need strong governance to achieve the EU binding
target of 20 % by 2020. We also need a solid direc-
tive to ensure at least 27 % renewables by 2030.
Support schemes will have to be flexible and
market-oriented, to avoid distortion through over-
compensation. We also support research and inno-
vation with ten research and innovation actions as
part of the Integrated Strategic Energy Technology
Plan. Projects are also included in the Horizon 2020
programme, the EU Framework Programme for
Research and Innovation.

Dominique Ristori S&WE: What is the biggest problem of the EU

renewable energy industry?
is Director General for Energy at the European Commission. He points out:
Ristori: Lots of factors influence the development of
The European Union is committed to becoming the global hub for the next
renewable energy and therefore the success of Euro-
generation of technically advanced and competitive renewable energies.
 Photo: European Commission pean companies. There are financial elements, with
sometimes difficult access to capital; policy ele-
ments, with sometimes uncertainties on the regulato-
ry framework; and technical elements, with addition-
S&WE: European renewable energy companies al challenges for integrating and balancing larger
seem to be squeezed between increasing interna share of variable electricity in the energy system. In
tional competition, especially from China, and with this context, political commitment and regulatory sta-
drawal of government incentives, like in the UK and bility are crucial. A strong and integrated energy mar-
Spain. What is happen ket, fit for renewables, is
ing to the European
A strong and integrated energy key. A key challenge is to
renewable energy in market, fit for renewables, is key provide an energy system
dustry? that delivers security of sup-
Dominique Ristori: The European renewable energy ply and integrates an increasing share of variable re-
sector employs 1.15 million people, which means newables. In addition, we have to make sure that
over 2 renewable jobs per 1,000 inhabitants twice ageing installations are replaced and that the market
the world average. Renewable energy is one of the delivers sufficient long-term investment signals.

14 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

S&WE: One of the problems of renewable energy is
considered the high cost for consumers. What can
the European Union do to overcome it?
Ristori: The past growth
in renewables has led The challenge is to reflect cost
to important long-term
investment costs. How- reduction in consumer prices
ever, as the share con-
tinues to climb, renew-
able energy becomes more cost-competitive.
Hydropower, geothermal and onshore wind are now
cheaper than coal. Biomass and solar PV are also
increasingly competitive compared to fossil fuels.
The challenge is to reflect this cost reduction in
consumer prices. The Communication on Delivering
a New Deal for Energy Consumers and the Consulta-
tive Communication on a New Energy Market De-
signs aim is to put consumers at the centre of the
energy market and to give them the tools they
need. Consumers need to see lower costs, better
service and greater choice, whilst benefitting from
the same high standards of protection that EU law
has offered them in the past.
The wider roll-out of smart technologies, including
smart metering systems, will enable them to take
control of their consumption. Smart infrastructure
will facilitate coordination of distributed resources
and players. It will also enable system operators to
solve local problems and optimise grid investment,
making distribution networks more cost-effective.
For all this, we will encourage new solutions, like
dynamic price contracts, to allow consumers to save
up to 30 % off their bills from intraday markets.
S&WE: The EU is expected It is crucial to build a European
to reach its 20 % renew
able energy target by renewable energy value chain
2020. 19 countries will
likely exceed their share,
while 9 (France, Luxembourg, Malta, the Nether
lands, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain,
Hungary and Poland) are unlikely to meet their
pledges. Will they be sanctioned?
Ristori: The Renewable Energy Directive is very
clear on this. If the Member State fails to meet its
interim target, it has to resubmit a new National
Renewable Energy Action plan with actions to re-
gain the trajectory in the shortest possible time.
The European Commission remains open and will-
ing to assess policies and measures with the con-
cerned countries, including cooperation with other
EU nations.
S&WE: EU companies have a share of 40 % of all
patents for renewable energy technologies. Which
country in Europe has the most competitive industry
and why is the model successful?
Ristori: The renewable industry is a European-
wide asset, as shown by the share of patents.
Competitiveness should therefore be tackled at
the EU and not only at Member State level. Com-
panies in Europe are not only driven by national
Solar Edition
markets, they are also pulled by a European de-
mand, so it is crucial to build a European renew
able energy value chain. The 2020 targets have
created a steady demand
for cost-effective renew
able technology. The
27% target by 2030 will
continue this trend.
S&WE: This year the European Commission
launched the Energy Union package, a communi
cation which focuses on security, decarbonisation
and interconnectivity. Which policies will the EU
adopt as a priority in the coming year?
Ristori: The Energy Union Strategy states that the
European Union is committed to becoming the glo-
bal hub for the next generation of technically ad-
vanced and competitive renewable energies. Solar
and wind will contribute to all these priorities, in-
cluding security of supply. So we have to make sure
that the energy market will be able to accommodate
higher shares of renewable electricity up to 50 %
by 2030 in a cost-effective way. We need to make
the market fit for renewables. This is the aim of the
communication on market design: to launch a pub-
lic debate on the needed reforms.
In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, by 2020,
the EU has agreed that at least 10 % of its electricity
will be able to flow through cross-border intercon-
nections. This will reach 15 % by 2030. So regional
mechanisms will be promoted beyond individual
countries. How to achieve this? By identifying priori-
ty interconnections, so-called Projects of Common
Interest (PCI), and sup-
porting the roll-out of
essential infrastruc-
tures with financing
from the European
Fund for Strategic In-
vestments and the Connecting Europe Facility initia-
tive. An Investment Portal is being set up to pro-
mote the transparency of the project pipeline and to
make information accessible to potential investors.
On 18 November 2015, the European Commission
launched a public consultation on the revision of
the renewable energy directive. This is open until
10 February 2016. To put the right decarbonisation
incentives in place, we will also push for a phase-
out of fossil fuel subsidies. Apart from the revision
of the renewable energy directive, legislative pro-
posals will be presented to implement the new
electricity market design. In 2014, renewable ener-
gy had a share of 15.3 % of the EU gross final ener-
gy consumption. We have three times more renew-
able power per capita in Europe than anywhere
else in the world. Moreover several countries are
currently developing or have adopted national
energy and climate plans for the period post 2020.
Investors can expect stability and predictability as
well as bigger markets for renewable energy
sources in the future.
The interview was conducted by Claudia Delpero.
15
REVIEW UN POLICY

Renewables:
the road from Paris
At the United Nations Conference on Climate Change
195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally
binding global climate deal and set out a global action
plan. Germana Canzi, who was in Paris for the summit,
reports for S&WE.
Market reaction
According to Steve Sawyer of the Global Wind Ener-
gy Council: Paris represents a $ 15 trillion opportu-
nity for the clean energy industry, ushering in the
biggest transformation of the global economy since
the industrial revolution. And in the immediate
aftermath of the summit, markets appeared to agree

UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon met Al Gore, NGO
and Civil Society representa-
tives at COP 21. The former
Vice President presented a
petition signed by 6.2 million
people from around the world
demanding a strong agree-
ment that will shift the world
away from carbon pollution
and rapidly towards climate
solutions.
Photo: UNclimatechange/Flickr
T
he day after the historic United Nations cli-
mate change agreement was struck by over
190 countries on December 13, many negotia-
tors, civil society, business and media representa-
tives were still recovering from two weeks of tough
negotiations, many sleepless nights, followed by a
final night of partying until the early hours still in
awe at what was achieved. But they all knew that
what would happen next would be crucial.
Ahead of the two-week summit, almost all of the
worlds countries had already summited their cli-
mate pledges, 80 % of which included plans to in-
crease clean energy supply. The World Resources
Institute said that if some of the biggest greenhouse
gas emitters China, the United States, the Europe-
an Union, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Japan and Mexico
do achieve their plans, total clean energy supply
could increase by around 11,000 TWh by 2030.
Then the first day of the summit saw the remark-
able birth of the International Solar Alliance,
launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to
push the development of solar energy technologies
in the sunniest countries in the world. The Indian
government is investing an initial US$ 27 million in
setting up the alliances headquarters in India. The
Africa Renewable Energy initiative, launched a few
days later, announced plans to achieve at least
10 GW of new and additional renewable energy
capacity by 2020 and 300 GW by 2030.
with this.
According to the Institute for Energy Economics
and Financial Analysis, the unexpectedly strong
outcome of the summit saw many coal company
share prices decimated over the last month, in-
cluding Peabody Energy, which was down by 37 %.
The International Energy Agency also noted the neg-
ative sentiment for the coal industry caused by the
Paris negotiations. Meanwhile, many renewable en-
ergy company stocks were moving up, with indices
such as the MAC Global Solar Energy Index surging
significantly.
However, there are also reasons to be cautious.
As Sawyer said: The very ambitious goals in the text
now need to be matched with deeds. The agreement
itself doesnt change anything overnight, but it es-
tablishes a solid framework and a oor upon which
we must build.
Nowhere is this more obvious than in Britain:
just a few days after the deal was signed in Paris, the
solar industry found out that the planned cuts in
small scale feed-in taris were to be lower than pre-
viously feared but still significant, leading to thou-
sands of possible job losses. Many observers are
also now saying the EU needs to strengthen its cli-
mate targets in the light of the Paris Agreement, as
the current emission reduction commitment is not at
all consistent with the 1.5 temperature target (see
box). However, much better news came from the U.S.

16 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

Congress in the days after the agreement was struck,
as it agreed on a bill to extend solar and wind power
incentives.

Will Paris deliver for renewables?

A key criteria for measuring the success of the Paris
Agreement will be whether emerging economies re-
ally do boost their clean energy capacity within a few
years, as they have stated. China is already a global
leader in the sector, and there are signs this may
continue. Indias target to reach 40 % of renewable
energy in the electricity mix by 2030 is very ambi-
tious, but the country will have to increase its annu-
al rate of renewable energy growth by a considerable
amount in order to achieve it.
According to a study by consultancy firm Dual
Citizen Inc, there are many issues to be solved in
other developing countries, too. Mexico is just one
example, where the proposed liberalization of the
energy sector risks directing future investments to
fossil fuels and compromising an otherwise ambi-
tious climate pledge. Observers say the increased
global unity of the solar industry may give reasons
for hope. The Global Solar Council was launched in
Paris at the summit and includes 17 regional and na-
tional solar associations, including China, India,
Europe and Brazil.
So as thousands of people who attended the
summit and the after-party got over the hangover,
they all remembered the obvious: Paris was not the
end of the road, and the hard work to decarbonise
the world economy and boost renewable energy
growth is only just starting.
Germana Canzi

What the Paris agreement says:

All countries have pledged to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
The plans should aim to keep global warm-
ing significantly below 2 degrees above
preindustrial temperatures while also aim-
ing for 1.5 degrees to protect millions living
on low-lying islands or coasts.
Countries will review and strengthen
emission-cutting pledges every five years.
Greenhouse gas emissions should peak as
soon as possible, aiming for a balance
between emissions and sinks such as
forests, that absorb emissions in the
second half of the century.
Rich countries will continue providing
money for poorer countries to adapt to

climate change and reduce emissions.
A system was put in place for monitoring
and verifying that countries will do what
they have said they will do.

Solar Edition
REVIEW PREVIEW MCE
Italys largest
trade fair
The Mostra Convegno Expocomfort
(MCE) will open on March 15 in
Milan, Italy. Photo: Jens-Peter Meyer
The Mostra Convegno in Milan is celebrating its 40th
anniversary this year. SUN & WIND ENERGY presents
selected highlights from the field of renewable energies.
T
he Mostra Convegno is the leading specialist
trade fair for building and energy technology
in southern Europe. This year, at least 1,600
companies from 53 countries have announced their
intention to participate. Similar to two years ago, at
least 150,000 trade visitors are expected to attend.
S&WE presents a selection of novelties.
Sole SA from Greece will present a new
flat-plate collector and a new thermosi-
phonic system at Mostra Convegno. The
new ECO series of flat-plate collectors re-
ceived the Solar Keymark certificate in De-
cember 2015. The collectors are designed as a
solution for price sensitive customers. However,
the company states that they are still ecient and
aesthetic. The new collectors will also be used in the
new ECO series of Soles Eurostar thermosiphonic
systems. This will be the third series of such systems
in the portfolio of the company. Until now Sole has
had a regular series and one with low height.
Hall 4, Stand M17, N18
EldomInvest from Bulgaria will present its large port-
folio of solar tanks. The company, which has been
The new ECO series flat plate around for nearly 30 years, is one of the biggest man-
collector by Sole Photo: Sole ufacturers of water heating products in Eastern
18
Europe. Eldom oers tanks ranging from 80 to 2000
litres. At MCE the company will present solar tanks
with a single corrugated-pipe heat exchanger and
ones with two heat exchangers that are used to com-
bine two energy sources. The solar tanks are avail-
able as domestic hot water tanks or as buer tanks
that can be used in room heating systems. In addi-
tion to solar tanks the company also oers tanks for
air-sourced heat pumps with volumes of between
120 and 300 litres. Beside tanks the company also
oers some flat-plate and vacuum tube collectors.
Hall 5, Stand R19, S22
The German Company Resol is presenting a wide
range of solar controllers. One of them is the
DeltaSolMX, the largest and most versatile system
controller in Resols product family. The controller it-
self is not new but the company has just released a
greatly extended new edition of its firmware. Version
2.0 brings new features like 0-10 V boiler control for
modulating boiler demand, DHW preheating and a
return mixing function as well as basic solar systems
for 3 collector fields.The heating circuits can be used
for cooling purposes and enable condensation de-
tection by means of a dew point switch. Furthermore,
a number of energy-saving and eciency-boosting
functions have been added. With this update, the
MX reaches ErP temperature control classes I, III and
VIII and thus delivers an energy eciency contribu-
tion of up to 5 %. Furthermore, a number of energy-
saving and eciency-boosting functions have been
added. With this update, the MX reaches ErP temper-
ature controls class I, III and VIII and thus delivers an
energy eciency contribution of up to 5 %.
Hall 4, Stand T22
The controller manufacturer Sorel also comes from
Germany. The company presents Caleon, a smart
single room controller. Up to 8 Caleon room control-
lers can be combined with a heat pump and the new
CaleonBox for surface heating or even combined sur-
face heating and cooling systems.The target flow
temperature of the heating circuit and the power
output of the energy source are automatically calcu-
lated and adapted by Caleon, depending on the dif-
ference between the current temperature and the
target in each room. In addition, Caleon and Caleon-
Box can take into account the influence of the out-
door temperature as well as low energy taris and
heat pump runtime. For each connected room the
times and temperatures of up to four dierent heat-
ing modes can be adjusted independently. Caleon
thereby fulfils the ErP temperature control class VIII.
Furthermore, Caleon measures relative humidity to
control the flow temperature in the optional cooling
mode depending on the due point and the room
temperature levels.
The CaleonBox combines the features of a
weather-compensated heating controller, a PID tem-
perature controller for up to 8 independent surface
heating zones, and manages the energy sources.
Hall 4, Stand R07
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
 Sunerg Solar will present ThermoDynamic, a combi-
nation of solar thermal and heat pump technology.
The solar collectors functions mainly as a heat ex-
changer. The heat transfer fluid that is flowing
through the collector is the refrigerant of a heat
pump. As a heat pump is able to transfer heat from a
lower temperature source to a higher one, the collec-
tor only needs to generate heat at a much lower level
than regular solar collectors. In contrast to regular
air-source heat pumps this system does not need
any air duct installations.
The equipment uses a hydraulic circuit consist-
ing of a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser and
expansion valve; inside the circuit runs a refrigerant
fluid/gas. ThermoDynamic can also be integrated
with a regular hot water solar thermal installation to
increase energy savings and lower the power con-
sumption.
Hall 4, Stand G17H18
Italian company Higeco will present a new monitor-
ing software for energy audit professionals and en-
ergy management professionals. After working in
close contact with international companies for more
than a year, Higeco has launched the new software
which is designed to store, manage and access
online all essantial data for a thorough electical
measurement analysis. The Energy Manager also
features a section consacrated to rephasing contain-
ing a deep focus on the quality of the employed
energy, a completely cus-
tomisable interface ensur-
ing a clear and functioning
overview on the monitored
installation and a report
and graphs part allowing
the user to access data
easily whenever needed.
Hall 2, Stand R37
The Caleon system connects
Shitek will present systems that allow the remote up to 8 single room control-
control of photovoltaic or wind power installations lers with a heat pump.
through GSM/GPRS modules that transmit field Photo: Sorel
data to a web portal, which is accessible from any
device that can connect to the internet such as a
smartphone or a PC. One of these systems is the
RCX NRG GPRS, a GSM/GPRS module. It allows re-
mote control and monitoring of photovoltaic or
wind power systems, is equipped with a standard
SIM-card and can operate at ambient temperatures
of between -20 and + 55 C. The system has various
connectors for sensors that can measure the cur-
rent, a voltmeter and a 4-20 mA input that can be
set with a slide switch. Shitek Technology is a hard-
ware and software design company, experienced
in energy measurement and energy control de-
vices, system management and remote control
solutions.
Hall 2, Stand R38
Jan Gesthuizen

T W I N & D Y N A M I C
H y b r i d M o d u l e & Te r m o d y n a m i c Heat
Pump Made in Italy

Visit Sunerg Solar at:

HALL 4 - BOOTH G17 | H18

1 Member

9177
modulo
europeo
Photon
Lab test 2012

19
Pro duz i one Mad e i n It a ly d a l 1 9 7 8

Solar Edition
SOLAR THERMAL
Living without a
second rent
More and more multi-family buildings are
being designed as solar homes. Solar
storage then takes centre stage.
Vacuum tube collectors feed
a vacuum storage. The heat
is required for a laundry
belonging to a workshop for
disabled people.
Photo: Hummelsberger
20
LARGE STORAGE TANKS
L
ike the funnels of an ocean liner the two metal
giants rise into the sky. But here in Middle-
Franconian Weienburg, Germany, there are no
ocean liners and the metal giants wont be visible for
much longer either. They are to become the heat sto-
rage of a solar housing block with 19 ats, which
the housing association Wohnungsgenossenschaft
Eigenheim eG is currently building. The two solar sto-
rages will each have a volume of 74 m3 and will soon
disappear behind the walls of the new building.
Solar homes which are heated almost exclusively
with solar heat have not been anything exotic for years
now. The solar homes institute Sonnenhaus-Institut
e.V. estimates that there are already approximately
1,800 buildings of this type in Germany, Austria, Swit-
zerland and Italy. Multi-family solar buildings are still
rare, however. The new build in Weienburg is thus al-
so the biggest solar housing which the solar heating
specialist Haag & Ortner has implemented to date.
260 m2 of collector area spread over faades
and roof area make sure that there is always enough
heat available for heating and hot water. There are vir-
tually no heating costs for the occupants. The
Wohnungsgenossenschaft Eigenheim eG will be using
excess summer heat for heating tap water in a neigh-
bouring housing complex. Should the solar heat not
quite be enough in the winter, then the central heat-
ing system of the neighbouring building will provide
the remaining heat via a small district heating grid.
The two large storage systems come from the
Swiss solar home pioneer Jenni. The company makes
about 80 % of its large storage systems for solar
homes projects. 15 % are incorporated into smaller
or larger district heating grids. Systems which store
industrial or business-generated process heat only
make up a small share, at just over 5 %. Because
autonomous energy supplies in the heating sector
are of central importance to the energy transition,
Tabea Bossard-Jenni from Marketing at Jenni expects
the best sales prospects for Jenni storage systems to
continue to be in the solar housing sector in the fu-
ture. Large heat storage will also be required in
power-to-heat projects, however. So far Jenni has
only had a few individual projects, but there will be
more as wind and solar power on the grid generates
more temporary excesses.
Power-to-heat will also play an ever-more
important role at small scales, as own consumption
using PV continues to grow in importance too. The
solar homes institute decided to take a new direc-
tion at the end of last year. Solar electricity systems,
also in combination with heat pumps and battery
storage systems, should play a larger role in the
solar house concept in the future. The first solar
houses with large photovoltaics systems and heat
pumps have already been built. It is not yet clear to
what extent large heat storage will play a role here,
however.
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
Vacuum storage for
indoors and outside
The vacuum buffer storage by Hummelsberger BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
Schlosserei GmbH from Mhldorf in Bavaria has al-
so mostly been used in solar houses so far. Up to
now we have installed 12 vacuum storage systems
ranging in size from 7,000 to 37,000 litres, reports
company head Jrgen Melzer, of which six are in-
side the building and six are outside. The company
has implemented an unusual project in Switzerland;
an 11 m storage was installed at a facility with work-
shops for disabled people. The storage there stands
in one of the barns belonging to the facility.
Something which made it beneficial to use a so-
lar heating system was that there is an integrated
laundry on site. The facility thus requires large
amounts of hot water even in the summer. Every-
thing used to be heated all year round using wood.
Several people were permanently occupied with
keeping the supplies up, says Melzer. Now an
approximately 80 m vacuum tube collector system
ensures that no fuel is required between March and
October, which saves 25 m of wood a year.

