Why consider defecting from the grid? Is there room for utility and solar + storage compromise? The combination of solar plus storage is on everyone’s mind these days. There is a huge buzz in the solar industry about the prospect of… Continue reading “To Defect or not to Defect? Going Off the Grid with Solar + Storage”
Megawatt String Sizing Tool 2.0
Download Ryan Mayfield’s Megawatt String Sizing Tool 2.0 for free! This is an updated version of the original Megawatt String Sizing Tool This updated String Sizing tool includes a large re-work of the modules and inverters used in the existing… Continue reading “Megawatt String Sizing Tool 2.0”
Blending Battery-Free and Battery Back-Up PV Systems: Free Lecture
Curious about designing dual PV systems? Watch Christopher LaForge‘s new case study, in which the Kroska Residential PV installation, (a project blending two PV system designs– Battery Free and Battery Back-up) is discussed. The Kroska installation accommodates two roof planes and types, with a… Continue reading “Blending Battery-Free and Battery Back-Up PV Systems: Free Lecture”
Bring Your Sol to Work: Finding Career Opportunities in the Solar Industry
In a recent conversation with a young woman, I had an epiphany about why working in solar is good for the soul. She had just returned from volunteering in Greece to help Syrian refugees receive care and assistance upon entry… Continue reading “Bring Your Sol to Work: Finding Career Opportunities in the Solar Industry”
Wes Kennedy Weighs in on Stand Alone Solar Storage Systems
On the Advanced Solar + Storage discussion board, Wes Kennedy answers student questions about distribution circuit capacity and AC coupling for retrofits… Student 1: Hey Wes, I have a quick comment on defining penetration levels. I think the definition you… Continue reading “Wes Kennedy Weighs in on Stand Alone Solar Storage Systems”
Reassessing DC Voltage Drop Conventions
This article originally appeared in SolarPro Magazine in Issue 8.3. | by Ryan Mayfield, Paul Gibbs and Paul Grana “Ask almost anyone who works for a system integrator how to size PV system conductors with respect to voltage drop, and… Continue reading “Reassessing DC Voltage Drop Conventions”
Why Will Net Metering Dissolve? What Should Residential Solar Pros Do?
Hawaii has officially abolished net metering (NEM) and switched to a different metric for compensating consumers for their non-firm energy… so what is the industry to do? If you are in the residential solar field today, changes are coming to your neighborhood… Continue reading “Why Will Net Metering Dissolve? What Should Residential Solar Pros Do?”
HeatSpring Named Co-Host & Partner for Women in Solar Energy Roundtable
In the summer of 2015, HeatSpring set out to profile a few of the absolutely amazing women making waves in the solar industry… After discovering a shocking dearth of women students enrolled in our courses, and researching the far larger industry trend boasting… Continue reading “HeatSpring Named Co-Host & Partner for Women in Solar Energy Roundtable”
PV Electrical Codes, Time of Use and Inverter Clipping Considerations
Dr. Sean White takes on student questions about National Electrical Code compliance, solar panel Time of Use (TOU) optimization and inverter lifespan. Student 1: Why do some AHJ’s (Authority Having Jurisdiction’s) still allow installations under a previous edition of the National Electrical… Continue reading “PV Electrical Codes, Time of Use and Inverter Clipping Considerations”
Minimize the Energy Your Building Needs with this new Free Tool
Download Ann Edminster’s Free Tool ‘Minimize the Energy Your Building Needs (Energy Free: Homes for a Small Planet, Chapter 4)’ This chapter from Edminster’s award-winning, residential zero-energy primer covers key performance issues such as building geometry, enclosure design, comfort strategies and… Continue reading “Minimize the Energy Your Building Needs with this new Free Tool”
Post-ITC Planning: Key Questions for Everyone in the Solar Value Chain
The solar industry received a holiday gift this year in the form of the extension of the ITC. But we aren’t entirely out of the woods. Numerous threats to NEM and rate cases at dozens of utilities across the nation… Continue reading “Post-ITC Planning: Key Questions for Everyone in the Solar Value Chain”
Sustainable Building Advisor: Greywater Uses & Project ROI
On the Sustainable Building Advisor discussion board… Expert instructor Ann Edminster discusses greywater uses and the often intangible, but very important ‘non-energy’ returns on investments. Student 1: Has anyone heard of greywater solutions for dust mitigation? It is common in construction to… Continue reading “Sustainable Building Advisor: Greywater Uses & Project ROI”
Ryan Mayfield on Megawatt Design Equipment and Software Selection
Happening on the Megawatt Design Discussion Board… Expert Instructor Ryan Mayfield on three student questions regarding Megawatt Design equipment and software selection 1. String inverters & AFCI failures… Student 1: I have seen many people staying with central inverters on… Continue reading “Ryan Mayfield on Megawatt Design Equipment and Software Selection”
Solar Sharing Spotlight (or Sunlight?) on Boston’s ‘Yeloha!’
Disruptive technologies like Uber have made car pooling the new norm for transportation, changing the way we travel and the way we think about our vehicles. Crowd sourcing companies like Uber also raise the question: what other existing resources can we ration… Continue reading “Solar Sharing Spotlight (or Sunlight?) on Boston’s ‘Yeloha!’”
Solar Loans for Residential Solar in Massachusetts
This article was written by Wendy Rowland who recently completed a SMOC, MassCEC, and a HeatSpring solar course that provides skill-based training for professionals seeking to enter the renewable energy industry. One important aspect of formulating a business strategy is… Continue reading “Solar Loans for Residential Solar in Massachusetts”
Solar PV Storm and AC vs. DC Safety Considerations
On the Solar PV Installer Boot Camp Training + NABCEP Entry Level Exam Prep discussion board… Student 1: Fred, what is the standard for lightning protection systems? The book touches this topic briefly. Is it the norm to have lightning protection? Do… Continue reading “Solar PV Storm and AC vs. DC Safety Considerations”
Download HeatSpring’s FREE Women in Solar Energy Career Guide!
Three months and 24 interviews later, HeatSpring and RenewableEnergyWorld.com‘s Solar Women Summer Series has finally come to a close! NOW, you can download our FREE Women in Solar Energy Career Guide today. This free guide is intended to introduce women to career… Continue reading “Download HeatSpring’s FREE Women in Solar Energy Career Guide!”
Economic Modeling Basics for A Solar Project
Happening on the Solar Executive MBA Discussion Board… ___________________________________ Construction Debt/Loans, SRECs & Purchasing vs. Leasing a Site Student 1: 1. What is the difference between project debt and the construction loan? 2. What is SREC and Single SREC? 3. If the… Continue reading “Economic Modeling Basics for A Solar Project”
FREE REPORT: Gain Access to the ~290,258 LIDAR Identified Solar-Ready Roofs in Massachusetts
This article was originally published on Faze1’s blog and re-printed with permission. The above picture is a heat map of the best and worst towns for residential solar based on proprietary LIDAR analysis created by Faze1. Download the full report to get a… Continue reading “FREE REPORT: Gain Access to the ~290,258 LIDAR Identified Solar-Ready Roofs in Massachusetts”
Free Solar Design Tool: String Sizing Tool For Commercial Solar Projects That Works with All Inverters
One of the most important aspects of designing a solar array is sizing module strings to operate within the parameters of the selected inverter. This is especially true for commercial and megawatt solar projects. To help in this process, we’re… Continue reading “Free Solar Design Tool: String Sizing Tool For Commercial Solar Projects That Works with All Inverters”