Solar Power World

As we enter a smart-home future one company is looking to streamline the deployment of residential solar and energy storage systems without compromising performance or cost. Jon Bonanno, chief commercial officer of Empower Micro Systems discusses some of his company’s innovative technology in this area.

This month we talk to Paul Risberg, president of Altenergy. The high-end residential and small-scale commercial solar installer enjoys working on complicated projects in Virginia, Maryland, Idaho and Washington, D.C. Read the full story at: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/07/contractors-corner-altenergy/

This month's solar veteran is James Marlow, president and co-founder of Radiance Solar, a commercial, institutional and utility solar EPC based out of Atlanta, Georgia. Radiance Solar has made our Top Solar Contractors list every year we’ve been doing it.  Marlow had a busy year back in 2007, in which he left his job at Yahoo, ran for congress and started a new career in solar. In our latest Ask a Vet, we learn how Marlow sees similarities between the early days of personal computers and today's solar market. He also shares his views on the trade case. Read more: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/07/ask-vet-early-pcs-solar-energy-radiance-solars-james-marlow/

We talk with Kenny Habul, CEO and president of U.S. solar developer SunEnergy1, about the company's large-scale projects and involvement with auto racing sponsorships. SunEnergy1 sponsors the No. 24 car in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driven by Chase Elliott as well as the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT3 in IMSA. SunEnergy1 is bringing more awareness to solar in the racing community. Read more: http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/06/contractors-corner-sunenergy1-auto-racing-solar

You can’t build a solar project if you don’t have the components you need. We talked to Gail Hibbert and Janelle Oltman of Chint Power Systems Americas' customer operations for some tips for choosing a good supplier and successfully ordering solar components.

We were very excited to hear about SunWork's nonprofit solar model this month. The company uses volunteers to install solar on California homes, saving labor costs and building a sense of community in the process. Just like Habitat for Humanity, but for solar! Read our story: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/05/contractors-corner-sunwork/

This edition's veteran has a longer solar legacy than anyone we’ve interviewed so far. Jane Weissman recently retired from her position as President and CEO of IREC, starting her days at 5 a.m. for more than 20 years. But her experience in solar is even more diverse, including working in PV in the late 80s, and her involvement with NABCEP in the 2000s. Jane has been recognized with awards for her dedication to solar and policy. She said “It’s been quite a ride to be part of the transformation from Birkenstocks to blue suits and from patronizing head pats to political protagonists.” She’s a solid writer too.

Edwin Perkins, director of solar initiatives with Moss, talked with us about the construction company's involvement in the solar industry and the 1.6 GW of utility-scale solar Moss has worked on thus far. Read the full story: http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/04/contractors-corner-moss-utility-scale-solar-zipped/

“Ask anyone in the local clean-tech industry and they will tell you that Dan Sullivan is the go-to expert for all things solar. Dan is the most passionate, intelligent, dedicated and hard-working person I have ever met. People, including myself, can't get enough of his American Dream rags-to-riches story, of a young entrepreneur with a big vision, that has brought our company to where it is today.” These moving thoughts are from the employees of Daniel Sullivan, president and founder of San Diego solar installation company Sullivan Solar Power. In our latest Ask A Vet podcast, the 13-year solar veteran talks about why he founded his business, the values he instills in his team, some of his favorite projects and more. Read more here http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/05/ask-vet-balancin…ivan-solar-power/

There’s been a lot of talk about centralized “versus” distributed systems, but really the topic may not be so black and white. In fact, there are many variables to consider, which makes system design so important. Ryan LeBlanc (senior application engineer), and Jamie Mordarski (senior manager, O&M North America) discuss those considerations for system architecture in more detail.

Portland, Oregon's Elemental Energy started the non-profit Twende Solar to bridge the gap between renewable energy experts and energy-poor communities. Twende Solar has installed solar systems in Guatemala and Cambodia and has more projects in the works, all supported by the volunteer efforts of many in the U.S. solar industry. To read the full story, visit: http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/03/contractors-corner-elemental-energy-twende-solar

In this Solar Speaks episode, we chat with Jeff Spies at Quick Mount PV about solar installations on tile roofs, including when solar installers should suggest new roof installs before putting in solar. This podcast is sponsored by Quick Mount PV.

You may have seen Julia Hamm, president and CEO of the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), speak at industry shows, but here’s a chance to get to know her and her organization a little better. We spoke with Hamm about why she’s spent practically her whole career at SEPA, her most memorable conversations with utilities and what she remembers about the first Solar Power International (SPI). Read more here: http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/03/ask-vet-catching-solar-bug-sepas-julia-hamm/

Solar Power World spoke with Vincent Ambrose, Canadian Solar’s general manager for North America, about the company’s manufacturing past, plans for O&M and new products coming to market in 2017. Read more: http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/03/qa-canadian-solar-outlook-2017/

Horizon Solar Power, a Solar Power World Top Solar Residential Contractor headquartered in Temecula, California, got its start in the solar industry around the Great Recession. CEO Frank Kneller said the installer's 650 employees have grown to love solar for its do-good qualities. Read the full story: http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/02/contractors-corner-entering-solar-survival-horizon-solar-power-finds-passion-going-green/

In our second edition of our newly launched Ask a Vet podcast, we got a chance to speak with Anthony Conklin, president and general manager for Solar Data Systems North America. Solar Data Systems’ Solar-Log monitoring platform is used in residential and commercial PV projects and is compatible with more than 100 brands of inverters. Conklin is likewise diversified. In 2007, he was brought on as the seventh employee at a New York installation company, hired to “build this thing called solar.” After five years, he moved to a small developer and helped it grow into a multi-million-dollar business before getting into financing and finally tapped to head the North American division at Solar-Log. Conklin also works as a motivational speaker and has had the opportunity to mentor millennial sales executives and share his experiences with professional athletes. Though we may not all have the chance to work in all solar segments (residential, commercial and utility) or inspire players on the New York Knicks or Yankee

We talk with Stephen Trimble, founder and CEO, and Chase Christie, vice president of business development, both of Arctic Solar Ventures, a young Alaskan solar installation company headquartered in Anchorage. The team works to debunk the myth that solar power can't work in dark, cold Alaska. Read more at: http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/01/contractors-corner-proving-solar-viable-even-darkest-alaskan-communities

In this podcast, we’re focused on the utility market, a market which could use some rebooting in 2017. To learn more about the market and how one manufacturer is adjusting to the needs of the utility sector, we’re speaking with Todd Owen, Director & General Manager of OMCO Solar.

Even though mainstream solar is still a relatively young industry, some solar professionals have had the opportunity to watch the industry grow and change for decades. Solar Power World has launched a monthly “Ask a Vet” podcast series to highlight these individuals who have spent 10 or more years in the market. Through the podcast and excerpts we will share here in each issue, we hope to provide a platform to share the unique perspectives and insight of these industry veterans. In this inaugural podcast, we spoke with Brendan Neagle, COO of Borrego Solar, who has spent 10 years with the company and 15 in solar. Neagle’s journey to solar started with studying American civilization and environmental studies at Brown University, working for a beverage distributor, becoming a school teacher and eventually selling residential solar in response to the California Solar Incentive program, which was paying rebates at $4.50/W. Read more at http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/01/ask-vet-showing-solar-leadershi

SolarEdge's HD-Wave technology has been turning heads since it was released at Solar Power International 2015. This year it won an Intersolar Award, and we also selected to feature it as a top product technology of 2016. Here to tell us more about this innovative technology are SolarEdge's Mike Rogerson, marketing director north America, and Cameron Stewart, technical training manager North America.