MARCH 24, 2016

The vacuum storage stands out thanks to its un-
surpassably good insulating properties. But you can
also insulate well using conventional foam or miner-
al wool insulation if you make it thicker. Jenni notes,
however, that insulation is not everything. They refer
to the Swiss solar research institute SPF Rapperswil,
which has recently discovered that the coating is
more important for energy efficiency than the insula-
tion. We have already been working with this effect
for decades, stresses Tabea Bossard-Jenni.
Jens-Peter Meyer
INTERSOLAR SUMMIT USA EAST
9:00am 6:00pm
New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
333 Adams Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201
Connect with more than 400 regional and
international market experts
Learn more about key issues currently
impacting the East Coast solar and energy
storage markets
Benefit from first-hand expertise about
innovative financing and investment tools for
solar energy and energy storage technologies

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Organizers Co-Organizer Supported by Diamond Sponsor

Two large seasonal storage tanks were installed in Gold Sponsor

Laufen, Germany, just before Christmas. There, the
non-profit cooperative Selbsthilfe Salzachkreis is
building two multi-family solar houses.
 Photo: Solar-Partner Sd GmbH

www.intersolar-summit.com | info@intersolar-summit.com
Solar Edition
Solar thermal market overview Solar controllerS

22 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

 Improving tried-and-
tested technologies
lately, manufacturers have only
introduced a small number of
new solar and system controllers
on the market. instead, most of
them have been focusing on
developing existing models
further.

Fully automatic: the SMD production line at Resol places compo-
nents on the circuit boards and solders them. Photo: resol
M
ost, but not all. Some controller manu-
facturers have gone beyond simply im-
proving existing models. Full Gauge Con-
trols from Brazil, for example, has launched its new
Microsol Advanced product range, which features
four models for solar hot water systems. The main
objective was to improve user-friendliness: You
dont have to be a postgraduate to be able to ad-
just it, said Marcos Ederich, who works in the ex-
port department. It makes everyday life easier
and reduces energy consumption. Using the de-
vice isnt the only thing that is easy; installation is
as well. The pre-congured features cover most ap-
plications. Full Gauge Controls uses powerful re-
lays in its Microsol Advanced and has also equip-
ped it with a 2.75-inch LCD display with backlight.
Dolder Electronic AG from Switzerland has in-
troduced two new models: the Sora-W-DC and
Sora-WX-DC. Both controllers use 12 V or 24 V DC
power supplies, making them suitable for use with
stand-alone PV systems. In addition, Dolder has
improved the recooling function of the two control-
lers. This also applies to the models that use AC
power, which have been on the market for quite
some time.
The German ttings specialist Oventrop GmbH
& Co. KG has also introduced some new products.
The company has introduced two new solar con-
trollers for its solar stations: the Regtronic RC and
the Regtronic RC-P. Both models can control HE
pumps and feature an automatic function test in
accordance with VDI 2169.

Solar Edition 23
Solar thermal market overview Solar controllerS
New solar and system controllers
The S-Patron C300
from Magontec is
specially designed for
corrosion protection
of solar storage tanks
using impressed cur-
rent anodes.
The Sonja controllers from Esaa can now also control high-
eciency pumps.
The Sora-W from Dolder is now also available in a DC
version for stand-alone PV systems.
24
Magontec GmbH from Germany is a new provid-
er of solar controllers. The company is part of the
Magontec Group, which is based in Australia.
Magontec specialises in corrosion protection using
magnesium and impressed current anodes. The spe-
cial feature of the solar controllers S-Patron C100,
C200 and C300 is the fact that they are optimised for
impressed current anodes from Magontec. The
maintenance-free corrosion protection system using
impressed current anodes is suitable for solar stor-
age tanks made of stainless steel or enamelled steel
and is equipped with an operating hour counter.
All S-Patron controllers are equipped with an
output for an electrical heating unit with up to 3 kW
and include four predened basic congurations.
The basic congurations on the models C200 and
C300 can be expanded freely using any functions
the user selects, which allows them to be used as
comprehensive heating controllers. An energy-
efficient anti-legionella system is also part of the
scope of functions.
Prozeda GmbH from Germany, on the other hand,
focused on their existing models and improved the
solar controller Primos 600 SR. It now has nine pre-
dened solar congurations. In solar circuits with
secondary pumps, the rotational speed of these
pumps can now also be controlled and they can be
congured as PWM pumps. For solar systems with
integrated energy output measurement Prozeda has
expanded the selection of connected flow sensors.
The spectrum ranges from 0.5 to 25 litres per pulse
for paddle-wheel flow sensors. With vortex-flow sen-
sors, data can be read from all VFS types between
1-12 litres/min and 20-400 litres/min. Another new
feature is that the energy yield can be estimated in
rotational-speed mode without measuring the flow.
Prozeda has also optimised the rotational speed
control. The user can adjust the minimum and max-
The control and switching module RSM610 from
Technische Alternative is a low-cost version of the
freely programmable universal controller UVR16x2.
Photos: manufacturers
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
imum values of the flow and specify a flexible start
time.
Esaa Bhringer GmbH from Germany developed
a special type of rotational speed control a few years
ago. If the piping of the solar circuit is cold compared
to the temperature of the storage unit, then the con-
troller sets a large temperature difference. If the
pipes are warm, it reduces the temperature differ-
ence down to the smallest adjustable temperature
difference. Last year, the company expanded its ex-
isting product range with PWM control outputs for
speed-controlled high-efficiency pumps. The system
controller, which is designed for a maximum of two
storage tanks, two heat generators
and two heating circuits, can con-
trol the pumps installed in existing
systems, and if the pumps are re-
placed, then it can control up to
four variable-speed HE pumps.
and easily. The DeltaSol AL E HE is also equipped
with a PWM output for speed-controlled actuation of
a high-efficiency pump. In recent months, Resol has
further enhanced their controllers that are able to
control high-efficiency pumps. This not only applies
to new models but also to models that have been
available for quite some time.
Sorel Mikroelektronik GmbH from Germany im-
proved its solar controllers during 2015. The MTDC
now has a CAN interface, allowing it to be connected
to a data logger. In addition, the interface provides
Internet connectivity for online monitoring and anal-
ysis purposes. The CAN interface also enables the

Intelligent pumps
The latest generation of high-effi-
ciency pumps is capable of bidirec-
tional communication. These
pumps not only respond to com-
mands from the controller, they al-
so send status signals back to it.
Last summer, Resol GmbH from
Germany introduced the FlowSol B
HE solar station, which is equipped
with the bidirectional Wilo pump
Yonos Para ST 15/7.0 iPWM2 (see
S&WE 3/2015, page 48). The new
bidirectional controller Deltasol CS
Plus displays the status informa-
tion of the pump directly on its
screen. If the pump reports an er-
ror, the controller displays it imme-
diately. Persons who use the Resol
Internet portal VBus.net can see
the error message there as well.
Resol has now also adapted
further models so they can be used
with bidirectional pumps. One of
these is the Deltasol AL E HE, which
UPDATE DeltaSol MX
is a comprehensive controller for The system controller for several millions of hydraulic variants
hot water systems. It provides a di-
Now with rmware 2.0
rect connection for an electric sec-
ondary heating unit with up to 3 kW Cooling over the heating circuit with condensation detection
at 230 volts AC. Its features include by means of a dew point switch
quick heating and thermal disinfec- 0-10 V boiler control and DHW preheating
tion of the drinking water system.
The electrical secondary heating Basic solar systems also for 3 collector elds
can be time or temperature-control- Your advantage for energy labelling:
led and includes solar secondary Energy efciency contribution of up to 5 % and temperature
heating suppression. According to controls classes I, III,VIII possible
Resol, the controller is character-
ised by its ease of use. In particu-
lar, manual operation and holiday
operation can be accessed quickly
Milano | 15 - 18 March
Visit us! Hall 4 booth T22 www.resol.com
Solar Edition 25
Solar thermal Market Overview Solar controllers

Solar controllers at a glance

Standby con- Number of hydraulic

Manufacturer Type of controller Inputs Outputs Display Menu languages
sumption [W] schemes

Controller for solar hot water systems

Afriso SolarControl 8 2 colour-LCD 3 n/a 1
Charmeg MP-DT Integra 4P 3 3 text-LCD 1 2.00 6
Dolder Sora-W 8 5 graphics-LCD 3 n/a 17
EMZ Hanauer Smart Sol nano Basic 3 1 graphics-LCD 10 0.93 1
Esaa Sonja SR-5-PWM 4 n/a LED 1 1.60 8
Full Gauge Controls Microsol Bmp 3 2 LCD 1 1.00 1
Hanazeder FP2 7 2 text-LCD 3 1.60 20
KT-Elektronik SOL3-1 2 2 graphics-LCD n/a 0.70 2
Lamberti Latherm Sol-Basis 4 2 text-LCD 1 1.20 1
Magontec C100 3 2 LCD 8 0.50 4
Meibes Basic Pro 3 1 graphics-LCD 10 0.93 1
Oventrop Regtronic RC 5 5 graphics-LCD 6 0.62 10
PAW SC3.6 3 6 4 graphics-LCD n/a 3.60 9
Prozeda Primos 600 SR 9 6 text-LCD 1 0.80 7
Resol Deltasol AL E HE 5 4 graphics-LCD 5 0.67 1
Seltron Promatic SGC36HV 6 3 graphics-LCD 11 1.00 50
Sorel MTDC Version 1 3 2 graphics-LCD 18 1.50 28
Steca TR A502 TT 5 3 graphics-LCD 01 0.80 11
Sunex Logo PWM 3 2 graphics-LCD 3 1.00 5
Technische Alternative ESR31 3 2 text-LCD 2 0.70 6
TEM ES 4801 3 2 text-LCD n/a 2.00 6
Tekmar 6 Setpoint Differential Control 157 4 2 LCD 1 3.00 5
Watts 6 LCD Picto 4 3 graphics-LCD n/a n/a 1
Controller for solar heating support

Charmeg Ultra-e 3 3 text-LCD 1 2.30 12

Dolder Sora-WX 9 6 graphics-LCD 3 1.00 19
Elster Kromschrder Lago SG3 6 5 colour-LCD 6 5.00 13
EMZ Hanauer Smart Sol Top 7 3 colour-LCD 12 1.74 24
Esaa Sonja SR-5-Comfort-Plus 8 n/a graphics-LCD 1 1.60 9
Hanazeder FP6 12 6 text-LCD n/a 1.60 10
KT-Elektronik SOL3-5 8 6 graphics-LCD 2 0.70 72
Lamberti Latherm Sol-Maximal 8 5 text-LCD 1 1.20 7
Magontec C200 3 3 LCD 8 0.50 4
Meibes Energy Pro 7 3 colour-LCD 13 1.74 24
Oventrop Regtronic RC-P 7 6 text-LCD 13 0.69 10
PAW SC5.14 3 14 5 graphics-LCD n/a 3.60 2
Prozeda Grandis 600 SR 13 11 graphics-LCD 2 1.00 80
Resol DeltaSol SLT 8 4 graphics-LCD 17 0.68 27 4
Seltron Promatic SGC67HV 7 6 graphics-LCD 11 1.00 63
Sorel LTDC Version 1 5 5 graphics-LCD 13 0.50 42
Steca TR A503 TTR 9 4 graphics-LCD 01 0.80 11
Technische Alternative UVR63 6 5 text-LCD 2 1.30 88
TEM ES 6520 7 4 graphics-LCD n/a 3.00 14
Watts 6 LCD Plus 8 3 text-LCD 8 n/a 8

In addition to controller manufacturers, the overview also includes manufacturers of pump assemblies that integrate special solar
controllers in their solar stations. Source: company data

26 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

Vacuum
Drain-back Auxiliary heat Heat volume Heating circuit Data Remote data
tube Interfaces Net list price []
function ing function metre controller logger transmission
function

yes no no yes no yes - no n/a

no no yes no no optional - no 198
yes no yes yes no yes - no n/a
yes no no yes no no - no n/a
no no no yes no no - no n/a
no no yes no yes no yes no 29
yes no yes yes no yes RS232 yes n/a
yes no yes no no no Modbus-RTU yes 139
yes no no no no no - no 134
yes no yes yes no no - no n/a
yes no no yes no no - no 159
yes yes yes yes no no S-Bus no n/a
yes no yes yes no no TTL yes n/a
yes yes yes yes no yes - yes n/a
yes yes yes yes no no VBus, bidirectional PWM yes 241
yes no yes yes no yes USB no n/a
yes yes yes yes no yes - no n/a
yes no yes yes no no TTL-Interface no n/a
yes no no yes no yes - no n/a
yes no yes yes no no DL-Bus no 116
yes no yes no no no - no n/a
no yes yes no no no - no 460 7
yes no yes no no no - no n/a

no no yes no yes optional Ethernet yes 276

yes no yes yes yes yes - no n/a
yes no yes yes no yes - no 273
yes no yes yes no yes SD-card, USB yes n/a
no no no yes no no - no n/a
yes no yes yes yes yes RS232 yes n/a
yes no yes yes yes yes Modbus-RTU yes 277
yes no yes yes no no eBus yes 189
yes no yes yes no no CAN-Bus yes n/a
yes no yes yes no yes USB yes 236
yes yes yes yes no no S-Bus, Micro SD, Mini-USB no n/a
yes no no yes no no SD-card yes n/a
yes yes yes yes yes yes - yes n/a
yes yes yes yes no yes VBus, MicroSD, LAN 2 yes 275
yes no yes yes no yes USB no n/a
yes yes yes yes yes yes CAN Bus yes n/a
yes no yes yes no yes TTL-Interface,SD-card yes n/a
yes no yes yes no no DL-Bus no 185
yes no yes yes no yes eBus yes n/a
yes no yes yes no yes SD-card yes n/a

1 language independent; 2 optional; 3 sold only as part of a hydraulic station; 4 expandable with preprogrammed functions; 5 expandable with up to three heating circuit

modules TH A603 MS (each with 6 inputs and 3 outputs), also extension of up to three expansion modules TE A603 possible (each with 7 inputs and 3 outputs); 6 part of
Watts Water Technologies, Inc.; 7 converted from US$

Solar Edition 27
Solar thermal market overview Solar controllerS

Solar controllers at a glance

Standby con- Number of hydraulic
Manufacturer Type of controller Inputs Outputs Display Menu languages
sumption [W] schemes

Multi-functional controller with solar functions

freely
Charmeg Universalis 3 3 text-LCD 1 2.30
programmable
Dolder WPC3-U 21 21 graphics-LCD 1 3.50 13

Elster Kromschrder Merlin V3 19 15 text-LCD 6 8.00 10

EMZ Hanauer Smart Sol plus Premium 12 5 colour-LCD 12 1.25 30

Esaa Sonja SHR-multi 20 n/a text-LCD 1 2.60 20

Hanazeder HLC10 20 14 text-LCD n/a 5.70 n/a

KT-Elektronik SOL3-7 10 8 graphics-LCD 2 0.70 117

Magontec C300 4 4 LCD 8 0.50 4

Meibes Maximal Pro 12 5 colour-LCD 13 1.25 30

Oventrop Regtronic RM-B 20 18 graphics-LCD 8 1.00 29

PAW FC4.13-SUS 3 13 4 graphics-LCD 5 3.60 3

Prozeda Grandis 650 HK 13 11 graphics-LCD 2 1.00 15

freely
Resol Deltasol MX 24 14 graphics-LCD 17 0.82
configurable
Schuler SC460 24 14 LED n/a n/a 12

Seltron Promatic WXD20 12 10 graphics-LCD 11 0.50 52

Sorel XHCC Version 1 16 16 graphics-LCD 10 0.50 13

Steca TR 0603mc+ plus moduls 85 35 graphics-LCD 9 2.00 40

Technische Alternative UVR16x2 16 16 touch-LCD 8 1.90 freely

programmable
Watts 6 LCD-Multi 18 10 text-LCD 8 n/a 18

In addition to controller manufacturers, the overview also includes manufacturers of pump assemblies that integrate special solar
controllers in their solar stations. Source: company data

New solar and system controllers

The MTDC from

The Microsol BMP Sorel now has a
Advanced from Full switching power
Gauge Control has supply for a volta-
three sensor inputs ge range from 100
and two outputs. to 240 VAC.

Photos: manufacturers

28 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

Vacuum
Drain-back Auxiliary heat Heat volume Heating circuit Data Remote data
tube Interfaces Net list price []
function ing function metre controller logger transmission
function

yes yes yes no yes no Ethernet yes 163

yes no yes yes yes yes Ethernet 2 yes n/a

yes no yes no yes no CAN-Bus, eBus yes 580

yes no yes yes no yes SD-card, USB yes n/a

yes no yes yes yes no - no n/a

Ethernet, RS232,
yes no yes yes yes yes yes n/a
CAN-Bus, RS485
yes no yes yes yes yes Modbus-RTU yes 336

yes no yes yes no no CAN-Bus yes n/a

yes no yes yes no yes USB yes 416

yes no yes yes yes yes SD-card, S-Bus no n/a

no no no yes no no SD-card,Bus no n/a

yes yes yes yes yes yes - yes n/a

yes yes yes yes yes yes VBus, SD-card yes 481

yes no yes yes yes yes Ethernet yes n/a

no no yes no yes yes COM yes n/a

yes yes yes yes yes yes CAN-Bus yes n/a

SD-card, RS232, RS485 fr
yes no yes yes yes yes yes n/a
TPC1-Bus
yes no yes yes yes no DL-Bus,CAN-Bus no 560

yes no yes yes yes yes SD-card yes n/a

1 language independent; 2 optional; 3 sold only as part of a hydraulic station; 4 expandable with preprogrammed functions; 5 expandable with up to three heating circuit

modules TH A603 MS (each with 6 inputs and 3 outputs), also extension of up to three expansion modules TE A603 possible (each with 7 inputs and 3 outputs); 6 part of
Watts Water Technologies, Inc.; 7 converted from US$

user to link other Sorel controllers, such as the HCC
heating controller or the FWC freshwater controller,
with the solar controller. The MTDC also features a
new switching power supply that is suitable for a
universal voltage range between 100 and 240 VAC
and reduces standby power consumption. This step
brings Sorel in line with other solar controller manu-
facturers, who have already introduced switching
power supplies. An additional PT1000 sensor input
rounds off the innovations that were implemented
on the MTDC.
Best controller class
on the ErP Label
Autonomous solar controllers that only control solar
energy systems make up the bulk of the market. In
the medium term, however, the trend is moving

Solar Edition 29
Solar thermal market overview Solar controllerS

towards Smart Homes, whose main feature is

New solar and system controllers
The Regtronic RC-P
from Oventrop has an
automatic function
check in accordance
with VDI 2169.
The energy man-
ager SC220 is
equipped with six
analogue and two
digital inputs as
well as two digital
outputs.
networked home automation. For this reason,
manufacturers of solar controllers are also offering
system controllers that control the entire heating
system from a single central point and can be
connected to the building management system. In
September of last year, the European Union made it
mandatory for devices that control heating circuits to
be labelled with the data that is necessary for
recognition in connection with the ErP composite
label. Charmeg from Greece and Resol have made
the ErP data available for all of the controllers in
their product ranges. Steca Elektronik GmbH from
Germany provides the data for all European controller
models.
The heating controller Deltatherm HC from Resol,
for example, features 30 pre-programmed congura-
tions for the temperature controller classes II, III, V,
VI, VII and VIII. Class VIII is the best and receives the
highest rating on the composite label. For control-
ling individual rooms, Resol is offering the heating
controller bundled with room temperature sensors
and room operating units.
The Grandis 650 HK from Prozeda also achieves
the highest ErP device class. Up to three room tem-
perature sensors and room operating units can be
connected to the device per heating circuit. The
Navo 400 features an additional remote control. The
Grandis HK 650 can modulate the power of the
heater or simply provide ON/OFF operation. A radia-
tion sensor can be connected to monitor the func-
tioning of the solar system. Its functions include a
screed heating programme and a cascade connec-
tion. The mixer or the valve can be set to a target
temperature or a flow setpoint. All values are saved
in the event of a power failure. Prozeda has also
added heating circuit stations, solar stations and
solar separation systems with integrated controllers
to their product range.

