When your customers are electrical utilities, you tend to think of power on a grand scale.
So no surprise the new solar array at Pennsylvania’s Cleaveland/Price switch manufacturing plant will take its place as one of the larger solar arrays on the local grid: 673kW.
“We knew that the project would take a lot of manpower and planning. However, we also knew that Cleaveland/Price could engineer a system that was efficient enough to be energy friendly while saving costs on a regular basis. Our long-term goal is to produce 100 percent of our electrical energy consumption, using solar power at a substantially lower cost,” said Trish Conboy, Cleaveland/Price marketing director. “We will see success in being energy independent, while being environmentally friendly. Cleaveland/Price will be capable of manufacturing with substantially lower energy costs. This will result in sustained company growth and lower product costs to customers.”
Cleaveland/Price manufactures a range of high-voltage switch products for power utilities nationwide. The company’s sprawling manufacturing complex sits in a glade off forested Route 993 in Trafford, Penn., east of Pittsburgh.
The idea for solar came less than a year ago, Conboy said, when Cleaveland/Price realized solar power costs less than purchased power, regardless of Pittsburgh’s cloudy conditions.
“Most people in the Pittsburgh area assume that solar will not work,” she said. “The fact is, solar does work in Pittsburgh and can cost less than what utilities charge for power.”
The first step was construction of a new standing-seam roof, covering most of the plant’s eight-building layout and providing the ideal platform for an expansive array.
Cleaveland/Price engineers designed the 2,245-module array themselves, and will handle the final electrical hookup. Local contractor Don Miller, Inc., was hired to complete the installation of modules and microinverters, which began in late September and should be completed by mid-autumn.
The array features Neo Solar Power 360W, 72-cell monocrystalline modules.
APsystems YC1000 microinverters were chosen for their true 3-phase power handling and multi-module design. Each unit will handle three modules, simplifying the installation.
Steve Cleaveland, company principal, said the APsystems units also offer low-voltage startup, an advantage over string systems and boosting solar harvest.
“It only takes 22V to start up the microinverter to produce AC, so it is ideal for Pittsburgh’s cloudy and low-light days,” he said.
Cleaveland/Price’s engineering expertise also led to an innovative racking solution, with a combination of off-the-shelf and custom-fabricated parts.
Microinverters are installed on “bridge” brackets between two Power Wide Clamps, with modules connected using a power bolt in combination with a power clamp, both from Solar Connections International. Cleaveland/Price’s own CNC team fabricated the 748 connecting “bridge” brackets in-house.
When completed, the array’s first phase will power about 30 percent of the facility’s demand. The second phase will power the remaining demand, while the final phase will power the warehouse.
Thanks to Pennsylvania’s net-metering allowance, the array should allow Cleaveland/Price to “bank” power on weekends and evenings when the facility is closed.
“We designed or purchased all equipment,” Conboy said. “This resulted in a low-cost solar array, with a less than four-year return on investment. This includes the 30 percent first-year federal tax credit on renewable energy.”
LEADER IN HIGH-VOLTAGE SWITCHES
Cleaveland/Price has been serving the power utility industry since 1975, when founder Chuck Cleaveland started supplying parts for switches that had been discontinued by electrical giant Westinghouse.
Being engineers, the Cleaveland/Price team began improving on the original designs and manufacturing its own product line. Over time that led to a full portfolio of custom switches and components rated up to 345kV, for a variety of utility applications.
Their reputation for reliability has been a major factor fueling their growth. No matter where you live in the United States, you may well drive past a Cleaveland/Price product at some point during your day.
The Cleaveland/Price solar field will be among the larger grid-tied arrays on the local West Penn Power system. It will join other high-profile commercial solar arrays in a growing regional market.
A 1.9MW solar field developed by Crayola powers that company’s crayon factory in Easton, Penn., while Lincoln Financial Field, home to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, boasts an 11,000-module, 3MW array. Among utility-scale projects, Community Energy’s 6MW Keystone installation in Lancaster County provides clean power for an estimated 950 homes.
