Solar PV


The U.S. Solar industry achieved another record year in 2014, growing by 34% over 2013 to install nearly 7,000 megawatts (MW) of solar electric capacity. Within the photovoltaic (PV) sector, over 6,200 MW of capacity was installed, led by the residential and utility segments, which grew by 51% and 38%, respectively. The concentrating solar power segment enjoyed its largest year ever with 767 MW of capacity installed. Together, the solar industry istalled 32% of all new electricity generating capacity in the U.S. – second only to natural gas. This growth is expected to continue, with an additional 20,000 MW of solar capacity projected over the next two years.

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Join us at the Oregon Solar Energy Conference

The Oregon Solar Energy Conference is the most robust regional solar energy conference in the nation, and returns to Portland, Oregon this year May 7-9. They will continue with their dedicated contractor day on May 7th, in coordination with the Energy Trust of Oregon, geared towards solar contractors and solar trade allies. OSEC 2019 is […]

April 3rd, 2019|Categories: Megawatt Design, Solar, Solar Business Growth, Solar Design & Installation, Solar Finance, Solar miscellaneous, Solar Plus Storage, Solar Sales & Marketing||
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With Inexpensive PV, These Three Strategies are no Longer Solar Sins

Ten years ago, solar PV cost 10 times more than what it does now. That means solar installers can now embrace three strategies that were once considered solar sins.

That’s the word from Sean White, instructor of HeatSpring’s 40-Hour Solar Advanced PV Installer Training course.

“Cheap PV is letting people do things with solar they otherwise wouldn’t dream of,”  says […]

March 6th, 2019|Categories: Certification, NABCEP, Solar Design & Installation||
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How to Tackle the Difficult Task of Sizing Wires in Your Solar Arrays

It’s not so easy to size wires in solar arrays, says Sean White, instructor of HeatSpring’s NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification Exam Prep and CEUs course.

The problem: the National Electrical Code (NEC) can be befuddling. His courses that focus on the NEC aim to take the confusion out of the code and help installers choose efficiency […]

March 6th, 2019|Categories: Certification, NABCEP, Solar Design & Installation||
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The Solar ITC to Take its First Step Down, While Rapid Shutdown Moves Forward

The 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) and the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) will leave their mark on the solar industry in 2019, with the NEC increasing costs temporarily and the ITC lowering incentives.

That’s the word from Ryan Mayfield and Randy Batchelor, instructors of HeatSpring’s Megawatt Design course, which focuses on designing large-scale commercial solar systems, in […]

February 11th, 2019|Categories: Megawatt Design, Solar Business Growth, Solar Design & Installation||
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Businesses are Squeezing More Solar out of Their Property with These Two Trends

More and more, businesses are looking for ways to squeeze more solar out of their available property, and have embraced two trends to do just that, says Ryan Mayfield, co-instructor of HeatSpring’s Megawatt Design course, which focuses on designing large commercial systems, in the 1-5 MW range.

Some businesses are turning to east-west racking of […]

February 7th, 2019|Categories: Megawatt Design, Solar Business Growth, Solar Design & Installation||
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