The DeltaSol AL E HE from Resol has a direct con-

nection for an additional electrical heating unit.
The Grandis 650 HK from Prozeda achieves the
highest ErP device class.
Photos: manufacturers

30 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

 Sorel has equipped its system controller LTDC
with new pre-congured system hydraulics and
control strategies that are adapted to large-scale
systems. The LTDC can now also be connected to a
global radiation sensor for switch-on support as well
as plausibility checking. Another new feature is the
system pressure monitoring using an RPS sensor,
which can measure pressure as well as
temperature.
Schuler Control GmbH from Germany has intro-
duced a new system controller. Up till now, the com-
pany has offered its universal energy manager
SC460. A smaller version, the SC220, has now been
added to the product range, which is nevertheless
capable of controlling complex systems such as so-
lar systems with multiple storage tanks, heating cir-
cuits and consumers. The SC220 has six analogue
and two digital inputs and two digital outputs. In ad-
dition, it has two slots for expansion modules, which
allow the number of inputs and outputs to be in-
creased. It is also possible to connect multiple
SC220 devices or combinations of SC220 and SC460
devices via a master / slave functionality. Individual
system congurations can be programmed, and if
necessary, Schuler Control can do this for the
customer.
The new control and switching module RSM610
from Technische Alternative from Austria is also free-
ly programmable. It can be used as an expansion
module for the UVR16x2 and UVR1611 controllers or
as a stand-alone device. The RSM610 can do every-
thing that the UVR16x2 can. However, it has fewer in-
puts and outputs and is therefore more compact and
cost-effective. Its six sensor inputs are suitable for
different temperature sensors, but also for the room
sensor RASPT, the radiation sensor, the GBS01, the
humidity sensor RFS, and the rain sensor RES01. One
of the inputs can be used as a pulse input for S0 sig-
nals up to 20 Hz. Of the ten outputs, six are relay out-
puts and four are multi-functional outputs. They can
optionally be congured as 0-10 V outputs, PWM
outputs or external relays. It also includes a CAN bus
and a DL bus for external DL sensors. The status is
shown using LEDs. A display is not included. In order
to use the module as a stand-alone device, the user
needs to use the control and display unit CAN MTx2
or the C.M.I. interface to adjust the settings via the
local network or using Technische Alternatives Inter-
net portal. Transmission of function data and
rmware updates are also carried out via the CAN
MTx2, the C.M.I. or a UVR16x2 that is part of the con-
troller group.
Dolder recommends its WPC3-U as the device of
choice for complex systems. The company has en-
hanced the energy meter function for heat quantity
measurement and integrated an S0 interface, which
can be connected to an electricity meter. This is par-
ticularly interesting for systems with heat pumps. It
enables the controller to determine the COP of the
heat pump. The WPC3-U now also features the heat
pump control function, which was previously re-
Solar Edition
served for the special controller WPC3-WP. Another
new feature is the ability to create a network with
other WPC3-U devices using the Ethernet interface.
The potential number of inputs and outputs that can
be implemented in this way is nearly limitless.
Jens-Peter Meyer
Further information:
Afriso Euro-Index GmbH: www.afriso.de
Charmeg (Theodorou V. Igoumenidis G. C.o.): www.charmeg.gr
Dolder Electronic AG: www.dolder-electronic.ch
Elster GmbH: www.kromschroeder.de
EMZ Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA: www.emz-hanauer.de
Esaa Bhringer GmbH: www.esaa.de
Full Gauge Controls: www.fullgauge.com
Hanazeder electronic GmbH: www.hanazeder.at
KT-Elektronik GmbH: www.kt-elektronik.de
Magontec GmBH: www.s-patron.com
Meibes System-Technik GmbH: www.meibes.de
Oventrop GmbH & Co. KG: www.oventrop.de
PAW GmbH: www.paw.eu
Prozeda GmbH: www.prozeda.de
Resol GmbH: www.resol.de
SchulerControl GmbH: www.schulercontrol.de
Seltron d.o.o.: www.seltron.eu
Sorel Mikroelektronik GmbH: www.sorel.de
Steca Elektronik GmbH, www.steca.com
Sunex S.A.: www.sunex.pl
Technische Alternative Elektronische Steuerungsgerte-
gesellschaft m.b.H: www.ta.co.at
Tem AG: www.tem.ch
Tekmar Control Systems Ltd.: www.tekmarcontrols.com
Watts Industries Deutschland GmbH: www.wattsindustries.com
The perfect duo!
NEW
ONE controller various
possibilities
Heating, climate, ventilation
Building automation
Control module
Freely programmable
6 inputs, 10 outputs
The next-generation technology
NEW
X2
Control and display unit
4,3 touchscreen
SD card
technische alternative
www.ta.co.at
31
PHOTOVOLTAICS POWER SUPPLY

About battery and

storage systems
An attractive design is becom- The market for domestic solar power storage systems is hugely diverse,
ing increasingly important for
home power storage systems. from products that are essentially just a battery to complete storage
Nedap oers its PowerRouter
in a range of colours, for
systems. To be ready for the future of the electricity market, many
instance. Photo: Nedap systems are already capable of providing balancing energy.

T
o evaluate a storage system concept, you first
need to know what components are in the
product. Is the product essentially just a bat-
tery, or is it a storage system including all of the
necessary components? The selection is large, but it
is also clear that ecient solar storage requires more
than just a battery; system solutions are needed.
Integrated or combined systems are both options.
Looking at the market, it is clear that lithium-ion
technology is gaining on its competitors. Only a few
manufacturers, such as sPower and EnerSys, are still
exclusively offering systems using lead-based bat-
teries. Several manufacturers that initially offered
only lead systems have now also added lithium stor-
age systems to their product ranges. Two examples
are Kostal and Deutsche Energieversorgung (see
article Boost for the storage market on page 58 in
S&WE 5/2015).
In addition to well-known names, some new pro-
ducers have joined the fray, among them Schmid
Energy Systems. The manufacturer of wet process
equipment presented a storage system using vana-
dium redox ow batteries at Intersolar Europe 2015.
This is a new technology in the home energy storage
market. Until now, redox ow batteries have only
been used in large-scale storage systems for indus-
trial applications. The storage system can be com-
pletely discharged, but the trade-off is that it re-
quires more space due to its low energy density.
Another new player in the field is the heating system
manufacturer Viessmann. The AC-coupled system
with lithium-titanate cells manufactured by Akasol
has a usable storage capacity of 4.4 kWh.
In response, other players have left the field or
changed their strategy. For instance, Kaco New
Energy withdrew its large-scale, integrated lithium-
ion Powador gridsave system from the market and
currently offers only the Blueplanet Gridsave Eco
battery inverter for retrofits with lead-gel batteries.
In addition, Kaco and Saft Batteries jointly present-
ed a lithium-based domestic storage system at Inter-
solar Europe 2015.
Whats in the box?
Producers are becoming increasingly open about
costs. More companies are providing concrete prices
and some of them appear to be quite reasonable at

32 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

first glance. But potential buyers would do well to SolarWorld SunPac LiOn,
take a close look at which components are included the new SolarWorld PV power
in the product on offer. storage system has 2 kWh
Tesla, for instance, announced its Powerwall do- of battery capacity and can
mestic storage system at a conspicuously low price. be extended modularly up to
On its website, Tesla listed a selling price to install- 10kWh.  Photo: SolarWorld
ers of US$3,000 (about 2,740) for its 7 kWh sys-
tem and US$3,500 (about 3,200) for the 10 kWh
system. This price can be explained, however, by the
fact that the Powerwall is essentially a battery. O ther
major components of a PV-battery storage system,
such as the inverter and the energy management
system, are not included. They have to be purchased
separately. For those components, Tesla cooperates
with Fronius and SolarEdge. In any case, buyers in-
cur additional costs, which is why a totally different
approach is needed when evaluating the price of a
complete system that includes all the necessary
components. Tesla is not alone in using this market-
ing strategy, a practice that has led to a critical tone
from some market players eager to distinguish
between battery systems and complete storage

systems.
Below are a few examples illustrating the spec-
trum. The battery manufacturer GNB Industrial Power
offers a product it calls Sonnenschein@home. It
contains lithium-ion batteries made by GNB, the
cabinet, as well as cabling and interfaces for connec-
tions. GNB recommends combining the battery with i ncluding installation can serve as a guide. In gener-
SMAs Sunny Island battery inverter, since the two al, there are hugely different ideas about how stor-
products have been tested together. Collaboration age prices should be calculated. Detlef Neuhaus, the
between firms, such as the cooperation of Nedap CEO of Solarwatt, advocates the use of a total cost of
and LG Chem, are common. Their joint product, the ownership (TCO) formula, which also factors in the
PowerRouter SunSave, is a combination of the PV plant. This is relatively easy for Solarwatt, which
Nedap PowerRouter and LG Chems RESU 6.4 Li-ion is also a module manufacturer. Companies offering
battery. only storage systems, however, can only assign an
There are still providers that combine compo- average cost for the PV plant. For existing PV sys-
nents they produce themselves with those of other tems, it is even harder to find a meaningful value.
manufacturers in a single cabinet. One such product This, in any case, is the view of Christoph Ostermann,
is the SonnenBatterie offered by Sonnen GmbH.
Then there are producers of complete systems in
which all the main components are manufactured
and assembled in their own manufacturing facili-
ties. Big electronics companies like Panasonic and
LG Electronics that combine products from various
corporate divisions can afford to do this. Panasonic
unveiled its LJ SK84B storage system at Intersolar
Europe, but it currently only offers the system to en-
ergy providers involved in swarm power
projects. LG Electronics plans to launch its
system on the market this year. One ad-
vantage of these complete systems is
that in case of defects, buyers only
have to deal with a single company. The Fronius Energy Package
consists of the Fronius Symo
Whats in the price? Hybrid inverter, the lithium-
based Fronius Solar Battery
When providers list prices for and the Fronius Smart Meter
stored electricity, both laypeople energy manager. The Fronius
and experts should pay attention Symo Hybrid inverter acts as
to how they are calculated. The both a PV and battery inverter.
net list price for installers not  Photo: Fronius International

Solar Edition 33
PHOTOVOLTAICS
This storage system contains
vanadium redox flow batte-
ries. Schmid, a manufacturer
of wet process equipment, has
launched this technology in
the home storage market.
 Photo: Schmid Energy Systems
34
POWER SUPPLY
the CEO of Sonnen GmbH. He calculates only the
cost per kWh of stored electricity based on the net
system price, the usable capacity, the number of
charging cycles and an aging factor.
Basing the calculation on charging cycles intro-
duces yet another uncertainty. The assumption used
to be that the service life of lithium batteries was
4,000 to 5,000 full charging cycles. However, some
manufacturers are now advertising significantly
higher numbers of charging cycles. In the third gen-
eration of its storage system, Akasol has increased
the number of cycles from 5,000 to 7,000. For its ex-
pandable Family and Home storage systems, Varta
Storage claims 10,000 charging cycles. Opinions dif-
fer about whether 10,000 or more charging cycles
are actually needed for a home storage system. The
main thing is to have a closer look here as well. What
depth of discharge is the manufacturer assuming,
70or 80%? Assuming a lower discharge level is a
great way to give the number of charging cycles a big
boost. Until now, manufacturers have generally
ssumed a discharge level of 80 % as a basis for
a
calculating the number of cycles.
Focus on safety
The safety of lithium-ion storage was a hot topic in the
industry last year. The issue came to a boiling point in
May 2013, when the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
(KIT) published a checklist for lithium storage systems.
The KIT justified the necessity of such a checklist with
tests of five systems, three of which had safety defects
and two of which actually caught fire. However, Olaf
Wollersheim, the coordinator of the Competence E
project at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has
confirmed that the 10-point checklist is already outdat-
ed. In November 2014, the much more comprehensive
Safety Guidelines for Lithium-Ion Domestic Storage
Systems was published.
The guidelines were developed under the aus-
pices of the German Federal Association of Energy
Storage (BVES). The project committee included rep-
resentatives from BSW-Solar, TV Rheinland, the KIT
and storage manufacturers. The guidelines describe
safety risks involved in transportation, installation
and operation of lithium systems and defines 41
safety targets for cells, batteries and systems. Man-
ufacturers can implement them by observing sec-
tions of existing, relevant standards. Following the
guidelines is voluntary, but they currently offer man-
ufacturers and their buyers the assurance that a sys-
tem has been built in accordance with applicable
technological standards. Currently, only a few test-
ing institutes such as TV Rheinland and CETECOM,
offer product compliance testing according to the
guidelines. Solarwatt had its MyReserve 500 system
tested by CETECOM, for instance. Ads-tec had its
SRS2025 product tested and certified by the VDE in
accordance with the guidelines.
Balancing energy from domestic
storage systems
Although it has taken a long time to implement, a
number of manufacturers on the German market
have initiated development of swarm power projects.
More and more manufacturers offer storage systems
that can be integrated into swarm power concepts.
For this to work, electricity providers and grid opera-
tors have to be able to remotely monitor and control
the storage systems, which in turn requires special
network modules and software tools.
Since distributed battery storage systems are ex-
pected to contribute increasingly to the stabilization
of the power network, it is likely that the capability
of controlled participation in the electricity market
will become a standard function. For end users, this
is probably not yet a purchase criterion, with the ex-
ception of customers being wooed for pilot projects
by electricity providers. A sleek design may be more
important to consumers as storage systems are be-
coming visually more attractive.
Ina Rpcke
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
 MOUNTING SYSTEMS PHOTOVOLTAICS

Out of the doldrums

Mounting systems for rooftop PV installations on residential dwellings Alu-Tile a Schletter system
with direct load application
have developed to reach a certain optimum. Further material savings is especially suitable for high
load cases, particularly in
and ground-breaking innovations have become difficult, instead regions with heavy snowfall.
internationalisation and standardisation have now become the order of  Photo: Schletter

the day. However, in view of the decreasing sizes of PV systems, the

efforts and expenses required for certification and the establishment of
distribution structures present high obstacles indeed.

T
he German photovoltaics market continues to
shrink. According to trend projections by the
German Solar Association (BSW Solar), new
installations of PV systems fell again in 2015 from
1.9 to some 1.3 GW. Solar installation companies
who naturally suffer especially hard from the decline
are looking for ways to adapt their strategies. A sur-
vey conducted by the market researchers of EuPD
Research has found that as many as 44 % of instal-
lation engineers now buy their solar modules direct-
ly from the manufacturer. Yingli, SolarWorld and
Heckert Solar are the most often mentioned. Since
Solarworld and Heckert Solar have been offering
their own mounting systems, the market for manu-
facturers who only supply mounting technology is
getting smaller all the time.
One symptom of this on the German market is
acquisitions of former competitors who have fallen
victim to the consolidation phase. Examples here in-
clude PV wholesaler and system integrator BayWa
r.e. Solarsysteme, which acquired Creotecc GmbH,
and Mounting Systems, which bought into Haticon
early in 2015. Each time the acquisitions have been
accompanied by extensions to the systems or prod-
uct ranges. BayWa r.e. now sells two brands of
mounting system; in addition to its own in-house
brand Novotegra, it also supplies Creotecc with its
Alutec insertion system as well as additional sys-
tems. Mounting Systems currently has two rooftop
systems that differ in terms of the module clamps,
which click into place either inside or outside (the
screw-mounting channel of the profile).

Solar Edition 35
PHOTOVOLTAICS MOUNTING SYSTEMS
The AmbiHook roof hook by
AmbiVolt facilitates faste-
ning of the profile rails at
an ergonomically favourable
angle of 45. Photo: Ambivolt
Very satisfied with 2015
During our survey on domestic and foreign mar-
kets, suppliers of mounting system technology
stated that they were for the most part satisfied
with the financial year 2015. A majority of them
said that they had increased sales compared to the
year before. The companies that have survived
consolidation seem to have gradually come out of
the downturn. The UK and Germany played a major
role for almost all of the companies surveyed. At a
global level, however, three large nations outside
Europe dominate in the photovoltaics sector. While
new installations in China and Japan are primarily
generated by utility-scale projects, it is the resi-
dential market that is growing steadily in the U.S.,
thanks to falling prices and numerous financing
and business models. The U.S. and Canada are
served by our production site in Sacramento/
California. They are the countries where we are cur-
rently observing the largest growth in the rooftop
business, confirms Franziska Weiland of Mounting
Systems .
Since free spaces in Japan are increasingly in
short supply, the rooftop market could also pick up
there in future. Schletter GmbH has already achieved
its third largest sales in Japan behind Germany and
the UK. Hans Urban, Head of Solar Technology, ex-
plains that the operational stresses there are much
higher than in Central Europe due to typhoons,
earthquakes and snow loads. The Japanese are
grateful for a certain quality of system. If the system
obviously withstands the required stresses, this
soon puts a few percent extra in expenditure into the
right perspective. As a new market, India could en-
ter the stage, because its government has now de-
cided to build 100 GW of solar power capacity by
2022. To achieve this, an amount equivalent to
690 million in public funding is to be predomi-
nantly invested in the construction of rooftop sys-
tems on private homes.
36
Europe spurred on by the UK
In Europe, only the UK has remained a real volume
market over the last two years in the rooftop sector
as well. More than 125,000 home owners fitted solar
modules to their roofs in 2014. After peaking at a to-
tal of 2.4 GW in installations, the market in the UK al-
so remained stable during the last year. Referring to
our VarioSole pitched rooftop system for tiled roofs,
we can say that we increased our sales in the UK by
approximately 30 % compared to 2014, reports
Sven Kuenzel, Renusol GmbHs new Managing
Director, who was formerly Head of International
Sales at Schletter GmbH.
Occasionally, the roof shapes commonly used in
the UK pose challenges. In northern England and
Scotland, in particular, there are many slate and flat
stone roofs. To cope with these conditions, however,
a large number of international manufacturers have
systems with suitable roof fasteners / roof hooks in
their ranges of accessories, which meet the require-
ments of the MCS 012 standard. The English suppli-
ers Sunfixings (Roof Hook Slate Set) and Genius Roof
Solutions (SolarFlash, HallHook) have developed
special products with substitute material for bitu-
men, slate, flat tile and stone roofs. Moreover, rafters
in the UK are often less than 50 mm wide. This re-
quires special woodscrews and greater care when
tightening the screw in order to maintain the d istance
from the edge demanded in Eurocode 5 and prevent
the rafter from splitting.
Massive cuts in financial support mean that the
British market will see a dramatic downturn in 2016.
Just how sharp this will be remains to be seen. The
government is cutting the feed-in tariffs for private
rooftop systems by 64 %. Renusols Sven Kuenzel
anticipates a decline of up to 50 % in the UK. PV
systems for personal consumption might possibly
run on for a while, is what Helge Hartwig of Ernst
Schweizer Metallbau believes. The company from
Switzerland has acquired the roof-mounted system
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
from Hilti and has set up a completely new purpose-
built distribution system for installation companies
in the UK as well. Previously, Schweizer only sup-
plied the Solrif roof-integrated system, in which the
customers are actually the module manufacturers
themselves.
According to the International Energy Agency,
there are now more than 20 countries in which pho-
tovoltaics now accounts for over one per cent of elec-
tricity consumption. This indicates a certain maturi-
ty in the PV market and also that more and more
countries are about to discover PV for themselves.
Administrative barriers, such as certification regula-
tions, frequently determine whether markets are set
to join in or stay away. In France, for example, certi-
fication of mounting systems is linked to certain
module types. Customers who wish to use a differ-
ent module have to undergo a new certification pro-
cedure. Technically, this often does not make much
sense.