As a state, Pennsylvania has climbed five places to No. 19 in total solar capacity nationwide, thanks to the completion of 38.8MW worth of new projects in 2016, the Solar Energy Industries Association says. An estimated 568MW will be developed in Pennsylvania over the next five years, SEIA projects.
Cleaveland/Price manufacturing plant
Location: Trafford, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Capacity: 673kW
Modules: Neo Solar Power 360W, 72-cell monocrystalline
Number of modules: 2,245
Microinverters: APsystems YC1000 true 3-phase
No. of microinverters: 748
System designer: Cleaveland/Price
Installer: Don Miller, Inc.
New collaboration between APsystems and SolarclarityMarch 26, 2024 - 12:59 pm
Black Friday Offer APsystems Lake 1000November 22, 2023 - 8:08 pm
APsystems continues to illuminate lives with Extend the DayNovember 17, 2023 - 5:41 pm
APsystems at the JF4S 10th PV Briefing & EES Forum @ Intersolar Europe
/in General News/by Max BoironAPsystems will participate in the 10th ‘PV Briefing & Networking Forum Europe’ on Thursday, 21 June 2018 from 3.45PM am to 4 PM at Intersolar Europe in Munich, Hall A2 4 Booth A2 111 with the following track:
APsystems Smart-Grid Ready Microinverters Range Opens up New Opportunities for the Solar Industry in Germany, Maxime Boiron, Senior Director of Marketing EMEA, APsystems EMEA
In addition to a lively exchange of ideas and knowledge, the programme offers outstanding networking opportunities with more than 200 like-minded experts from the international solar and energy storage industry.
Olivier Jacques, President EMEA & USA – Global Executive VP, APsystems’ will be a featured speaker at the EES and Power2 Drive forum that will be held during Intersolar Europe on June 22, 3.40 PM Hall C1, booth C1.630 and organized by IBESA International Alliance. Mr Jacques will cover how Quality Management enables MLPE innovations to scale globally while driving sustainable profitability
For more information on the details , click here.
See the POST in German here
More power, smart-grid ready with new YC600 microinverter
/in General News/by Max BoironThe powerful new YC600 microinverter from APsystems is the forward-thinking choice in all solar markets. Seattle-area installer Puget Sound Solar chose the YC600 for a recent residential installation in the Magnolia neighborhood, where homeowners will benefit from the 300VA peak output to take maximum advantage of Washington state’s progressive net metering program. The 7.7kW system called for 22 modules arrayed over four distinct roof slopes on the multi-story home, using APsystems microinverters for design flexibility. Inherently smart-grid compliant with Reactive Power Control technology, the YC600 is designed and built for utility-interactive requirements today and into the future.
Installer: Puget Sound Solar
Location: Magnolia neighborhood, Seattle
Installation Date: 2018
System capacity (kw): 7.7kW
Microinverter: APsystems YC600
No. of Microinverters: 11
Number of modules: 22
Module brand/wattage: LG 350W, 60 cell
APsystems expands EMA system monitoring, supported languages & alert capabilities
/in General News/by Max BoironAPsystems EMA monitoring web portal now available in Portuguese
APsystems is proud to launch a Portuguese language option for its Energy Monitoring & Analysis (EMA) web portal to enhance service to its Portuguese-speaking customers around the world. Users can view their solar array performance using the same URL and log-in information as before at APsystemsEMA.com.
APsystems now offers 4 language options for its EMA portal for regional markets including English, Chinese, French and Portuguese. The web-based platform, available for free on any connected device, monitors and reports module-level energy production of solar arrays. It also enables APsystems-registered solar installers and contractors to create and manage their customer’s energy monitoring accounts.
The new language version adds convenience for Portuguese-speaking APsystems customers in Europe and Latin American to help them better manage their solar systems.
New features provide comprehensive visibility and enhanced remote troubleshooting
APsystems proudly announces new system monitoring alert capabilities within its online EMA portal. The new alerts will improve communication regarding any production and communication issues with an enhanced email alert protocol, giving installers and homeowners further insight into any potential issues affecting their systems.
