Four Solar Energy Changes Solar Installers Should Prepare For
Just like the sun rises and sets each day and the seasons change throughout the year, the solar industry is always changing. As soon as you get used to installing things a certain way, electrical codes and regulations change, global politics affect the market and newer, more efficient products emerge. How do you keep up with the changes? To help you navigate it all, watch the video to answer some frequently asked solar energy questions, or read these four tips for adapting to upcoming changes in the solar industry.
1. PREPARE FOR CHANGES IN SOLAR ENERGY POLICY
As energy sources like natural gas and coal are retired and more of our country is electrifying their homes, businesses and vehicles , our utility grid infrastructure needs to support that demand. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) 1547 standard aims to ease the integration of distributed energy resources like solar energy and energy storage into the electric power system.
As our utilities move from massive infrastructure to micro-grids, the utility needs to be able to balance the influx from solar energy as solar energy goes from storage to your car or to your home. This means the inverters that interconnect with the utility must have more advanced parameters, and it’s going to start becoming a requirement from the utility.
When solar contractors submit an interconnection request with the utility, they’re going to need to comply with IEEE 1547. It’s best to prepare ahead of time and learn what products will and won’t conform because this change is quickly coming on the horizon. Different states have different regulations, but if you want to know when IEEE standards will be implemented in your area and which products will conform, reach out to your utility or Van Meter’s solar team.
2. SAVE TIME AND MONEY ON RAPID SHUTDOWN
The National Electrical Code (NEC) has a safety requirement called rapid shutdown, which means rooftop-mounted solar modules need a way to reduce photovoltaic voltage to a safe level when service is necessary or there is a fire. In the past, rapid shutdown has typically required adding an additional device to reduce the voltage, which is very costly, but there is another way to achieve rapid shutdown through compliance with UL 3741.
UL 3741 is a listed configuration of components that can achieve rapid shutdown without an additional device. Now, more and more racking manufacturers are completing compliance testing and getting their components UL listed. That means there is a wider variety of inverters and racking that, if used in the appropriate combination, can comply with rapid shutdown guidelines without additional components. The result is more time and profit on your next project.
3. INVEST IN SOLAR ENERGY STORAGE
In the last decade, solar energy in the U.S. has an average annual growth rate of 33%, and as solar energy grows, there is an increased demand for solar energy storage. For a long time, storage has been cost prohibitive, complex and challenging to align with the needs of customers.
Now, the cost of batteries used for storage is decreasing, and net metering policies are changing. In California, for example, utilities are requiring every home or small commercial business to incorporate a storage device to make it a fiscally responsible investment. If you are not using, installing or quoting a storage component for your customers, you should be looking into available technologies because the demand for storage is rapidly increasing.
4. CHOOSE THE MOST EFFICIENT SOLAR MODULES AND SOLAR RACKING
The solar cells that make up a solar panel are made from silicon wafers, and as the global demand for solar energy increases, manufacturers are increasing the size of solar cells for the utility scale.
When wafers, cells and panels get larger, solar installers must adapt. Will your racking still support the modules? Will it stand up to harsh weather conditions? How far apart can you mount the rails? Which solar module optimizes your racking?
It can be difficult to find the right combination of solar modules and racking to achieve the most efficient setup. If you need help, Van Meter has been able to critically compare various solar module sizes with different racking and structural components to find cost advantages.
Do you have questions about an upcoming project or policy change in your area? Reach out to Ethan and Van Meter’s solar team or talk to your account manager to connect with a solar expert.