New niches and markets

Establishing a distribution system for residential
buildings requires a lot of effort and expense for
roof-mounted systems. Considering the small lot
sizes, this is rather more difficult and riskier than
securing a large-scale order for a solar farm. Smaller
manufacturers, in particular, therefore have to con-
sider carefully whether they want to expand at all
and into which countries. We focus on our core
markets and because of the frequently high legal,
organisational or language barriers there are a
number of interesting markets in the world that we
are unable to serve, says Magnus Moosreiner of
AmbiVolt GmbH.
In our survey many smaller, but potentially prom-
ising countries were mentioned as target markets.
The Dutch manufacturer Van der Valk, which sup-
plies both a clamping and an insertion system for
conventional roofs on residential properties, has set Mounting the VarioSole
its sights on Ireland and Turkey. Mounting Systems System from Renusol
would like to raise its profile in Denmark and the  Photo: Renusol
Benelux countries. One of the markets that K2 sys-
tems is observing is in Sweden, which is still in an in-
troductory stage. The Czech Republic could develop
into a new niche market following the launch of a lo-
cal programme for small solar systems on private
homes. The New Green Agreement supports PV
and solar thermal systems by providing up to 50 %
of the investment costs, with the sum granted being
limited to CZK 100,000 (equivalent to about 3,700).
The Czech Republic burnt its fingers with excessive
feed-in tariffs in 2009 and 2010. The sudden boom
had been fuelled by foreign capital businesses and
was subsequently stifled when the feed-in tariff was
abolished and a solar tax introduced.

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Solar Edition 37
WWW.ALUMERO.COM
PHOTOVOLTAICS
Example of sophisticated
system featuring an alumin-
ium roof hook, with three
adjustment options and pre-
assembled module clamps for
clicking into position.
Photo: Alumero
38
MOUNTING SYSTEMS
Another would-be global player is Renusol
GmbH, which has US-based building components
group Gibraltar Industries as its parent company.
The manufacturer from Cologne is focusing on new
sales markets in South and Central America, such as
Brazil and Mexico. South Africa will continue to be
interesting, says Managing Director Kuenzel. All of
these countries have no huge rooftop market; how-
ever, it is quite safe to predict that relatively stable
markets will develop in the rooftop sector. Steady
and stable markets are important for us, since they
allow us to plan material quantities in advance and
carry out sound overall planning for our financial
year. He explains that when it comes to purchasing
aluminium, it will be vital to plan ahead with fixed
quantities over substantial periods of time so as to
be less dependent on fluctuating prices on the
London Metal Exchange (LME).
Although falling aluminium prices lately have
provided somewhat more leeway for competitive
pricing in the solar mounting system sector. Some-
thing that we call bolt bonus rose steeply in 2014,
points out Franz Stangl of AmbiVolt looking back. He
says that in order for the aluminium to be processed
by the profile manufacturers (extrusion plants), it
needs to be converted to round billets after the
smelting process, and the costs for this processing
stage is called bolt bonus. The bolt bonus and the
material price on the LME make up the purchasing
price for the extrusion plants. Bolt bonus and mate-
rial price have both clearly declined so that we now
have a more tolerable purchasing level. While the
aluminium price on the LME was still more than
2,000/t during peak times in 2012 or in November
2014, it has now levelled off at around 1,500/t
since September 2015.
However, the trend towards smaller solar sys-
tems is eating away significantly at the profit mar-
gins of mounting system manufacturers. To contin-
ue making a profit from a single system, the mount-
ing frame manufacturers need to reduce their ex-
penses, suggests Kuenzel. You dont need to be a
whizz-kid at figures to recognise that it is
barely worthwhile, for
example, to design a
specific frame for a
4-kW system and
then make out a cor-
responding produc-
tion order. It will be
up to the installation companies themselves to
quickly design the support frame of a small standard
solar system.
Software and kits
Mounting system manufacturers are increasingly
making planning software available to their custom-
ers at a low or no cost at all. Using software that is of-
ten web based, customers are now able to plan small
solar systems themselves and design mounting sys-
tems in a matter of minutes. The programmes are im-
portant for manufacturers as a way of minimizing
costs for work and supervision and thus distinguish-
ing themselves from the large competitors. However,
for various reasons the kit idea has yet to become
generally established. It will, however, certainly play
an important role in the future. Schweizer Metallbau
and Alumero from Austria view their customers from
a perspective that makes more sense of putting to-
gether kits and construction sets. Alumero is an
aluminium producer, says Wolfgang Rosenstatter,
Manager of the Photovoltaic Division, because of
our three-stage sales structure we are only indirect-
ly affected. We implement our partners specifica-
tions. Schletters Hans Urban views the kits with
scepticism and has doubts about the additional
costs incurred by packaging.
Standard solutions using kits and construction
sets also make it necessary to examine distribution
channels and possibly modify or supplement them.
I think that in the medium term electric and solar
wholesalers as well as module manufacturers will
manage and supply the small systems business.
This means that they will deliver the packages con-
taining modules, inverters and support frames as
well as cables and other accessories directly to the
construction site, says Sven Kuenzel of Renusol. As
a consequence, his company is apparently building
a wholesale network in the markets where it oper-
ates, as is the case for example in South Africa with
Lumax Energy. Solar wholesalers, who have been
operating in advanced markets for years, of course,
have a lead in experience especially if they have
their own mounting systems. Gnter Haug, CEO of
BayWa r.e., emphasizes that more and more of the
complete packages capable of being delivered di-
rectly to the construction site also include lithium
storage systems. As a result, the installer only has
one contact partner for all individual system com-
ponents and therefore merely needs to handle one
delivery. Through us he has
a one-stop source
ofsupply.
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
Technical maturity
Rooftop mounted systems for tiled roofs or concrete
stone roofs have greatly matured in technical terms
over the last few years and have reached an optimum
in terms of their development. One result of this is that
the systems from the various manufacturers now only
differ slightly, and real innovations have become diffi-
cult. Typical of highly developed systems are adjust-
able roof hooks in which it even makes sense to have
three adjustment options: one bracket allowing lateral
movement and height adjustments firstly for the roof
duct and secondly for rail connections in the case of
uneven roofs. For cost reasons, however, nearly all
manufacturers provide one-piece hooks without an
adjusting option. For potentially high loads, especial-
ly in regions where roofs need to support a lot of snow,
some manufacturers keep special solutions in stock.
Schletter, for instance, supplies the Alu-Tile fastener,
an anchor which channels the force directly into the
rafter and a tile replacement made from sheet metal. In the rooftop-mounted sector, aluminium profile Two-piece roof clamp that is
In the case of Alumero, the AL 13 aluminium roof hook rails are still mainly used, while the more cost-effec- part of Schweizer Metallbaus
is also available in a high-alloy version (ALS 13) so that tive (galvanized) steel is increasingly preferred for MSP-PR system it helps to
up to 80% of all load cases (combinations of snow ground-mounted systems and to some extent on flat screw the base plate on with-
and wind loads) can be covered using the two geo- roofs as well. Roof hooks are made from galvanised out problems first and then
metrically identical roof hooks. steel, stainless steel or aluminium, with each materi- click the arm into place.
The process of connecting the profile rails should al having its own specific advantages in terms of Photo: Schweizer Metallbau
allow for fast and convenient assembly from above cost, durability and ease of handling. No giant leaps
or from the side. Many manufacturers have found are to be expected from cost reductions brought
that it can sometimes be beneficial to have connect- about by material savings. A certain quantity of alu-
ing elements that click into place in the rails. When minium, steel and screws will always be needed and,
mounting the solar panel, pre-assembled module especially in the tile and tin roof sector, we are slow-
clamps have now become standard, in general for ly but surely reaching a limit, thinks Sven Kuenzel of
clicking them into the screw channel of the profile. Renusol. Helge Hartwig of Schweizer Metallbau ob-
The clamps can be easily positioned and fastened serves that price pressure is being accompanied by a
using one hand. Edge clamps, which can be adjust- reconsideration of quality. He notes that companies
ed in height according to the module frame, reduce have trimmed back many a system to such a degree
the variety of parts. Insertion systems offer an alter- that it raises technical issues. Fitters will again have
native to clamping but they do require a two-layer to resort to overall cost calculations, he predicts.
rail sub-construction. Christian Dany

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 39
Photovoltaics inspection

Sensor technology and

diagnostic processes
Highly automated production requires equally
automated production monitoring. The same applies to
monitoring existing PV systems. The industry provides
sensors and special cameras for this purpose.

Eko Instruments has intro-
duced its new Pyranometer
MS-80. It is designed for low-
maintenance operation and
has a calibration interval of
five years. For this reason, Eko
has extended the statutory
warranty period of two years
to a five-year warranty.
 Photo: Eko Instruments
S
ensors are used in situations where human
senses are not sufficient, where the
environmental conditions are too extreme,
or where processes need to be continuously
monitored and controlled. They are the backbone
of any automated process. In mobile photovoltaic
applications, a camera is used to test the quality
of modules using thermography and electro
luminescence.
MS-80 with low maintenance
The company Eko Instruments has launched a new,
revolutionary pyranometer on the market. The MS-80
was unveiled to the public in New Orleans in January
2016. This irradiation sensor is designed to measure
solar radiation continuously and extremely accurate
ly. Irradiation is the decisive factor for demonstrat
ing the suitability of a site for solar park construc
tion. The MS-80 is designed for low-maintenance
operation. This enables Eko to extend the statutory
warranty period of two years to a five-year warranty.
Kipp & Zonen is clearly very confident in the
quality of its products. It develops pyranometers
that can be used in all climatic conditions, ranging
from arctic to desert climates. This enables Kipp &
Zonen to cover virtually any application scenario
with its product range. In the field of photovoltaics,
pyranometers are used in research and in large-scale
PV plants.
The latter application has limitations. Pyrano
meters measure every wavelength in the entire spec
trum of sunlight, said Detlef Mencke at the engi
neering firm Mencke & Tegtmeyer. This does not cor
respond to the behaviour of PV modules. Solar
modules are optimised for a particular spectrum.
Mencke & Tegtmeyer develops and manufactures so-
called Si sensors. These are better suited to moni

40 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

 toring large PV plants. The structure of a silicon
sensor is consistent with a solar module. This means
that the irradiation field is similar to that of a small
solar module. Consequently, the Si sensor is suit
able for monitoring PV plants because the spectral
sensitivity is consistent with the modules.
Thermography theory
Thermal imaging cameras are primarily used for
thermography. They provide snapshots, but they
cannot capture dynamic changes. Nevertheless,
thermography is a useful method for detecting de
fects such as hotspots. Thermography uses a ther
mal imaging camera. Defective cells almost always
produce a heterogeneous thermal image. Different
energy intensities produce different colour tones,
ranging from blue/green to violet.
Infrared radiation was discovered by Wilhelm
Herschel in 1800. The Swedish company AGA-Bofors
built the first sensors in the middle of the last centu
ry. Today, the company is part of FLIR Systems. The
theory of thermal imaging is based on the physical
phenomenon that every object with a temperature
above absolute zero emits electromagnetic
radiation.
This is called temperature radiation or thermal
radiation. Atoms and molecules in a solid compo
site vibrate around their equilibrium positions.
Furthermore, the vibration plane in space is inter
preted as a polarisation of optical radiation, which is
also relevant for pyrometry and thermography,
Harald Schweiger explained. He has comprehensive
ly examined the phenomenon of thermography in an
essay. The vibrations become more pronounced the
higher an objects temperature is. These atoms or
molecules behave like Hertzian dipoles and emit
electromagnetic waves (radiation) that can be de
tected as thermal radiation. The higher the tempera
ture of an object, the more intense the thermal
radiation.
Complex optics
Thermography is the measurement of thermal ener
gy emitted by an object using an infrared camera.
Just as with conventional optical imaging systems
that use visible light, thermal imaging cameras gen
erate a smaller optical image of a scene on a radia
tion-sensitive sensor and use the same optical com
ponents, including lenses, mirrors, apertures, and
filters. Since the radiation transmission capacity of
normal glass already begins to decrease at 2 microns
and virtually stops at 4.5 microns, only infrared-
transparent materials such as silicon (Si), germani
um (Ge), zinc selenide (ZnSe), and zinc sulfide (ZnS)
are suitable for manufacturing lenses or protective
windows. The different energy intensities are repre
sented in different colours using a colour scale and
made visible as an image. An object with a uniform

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Photovoltaics inspection
Kipp & Zonens pyranometers
are designed for use in all
climatic conditions, ranging
from the Arctic to the desert.
They are mainly used in
research and development as
well as large-scale plants.
 Photo: Kipp & Zonen
temperature on its surface is represented as a
homogeneous monochrome image. Defects in
photovoltaic modules almost always have a temper
ature that deviates from the standard value, and
thermography can make this visible
Transmission rates of up to 98 % can be achieved
using anti-reflective coatings. The same reflectance
value can be achieved with gold metallised surface
mirrors or metal mirrors processed at optical quality.
A high transmission or reflectance value for lenses
or mirrors is decisive for optical system quality. In
this case, the object radiation is hardly weakened
(high temperature resolution) and the individual
components emit little inherent radiation, which
would otherwise be additively superimposed on the
object signal as interference radiation (greater mea
surement accuracy).
Apertures screen scattered radiation from the
cameras interior and from the edges of the lenses,
A thermographic camera
makes the thermal energy
emitted from an object visible.
Defects in modules are re-
vealed by heat that is invisible
to the naked eye. Hotspots are
clearly visible in this image.
 Photo: FLIR
42
whereby the last aperture in front of the detector is
cooled along with the cooled camera sensors, in or
der to keep inherent radiation as low as possible.
The advantage of thermography is its visual repre
sentation when tracing defects, for example
hotspots. In order to achieve this, it is not necessary
to detect absolute temperature formations. A com
parison of relative differences is often sufficient.
The company FLIR Systems claims to be the
world leader. Modern FLIR systems are equipped
with various cooled and uncooled two-dimensional
imaging cameras.
But not every expensive camera is suitable for
use in drones. InfraTec does not offer a thermal im
aging camera for airborne inspection of large photo
voltaic plants. Generally speaking, none of our solu
tions are suitable for use in drones, said Matthias
Scheffler, Deputy Director of Marketing at the infra
red technology specialist company InfraTec. There
are two reasons for this: Firstly, the cameras are not
suitable due to their dimensions. Secondly, the tech
nological standards of drone flight are not high
enough to be of interest to InfraTec. The cost of two
drones including accessories is between 30,000
and 40,000. InfraTecs technology costs approxi
mately twice as much.
Electroluminescence theory
In contrast to thermography, electroluminescence
can penetrate the module. The photovoltaic cell
functions as a semiconductor diode. Diodes have a
forward direction: when sunlight is absorbed, this
produces a voltage that is converted into direct cur
rent. But diodes also work in the other direction. A
voltage is applied and the diode functions as a light
emitting diode. Any photocells that exhibit a defect
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
 FLIR Forward Looking
Infrared
The acronym FLIR stands for Forward Looking
Infrared, an infrared imaging method. FLIR
cameras are often used on military aircraft or
police helicopters. They are primarily used for
localising heat sources, which are detected
and evaluated by the pilot using video output.
FLIR cameras are quite different from night
vision devices and conventional thermal
imaging cameras because they cover a specific
infrared range.
Source: InfraTec

in the forward direction will also necessarily have

this defect in the reverse direction.
Luminescence is generated by applying electric
fields that induce excited states in a solid objects
electrons. These electrons emit light when they tran
sition back to their original state. Technicians can
detect the electroluminescence at defective loca
tions using corresponding sensors. Electrolumines
cence methods allow detection of defects that are
not visible to the naked eye. These include extreme
ly fine hairline cracks or crystal defects in the silicon,
which nearinfrared sensors can detect.

A new method for

electroluminescence
A drone cannot be used for luminescence analysis
because it cannot maintain a position accurately
enough and because luminescence requires the cell
to be stimulated. If the modules are not to be unin
stalled before analysis, then the electrolumines
cence procedure needs to be performed onsite.
Suitable cameras are commercially available. If the
array that needs to be tested is small, then it is
worthwhile to contract an external service provider.
The technician can perform the measurements using
a ladder or elevating platform.
The method is a great help for vendors because
it enables them to quickly and reliably test the qual
ity of solar modules. It is also quite common for in
surance companies to use the electroluminescence
method.
Scientists at the University of Stuttgart have de
veloped a new method of electroluminescence
measurement in collaboration with colleagues at the
Steinbeis Centre for Solar Technologies. This method
allows solar modules to be tested in daylight.
Up till now, the radiation produced by solar cells
was very weak. Reliable results could only be
achieved in a darkened room. The cameras that PA
TENT

needed to be used were expensive, costing 20,000 ISO17025

P
G

EN IN
or more. The new method developed in Stuttgart
D

makes this a thing of the past.