While the APsystems EMA has always provided system production reports and alerts, the new alerts will be more targeted, more frequent and more informative.
These alerts offer installers a more refined tool for notification and troubleshooting of potential system issues. As with any apparent issue, APsystems always recommends contacting our technical support team if you suspect a problem. Most issues can be reviewed and resolved online and without a truck roll.
Changes made to the EMA are seamless and will be automatically available to all new registered systems and over 31,000 existing APsystems installations worldwide.
Come and meet the APsystems team on stand D11 at the Solarsolutions show in the Netherlands, March 21-22 2018
/in General News/by Max BoironBringing together over 5000 professional visitors working in renewable energies and more specifically in the Solar Industry, Solarsolutions has become a real meeting place for exchanges between solar installers, manufacturers, distributors, specifiers and more.
Solarsolutions is held every year and is based in Expo Haarlemmermeer, near Schiphol Airport Amsterdam, The Netherlands, less than 1 hour’s drive from APsystems’ Benelux office (close to Rotterdam). Our APsystems European team is therefore delighted to welcome you on our stand, D11 where we will be showcasing our best seller duo YC500i microinverters, ideal to address the self-consumption dynamic in residential, as well as our YC1000, the 1st three-phase native microinverter connecting up to 4 PV modules. but also a brand new product – the YC600 – ideal for social housing projects in the Netherlands, an innovative duo microinverter managing High Power modules and offering robust ZigBee communication features. It will also be the opportunity to discover our full range of communication gateways including our new ECU-C with advanced functions such as 0 export control functions or consumption monitoring as well as our new cost-efficient ECU-R, fully optimized for residential applications.
Don’t miss the opportunity to also stop by APsystems POD on the innovation boulevard and discover POP Eco from our partner POPSUN, an innovative DIY self-consumption kit easy to install in only 5 minutes, combining APsystems’ new YC600 microinverters with an innovative certified tracker structure from POPSUN enabling Dutch households to harvest up to 45 % more energy than traditional kits while rightsizing the power they need in the house from 300 Wp to 3kWp system.
Come & visit us to talk with our team and get the latest information on our product portfolio including new powerful innovations for 2018 that will be unveiled at the show.
FREE invitation available ! Register and use the following invitation code : 18ticket561 on Solarsolutions website.
Date: March 21-22 2018
Booth# :D11
Venue : Expo Haarlemmermeer, The Netherlands
APsystems joined the approved vendor list for Sunnova, a leading U.S. residential solar and energy storage service provider.
/in Article, Press Coverage/by Max BoironAPsystems joined the approved vendor list for Sunnova, a leading U.S. residential solar and energy storage service provider.
Read PES solar article here
The agreement brings APsystems advanced microinverter technology to Sunnova’s portfolio of top-tier, consumer-friendly solar services. Sunnova offers an array of solar lease, lease-to-own, and power-purchase options for customers all across the United States.
“Sunnova has earned a strong reputation for easy, no-nonsense solar packages for consumers,” said Jason Higginson, Senior Director of Marketing for APsystems USA. “We’re glad to bring our solar microinverter technology to their platform, to help more homeowners nationwide enjoy energy self-sufficiency and savings.”
“Our goal is to offer our customers a brilliant choice for energizing their lives,” said John Santo Salvo, SVP of Channel Operations and Chief Procurement Officer at Sunnova. “We believe APsystems’ advanced microinverter offering is an ideal addition to our customer-empowering portfolio of solar solutions.”
APsystems will share his view on the Solar Dutch market in “Doe Maar Duurzaam” on RTL-Z in March 2018.
/in General News/by Max BoironOver the past five years, solar energy has significantly grown in popularity. An estimated 600.000 homes are now equipped with solar panels.
Olivier Jacques, President EMEA & USA, Global Executive VP APsystems, will share his view on the Solar Dutch market in Doe Maar Duurzaam TV show on RTL-Z (Dutch TV) in March 2018.