Jrn Iken

Solar Edition
PHOTOVOLTAICS PARTNER PROGRAMMES

Backbone of sales

Even playing bingo can be part Partner programmes benefit installers and manufacturers; craftsmen
of the partner programme.
Panasonic Eco Solutions invi- receive further education and marketing support, while manufacturers
ted its expert partners to play
at the Intersolar Europe 2015.
connect to sales partners and multipliers within their markets.
 Photo: Panasonic Eco Solutions

T
he module supplier LG Solar has thought up
something special for its partner programme.
Since the end of last year, trade partners have
had the opportunity to purchase good value PV
insurance for their end customers via the module
manufacturer. The offer was developed by LG Solar
together with an insurer and an insurance broker.
Installers should thus be given more of an incentive
to decide on LG as a supplier, whose partner pro-
gramme has only existed since 2014. Compared to
other PV manufacturers the company was late in
starting this, but as a look at this and other partner
programmes shows, such a marketing instrument is
still an important and effective way to bind
customers.
A partner programme is described as being a
customer loyalty programme by component manu-
facturers for specialised craftsmen. SolarWorld,
LGSolar, Panasonic Eco Solutions and Heckert Solar
are some of the module manufacturers which offer
such services. In the inverter market, companies
such as Fronius International and SMA have made a
name for themselves with their programmes, for
example.
Technical training courses and further education
in sales and marketing are common components of
partner programmes, as is technical support via hot-
lines and information on company news and new
products via newsletter. Support through in-house
exhibitions and similar events continues to be given
a high status. Whether advertising motifs, brochures
or giveaways, partner firms should be enabled to
equip their events professionally preferably using
the designs of their suppliers.
The Internet naturally plays a central role too.
SolarWorld, for example, has taken participating
technicians up in the search for expert partners sec-
tion on their website. Panasonic has put its partner
firms on a solar map, on which end consumers can
look for nearby installers. The installers thus have
more sales opportunities and free advertising, as
customer enquiries are forwarded to them directly

44 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016


When installers are able to introduce themselves
as partners of the worldwide company LG, this
makes a good impression on customers, believes
Michael Harre, Vice President at LG Electronics
Deutschland.  Photo: LG Solar
via our website, says Nobue von Arb-Yamashita,
Marketing Expert at Panasonic Eco Solutions. Both
Panasonic and SolarWorld provide additional bonus
programmes. Their customers can collect points for
sold components and hand them in for rewards.
In a market such as Germany, which has been in
steady decline since the market collapse in 2012, the
manufacturers are trying to bind specialist techni-
cians to them with programmes like these. In still
young PV markets the aim is more to become well
known as a manufacturer and gain installers as mul-
tipliers and sales partners. Partner programmes are
also helping here to stand out from the competition.
Customer loyalty, stronger relationships with the
trade and joint marketing is how Nancy Komrowski,
part of the sales team at Heckert Solar, summarises
the aims of partner programmes.
Craftsmen as brand ambassadors
The specialist technicians benefit from a time and
money saving but also from the knowhow and name
of the manufacturer. Michael Harre, Vice President of
EU Solar Business Group at LG Electronics Deutsch-
land, even believes these are among the most im-
portant advantages for the technicians: Installers
may introduce themselves as partners of the global
company LG. This often makes a very good impres-
sion with the end consumer and provides the in
staller with an additional level of trust.
Manufacturers not only generate turnover
through their expert partners, the installers also
spread the brand names and thus strengthen aware-
ness and their image. Our expert partners are our
Solar Edition
figureheads; in particular they transport the brand to
the end consumers, says Mirjam Eiermann, who is
responsible for the expert partner programme at
SolarWorld.
This is valuable, which is why many services in
the partner programmes are generally free. It is also
in the interests of the manufacturers that their
names are associated with high quality and the
costs invested should also be recouped. We only
take on expert partners when we can be sure
that they will install the solar systems to the high
quality standards demanded by SolarWorld, adds
Eiermann. For this reason many manufacturers put in
hurdles to access. At SolarWorld participation in the
expert partner programme is linked to a certain min-
imum turnover. But company loyalty is also impor-
tant, says Eiermann.
Those wanting to be taken up into the LG PRO
Solar Partner Network must be able to show they
have reached a certain minimum purchasing volume
of LG solar products over the previous 12 months.
Additionally, a framework contract is agreed to which
governs issues of quality and the external represen-
tation of LG. At Panasonic Eco Solutions the install-
er must have installed three systems with Panasonic
modules before he may register for the programme.
Heckert Solar has opted to go for an open version.
Any active customer may use the offers in the part-
ner programme in agreement with Heckert Solar.
Ideally, however, he will already have taken part in
our regular practical seminars, says Komrowski.
After-sales service from the
expert partner
The partner programme by Fronius International has
a somewhat different balance. The Austrian inverter
manufacturer puts after-sales service at the fore-
front. Fronius offers membership of the Fronius
Service Partner Programme or the Fronius Service
Partner Plus Programme. Installers qualify them-
selves for these by taking part in a training course.
Depending on the country and the equipment, the
training course may be for one or more days. On
completion of the course the expert partner is then
qualified to purchase a service case.
The programme with the additional Plus is a
further development of the basic programme, which
the expert partner must have already taken part in.
Fronius Service Partner Plus members are partners
at a high quality level, with whom Fronius has
worked long and intensively, explains press spokes-
person Andrea Schartner on the difference. Install-
ers with this status look after both their own custom-
ers and Fronius customers without an associated
servicing. Many PV systems today are unsuper-
vised, explains Schartner: Sometimes the solar
experts who put up the systems are no longer in the
business or they do not provide any after-sales ser
vice. Fronius then brokers experts for the PV and in-
verters, who can maintain and repair the systems on
site. The service case comes into play here, which
45
PHOTOVOLTAICS PARTNER PROGRAMMES
With the badge on the jacket
pocket Fronius Service Part-
ner the craftsman shows that
he is a certified expert partner
of the inverter manufacturer.
 Photo: Fronius International
can also be used to replace circuit boards.
Additionally, Fronius offers technical and marketing
support, for example by producing end customer
brochures.
The Fronius basic programme has existed since
2001. According to Schartner, 3,138 expert techni-
cians around the world are taking part; in Germany
there are 968 specialist partners. The extended pro-
gramme was set up in 2012, with approx. 240 mem-
bers worldwide and 80 in Germany. Panasonic Eco
Solutions started its programme in 2012, i.e. after
the electronics company had taken over the module
arm of Sanyo. The company has 600 partners.
SolarWorld began its partner programme in 2007
and has approx. 1,500 partners in its network in
Europe. At Heckert Solar, one of the few remaining
German module manufacturers, Komrowski states
the figure as being several hundred.
Sometimes, however, establishing a partner pro-
gramme is unsuccessful. This was the case at
Energetik. The wholesaler did not start its pro-
gramme Take it solar until 2014. The advertising
motifs were deliberately shirt-sleeved in design,
says company head Frank Rohland. In the conspicu-
ous motifs the models were all male employees. In
that year the PV market in Germany had already col-
lapsed, however, and many manufacturers were try-
ing to bind installers to their companies. Additional-
ly, Energetik had also taken over the sales for Kyocera
Solar in Europe and the EMEA region in 2014, and
thus had other initial priorities. Now Rohland says:
We do still have the partner programme, but are not
really living it. Services such as better payment tar-
gets are available to customers even without their
expressly being expert partners, for example.
LG Solar also started its LG Pro Solar Partner
Programme in 2014. However, the module manufac-
turer is actively driving it forward, as the example
46
with the PV insurance for expert partners shows.
ccording to Harre, approx. 140 installers in G
A ermany,
England, the Benelux countries, Switzerland and
Austria currently belong to the partner network. The
partner programme has a very high priority for LG
Electronics, says Harre, and the others surveyed
also placed the concept high up within the areas of
marketing and sales. At Panasonic Eco Solutions it is
even considered the most important marketing
instrument.
Kostal Solar Electric is going for three-step sales
and thus primarily has wholesalers as its sales part-
ners. The inverter manufacturer has run the Kostal
partnership days KOPA for short for these al-
most every year since 2009. In 2014 it was three days
long; the first day looked at the subject of trust and
partnership, the second day looked at the future.
Approx. 50 people took part, says press spokesper-
son Markus Vetter. Installers support the company
together with its wholesalers, through joint events to
boost sales, for example. This could be product and
sales training courses or special material for
approaching end consumers. There is no official
partner programme for installers as such at Kostal,
however, stresses Vetter.
International partner programmes
When a marketing method works well, it is obvious
to implement it in other countries too. This is exact-
ly what the surveyed manufacturers have done.
Heckert, the smallest of the surveyed companies,
runs its programme in Germany, Switzerland and
Brazil. The Panasonic Premium Installer Pro-
gramme can be used by installers in Germany, the
UK, the Netherlands, Italy, France and Switzerland.
Fronius runs its programme in 15 countries, includ-
ing Australia, Mexico and India.
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
 Expert partner meeting by
SolarWorld: the module manu-
facturer started its partner
programme in 2007 and mean-
while has approx. 1,500 crafts-
men in its European network.
 Photo: SolarWorld

SolarWorld is active with its programme in 12 more closely with SolarWorld. For whether the PV
uropean countries, as well as Jordan, Australia and
E market is new or already established, the basic truth
the USA. We are continuously expanding the expert is: partner programmes are an important means of
partner programme, so that further countries will be building up a partnering relationship with installers,
able to be added in the future in which SolarWorld serving both sides even under difficult market con-
offers its programme, explains Eiermann. LG Solar ditions, and helping these to be overcome.
wants to introduce its programme into Italy this year, Ina Rpcke
as well as in a further one or two EU countries.
The programme is identical in all countries, says
Harre. However, there are different needs which in-
stallers have in terms of LG marketing support, de-
pending on each market, he adds. Adjusting a pro-
gramme to suit the local conditions and varying cul-
tures is a must for every manufacturer. Eiermann
from SolarWorld gives an example: In Germany
many expert partners use support when placing ad-
verts, as advertising is a popular instrument here. In
the UK, however, adverts are less important; there
our partners prefer other methods, such as exhibi-
tions. The individual adjustment to single countries
means a high effort is required, she adds:
SolarWorld would not take this upon itself if it were
not such an important instrument.
She believes that it goes without saying that the
company adjusts to the changing demands of the
craftsmen. But the manufacturer itself is also be-
coming more demanding. One example of this is the
new classification which SolarWorld introduced at
the end of 2015. There are now the categories gold,
platinum and diamond for the different services.
Eiermann explains: The expert partners are rated
according to various criteria and allocated a catego-
ry, according to which they may call up the relevant
services. There is an assessment every year, so that
the expert partners regularly get the chance to move
to a different category. The aim is to provide even
more individual and focussed support and moti-
vate expert partners with potential to work even

Solar Edition 47
Photovoltaics inverters

Good opportunities worldwide

Steca Elektronik manufactures More and more solar electricity is being consumed directly, resulting in
inverters in Memmingen in
southern Germany. One of the increased performance requirements for inverters in the residential
areas it is focusing on is small
units in performance classes segment. Demand is stagnating in europe, but the market is growing in
for rooftop systems.
Photo: steca elektronik
north america and east asia as well as in some emerging markets.

T
he year 2016 did not begin well. Political con-
icts ared up, the global economy looked
fragile and the turbulence on the stock mar-
kets increased. But at least one thing is fairly certain:
photovoltaics will grow again this year worldwide.
Regardless of the political and economic situation,
photovoltaics is making its way, and this is mainly
due to the fact that generating electricity from sun-
light has become so inexpensive. Proportionately to
the demand for photovoltaics, the inverter market is
also growing.
But there will be shifts in priorities. In some
countries, the demand for systems that provide load
management and support storage systems is in-
creasing. In those markets, the technical demands
on inverters will rise relatively quickly and higher-
performance devices will become more important.
However, this global observation says little about
what is happening in the individual national mar-
kets. Europe is expected to stagnate, North America,
East Asia and Australia are expected to see further
growth, and individual emerging markets in Asia and
South America are hoping for pleasant surprises.
Germany as a pacesetter
Germany has long since given up its leading role as
the driving force of the global photovoltaics market.
It isnt even the driving force in Europe anymore.
Nevertheless, it is still seen as the pacesetter for
many markets. The market for small-scale PV sys-
tems in Germany is changing, the return on invest-
ment is losing significance and the idea of self-
sufficiency is spreading. For this reason, the idea of
own consumption is becoming more prevalent,
particularly in areas where high electricity prices are
making own consumption more attractive.
Efficient load management can increase the pro-
portion of own usage of solar power, and the storage
of solar power increases the potential even further.
Even though this technology is not making giant
leaps in Germany, its progress is still satisfactory.
Exact figures are not available, but they can be esti-
mated quite accurately: Last year, approximately
40,000 to 45,000 small PV systems were installed in
Germany. Between 15,000 and 18,000 of them were
equipped with storage systems, said Volker

48 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

Wachenfeld, Head of the Off-Grid & Storage division
at SMA Technology AG. His figures are based on the
assumption that one third of all PV storage systems
are equipped with SMA system technology.

From the articial to

the natural market
Load management and storage are providing impe-
tus not only for the German market, but also for other
European markets. The EEG, which was once ad-
mired worldwide, has lost its appeal, and the para-
digm shift from unconditionally feeding energy into
the grid to the precedence of own consumption is
now in full swing: Many consumers are starting to
understand that they can obtain energy at lower cost
from their own PV systems in the long term than from
the public grid, said Sven Schreiber, Executive Vice
President Business Unit Residential at SMA Solar
Technology AG.
Benevolent support from policymakers was taken
for granted for a long time in Germany, but after the
drastic reduction of feed-in tariffs and the sub-
sequent crash of the German photovoltaics market, it
became abundantly clear that one cannot rely on
government support in the long term. Political
measures can only ever create an artificial market.
This can work for a few years, but then the market
needs to be able to carry itself. We can, and must,
uncouple ourselves from the funding mechanism and
become a natural market, Sven Schreiber added.
Dierent market needs
The question of how quickly a natural market can
grow has not yet been answered. We are in the tran-
sition period from an artificial to a natural market
and are starting at a rather low level. In Germany, the
market volume did not even reach the lower limit of
the statutory expansion corridor last year. The market
is not expected to overcome this very low growth rate A look at the inverter as-
this year either. One small consolation is that rock sembly area at Fronius
bottom has now been reached. Things can only get International
better. Photos (2): Fronius international
Manufacturers will need to come to terms with
the fact that there will never be another market in
Europe that is as strong of a driving force as Germa-
ny was up until 2012. The other driving forces do
not have as much drive as they used to either. Three
or four markets used to make up approximately 80 %
of the total volume. Today, the European market is
fragmented. In order to achieve volumes similar to
the previous ones, a company needs to be active in
many markets and offer the right product for each
markets needs, Markus Vetter explained. The
Director of Marketing and Communication at Kostal
Solar Electric GmbH says that the reason why his
company is diverging from the principle of offering
three-phase inverters boils down to adapting to
demand: We are now introducing a single-phase

Solar Edition 49
Photovoltaics inverters

Kostal Solar Electric is now

introducing the single-phase
inverter series Piko MP,
which will primarily be sold in
Europe. Photo: Kostal

inverter series, the Piko MP, which is primarily sold
in other European countries, he said, because a
single-phase power supply in the private sector is
common in a number of European countries. On top
of that, own consumption is becoming increasingly
important. For this reason, systems are expected to
become smaller, and this can become a segment
that we can supply with our single-phase inverter.
If there is a demand, then Kostal will consider selling
the single-phase inverter in Germany as well.
ABB is also expanding in the
single-phase sector
Kostal is not the only company preparing for a rise in
demand for single-phase inverters in many coun-
tries: ABB is also. The markets in question are those
that are first opened up with small PV systems, so
that an unbalanced load in the three-phase grid is
not expected. There are four devices in the UNO
series with a power range between 2 and 4.2 kW
available for this purpose.
ABB is mainly looking to offer a cost-effective so-
lution, and the company is not only getting rid of two
phases, but also the transformer. The manufacturer
also emphasises the ease of installation, which will
lead to a reduction in installation time. However, the
manufacturer is not skimping on equipment protec-
tion. With protection class IP65, the UN inverters
(like many others in this performance class ) are suit-
able for outdoor installation, for example small free-
standing PV systems that are relatively common in
southern Europe, North Africa and Southeast Asia.

Own consumption as
a driving force
Since the feed-in tariff has lost its appeal, the indus-
try is hoping that own consumption will become a
driving force. This will invigorate the storage market
ABB is expecting increased and also the PV market as a whole, Sven Schreiber
demand for single-phase predicts. This development has consequences for in-
inverters and is oering four verters because energy management is becoming in-
devices in the UNO series creasingly important, but also for household appli-
with a power range from 2 to ances, whose network connectivity is a prerequisite
4.2 kW. Photo: aBB for effective load management.

50 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016


But this natural market will not develop on its
own because end users do not know that photo-
voltaics is still worthwhile, states Ulrich Winter,
Head of Solar Energy of Fronius Deutschland GmbH.
Basically, its quite simple. The economics can be
explained to a customer quite easily because a kilo-
watt hour of solar power generated on their own roof
costs between -ct 12 and -ct 13. Everyone has a
certain amount of own consumption, and therefore
it is always possible to use a portion of the solar
power oneself. This is the point where it becomes
economical, Ulrich Winter summarises. And this is
also not adversely affected by the fact that surplus
electricity is fed into the power grid. Electricity fed
into the grid is compensated with enough money
that the production costs are still covered. The con-
tribution of this remuneration for financing a system
is still meaningful.
Inverter technology is strongly related to energy
storage. For ABB, storage is important for controlling
Solar Edition
Thomas Mhlberger at Fronius
International is expecting po-
sitive market developments in
the USA, partly because of the
signicant interest in storage
systems and the indepen-
dence they provide.
the energy produced by renewables regardless if
the storage devices are being implemented either by
residential installers to use the energy more exibly
or utilities who would like to harness renewable en-
ergies output. Leonardo Botti, Global Marketing
Manager ABB Product Group Solar, is convinced that
storage will be important in all solar markets: It is
hard to even select specific countries as leading the
energy storage and energy management segments
since from our perspective this will be a global trend
that will be transforming the industry as a whole.
Net metering stabilises
the market
The precursor of own consumption is the meter that
runs backwards. In countries where a feed-in tariff
has never or only temporarily existed, a PV system
may not earn money, but it does reduce electricity
costs by feeding solar power into the grid and
51
Photovoltaics inverters

Inverters for domestic installations (selected examples)

Micro inverter (M), Degree of
string inverter (S), max. DC Nominal Max. European protection
battery charging function (B), power Transfor- MPP- MPP voltage AC power Feed-in- efficiency efficiency according to
Manufacturer Type designation battery inverter (BI) [kW] mator tracker range [V] [kW] phases [%] [%] IEC 60529

ABB PVI 3.0 TL OUTD S 3.1 without 2 160 up to 530 3 1 96.8 96 IP65
Trio 7.5 TL OUTD S 7.6 without 2 320 up to 800 7.5 3 98 97.5 IP65
AE 1TL 1.8 S 2.2 without 1 160 up to 500 2.2 1 98 97.4 IP65
Advanced Energy
AE 3TL 8 S 9.9 without 1 370 up to 850 8.25 3 98 97.3 IP65
INV500-45EU M 0.5 without 1 40 up to 80 0.48 1 95 94 IP65
AEconversion
INV500-45EU M 5.2 without 2 80 up to 240 5 3 95 94 IP65
BPT-S 4.6 S 4.8 without 2 170 up to 600 4.6 1 97 96.5 IP65
Bosch
BPT-S 5 Hybrid S/B 5.0 without 1 275 up to 750 5 1 97.7 n/a IP20
CPS SCA36KTL-
Chint S 1.2 without 1 70 up to 800 1 1 96.8 96.2 n/a
DO-480
Platinum 11000
Diehl AKO S 11.2 without 2+2 350 up to 720 10 3 98.6 98.3 IP66
R3-M
Galvo 1.5-1 up to
S 6.2 with 1 165 up to 440 3.1 1 96.1 95.4 IP65
3.1-1
Primo 3.0-1 up to
Fronius S 12.3 without 2 80 up to 800 8.2 1 98.1 97.5 IP65
8.2-1
Symo 3.0-3-M up
S 16.4 without 2 150 up to 800 8.2 3 98 97.7 IP65
to 8.2-3-M
Solis-mini-2000 S 2.3 without 1 50 up to 400 2 1 97 96.2 n/a
Ginlong USA
Solis-6K S 6 without 2 200 up to 800 6 1 98 n/a
Batteryless Hybrid
Hamak Solar S 3 without 1 150 up to 300 3 none 92 n/a IP54
PV Inverter
Ingecon Sun
S 7 without 2 90 up to 750 6 1 98 97.6 IP65
6TL M
Ingeteam
Ingecon Sun Lite
S 13.7 without 1 300 up to 450 10 3 98 96.8 IP65
10 TL
blueplanet 4.6 TL1 S 5.5 without 2 215 up to 510 4.6 1 97.2 96.8 IP54
Kaco
blueplanet 9.0 TL3 S 8.8 without 2 410 up to 800 9 3 97.5 97 IP65
Piko 3.0 S 4.3 without 1 270 up to 730 3 1 96.2 95.5 IP55
Kostal
Piko BA S/B 11 without 2 440 up to 850 10 3 96.5 95.3 IP55
Layer Electronics Windsun GC-206 S 6.6 without 1 200 up to 400 6 1 98 95 IP20
PowerRouter
S 7.7 without 2 400 up to 480 7 3 97 96.3 IP55
PR30S
Nedap
PowerRouter
S/B 4.4 with 1 200 up to 480 4 1 98 95 IP20
PR37SBi
QX35000 S 5.8 without 2 240 up to 680 5 3 97.5 97 IP54
Q3 Energie
QY3000 S 4 without 2 80 up to 400 3.7 1 97.2 97 IP65
REFUsol 08K S 9.9 without 1 370 up to 850 8.25 3 98 97.3 IP65
REFU Elektronik
REFUsol 10K S 12 without 1 410 up to 850 10 3 98 97.4 IP65
STL, TTL inverter
Selco Energy S 6 without 2 100 up to 550 6 1 97 96 IP65
serie
Sunny Boy 240 M 4.31 without 1 39 up to 360 4.2 1 98.6 98.2 IP65
Sunny Boy 4000TL S 4.2 without 2 175 up to 500 4 1 97 96 IP65
SMA
Sunny Boy 5000
S/B 5.62 without 1 250 up to 500 5.5 3 98.7 98.3 IP65
Smart Energy
SE4000 S 5 without 2 350 4 1 97.6 97.5 IP65
SolarEdge
SE4K S/B 4 with 2 100 up to 750 3.7 1 94 93 IP20
SolarMax 6TP2 S 9 without 2 310 up to 750 6 3 97.6 96.6 IP65
SolarMax
SolarMax 4000P S 6 without 2 210 up to 480 4 1 98 97.5 IP65
Solutronic Solenergy 60S2 S 6 without 2 80 up to 400 5 1 97.3 97 IP65
StecaGrid 2500 S 2.56 without 1 125 up to 500 2.5 1 98 97.6 IP21
Steca StecaGrid 4200 S 4.31 without 1 350 up to 700 4.2 1 98.6 98.2 IP21
StecaGrid 5503x S 5.62 without 1 250 up to 800 5.5 3 98.7 98.3 IP65
XTS 900-12 BI,B n/a with - - 0.5 n/a 93 n/a IP54
Studer Innotec XTM 2400-24 BI,B n/a with - - 2 n/a 94 n/a IP20
XTH 8000-48 BI,B n/a with - - 7 n/a 96 n/a IP20
Valenia Aurus 30 S 2.5 with 1 150 up to 520 2.4 1 96.5 95.3 IP21
Zeverlution 2000S S 2 without 1 70 up to 450 2 1 97.3 96.7 IP65
Zeversolar
Zeverlution 3000S S 3 without 1 70 up to 520 3 1 97.5 97 IP65

52 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016


making the meter run backwards. This
net metering has long been popular in
the Netherlands, and Steca Elektronik
from south Germany can benefit from it:
We are strong there because the roofs
are relatively small and the power class
required is precisely what we can deliv-
er, said Huguette Kolb-Aust, Sales
Manager for Solar Electronics at Steca
Elektronik GmbH.
Stable markets have developed in
countries where net metering has always
played a major role, she added. The mar-
ket in the Netherlands has always existed;
there have never been these strong up-
turns or downturns. In view of the roller
coaster ride that has been caused by feed-
in tariffs in recent years, net metering takes
on a new appeal. Since operators have nev-
er been spoiled by a cost-covering feed-in
tariff, it should be relatively easy in these
countries to encourage customers to move
from net metering to own consumption.
Smooth sailing in the USA
North America is an almost ideal play-
ground for the solar industry. Purchasing
power is strong in the USA and Canada,
and due to the huge surface area of these
countries, the power grid in many regions
is more loosely interconnected that it is in
Europe. This is good news for photovolta-
ics because the power grid can become
overloaded due to the extreme weather
conditions. Energy self-sufficiency has
been popular there for quite some time.
The individual states are largely au-
tonomous in both Canada and the USA.
Solar Edition
Specialist for the USA: With the
Sunny Boy 5.0-US/6.0-US, SMA
is oering a residential inverter
with complete grid-manage-
ment capabilities, ensuring a
utility-compliant solution for
customers operating in any
market, including Hawaii and
California.
Photo: sMa solar technology aG
This means that they can independently
decide on funding for solar energy. And
some US states have reached a market
volume that corresponds to that of an en-
tire European country. Strictly speaking,
this means that the USA is not a single
large market, but rather fifty individual
markets. This has the advantage that a
temporary weakness in one market can
be offset by the strength of another. For
this reason, the United States as a whole
forms a relatively stable market region.
Alongside China and Japan, it is one of
the three largest worldwide.
Fronius established a foothold in the Steca coolcept family
USA in 2001 with its welding technology di-
Solar grid inverter, 1-phase, 3-phase
vision, and its photovoltaic division has 1.5 - 5.5 kW
been active there since 2004. Its early in-
volvement now seems to be paying off. The
Investment Tax Credit (ITC) was extended THE BEST SMALL ONES
just before Christmas for another five
years, and it will continue to support and
vitalise the market, Thomas Mhlberger Maximum efficiency at all input
explained. He is responsible for solution voltages
management at Fronius International, and
Perfect fit for residential systems:
he lists three reasons for the good market
applicable from 3 modules
prospects: The desire of Americans for in-
dependence is generally one of the rea- Lightweight at only 8 kg
sons for acquiring a PV system equipped
Suitable for use in indoor and
with a storage system, he said, and the
outdoor areas (IP 21 and IP 65)
poor condition of the grids and the neces-
sary infrastructure have a similar effect. In
addition, the electricity bill in some re- i
gions includes not only the price of energy
but also a performance-related compo-
nent: peak load is expensive. For this rea-
son, installing a PV system with a storage
PV Grid Connected
system is foremost in many customers PV Off Grid
minds, Mhlberger pointed out. Solar Thermal
Battery Charging Systems
EMS-Provider www.stecasolar.com
Cable Technology Steca Elektronik GmbH
Photovoltaics inverters
In September 2015, SolarMax
began manufacturing devices
using technology from Sputnik
Engineering again at its plant
in Burgau, Germany. The
SolarMax Group acquired all
trademark rights, the produc-
tion equipment as well as the
service locations in Annaberg-
Buchholz, Germany, and
Salez, Switzerland, from the
insolvent Sputnik E ngineering
AG. Photo: Solarmax
SMA is also expecting a longer-term market re-
covery in North America. In order to strengthen our
position there, we introduced a new inverter gener-
ation on the market in January that caters to the in-
creasing demands for integration in home communi-
cations and grid support functions, Sven Schreiber
said. Due to the recent 5 year ITC extension, Leonardo
Botti does not expect a rush in the US market in 2016
with a significant drop after it: We see a consistent
market here, consistent on the Utility space and
growing steadily on the residential and commer-
cial, reported Botti.
High electricity prices in Australia
When it comes to own consumption, Australia might
become a pioneer. Electricity prices have risen very
strongly there. But thats not all: In many regions,
there are time-dependent tariffs that increase the
price of electricity even further. This is why PV sys-
tems with storage are increasingly being purchased,
Thomas Mhlberger said. In Sidney, the electricity
price is highest between 4 PM and 10 PM, so invest-
ing in a storage system quickly pays for itself. For
Fronius, Australia has become a very important and
interesting market. There are already more than one
million PV systems installed there, which equates to
one system per 20 residents, but the market does
not seem to be saturated yet. In Sven Schreibers
view, the trend towards own consumption has led to
a natural market size in Australia. The general con-
sensus among consumers seems to be that photo-
voltaics are a better and cheaper power source than
conventional power sources.
East Asia requires perseverance
Closed-off markets in East Asia are often difficult for
European and American manufacturers to crack.
Fronius has withdrawn from this world region,
54
s tating that domestic suppliers enjoy too many ad-
vantages and that the main priorities are quanti-
ties and prices.
Anyone who wants to be successful there has to
develop a considerable level of perseverance. Kostal
has been active in China since 2012 and has accept-
ed the fact that the road will be long and hard: We
established a solar business division in China and
are working on the market in the Shanghai region,
Markus Vetter said. Starting from there, we are de-
veloping the market potential along the east coast of
China. Even though the largest PV market in the
world has the reputation that everything has to be
cheap, and that the Chinese are always just a little
cheaper, we still decided to go into the lions den.
Based on a market analysis, Kostal is expecting
opportunities in the Small Commercial area in partic-
ular. In this market segment, the price isnt every-
thing: the brand as well as safety, comfort and reli
ability also play a role. Kostal will be concentrating
on this segment during the initial stages. This
strategy might work because the pond in which an
inverter manufacturer can fish in China should be
big enough. One just needs to stay out of the price
war on the mass market.
ABB believes that China will continue to invest
huge sums into the development of renewable ener-
gy production and feeding it into their energy grid.
Leonardo Botti sees two reasons for this: On the
one hand, China needs to curb its emissions, on the
other, the growing population and economy con-
sumes ever more energy. However, the Chinese are
currently facing the challenge of feeding the energy
into the grid.
SMA is not active in China. Its subsidiary
Zeversolar is located there, but it is focusing instead
on Japan. We have a good starting position because
in 2012 SMA was the first foreign inverter manufactur-
er to establish a subsidiary there and obtain product
certifications for sales on the Japanese market, Sven
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
 Schreiber said. The market is known to be fairly
closed-off and not easy to develop, but perseverance
pays off. SMA has now sold more than 1 GW inverter
power in Japan. No foreign company has ever suc-
ceeded in doing that before. According to ABB, Japan
will remain a top market leveraging on residential
and commercial installations which will continue to
grow, emphasises Leonardo Botti: For the Utility
segment there is a large pipeline approved that will
be executed across the coming couple of years.
The Chinese inverter manufacturer Sungrow is
also extending its feelers in the direction of Japan.
According to William Zhou, Vice President Interna-
tional Sales & Marketing, the topics storage and en-
ergy management are becoming increasingly impor-
tant there as well as in South Korea.
Emerging markets need a lot of
electricity
William Zhou sees positive market developments in
South Africa and South America as well. This has to
do with the fact that many emerging economies are
trying to avoid covering their rapidly growing de-
mand for electricity by building conventional power
plants. Wind energy and photovoltaics are now no
more expensive than fossil fuels, and this is giving
rise to numerous solar parks in Southeast Asia and
South America.
Detlef Koenemann
REGISTER
NOW
11th Solar Market Workshop
02-03 March 2016, Brussels, Belgium
2015 global markets and installations
Market developments for the next five years
Which are the growth markets - who will win, who will lose?
What are the key drivers?
How can we secure future markets?
Supported by: Gold Sponsor:
Transformation with
simple means
The Italian module manufacturer Sunerg is in-
troducing a product that transforms a PV sys-
tem that feeds electricity into the grid into a
storage system without having to replace the
inverter, and it has a name that one would not
usually associate with an Italian product. The
AKK is a battery charger that is integrated on
the DC side between the modules and the in-
verter and charges four 12-volt batteries.
Sunerg wants to make it as easy as pos
sible for operators of small PV plants to con-
nect battery storage systems to their existing
systems. The system is designed for four
batteries, so the voltage of the stored solar
energy is limited to 48 V. For this reason, as
soon as the electricity is needed for use in the
household, the AKK needs to ramp up the DC
voltage before the power is transferred to the
inverter. It does so at a maximum voltage of
600V (DC). According to Sunerg, the AKKs
rated power is 1.5 kW. Its maximum storage
capacity is 14.4 kWh.
www.solarpowereurope.org
Organised by:
PHOTOVOLTAICS CLEANING

Transparent
The Roboklin 25 tracked
vehicle achieves a maximum
cleaning rate of 1 MW in five
hours. Photo: Messersi
and clean
To clean or not to clean? The decision to clean solar modules mounted
on roofs and on the ground ultimately depends on the location and the
cost. This, at least, is what experience shows, as there are hardly any
recent studies available. Service providers should be more transparent
about their costs and technology.

I
f many of the past and current manufacturers are
to be believed, cleaning solar modules is super-
fluous. After all, technologies like self-cleaning
surfaces such as the lotus effect or special coatings
are often touted enthusiastically by the manufactur-
ers. All it takes is one strong rainfall and the modules
are as good as new. However, experts like Clas
Ziganner, CEO of the service provider Zenit-SIS, are
more sceptical: Of course some of the dirt is washed
away by rain, but anyone who leaves his car stand-
ing for longer periods of time will notice a significant
build-up of grime. Dirt tends to become encrusted
permanently, especially on the frames of the mod-
ules, warns Ziganner: This can even result in moss
formation, which can significantly reduce the
systems yield.
Operators often have no clear idea of the effect
of dirt on the electricity yield. That is why Zenit-SIS
approaches cleaning in conjunction with monitoring
and maintenance. The monitoring of yields provides
important preliminary information, says CEO Clas
Ziganner: Operators cannot easily spot drops in
yield due to dirt build-up, as the reduction occurs
gradually. Good monitoring can help the operator
recognise the lost yield early on and take counter-
measures. Because lower yields may also be the re-
sult of shading or technical faults, Zenit-SIS believes
in comprehensive customer care, which includes
monitoring, maintenance and repairs.
Cleaning can make sense
Christian Kerschl is the Manager of the Sonnenhaus
Institute and has his own planning company for pho-
tovoltaic and solar thermal systems. He believes
that drops in yield often go unnoticed. Due to differ-
ences in solar irradiation, annual yields can vary by
up to 10 %. Only the operators of very large solar
farms will notice this; it is almost imperceptible in
smaller systems. From his own experience, Kerschl
knows of cases where reduced yields correlated
closely with the soiling of solar modules. On roofs

56 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

 with a very low inclination, cleaning is absolutely
necessary after a few years because dirt is not
washed away by the rain or carried away by snow. In
Bavaria, when the snow slides off modules in the
spring the lower side remains quite brown, he
adds.
The situation is even worse in agricultural set-
tings and can also be quantified. This is especially
true for large installations mounted near livestock
sheds or directly on their roofs. The emissions and
dust are deposited on the modules and form a hard
crust. This can result in yield drops of 15 %. On
farms, systems really should be cleaned once or
twice a year. For instance, if it doesnt rain after the
rapeseed bloom, the yellow pollen can stick to the
modules for several weeks. The same is true for PV
systems mounted close to incinerators, chimneys or
large ventilation systems. These also lead to the for-
mation of tough layers, explains Emanuel Sa, cer-
tified appraisal specialist for photovoltaic systems.
The frame and surface of the modules also play a s ervice provider regarding the electrical systems, as Encrusted dirt or moss forma-
role. For example, between 2004 and 2006 lightly well as a certain level of knowledge. For instance, tion can significantly reduce
textured glass surfaces were all the rage. These are using cold water to clean piping hot modules has re- the yield of modules.
more prone to soiling. In addition, the dirt collects sulted in more than a few cracked panes. Cleaning  Photo: Zenit-SIS
on the lower frame of the module. From there, moss is a tricky business. Some products are effective
and lichen begin to grow upwards, he says. while others are not. In addition, this is work on an
Should cleaning become necessary, operators electrical system. That is why the system must be
should approach it systematically. This includes switched off and why the service provider must
making sure the process is approved by the manu- possess a minimum of knowledge about electrical
facturers, liability insurance and instructing the installations, says Sa.

Your vehicle and SunBrush mobile

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Solar Edition
PHOTOVOLTAICS
The Washtronic uses a cylin-
der unit to compensate for
irregularities in the ground,
ensuring that the brushes
always apply a constant pres-
sure onto the modules.
Photo: Sunbrush
Robots are an eective
alternative that minimizes the
risk of accidents. The Gekko
from Serbot can grip onto any
faade. Photo: Serbot
58
CLEANING
Specialised vehicles for PV farms
The cleaning companies argue that they help main-
tain value and recommend regular cleaning. Fences,
cameras, inverters and transformers are regularly
maintained but not the supposedly self-cleaning
modules. Rain does not wash away all the dirt, moss
or lichen, insists Markus Kort, Head of ProClean
Solar GmbH. He has been in the business of clean-
ing large solar farms for five years mainly in France
and Italy because of the relatively low rainfall. He
uses a Unimog and specially developed equipment
to drive at 0.5 km/h through the long rows. A modi-
fied agricultural sprinkler with a wide reach uses
water from the tank on the vehicle and special
brushes for scratch-free machine-cleaning of the
modules. The water is distilled to prevent the build-
up of limescale on the glass. We follow the cleaning
guidelines of the manufacturers. This applies to the
water pressure when cleaning, the cleaning agents,
the brushes and the robot-controlled pressure ap-
plied to the modules. With this method we can clean
around 1MW per day, he says. He finds some of the
prices offered on the market completely exaggerat-
ed. For free-standing systems, Kort believes around
2,000/MW, or 2 /kW, to be reasonable.
The automated cleaning of large PV farms with
long brush systems used on the module rows is
time-effective but requires some technical skill. On
the one hand, the vehicles need to be able to fit
through the narrow rows. On the other hand, the
contact pressure of the cleaning system on the solar
panels must always remain constant to avoid break-
ing the modules. This is no easy feat, as the ground
around free-standing modules is often uneven or
steeply sloping.
One of the companies that has got into this area
is Messersi, because there is clearly a need for effec-
tive cleaning equipment. The Italian companys main
business is actually constructing special vehicles for
construction and agriculture but in 2011 it developed
a special vehicle for cleaning large PV farms. The re-
sult of this development is the Roboklin 25, which
has been sold worldwide. The vehicle is powered by
a turbo diesel engine from Kubota, the tracked un-
dercarriage is able to drive up to 11 km/h and can
face all ground conditions and slops. This machine
has a maximum cleaning capacity of 1 MW in five
hours. The telescopic arms have maximum lengths
of 4 and 6.5 m. Two washing systems can be mount-
ed on them, either a sprinkler system with a maxi-
mum pressure of 40 bar or a rotating brush up to
4.2meters of length. Both systems are supplied by
a tank with a capacity of 2,400 litres. The cleaning is
controlled through ultrasound sensors. These en-
sure that the distance between the modules and the
cleaning system always remains constant, auto-
matically compensating for irregularities on the
ground while the vehicle is in motion. The hydrauli-
cally controlled telescopic arms are also cleverly de-
signed. They can clean from a distance of up to 9 m
between the vehicle and the module and an articu-
lated arm lets the cleaning systems move freely to
the left or the right.
M
-"
Long-term tests on brushes -A
-T
A similar concept is used by SunBrush mobil -A
GmbH. We have developed a patented Washtronic -2
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
 control system that maintains the desired contact
pressure of the brush regardless of the grounds
irregularities, explains the companys Managing
Director, Franz Ehleuter. He also builds specialised
vehicles for the mobile cleaning of photovoltaic
systems and sells them to service providers. Orig-
inally, he built washing systems, and he also oper-
ates several PV installations in the German state of
Bavaria. We noticed that if we didnt clean them
or remove the snow in winter they did not function
properly, he says. Before getting to work, he com-
missioned Ulm University of Applied Sciences to
test the brushes on new and flash-tested modules.
After some 4,000 cleaning cycles in the laborato-
ry, the Ulm researchers could not detect any
scratches or performance drops. In addition, the
yields of two systems on a roof were compared. In
comparison with a regularly cleaned 58 kW system,
the 1.8 kW control unit yielded only 40 % of the
reference value after three years. This is only a
snapshot, but of course customers always ask
whether the cost of cleaning makes sense. We
keep it simple and start by cleaning just one string.
The operator can then read the difference on the
inverter and transpose the results. The possible
advantages of cleaning should always be transpa
rent, he says. This includes the costs. Ehleuter
finds 2,000 to 2,300 /MW for free-standing
systems to be reasonable, and up to 12 /kW for
systems on roofs, because the required effort in
relation to the surface area is greater.
Robots for roof-mounted systems
Two options are available for cleaning roof-mounted
systems: the classical mop and robotic systems.
However, the homogenously sealed glass surfaces
can hardly be washed properly by hand. Added to
this are the dangers and the regulations regarding
accident prevention. Robots also have the great ad-
vantage that they maintain the same pressure over
many hours of work, says Ivo Lackner, Head of Sales
at the Swiss robot manufacturer Serbot. The compa-
nys cleaning solution, named Gekko, is increasing-
ly being used by service providers. The unit, includ-
ing the supply lines for electricity and water, is trans-
ported to the roof on an elevating platform. To
achieve the necessary grip on the tilted modules,
Serbot uses a vacuum process.
According to Lackner this does not create too
much pressure because the robot only weighs
200 kg. The modules are built to withstand snow
loads of 500 kg and wind loads of 280 kg, he ex-
plains. Serbot also has positive examples at the
ready to promote the washing of modules. According
to the company, operators can calculate with an in-
crease of 6 %. Cleaning installations with surfaces
greater than 100 m3 therefore makes sense. However,
the maximum hourly rate of 400 m3 on free-standing
systems is a little low. We are working on larger so-
lutions but for free-standing installations machine-
cleaning with brush systems has a definite advan-
tage, he concedes. Torsten Thomas, Ralf Ossenbrink

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Solar Edition
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PHOTOVOLTAICS UNITED KINGDOM

2015 was the annus horribilis for solar

in the UK, so what to expect for 2016?
The UKs renewable energy policy took a sudden turn
in 2015. Drastic cuts were announced to subsidies for
solar and wind. Other measures initiated years ago to
promote clean energy were scaled down. Although
they were motivated by budgetary needs, at the core
of the decisions there is the new energy vision of the
Conservative government elected in May. So what to
expect for 2016?
and Climate Change, just after the Paris climate
agreement in December. While being tough on the
industry, cuts were softer than initially suggested as
investors, businesses and industry groups fought
back during the public consultation opened in sum-
mer. With the new tariffs, the government expects a
4.8 % return for solar. Government has partially lis-
tened. Its not what we needed, but it is better than
the original proposals, and we will continue to push
for a better deal for what will inevitably be a more
consolidated industry with fewer companies, said
Paul Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association.