Get the latest strategic insight from APsystems, the leading player in solar microinverter technology.
Save the date ! The show will be broadcast on :
Sunday 11th March from 5.00 pm till 5.30 pm
Monday 12th March from 7.30 am till 8.00 am
Wednesday 14th March from 10.30 am till 11.00 am
Friday 16th March from 1.05 pm till 1.35 pm
Saturday 17th March from 4.30 pm till 5.00 pm
Doe Maar Duurzaam! (Do it more sustainably!) is a TV program aimed at informing the viewer about all kinds of aspects relating to durability and sustainability such as environment, building and living, energy, transportation and care. In this journey through the world of sustainability the current innovations and initiatives within the industry will be revealed.
http://www.doemaarduurzaam.tv/
YC1000 Native 3-phase microinverter enables Cleaveland/Price to become energy independent with a 673kW solar array
/in General News/by Max BoironAPsystems powers massive 3-phase array at Pennsylania’s Cleaveland/Price plant
When your customers are electrical utilities, you tend to think of power on a grand scale.
So no surprise the new solar array at Pennsylvania’s Cleaveland/Price switch manufacturing plant will take its place as one of the larger solar arrays on the local grid: 673kW.
“We knew that the project would take a lot of manpower and planning. However, we also knew that Cleaveland/Price could engineer a system that was efficient enough to be energy friendly while saving costs on a regular basis. Our long-term goal is to produce 100 percent of our electrical energy consumption, using solar power at a substantially lower cost,” said Trish Conboy, Cleaveland/Price marketing director. “We will see success in being energy independent, while being environmentally friendly. Cleaveland/Price will be capable of manufacturing with substantially lower energy costs. This will result in sustained company growth and lower product costs to customers.”
Cleaveland/Price manufactures a range of high-voltage switch products for power utilities nationwide. The company’s sprawling manufacturing complex sits in a glade off forested Route 993 in Trafford, Penn., east of Pittsburgh.
The idea for solar came less than a year ago, Conboy said, when Cleaveland/Price realized solar power costs less than purchased power, regardless of Pittsburgh’s cloudy conditions.
“Most people in the Pittsburgh area assume that solar will not work,” she said. “The fact is, solar does work in Pittsburgh and can cost less than what utilities charge for power.”
The first step was construction of a new standing-seam roof, covering most of the plant’s eight-building layout and providing the ideal platform for an expansive array.
Cleaveland/Price engineers designed the 2,245-module array themselves, and will handle the final electrical hookup. Local contractor Don Miller, Inc., was hired to complete the installation of modules and microinverters, which began in late September and should be completed by mid-autumn.
The array features Neo Solar Power 360W, 72-cell monocrystalline modules.
APsystems YC1000 microinverters were chosen for their true 3-phase power handling and multi-module design. Each unit will handle three modules, simplifying the installation.
Steve Cleaveland, company principal, said the APsystems units also offer low-voltage startup, an advantage over string systems and boosting solar harvest.
“It only takes 22V to start up the microinverter to produce AC, so it is ideal for Pittsburgh’s cloudy and low-light days,” he said.
Cleaveland/Price’s engineering expertise also led to an innovative racking solution, with a combination of off-the-shelf and custom-fabricated parts.
Microinverters are installed on “bridge” brackets between two Power Wide Clamps, with modules connected using a power bolt in combination with a power clamp, both from Solar Connections International. Cleaveland/Price’s own CNC team fabricated the 748 connecting “bridge” brackets in-house.
When completed, the array’s first phase will power about 30 percent of the facility’s demand. The second phase will power the remaining demand, while the final phase will power the warehouse.
Thanks to Pennsylvania’s net-metering allowance, the array should allow Cleaveland/Price to “bank” power on weekends and evenings when the facility is closed.
“We designed or purchased all equipment,” Conboy said. “This resulted in a low-cost solar array, with a less than four-year return on investment. This includes the 30 percent first-year federal tax credit on renewable energy.”