Where does the journey
lead? The prospects
for PV in Britain are
uncertain in 2016. The
picture shows a building
integrated PV system at
Kings Cross Station in
London.
Photo: Fronius International
C
uts to renewable energy subsidies had been
anticipated. Prior to the elections, the Tories
had announced plans to curtail support to on-
shore wind. The Feed-In Tariffs (FIT) for solar were
also due for review based on EU state aid rules. The
decisions were, however, tougher than imagined.
In summary, the exemption for renewables was
removed from the Climate Change Levy, a tax on the
electricity supply to businesses and the public sec-
tor. The requirement for new homes to be carbon
neutral from 2016 was ditched. Tax reliefs to commu-
nity energy schemes were cancelled.
With regard to solar, from February 2016 the
Feed-in Tariffs, the main scheme for small installa-
tions, will be reduced by 63.5 %. Solar power de-
ployed within the FiT will be capped per quarter. The
Renewables Obligation, the mechanism supporting
projects up to 5MW, will be closed ahead of sched-
ule, on April 1st 2016. The grandfathering, the guar-
antee that a certain level of subsidy is provided
throughout the lifetime of a project, will end too.
Changes to the solar schemes were announced
by Amber Rudd, the new Secretary of State for Energy
Jobs and targets at risk
Up to May 2015, the UK solar industry consisted of
2,300 small and medium-sized enterprises employ-
ing 35,000 people, reports the Solar Trade
Association. But as a result of the policy changes,
the government impact assessment estimates that
between 9,700 and 18,700 jobs (on a headcount ba-
sis) will be lost by 2018-19. The UK also risks missing
the target of 15 % renewable energy by 2020, a con-
tribution to the EUs 20 % goal. This was confirmed
in a letter from Amber Rudd to other departments,
which was leaked to the media in November. Rudd
admitted that the UK might just reach 11.5 %, with
difficulties especially for renewable heat and trans-
port. Strategies suggested in the memo to make up
for the difference included purchasing renewables
from other EU countries and Norway.
New vision
At the core of the changes, however, there is the en-
ergy vision of the new government elected in May.

60 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

This was outlined in the reset speech delivered by
Amber Rudd in November. She said that despite the
growth in renewables, a higher proportion of elec-
tricity came from coal in 2014 than in 1999. So a
course correction was needed. Her solution was:
New gas replacing coal. Getting new nuclear off the
ground. Reducing the costs of offshore wind and un-
leashing innovation to discover the clean and cheap
technologies of tomorrow.
But renewables, and solar in particular, remain
the most popular energy source in the UK. Public
support is at 80 %, according to the latest opinion
poll by the Department of Energy and Climate Change
(DECC). During the climate talks in Paris, Abundance,
the ethical investment platform, also saw a record in
new investment, raising 2.3 million for renewable
energy projects.
What to watch in 2016
Many companies and investors have questioned re-
cent decisions and pressure is growing to overturn
some of them. Both Jeremy Corbyn, Labour leader,
and Peer Baroness Featherstone, a former Liberal
Democrat Coalition Minister, have laid motions to
block the FiT cuts (in the House of Lords the Labour
and Liberal Democrats outnumber the Tories).
Feed-in Tariffs could also be reviewed if the VAT
rate on energy-saving products which include solar
panels will be increased from 5 % to 20 % as a result
of a ruling on state-aid regulations by the European
Court of Justice. The HM Revenue and Customs is cur-
rently running a consultation and decisions are ex-
pected in summer. Another open consultation is about
new bands and the grandfathering exception for the
Renewables Obligation for solar PV. Caps beyond 2020
for the Levy Control Framework are also due this year.
Slashing solar subsidies, and
investors confidence too?
In 2015 the UK was downgraded from the 8th to the
11th position in EYs Renewable Energy Country
Attractiveness Index (RECAI). For the first time in the
indexs 12-year history, the UK dropped out from the
top 10. Not surprisingly, the news caused strong re-
actions, especially in the context of subsidies cut.
The parliamentary committee on energy and climate
change is carrying out an enquiry into whether the
recent policy changes are increasing uncertainty and
undermining investors confidence in the energy
sector. Impacts for solar were discussed on
December 15th at a hearing with Abid Kazim, UK
Managing Director of NextEnergy Capital, Paul
Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association, and Nick
Boyle, CEO of Lightsource Renewable Energy.
Kazim warned that policy U-turns expose invest-
ment to a political risk premium. Up until now re-
newable energy in the UK has been a fantastic long
term investment, he said. But changing the flight
path can add 10 to 30 % to the cost of an asset and
encourage investors to go elsewhere. Panelists wor-
Solar Edition
ried that the UK could follow the route of Italy and
Spain, where investors confidence has been eroded
by sudden changes in renewable energy policies.
Those countries that have had historically dis-
turbed markets because of the ability to do retro-
spective change pay a massive premium for capital,
explained Kazim.
Uncertainty is also produced by lack of clarity be-
hind decisions. The main reason given by the gov-
ernment for slashing solar subsidies was the over-
spending of the Levy Control Framework and the
need to limit the costs for consumers. But Paul
Barwell and Nick Boyle said that the Department of
Energy and Climate Change (DECC) refused requests
to provide details on the expenditure of the levy.
According to the Solar Trade Association, the FiT for
solar adds only 7 to the average household energy
bill per year and the deployment of solar under the
FiT is actually lower than the DECC forecasts in
2012. Boyle also noted that renewables helped re-
duce the cost of wholesale electricity, which will turn
into lower bills in the future.
Savings for consumers could be made by remov-
ing the EU Minimum Import Price (MIP) on solar pan-
els from China, it was argued at the meeting. This is
a price some Chinese manufacturers apply in Europe
to avoid anti-dumping duties. The industry group is
lobbying to put an end to the scheme, which is cur-
rently being reviewed by the European Commission.
Panelists were also concerned by the introduc-
tion of quarterly caps to solar power deployed with-
in the FiT. Caps are a bigger killer than the tariffs
themselves, said Boyle. The problem is not having
at the end of the process sufficient funds to pay for
the investment that you have planned. You could
end up in a situation where you have gone through
the cycle and you have fallen foul because the cap
has been depleted.
Targeted by cuts rather than
nuclear
Members of the committee asked panelists why, in
their views, renewable energy is targeted by cuts
rather than nuclear, which is also covered by the
levy. Nuclear projects are big and create a number
of jobs in a location. Solar is a prime example of jobs
distributed across the country, commented Kazim.
Because of this distribution, said Barwell, the gov-
ernment has not been listening to small scale busi-
nesses. Industry representatives also rejected the
argument that nuclear is safer for baseload, the abil-
ity to satisfy minimum energy demand during the
day. Solar with a battery produces baseload
in exactly the same way as nuclear, point-
ed out Boyle. He argued that with the sup- LIQUID
port provided to nuclear, one could build CRYSTALS
as many batteries as you want. He added: Thermometers
Batteries and storage are the holy grail and Foils
for the future. The UK could be at the fore- www.spirig.com
front of it or just a follower. Free samples on request
celsi@spirig.com
 Claudia Delpero
61
REVIEW INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
International
EVENTS
SOLAR MIDDLE EAST 2016
March 1-3, 2016
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Co-located with and running alongside
Middle East Electricity, Solar Middle East
provides a platform for industry innova-
tors to debate the economic viability and
investment required in solar and the
opportunity for visitors to learn about
integrating solar energy into their energy
supply. With the current industry growth
and expected developments in the region,
the 4th edition of Solar Middle East prom-
ises to be an essential event in the solar
industry calendar.
Contact: Informa PLC, Phone: 00971/43365161,
info@solarmiddleeast.ae, www.solarmiddleeast.ae
11TH SOLAR MARKET WORKSHOP
March 2-3, 2016
Brussels, Belgium
The 11th Solar Market Workshop will take
place in Bloom Hotel, Brussels. The work-
shop will be preceded by a networking
drink and interactive dinner on 2nd of
March, also in Bloom Hotel. The Solar Mar-
ket Workshop is recognized throughout
the solar sector as one of the most impor-
tant events on the development of global
solar markets. It is a unique opportunity to
discuss market trends with renowned
sector analysts and experts, and meet key
industry stakeholders.
Contact: SolarPower Europe, Brussels, Belgium,
Tina Stojanovic, Phone: 0032/27044671,
t.stojanovic@solarpowereurope.org,
www.solarpowereurope.org/events/events-page/
news/11th-solar-market-workshop-copy-1
62
PV EXPO
March 2-4, 2016
Tokyo, Japan
The 9th installment of PV Expo Japans
largest show specialising in PV, will be
held from March 2-4, 2016 at Tokyo Big
Sight, Japan. The latest solar cells,
modules, R&D and production technolo-
gies will be showcased and trends
shared by top experts of the field. A must
attend show to seek new products, tech-
nologies, network, catch and share new
ideas for a successful business with
professionals from across Japan and
the world.
Contact: Reed Exhibitions, Phone: 0081/333498519,
visitor-eng.wsew@reedexpo.co.jp, www.pvexpo.jp/en
SILICON PV
March 7, 2016
Chambry, France
SiliconPV 2016, the 6th International
Conference on Crystalline Silicon
Photovoltaics will focus on advanced tech-
nologies, materials, and concepts for crys-
talline silicon solar cells and modules. The
high-level conference will feature inspiring
invited lectures, outstanding oral and
poster presentations describing the most
recent advances in the field, and will oer
a platform for intensive discussions
among experts, followed by the scientifi-
cally appropriate publication of the confer-
ence papers. The target audience includes
scientists, students, and technologists
from leading research institutes and uni-
versities, representatives of R&D depart-
ments of the major PV companies as well
as industry decision makers.
Contact: PSE AG, Beatrix Feuerbach,
Phone: 0049/7614791423,
info@siliconpv.com, www.siliconpv.com
SOLAR SOLUTIONS
March 16-17, 2016
Haarlem, The Netherlands
New technologies, new products, new mar-
kets, new providers: the developments in
the dynamic solar-energy sector are
progressing ever-so rapidly. The Dutch
market is the most booming solar market
of the EU, with a net metering system and
commercial subsidies. Solar Solutions Int.
is one of the largest international solar
energy trade fairs in the Benelux and as
such will provide you a clear overview of
the current state-of-aairs in the solar
sector. A visit is a one-stop-shop to get in-
formed on the latest developments and
constant changes of this dynamic sector:
all leading Dutch distributors and interna-
tional brands are presented.
Contact: Solar Solutions International,
Phone: 0031/725 72 97 94, info@solarsolutions.nl,
www.solarsolutions.nl/en
INTERSOLAR SUMMIT USA
March 24, 2016
Brooklyn, NY, USA
In the eastern U.S. solar and energy
storage markets New York, New Jersey,
Connecticut, and Massachusetts the
opportunity for growth is expected to be a
banner year in 2016. Intersolars Summit
USA East 2016 is your opportunity to get in
on the action and become a leading spon-
sor for this exciting event. The event will
be held at the Marriott Brooklyn Bridge in
Brooklyn, NY on March 24, 2016. Ocially
supported by the New York State Senate
represented by New York State Senator
Kevin S. Parker as well as numerous state-
level solar associations, this exclusive
conference and networking event is the
premier solar gathering in the eastern U.S.
Contact: Solar Promotion International, Diana Dppe,
Phone: 0049/723158598-22, doeppe@intersolar.us,
www.intersolar-summit.com/usa
Announce your events
SUN & WIND ENERGY oers you the
announcement of your fairs and con-
ferences up to date and free of
charge. Just feel free to send us your
conference information regularly. In
return we would appreciate to pro-
vide you with free copies of our
international magazine for distribu-
tion at your event.
Please contact: Daniela Struck,
e-mail: events@sunwindenergy.com
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
directo
> directory
biomass / biogas
AUStriA
SOLArFOCUS GmbH
Research, development, production and distribution
of high quality solar thermal collectors (sealed CPC),
biomass boilers, storage technology and fresh water
technology
A-4451 St. Ulrich/Steyr, Werkstr. 1
Tel. +43/7252/50002-0
www.solarfocus.eu, office@solarfocus.eu
pellets heating systems
AUStriA
Biotech Energietechnik GMBH
Pellet and wood chips heating facilities,
feeding systems and autom. feeding systems
for pellet stoves
A-5101 Bergheim, Furtmhlstr. 32
Tel. +43/662/454072-0, Fax 454072-50
www.pelletsword.com, office@pelletsworld.com
measurement technology
GErMAny
Ammonit Measurement GmbH
Data loggers, measurement systems for wind and solar
resource assessment, online monitoring software
D-10997 Berlin, Wrangelstrasse 100
Tel. + 49/30/6003188-0, Fax -10
www.ammonit.com, info@ammonit.com
photovoltaics
GErMAny
AXitEC GmbH
High quality german solar company.
In the market since 2001. Pioneer in 10 years
product warranty and plus tolerances.
D-71034 Bblingen, Otto-Lilienthal-Strae 5
Tel. +49/7031/6288-5186, Fax +49/7031/6289-5187
www.axitecsolar.com, info@axitecsolar.com
Heraeus Materials technology
Thin Film Materials Division
Heraeus TMD supplies the complete package of
sputtering targets for various types of solar cells.
D-63450 Hanau, Wilhelm-Rohn-Str. 25
Tel. +49/6181/35-2229, Fax 35-2220
www.heraeus-targets.com, targets@heraeus.com
iBC SOLAr AG
A leading international energy company,
which provides high-performance system
solutions in every size and for every
application with intelligent photovoltaic systems.
96231 Bad Staffelstein, Am Hochgericht 10
Tel.: +49 (0)9573-9224-0
www.ibc-solar.com, info@ibc-solar.de
Solar Edition
Mounting Systems GmbH
Manufacturer of mounting systems and components for
Photovoltaic and SolarThermal
D-15834 Rangsdorf, Mittenwalder Str. 9a
Tel. +49/33708/529-0, Fax 529-199
www.mounting-systems.de
Phaesun GmbH
The Off-Grid Experts
Phaesun is the leading system integrator for
Off-Grid solar systems
D-87700 Memmingen, Brhlweg 9
Tel. +49/8331/990420, Fax 9904212
www.phaesun.com, info@phaesun.com
renusol GmbH
Solar Mounting Systems
D-51063 Kln, Piccoloministrasse 2
Tel. +49/221/788707-0, Fax -99
www.renusol.com, info@renusol.com
SCHMiD Group|Gebr. SCHMiD GmbH
Process equipment and turnkey lines
For the production of wafer, cells,
modules and thin film application.
D-72250 Freudenstadt, Robert-Bosch-Str. 32-36
Tel. +49/7441/538-0, Fax 538-121
www.schmid-group.com, info@schmid-group.com
skytron energy GmbH
Complete Monitoring, Control and Supervision System
for utility-scale photovoltaic installations
D-12489 Berlin, Ernst-Augustin-Strae 12
Tel. +49/30/6883159-0, Fax +49/30/6883159-99
www.skytron-energy.com, info@skytron-energy.com
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, service@solarc.de
GErMAny
Steca Electronik GmbH
German manufacturer of controllers and inverters;
sectors: PV- On- and Off-Grid, Solar thermal
D-87700 Memmingen, Mammostr. 1
Tel. +49-(0)8331-8558-100, Fax +49-(0)8331-8558-132
www.stecasolar.com, info@stecasolar.com
talesun Solar Germany GmbH
80339 Mnchen, Landsberger Str. 110
Tel. +49/89/1891770, Fax +49/89/189177499
www.talesun-eu.com, sales.eu@talesun.com
Universal Energy Engineering GmbH
Modules, Inverters, Customized Packages,
Development Roof and Greenland
D-09119 Chemnitz, Neefestr. 82
Tel. +49 371 9098590, Fax +49 371 90985919
www.universal-energy.de, info@universal-energy.de
ZiMMErMAnn PV-Stahlbau GmbH&Co.KG
producer for open area solar mounting frames
88436 Oberessendorf, Petrusstr. 1
Tel.: 0049 7355 9330 0, www.pv-stahlbau.de
GrEAt BritAin
Hi-Bond tapes Ltd.
High Performance Tapes for frame
bonding, junction box mounting cell
fixing 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, sales@hi-bondtapes.co.uk
itALy
SUnErG SOLAr Srl
Producer PV MODULES / SOLAR THERMAL
COLLECTORS and complete systems
distribution from 1978.
I-06012, Citt di Castello (PG), via D.Donini 51
Tel. +39/075/8540018, Fax +39/075/8648105
www.sunergsolar.com, export@sunergsolar.com
tAiWAn
ritEK Solar
An expert manufacturer of PV-Modules from Polycrystal-
line, Mono-crystalline, to BIPV certificated by TV, UL,
CEC, and MCS.
No 42, Kuan-Fu N. Rd., Hsin Chu Industrial Park, 30351,
Hsinchu, Taiwan
Tel. +886-03-598-7298 #4013
Fax +886-03-599-8449
www.riteksolar.com, ritsolar@ritek.com
USA
Morningstar Corporation
The Worlds Leading Solar Controllers and Inverters
8 Pheasant Run
Newtown, PA 18940
Tel. +1/215-321-4457, Fax 4458
www.morningstarcorp.com
info@morningstarcorp.com
pv connector systems
SWitZErLAnD
Multi-Contact AG
PV connector systems manufacturer:
connectors MC3 & MC4, cables, junction boxes, custom
solutions
CH-4123 Allschwil, Stockbrunnenrain 8
Tel. +41/61/306 55 55, Fax +41/61/306 55 56
www.multi-contact.com, basel@multi-contact.com
pv inverters
AUStrALiA
Selectronic Australia Pty Ltd
Designer and manufacturer of high quality interactive
inverter chargers Off Grid, Grid Support, Grid Backup
3kW-54kW
Chirnside Park VIC 3116, Suite 5, 20 Fletcher Rd
Tel. +61/3/9727/6600, Fax +61/3/9727/6601
www.selectronic.com.au, lhart@selectronic.com.au
63
Directory
Austria
Fronius International GmbH
International quality leader and manufacturer of
grid-connected inverters for PV-Systems.
A-4600 Wels, Froniusplatz 1
Tel. +43/7242/241-0
www.fronius.com, contact@fronius.com
DENMARK
Danfoss Solar Inverters A/S
DK-6300, Graasten, Ulsnaes 1
Tel. +45/7488/1300, Fax +45/7488/1301
www.danfoss.com/solar, solar-inverters@danfoss.com
Germany
Delta Energy Systems (Germany) GmbH
Delta Energy Systems has been investing in the
research and development of solar inverter
products at its German location since 1999.
The result of this is something to be proud of -
reliable solar inverters with high efficiencies
and state-of-the-art high-frequency topology.
D-79331 Teningen, Tscheulinstr. 21
Tel. +49 7641 455 0, Fax +49 7641 455 318
www.solar-inverter.com,
sales@solar-inverter.com
italy
SielSpa
SIEL is one of the world leaders in the production
and maintenance of PV solar inverters.
I-20060 TREZZANO, VIA 1 MAGGIO, 25
Tel. +39/02/909861, Fax +39/02/90968490
www.sielups.com, info@sielups.com
Bonfiglioli Riduttori S.p.A.
Specialists in large and
utility scale PV power plants
Via Giovanni XXIII, 7/A
40012 Lippo di Calderara (Italy)
Phone. +39 051 647311
www.bonfiglioli.com
PV Lamination
GREAT BRITAIN
J-Flex Rubber Products
Established for over 30 years
J-Flex offer high-performance membranes
for Solar/PV module lamination machines.
UK- DN22 6HG Retford, Unit 1&2, London Rd Business Park
Tel. +44/ 1777 712400, Fax +44/ 1777 712409
www.j-flex.co.uk, lance@j-flex.co.uk
pv modules
Germany
BayWa r.e. Solar Energy Systems GmbH
Provider of high quality photovoltaic components from
sales to service including modules, inverters, pv-storage
solutions and mounting systems
D-72072 Tbingen, Eisenbahnstr. 150
Tel.: +49(0)7071/98987-0, Fax +49(0)7071-98987-10
solarenergysystems@baywa-re.com
www.baywa-re.com
http://solarenergysystems.baywa-re.com
Talesun Solar Germany GmbH
80339 Munchen, Landsberger Str. 110
Tel. +49/89/1891770, Fax +49/89/189177499
www.talesun-eu.com, sales.eu@talesun.com
64
JORDAn
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,
info@philadelphia-solar.com
pv Crystalline modules
Germany
Talesun Solar Germany GmbH
80339 Munchen, Landsberger Str. 110
Tel. +49/89/1891770, Fax +49/89/189177499
www.talesun-eu.com, sales.eu@talesun.com
INDIA
Evergreen Solar Systems India Pvt Ltd
Manufacturer of high efficiency Solar Photovoltaic
Modules and EPC contractor of Solar Power Projects
IND-641017 Coimbatore
Sulochana Mills Campus,
Mettupalayam Road, Vadamadurai,
Tel. +91422/2642564, Fax +91422/2642830
www.evergreensolar.in
PV Monitoring
BELGIUM
3E (SynaptiQ)
SynaptiQ is a universal PV monitoring and reporting
software platform, developed by the technical
consultancy: 3E
Offices in Belgium, France, UK, Italy,
South Africa and China
Phone +32 2 217 58 68, www.3E.eu/synaptiq
France
QOS Energy
QOS Energy is a leading renewable energy performance
management solution. 100 % Hardware independent
and flexible.
16 rue de Bretagne
F 44240 LA CHAPELLE SUR ERDRE
& Gebude 4 office 356 Landshuterstrasse 26
D 85716 Unterschleiheim
Phone France +33 2 51 89 46 00
Phone Germany + 49 8136-4077785
www.qosenergy.com
Germany
Solare Datensysteme GmbH
Monitoring, Feed-in Management, Smart Energy
D-72351 Geislingen-Binsdorf, Fuhrmannstrae 9
Tel.: +49/7428/9418-200, Fax: +49/7428/9418-280
www.solar-log.com, info@solar-log.com
PV Mounting Systems
BELGIUM
voestalpine Sadef nv
Design and manufacturing of steel structures for PV
Bruggesteenweg 200
8830 Gits, Belgium
T. +32/51/261 211, F. +32/51/261 301
sales@sadef.com, www.voestalpine.com/sadef
GREAT BRITAIN
Hi-Bond Tapes Ltd.
High Performance Tapes for frame
bonding, junction box mounting cell
fixing and conductive tapes
UK-NN17 5TS, Corby, Northamptonshire
1, Crucible Road Phoenix Parkway
Tel. +44/1536/260022, Fax +44/1536/260044
www.hi-bondtapes.com, sales@hi-bondtapes.co.uk
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, info@jobroco.com
pv suppliers
Germany
KREMPEL-GROUP
AKASOL Weather-resistant backsheet
for PV modules. With fluoropolymer films
KYNAR or TEDLAR
D-71665 Vaihingen/Enz, Papierfabrikstr. 4
Tel. +49/7042/915-0, Fax +49/7042/15985
www.krempel-group.com, info@krempel-group.com
pv wire + cable
GErmany
HELUKABEL GmbH
Cable & Accessories for photovoltaic
installations and for Wind Turbines
D-71282 Hemmingen, Dieselstr. 8-12
Tel. +49/7150/9209-0, Fax +49/7150/81786
www.helukabel.de, info@helukabel.de
Solar thermal systems
Austria
SOLARFOCUS GmbH
Research, development, production and distribution
of high quality solar thermal collectors (sealed CPC),
biomass boilers, storage technology and fresh water
technology
A-4451 St. Ulrich/Steyr, Werkstr. 1
Tel. +43/7252/50002-0
www.solarfocus.eu, office@solarfocus.eu
Technische Alternative
Elektron. Steuerungsgerte GmbH
Solar-, Heizungs- und Wintergartenregler
A-3872 Amaliendorf, Langestr. 124
Tel. +43/2862/53635, Fax 536357
www.ta.co.at, mail@ta.co.at
TiSUN
Development + production of solar-collectors
(in-roof, on-roof, facade-integrated, free-setting up),
storage tanks, solar-boiler, solar fittings
A-6306 Sll
Tel. +43/5333/201-0, Fax 201-100
www.tisun.com, office@tisun.com
GErmany
ALANOD GmbH & Co. KG
eta plus (copper/ aluminium) and mirotherm
(aluminium) with a selective PVD absorptive layer.
mirosol TS with a selective absorptive lacquer.
MIRO-SUN for weatherproof solar applications.
D-58256 Ennepetal, Egerstr. 12
Tel. +49/2333/986-500, Fax 986-525
www.alanod-solar.com, info@alanod-solar.com
Almeco GmbH
TiNOX energy Selective absorber surfaces
vega energy Reflective surfaces for solar energy con-
centration systems
D-06406 Bernburg, Claude Breda Strasse 3
Tel. +49/3471/34655 00, Fax +49/3471/34655 09
www.almecosolar.com, info@almecosolar.com
CitrinSolar GmbH
Energie- und Umwelttechnik
D-85368 Moosburg, Bhmerwaldstr. 32
Tel. +49/8761/3340-0, Fax 334040
www.citrinsolar.com, info@citrinsolar.de
Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016
Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH
Antifrogen-Heat Transfer Fluids for
Solar Thermal Systems
D-84504 Burgkirchen, Werk Gendorf
Tel. +49/8679/7-2272, Fax +49/8679/7-5085
www.antifrogen.com
Consolar GmbH
Hocheffiziente Solaranlagen, Solare Wrmepumpen,
Rhrenkollektoren, Kombisysteme, Internet-System-
regler
D-79539 Lrrach, Gewerbestrasse 7
Tel. +49/7621/42228-30, Fax 42228-31
www.consolar.de, info@consolar.de
KBB Kollektorbau GmbH
Flat plate collectors and full surface absorbers
(copper and aluminium)
D-12439 Berlin, Bruno-Brgel-Weg 142-144
Tel. +49/30/6781789-10, Fax 6781789-55
www.kbb-solar.com, info@kbb-solar.com
OVENTROP GmbH & Co. KG
Valves, controls and systems
Solar Thermal Energy
D-59939 Olsberg, Paul-Oventrop-Strae 1
Tel. +49/2962/82-0, Fax -400
www.oventrop.de, mail@oventrop.de
proKhlsole GmbH
Solar Thermal Systems, Solarfluids, Liquid Heat Carrier,
D-52353 Dren, Am Langen Graben 37
Tel. +49/2421/59196-0, Fax +49/2421/59196-10
www.pekasolar.de, info@prokuehlsole.de
PROZEDA GmbH
Manufacturer of controllers for solar thermal, freshwater,
heating, heating pumps and air handling systems
91330 Eggolsheim, In der Bg 5
Tel. 09191/6166-0, Fax 6166-22
www.prozeda.de, info@prozeda.de
Ritter Energie und Umwelttechnik
GmbH & Co. KG
Development, production and distributing of
ecological energy systems
D-72135 Dettenhausen, Kuchencker 2
Tel. +49/7157/5359-1200, Fax 5359-1209
www.ritter-gruppe.com, info@ritter-gruppe.com
SOREL GmbH Mikroelektronik
Manufacturer of Solar and Heating Controllers
and Pump Groups with integrated TDC-Controller
D-45549 Sprockhvel, Jahnstr. 36
Tel. +49/2339/6024, Fax 6025
www.sorel.de, info@sorel.de
Steca Electronik GmbH
German manufacturer of controllers and inverters;
sectors: PV- On- and Off-Grid, Solar thermal
D-87700 Memmingen, Mammostr. 1
Tel. +49-(0)8331-8558-100, Fax +49-(0)8331-8558-132
www.stecasolar.com, info@stecasolar.com
TYFOROP Chemie GmbH
Heat-Transfer Fluids
D-20537 Hamburg, Anton-Re-Weg 7
Tel. +49/40/209497-0, Fax 209497-20
www.tyfo.de, info@tyfo.de
WATER WAY Engineering GmbH
Pipework systems for solar installations with
flexible stainless steel or copper tubes /
collector connectors
D-47441 Moers, Baerler Str. 100
Tel. +49/2481/88320-0, Fax 88320-20
www.waterwaygmbh.de, info@waterwaygmbh.de
GREECE
NOBEL XILINAKIS V. & Co.
Solar & electric water heating systems industry
23, Nerantzoulas Str.,
13677, Acharnes, Athens- Greece
Tel: 0030 210 2478677;Fax: 0030 210 2407185
email: info@nobel.gr
Solar Edition
SOLE S.A.
Solar Water Heaters and Collectors Manufacturers
GR-13671 Acharnai - Athens
Lefktron Str. and Laikon Agonon Str.
Tel. +30/210/2389500, Fax 2389502
www.eurostar-solar.com, export@sole.gr
ISRAEL
DAGAN MACHINE ENGINEERING
Manufacture of machines for complete
absorber production line.
Tube punching and customized machines
IL-53211 Givatayim, 20, K.Joseph st.
Tel. +972/544/324418
www.dagan-machine.com
italy
CMG Solari Srl
PATENTED special solar thermal system
with condensation heat transfering.
Manufacturer of absorbers, flat plate
collectors and complete systems.
I-73040 Melissano (LE), C. da Vore Zona Ind.le
Tel. 0039/0833581428, Fax 0039/0833581428
www.cmgsolari.it, info@cmgsolari.it
JORDAn
HANANIA Energy
Manufacturer of Solar Thermal Systems and Solar PV
165, King Abdullah II Street
P.O. Box 2858 Amman 11181 Jordan
Tel: +962 6 533 3003
Fax: +962 6 533 3175
www.hanania.jo
info@hanania.jo
POLAND
HEWALEX
Flat plate, vacuum tube collectors
and solar systems production
PL-43-502 Czechowice-Dziedzice, Slowackiego 33
Tel. 0048/32/214-1710, Fax 0048/32/214-5004
www.hewalex.pl, hewalex@hewalex.pl
Spain
SONDER REGULACIN S.A.
E-08191 Rubi, Avda. La Llana, 93; P.I. La Llana
Tel. +34/935884211, Fax 4994
www.sonder.es
Switzerland
TACONOVA GROUP AG
TACONOVA GROUP AG produces quality valves and
systems for balancing, regulating, mixing, venting,
underfloor and solar heating systems
CH-8902 Urdorf, Steinackerstr. 6
Tel. +41/447355555, Fax 447355502
www.taconova.com, info@taconova.com
sts Absorbers
JORDAn
HANANIA Energy
Manufacturer of Solar Thermal Systems and Solar PV
165, King Abdullah II Street
P.O. Box 2858 Amman 11181 Jordan
Tel: +962 6 533 3003
Fax: +962 6 533 3175
www.hanania.jo
info@hanania.jo
sts Flat Plate Collectors
JORDAn
HANANIA Energy
Manufacturer of Solar Thermal Systems and Solar PV
165, King Abdullah II Street
P.O. Box 2858 Amman 11181 Jordan
Tel: +962 6 533 3003
Fax: +962 6 533 3175
www.hanania.jo
info@hanania.jo
TURKEY
Baymak BDR Thermea
Manufacturer of laser welded solar thermal forced darf
systems, Solar thermo-siphon water heaters, Storage
tanks, Biomass/Oil/Gas Boilers and Expansion tanks.
Exporting over 50 countries.
Tepeoren Mevkii Orhanli Beldesi, Akdeniz Sokak No 8
TR-34989 Istanbul
Tel. +90/216/5816500, Fax 3041964
www.baymak.com, export@baymak.com
USA
Apricus Inc.
Apricus is a global company focused on providing
simple and effective solar hot water solutions for
families and businesses. All Apricus products are desig-
ned and manufactured in compliance with IS09001:2008
management and international
production standards.
USA-06405 Branford CT, 6 Sycamore Way, Unit 2,
Tel. +1 203 488 8215, Fax +1 203 488 8572
www.apricus.com, service@apricus.com
sts pool heating
JORDAn
HANANIA Energy
Manufacturer of Solar Thermal Systems and Solar PV
165, King Abdullah II Street
P.O. Box 2858 Amman 11181 Jordan
Tel: +962 6 533 3003, Fax: +962 6 533 3175
www.hanania.jo, info@hanania.jo
usa
Aquatherm Industries, Inc.
Largest U.S. manufacturer of polymer solar pool
heating collectors.
Aquatherm manufactures the solar pool heating
industry`s most trusted brands, including the
latest breakthrough in solar pool heating, Ecolite
1940 Rutgers University Blvd.
USA, 08701, Lakewood, New Jersey
Tel. +1/7329059002, Fax 7329059899
www.livegreenswimwarm.com, info@warmwater.com
sts solartanks & boilers
JORDAn
HANANIA Energy
Manufacturer of Solar Thermal Systems and Solar PV
165, King Abdullah II Street
P.O. Box 2858 Amman 11181 Jordan
Tel: +962 6 533 3003, Fax: +962 6 533 3175
www.hanania.jo, info@hanania.jo
sts vacuum tube
collectors
USA
Apricus Inc.
Apricus is a global company focused on providing
simple and effective solar hot water solutions for
families and businesses. All Apricus products are
designed and manufactured in compliance with
ISO9001:2008 management and international produc-
tion standards.
USA-06405 Branford CT, 6 Sycamore Way, Unit 2,
Tel. +1 203 488 8215 Fax +1 203 488 8572
www.apricus.com, service@apricus.com
65
PREVIEW

S&WE Solar Edition 2/2016 will be published on March 15th

The solar ediTion IMPRINT
The upcoming S&WE The Solar Edition will be focusing on Turkey,
Publishing company:
which is considered to be one of the most promising solar markets. BVA Bielefelder Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Solar thermal is already very well-established, and photovoltaics is on Richard Kaselowsky
Niederwall 53, 33602 Bielefeld, Germany
the rise. For selected articles there will be a translation into Turkish. Publisher:
Prof. Dr. Bernhard von Schubert
Editors:

Inverters for large Dr. Volker Buddensiek (responsible),

E-mail: volker.buddensiek@sunwindenergy.com

installations Silke Funke, Phone: +49/521/59 55 69,

E-mail: silke.funke@sunwindenergy.com
PHOTOVOLTAICS Jan Gesthuizen (Solar Thermal),
String and central inverters take care of Phone: +49/521/59 55 97,
feeding the energy generated by solar E-mail: jan.gesthuizen@sunwindenergy.com
Ralf Ossenbrink (Photovoltaics),
power plants, which can sometimes be in Phone: +49/521/59 55 13,
the megawatt range, into the grid. They E-mail: ralf.ossenbrink@sunwindenergy.com
Tanja Peschel, Phone: +49/521/59 55 02,
need to be ecient and reliable, provide E-mail: tanja.peschel@sunwindenergy.com
reactive power and contribute to system
control. The inverters in our market Freelance authors:

Photo: SMA
overview are at the heart of commercial Eva Augsten, Joachim Berner, Elizabeth Block,
Germana Canzi, Christian Dany, Claudia Delpero,
PV systems and solar parks. Martin Frey, Jrn Iken, Anja Limperis, Jaideep
N. Malaviya, Chris Meehan, Jens-Peter Meyer,
Hans-Christoph Neidlein, Ina Rpcke, Alejandro
Diego Rosell, Torsten Thomas
Mounting systems
Advertising:
for greenfield plants International contact:
Stefanie Schwarz, Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 75
PHOTOVOLTAICS

Mounting systems for greenfield PV E-mail: stefanie.schwarz@sunwindenergy.com

Yvonne Fedeler, Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 90
power plants should have several E-mail: yvonne.fedeler@sunwindenergy.com
characteristics: easy installation, German contact:
Christine Michalsky, Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 25
but also stableness and a long- E-mail: christine.michalsky@sunwindenergy.com
term protection against corrosion. Christiane Diekmann, Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 47
Photo: Hill & Smith

On the other hand, the manufac- E-mail: christiane.diekmann@sunwindenergy.com

Kerstin Haase-Darlath, Phone: +49/521/59 55 91
turers have to face harsh price E-mail: kerstin.haase@sunwindenergy.com
conditions. S&WE reports about Fax: +49/5 21/59 55 56
new developments in this area. Advertising sales Italy:
Quaini Pubblicit, Graziella Quaini
Phone: +39/02/39216180; Fax: + 39/02/39217082
E-mail: grquaini@tin.it
Advertising sales USA:
Avani Media, Inc., Leslie Hallanan
Process heat
SOLAR THERMAL

Phone: +1/415/3312150 ; Fax: + 1/415/3312151

E-mail: leslie@avanimedia.com
New markets are getting more and Customer Service:
Phone: +49/221/25 87 173,
more important for the solar thermal
Fax: +49/221/25 87 249
industry. One of them is solar
Photo: Industrial Solar

E-mail: service@sunwindenergy.com
process heat. An up-to-date market Layout: Bernd Schulte zur Wien, Virginie Bclu,
survey will show where the industry DSV Deutscher Sportverlag GmbH, Cologne, Germany
Print: Dierichs Druck + Media GmbH & Co. KG,
is standing right now.
Frankfurter Str. 168, 34121 Kassel, Germany
SUN & WIND ENERGY The Solar Edition is an
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heaters and tank collectors.

66 Sun & Wind Energy 1/2016

One for all!
The whole world of solar thermal in one book
The SOLAR THERMAL WORLD ADDRESS BOOK 2016 brings the world
of solar thermal energy together in a single book. With approximate
approximate-
pro-
ly 440 company registrations, it provides an overview of the pro
ducts that companies are offering and where they are offered,
manufactu-
ranging from suppliers of individual components to manufactu
rers of complete collectors. In addition, the SOLAR THERMAL
WORLD ADDRESS BOOK summarises the most important mar mar-
publis-
ket overviews for solar heat generation that have been publis
hed in SUN & WIND ENERGY.
This makes the SOLAR THERMAL WORLD ADDRESS BOOK
an indispensable compendium for anyone who needs to
stay well-informed about the solar thermal industry.

for just
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