LEADER IN HIGH-VOLTAGE SWITCHES
Cleaveland/Price has been serving the power utility industry since 1975, when founder Chuck Cleaveland started supplying parts for switches that had been discontinued by electrical giant Westinghouse.
Being engineers, the Cleaveland/Price team began improving on the original designs and manufacturing its own product line. Over time that led to a full portfolio of custom switches and components rated up to 345kV, for a variety of utility applications.
Their reputation for reliability has been a major factor fueling their growth. No matter where you live in the United States, you may well drive past a Cleaveland/Price product at some point during your day.
The Cleaveland/Price solar field will be among the larger grid-tied arrays on the local West Penn Power system. It will join other high-profile commercial solar arrays in a growing regional market.
A 1.9MW solar field developed by Crayola powers that company’s crayon factory in Easton, Penn., while Lincoln Financial Field, home to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, boasts an 11,000-module, 3MW array. Among utility-scale projects, Community Energy’s 6MW Keystone installation in Lancaster County provides clean power for an estimated 950 homes.
As a state, Pennsylvania has climbed five places to No. 19 in total solar capacity nationwide, thanks to the completion of 38.8MW worth of new projects in 2016, the Solar Energy Industries Association says. An estimated 568MW will be developed in Pennsylvania over the next five years, SEIA projects.
Cleaveland/Price manufacturing plant
Location: Trafford, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Capacity: 673kW
Modules: Neo Solar Power 360W, 72-cell monocrystalline
Number of modules: 2,245
Microinverters: APsystems YC1000 true 3-phase
No. of microinverters: 748
System designer: Cleaveland/Price
Installer: Don Miller, Inc.
APsystems to deliver micro-inverter technology to Subsol in France
/in Press Coverage/by Max BoironSUBSOL selects APsystems’ micro-inverter technology for a large scale social housing project supplying solar energy to more than 680 homes in the metropolitan area of Vienne, France.
More than 280 residential and small commercial roofs with an average power of 8 to 9 kWp will be equipped with innovative micro-inverter solutions from APsystems.
LYON, France – 18 September 2017 – APsystems, the world leader in microinverter technology for the solar industry, today announced that it has been selected by SUBSOL, a design office and developer of roof integrated solar power plants, to be its partner in providing micro-inverter solutions for over 12,000 sqm of solar roofing, an unprecedented project in the metropolitan area of Vienne, Isère, France. A portfolio combining individual and collective multi-residential social housing projects and some small commercial public buildings will be able to provide approximately 2MWh/year, equivalent to the annual consumption of 680 households.
“It is a project put into place by the mayor, financed by local authorities and citizens, and developed above all to bring added value to the territory. SUBSOL is committed to these socially responsible projects and wishes to develop awareness of energy efficiency among tenants.” Said Jean-Baptiste Rouquerol, CEO of SUBSOL.
“We chose APsystems because of its extensive range of micro-inverter solutions, making it possible to easily address single-phase residential projects as well as small commercial buildings with a native 3-phase microinverter solution. The fact of having a local team to support us throughout the project, from the study phase to the ongoing installation phase, has reinforced our decision to work with APsystems.”.
The project is scheduled for completion by July 2018 at a rate of 45 installations per month. Thanks to APsystems’ complete solution that includes 1 micro-inverter for 2 or 4 panels, cables and accessories and an ECU communication gateway used to commission the system, enabling access to online energy monitoring anywhere, anytime via the EMA portal, the installation team, an average of 3 people, is able to complete an 8 or 9kWp installation in only 2 days, ensuring that each site meets its completion date.
“We are delighted to take part in such an avant-garde project. The innovation not only comes from the business model it is based on but also from the social dimension it carries. Solar energy in urban and built-up areas allows room for more innovative, safe and productive solutions, such as APsystems microinverters. We are convinced that this solar operation in Vienne will be a great success, and that it will be a source of inspiration for other cities,” said Olivier Jacques, Executive Vice President, APsystems.
See related coverage articles in the specialized European press :
Photon here
PES Solar here
Renewable Energy Magazine here
Smart Software for fewer truck rolls
/in Article, Press Coverage/by Max BoironBy Larry Busby, Technical Services Manager at APsystems USA
For a PV installer, there’s nothing worse than having to return to a jobsite. Except, of course, having to do it more than once. We’ve all heard the expression “work smarter, not harder,” but you would be surprised how often solar installers get in a truck and roll out to a jobsite to adjust or repair something that probably could have been fixed remotely back at HQ. Many software-savvy solar installers are boning up on best-practices to better utilize the systems and information already available to them—most of it right at their fingertips—to save both time and money.
For solar arrays, the most critical software typically lies within the power conversion devices, gateways and interconnected online monitoring platform provided by the inverter manufacturer. The online platform not only monitors the performance of the system, but also tracks a profusion of data points simultaneously and stores that information in the cloud. By checking certain performance specs, settings, activity and historical data, installers can quickly troubleshoot and fix common hitches or, at worst, narrow down the problem that’s plaguing a PV system.
Every inverter monitoring interface is a little different, but much of the information and tools available are typically the same. With an MLPE system like microinverters, you’re able to drill down to the PV panel level to see what each module is producing at any given time. When troubleshooting a system issue, or perhaps if you see a PV panel which is reporting low or zero watts, first try rebooting the system remotely if your monitoring platform offers that capability. With some systems, a reboot may help the interface identify the issue or it might reset the array to its default parameters in case an unusual grid event threw a monkey wrench at it. It could also spur the system to begin downloading recent updates which may have stalled when the system encountered the issue. You may even consider rebooting more than once.
If you’re still troubleshooting the issue, check the DC side of your system. For a microinverter system, you want to be sure each inverter is reporting at its minimal operating range (such as 16V) incoming DC from the panel. Next, check your AC output. If your system shows it registering 0V or 120V, the inverter may not be sensing the grid or enough volts from the grid to register as a 230V grid connection. Without an identified grid connection, the inverter will not convert energy, so if you see this as an issue with multiple sequential inverters, it could be a cable or connector problem. If it applies to the entire string or array, the problem could be a loose wire in the junction box, or a tripped or off breaker.
With a low wattage problem, you can drill down to the panel level online and check the voltage. If it’s registering under its minimal operating range, it’s likely a panel problem and not the inverter. You may still have to visit the site, but at least you know what you’re replacing and exactly where it is on the array which saves you time troubleshooting. When you hit the site, unplug the suspect panel from the inverter and take a live load DC voltage and current reading. If your panel is reading below its minimum startup voltage and 0 current, then the panel is the culprit and needs replacing.
Also, don’t underestimate the value of historical data. Looking back over a system’s history—especially that of a single panel—may allow you to identify recurring issues that seem to affect that particular panel. Perhaps a chimney shadow hits the panel at the same time each day. You can look back through the production history to see if it occurs often, or if you have multiple installations in a particular area, you can check each of those when you see unusual grid activity to see if and how it may be affecting your other sites.
Understanding what the site metrics are telling you will give you better insight into what’s happening at a job site. Learning what you can do to troubleshoot an issue online can not only save you a truck roll, but also significantly reduce your time identifying the problem if you do have to drive to the site. Most importantly, if you do need to hit the job site, remember that safety is paramount and to always turn off the AC before doing any work on the roof.
APsystems at the JF4S 9th PV Briefing and Networking @ Intersolar Europe
/in Article, Press Coverage/by Max BoironIn addition to a lively exchange of ideas and knowledge, the programme offered outstanding networking opportunities with more than 200 like-minded experts from the international solar and energy storage industry.
Olivier Jacques, APsystems’ Executive Vice President, has been a featured speaker at the panel discussion entitled Future Paths for the European Solar Business – Winning Strategies to Compete in the Market of Tomorrow, part of the conference.
For more information on the Joint Forces for Solar 9th PV Briefing & Networking Forum Europe, click here.